Hideaways' Review
Some people have an instinct for amazing locations—Francis Ford Coppola, for one, who recognized the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve in the Maya Mountains of Belize as the ideal spot to create a secluded one-of-a-kind retreat. As much care has gone into Blancaneaux as into one of the director’s films. Rustic but far from primitive, each of the thatched-roof cabanas and villas is decorated with antiques, handcrafted furniture, and vivid local fabrics, and overlooks the pools and waterfalls of Privassion Creek. Each one also features a luxurious Japanese bath with a view of the sky, not to mention a nonstop natural soundtrack of birdcalls from the jungle outside. The lodge is both self-sustaining and eco-friendly: All its power comes from a hydroelectric plant harnessing the river’s power, and the restaurant serves specials created from its own organic garden, including authentic Neapolitan pizzas cooked in a wood-burning Italian oven.
These noteworthy creature comforts are tucked right in the middle of some of the most remarkable tropical forests north of the Amazon. Mountain bikes, horse stables, and knowledgeable guides make it easy to explore, keeping an eye out for fauna such as rare howler monkeys, iguanas, and the region’s brilliant butterflies. For a change of scene, not far away are some of Belize’s most extensive Mayan ruins, including the towering pyramid of El Castillo at Xunantunich. |