Blancaneaux Lodge is a tranquil luxury hideaway located within the beautiful Mountain Pine Forest Reserve of Western Belize. The lodge provides a perfect base from which to enjoy the forested surroundings, outstanding river scenery, numerous waterfalls and caves.
13 thatched cottages and villas are set on a steep forested hillock that runs down to Privassion Creek, a narrow river broken by cascades and granite pools and linked by small wooden bridges.
The lodge is owned by Francis Ford Coppola and the American film director's influence is evident, from his own highly regarded Napa Valley Californian wines served in the restaurant, to the ceiling fan in the bar used in the opening sequence of Apocalypse Now. You can combine the lodge with Mr Coppola's two other properties -
Turtle Inn in Placencia, the exclusive private island
Coral Caye and La Lancha near Tikal in Guatemala.
Excursions available include horse riding and mountain biking through the pine forest. A canoe trip on the serene Macal River is a terrific experience and a good opportunity to spot wildlife. Birdlife and butterflies are particularly abundant. There are numerous other rivers with plunging waterfalls and swimming holes to enjoy.