Condé Nast Traveler: 19 Best Places to Go in 2019
The following is an excerpt about Belize from a recent Condé Nast Traveler Magazine article written by CNT EDITORS . Click to read the full article here.
Belize
Just down the Caribbean coast from the Yucatan with a fraction of the tourism, this Central American country on the world’s second largest living coral reef has been buzzing with new openings that are transforming this one-time backpacker haven into a luxury destination. Much of the activity has been focused in the southern town of Placencia, a laid-back fishing village with a newair stripand the world’s narrowest main street. In the last year Itz’ana Resort and Residences, a Hemingway-inspired retreat with 50+ cottages and suites finished in boho-chic decor and vintage finds by fashion-pack favorite Samuel Amoia, and the offshoreGladden Private Island, a rustic-luxe, 3,000-foot,two-bedroomvilla, have joined Francis Ford Coppola’s pioneering Turtle Inn.
Up north in Ambergris Caye, Mahogany Bay from Hilton’s Curio Collection is a family-friendly jumping off spot for fly-fishing, exploring caves and Mayan temples, and scuba diving Belize’s famous Great Blue Hole. Meanwhile, Leonardo DiCaprio’s private island eco-resort Blackadore Caye, with its own wildlife preserve, is rumored to be opening imminently; then 2020 will see the opening of Alaia Belize, a Marriott International Autograph Collection hotel fronting a 1,000-foot pristine white beach, followed by the Four Seasons Caye Chapel in 2021, with 30-some overwater bungalows on a sandy atoll reminiscent of the Maldives. The major advantage, of course, is that Belize is only a five-hour flight from New York, with a blend of Mayan, Creole, Mestizo, and European cultures that will guarantee we’ll soon see English-speaking Belize turning up on everyone’s Instagram feeds. —Alex Postman
Learn more about visiting Belize in 2019