Blancaneaux Lodge, A Family Coppola Hideaway, Cayo District , Belize
A labour of love for Francis Ford Coppola who purchased the abandoned Blancaneaux Lodge in the early 80s as a writing/family retreat before turning it into the 20-room luxury resort you see today. Tucked away in a pocket of the Maya Mountains, its remote setting makes it the perfect jumping-off spot for touring Maya ruins or trying the area's many adrenaline-fuelled adventure sports. But for many guests, the appeal is the immersion into nature and enjoyment of life's simple pleasures (not to mention the spacious open-air accommodations, hand-crafted furnishings, organic local produce, Coppola wines and impeccable hospitality).