Heaven on earth at the Coppola Resort in Belize

By Alexis Chenu.

Published on 7 September 2020. Updated on 3 July 2026.

Accessible from Miami, Belize is bordered by Mexico and Guatemala. For the last forty years, the country has seduced a wealthy American clientele looking for heaven on earth, away from mass tourism. Its main assets are the Caribbean Sea, the extraordinary fauna and lush flora, as well as the Mayan temples all over the territory.

Thirty minutes from Belize City, as the crow flies, the former residence of a marine biologist has been the main holiday destination of director Francis Ford Coppola since 2001. Named the Turtle Inn, as a nod to the hundreds of turtles who lay their eggs here every year, the resort includes a dozen cottages. The most beautiful ones are on the beachfront and start at €429 per night. They feature Balinese-style interiors with canopy beds, sculpted doors, mahogany furniture, outside shower, ceramic bath tubs, and every possible amenity for a comfortable stay. Television and cell phones are banished there. Instead, customers can use strange shell speakers to order room service, thus ensuring tranquility and relaxation in each villa.

Belize is also where Sofia Coppola and her family go to recharge each year. The Coppolas stay at the Beach House, known for its graphic architecture, monumental swimming pool, garden and barbecue. The place can be rented for $1999 a night.

However, the best part of Belize lies a few kilometres away. Martin Krediet, director of the Resort, convinced the Coppola couple to turn a nearby desert island into a dream lodge. It only takes 20 minutes by boat to access Coral Cave. This tiny paradise can welcome up to ten people, from $1435 a night for two with an extra $200 per additional guest. Organized around a main building that mixes local decor with Mexican graphics. You can relax under the sun in the comfort of a hammock, collect fresh coconuts, snorkel, play guitar, do barbecues on the beach and try the best lobster grill. Besides, guests can sample the best wines from the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Sonoma Valley, California.

The rest of the trip generally leads you to Blancaneaux, the historical Coppola hotel. Lost in the middle of the wilderness, it is surrounded by pines and palm trees. This former study centre named after an explorer became a haven of peace for the American director in the 1980s. There, he spent several family holidays before embarking on a vast project of ten lodges with banana leaf roofs and endless terraces that overhang the heart of the canopy.

A spiritual resting place for artists and writers, the location has gradually become a paradise for honeymooners. For $289 a night, lovers can enjoy the horse-riding facilities, the services of an expert Thai masseur and organic culinary delights away from the chaos of touristic places.

Always inspired by the landscapes and photography of Guatemala, the Coppola couple extended their hotel complex when they opened their third hotel, La Lancha, near the breathtaking Peten Itza Lake. Surrounded by jungle, the hotel and its ten casitas, from $149 a night, will heal every soul. The lake pontoon, just 300 steps away, is the ideal meditation spot.

From $450 a night, you can also stay at the Palazzo Margherita, a 19th-century, neoclassical palace between Calabria and Apulia in Italy, where the Coppolas’ said yes. For holidays in South America, you can also fly to Buenos Aires and head to the central neighbourhood of Palermo Soho. There, the family opened their fifth hotel, Jardin Escondido. It features seven rooms only, from $240 a night, and has a beautiful swimming pool, terrace and movie library.

More information at www.thefamilycoppolahideaways.com.