Hide Away in Belize with The Family Coppola
You may recognize the name Francis Ford Coppola, as he is considered by many to be one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. You may not know that he has opened his luxury hideaways in Belize to guests, and we have the perfect package for you that combines mountain and beach…
The beach at Turtle Inn (photo credit: The Family Coppola Hideaways)
Francis Ford Coppola, whose name you might recognize from film credits in franchises such as The Godfather and films such as Apocalypse Now, visited Belize in the early 1980’s and immediately fell in love. He bought his first property there, a hideaway in the mountains called Blancaneaux Lodge, which was originally meant only as a family retreat. However, in 1993, the Coppola family opened the lodge up to the public. A few years later, they took on Turtle Inn, a beachfront property also in Belize, and the rest is history.
We have a 7-night package combining the two properties that you will want to know about. The trip starts with 3 nights at Blancaneaux Lodge and is followed by 4 nights at Turtle Inn and has lots of fabulous inclusions. Before we give you all the spectacular details, let’s take a closer look at each of these fabulous Belizean hideaways.
Blancaneaux Lodge (3 nights)
Blancaneaux Lodge is located in the northwest corner of the 107,000-acre Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in western Belize’s Cavo District. The lodge itself is nestled on the banks of Privassion Creek, set among tropical pines and oaks. The dense jungle, steep ravines, spectacular waterfalls, and fast-flowing rivers are home to many rare species of flora and fauna.
Blancaneaux Lodge is a 20-room luxury resort offering modern comforts in an entirely self-sustained jungle sanctuary. Tumbling waterfalls create refreshing swimming holes around the property. Its remote mountain setting makes it a perfect place to relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
Film fans will love to know that the décor at Blancaneaux Lodge, designed by Mexican architect Manolo Mestre in a joint effort with Francis himself, was inspired loosely on indigenous designs Francis had seen in the Philippines while he was there filming Apocalypse Now. The resort is comprised of a series of standalone villas and cabanas that rise from the jungle on stilts and have soaring, hand-woven thatched ceilings. You can expect bright splashes of tropical color in the form of hand-woven bedspreads and carved animals and masks set against warm wood tones.
Dining
With three restaurants and a bar, your remote location won’t leave you feeling as though you’re without options. Montagna Restaurant is located in the main lodge and features Italian dishes with a special focus on Coppola family recipes. You can also partake in fork-to-table cooking classes while you’re here, using produce grown on the property in their impressive gardens. The poolside restaurant Guatemaltecqua, serves dinner nightly, specializing in the cooking of Guatemala, a mildly-spiced cuisine that draws on Mexican, Caribbean, and Mayan traditions. For a truly unique dining experience, head to Garden Spot, where you can enjoy a three-course vegetarian dinner three times a week in the 3.5-acre organic garden/farm located onsite. Jaguar Bar is a hand-carved slate bar with ceiling fans from the set of Apocalypse Now, framed photos of archaeological digs, and handmade furnishings. Try their signature cocktail, Jaguar Juice, a potent concoction of local craboo liqueur, aged rum, and fresh pineapple juice.
Spa
The open-air Waterfall Spa offers a variety of treatments, wraps, and massages. Known for its Thai massages, the Waterfall Spa staff is a professionally trained team that has studied the ancient techniques at the Sacred Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok. With a rejuvenating hot pool heated solely by hydro-electricity, spa treatments use only locally-sourced organic ingredients.
Amenities & Activities
The list of amenities and nearby activities at Blancaneaux Lodge is long. Some highlights on the amenities list are complimentary use of room service for breakfast, use of hotel’s mountain bikes, bar snacks during happy hour, a tour of the horse stables, a tour of the organic garden, a tour of the hydrosystem, and once-a-week birdwatching.
There are many excursions to the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve and its surroundings, including jungle hikes, bird watching treks, nature hikes, mountain biking, horseback riding, and more. Whether you want to relax at the lodge or head out to adventure in your surroundings, you won’t find yourself wishing for a longer list of choices, that’s for sure.
Turtle Inn (4 nights)
Turtle Inn is situated between the Garifuna settlement on Seine Bight and the Creole fishing village of Placencia at the tip of a 25-mile-long sandy peninsula. To the east, the Caribbean Sea is studded by a patchwork of coral cays, and the Belize Barrier Reef UNESCO World Heritage Site, the longest barrier reef in the western hemisphere. Also nearby are the calm waters of the Placencia Lagoon and spectacular views of the Maya Mountains and Victoria Peak. It is a seafront hideaway combining natural wonders with luxurious style.
Less than a year after the Coppolas bought Turtle Inn in 2001, it was destroyed by a hurricance. Turning disaster into triumph, the couple led a two-year reclamation project, creating a beautiful beachside refuge perfect for those seeking a stress-relieving escape. Turtle Inn’s unique location also provides a wealth of exciting activities, from the clear Caribbean waters to the magical inland rainforests, making it equally as perfect for an adventurous vacation as it is for those wishing to relax and rejuvenate.
Turtle Inn’s 25 individual cottages and villas offer privacy and relaxation just steps from the sea. Accommodations go from one-bedroom cottages right up to a large family pavilion, with lots of other options in between.
The décor is inspired by the rustic, al fresco Balinese style of living, to which Francis Ford Coppola has always been drawn. He worked with renowned architect Made Wijaya to bring that aesthetic to Turtle Inn. Expect thatched roof villas and cottages with spacious floorplans surrounded by screened windows and porches, allowing the ever-present sea breezes to naturally cool each living space. The décor itself incorporates rich colors and hand-crafted natural wood carvings, creating a warm and inviting space for you to settle into and call home.
Dining
The Mare Restaurant features fresh seafood and traditional Italian cooking featuring Coppola family recipes. The Gauguin Grill is an intimate beachfront restaurant featuring fresh, charcoal-grilled seafood accompanied by a choice of Balinese-inspired sauces and spices. Auntie Luba’s Kitchen is a small, rustic-style restaurant filled with regional fare such as curry chicken, coconut shrimp, and classic rice and beans, all served in a fun and friendly laidback atmosphere.
The Laughing Fish Bar is situated on the beach, providing a shady retreat to enjoy a wide selection of drinks. You can also enjoy a sit in a comfortable Adirondack chair directly on the beach, cocktail in hand. The open-air Skip White Bar pays homage to the previous owner, Skip White and is adjacent to Mare Restaurant, offering a selection of drinks. New Wine Aquarium showcases something Turtle Inn is very proud of: the largest wine cellar in all of Central America, with over 1,000 bottles in-stock and a wine tasting experience available for you to enjoy privately or with other guests.
Finally, there is the Kids Gelato Bar. Neatly tucked next to the Skip White Bar hangs a sign reading “Gelato Bar – No Adults Allowed.” Kids are invited to enjoy a supervised party atmosphere with locally-made gelato including flavors from strange-sounding exotic fruits to popular Italian classics. Kids’ sized tables and chairs offer a place for kids to hang out and have fun.
Spa
The Sunset Spa, situated on the lagoon side of Turtle Inn, offers guests an ideal location for an afternoon relaxation session. Known for its Thai massages, the Sunset features natural herbal remedies. Services include massages, body scrubs, facials, and coconut hair rinses.
Amenities & Activities
As with Blancaneaux Lodge, the list of amenities and activities at Turtle Inn is a long one, but you can expect amenities such as complimentary use of the hotel’s beach cruiser bicycles, ocean kayaks, paddle boards, trimarans, water bikes, snorkel gear, and fishing gear, as well as complimentary use of room service for breakfast, two infinity swimming pools (one is adults-only), a tour of the organic garden, and lots more.
The list of activities and excursions available is also comprehensive, including day trips to excavated Mayan Ruins or wildlife sanctuaries, boat trips up Monkey River for wildlife viewing, snorkeling, fly-fishing, sunset cruises, and more.
The Mountain & Beach Package
Now that you’ve learned how swell both of these properties are, we think you’ll agree that it would be silly to venture down to Belize without experiencing both of them. Thankfully, the folks at Francis Ford Coppola Hideaways have put together a wonderful package with tons of inclusions to allow you to do just that!
The package includes:
Three nights in the Riverfront Cabaña at Blancaneaux Lodge and four nights in the Seaview Cottage at Turtle Inn
At Blancaneaux Lodge, you will receive all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
At Turtle Inn, you will receive all breakfasts and lunches; two dinners at the Mare Restaurant and one dinner at the Gauguin Grill
Canoe trip to Barton Creek Cave
Full-day tour to the Mayan citadel of Maracol and Rio Frio Cave
Full-day snorkel trio
Sunset cruise
Transfers from Belize International Airport to Blancaneaux Lodge, from Blancaneaux Lodge to Turtle Inn, and from Turtle Inn to Placenia Airport
One-way domestic air from Placencia to Belize International Airport on departure date
*Please note beverages are not included with the meals. Extra nights may be added for a fee. Private charter flights between Belize International Airport and Blancaneaux Lodge and between Blancaneaux Lodge and Turtle Inn may be arranged for a fee.
Conservation & Sustainability at The Family Coppola Hideaways
Francis and Eleanor Coppola see their role as that of a conservator, preserving the pristine environment in which their hideaways sit. They strongly support Belize’s commitment to ecotourism and continue to explore new technologies and practices that benefit the environment. At both properties, extensive efforts have been made to reduce the carbon footprint. Blancaneaux Lodge in particular functions off the grid because of a hydroelectric plant that harnesses the energy of Pirvassion Creek. Both Hideaways have large gardens that supply the majority of the produce used in the hotel restaurants, and both also contribute to local non-governmental organizations to help keep the area pristine for wildlife.
COVID-19 Requirements
Gold Standard Program
Belize has started a new Tourism Gold Standard Program in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that tourists know which hotels, restaurants, etc. are up to snuff with their health and safety regulations. It comes as no surprise to us that both Blancaneaux Lodge and Turtle Inn have made the Gold Standard list.
Travel to Belize during COVID-19
Belize is open to US travelers. Before traveling, you must:
Download the Belize Health App and complete the required information within 72 hours of your flight to Belize
Take a PCR test within 96 hours of travel. A negative test will provide a “fast track” arrival process. Please note that you may be selected for random secondary testing during your health screening.
Rapid Antigen, Sophia, SD Biosensor, ABBOT (Panblo) test results will also be accepted if administered no more than 48 hours prior to travel
If no PCR test is presented, you can take a COVID-19 test at the airport at a cost of $50 USD per passenger. Testing at the airport will be done on a “swab and go” basis for visitors that are staying at Gold Standard hotels. Only positive cases will receive notification from the Ministry of Health within 24 hours.
Tourists with positive results can quarantine at their Gold Standard hotel.
If you would like to get away to the Francis Ford Coppola Hideaways in Belize (or anywhere else in the world), simply contact us, and we will set you on your way