Condé Nast Traveler readers rate their top resorts in Central America, and Belize takes the number one spot plus four more in the 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards survey! Voters in their 33rd Readers’ Choice Awards recount the Central America resorts that brought comfort. Ultimately, the Belize resorts below that won top spots in Condé Nast Traveler 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards in the category for Central America are pretty special. That’s because despite people being confined to the walls of home during closed border measures and no-travel orders, the memories lived on.
Images via Turneffe Island Resort
The 14-acre private island of Turneffe Island Resort is tranquil and intimate, thanks to only 22 guest rooms, where 10 of which are private villas. It’s right on the Belize Barrier Reef, which makes the views gorgeous and fishing even better.
Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort: #4 Resort in Central America
A treehouse at Hamanasi Resort.
Photo courtesy Hamanasi Resort.
Seafood Curry from Singanga Restaurant, Hamanasi.
Up for a tour? Photo via Leah Flores/Hamanasi
Enjoy fine dining, beachside. Photo via Leah Flores/Hamanasi
Indulge in a private treehouse. Photo via Jaron Johns/Hamanasi
The premier resort south of Hopkins, Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resor (Garifuna for ‘almond tree’) combines the amenities of a top-class dive resort with an array of inland tours and activities, all on a gorgeous 400ft private beachfront. All of Hamanasi’s rooms and suites face the sea, except for the popular wood-floored tree houses, which hide among the coastal foliage behind the beach.
Matachica Resort & Spa: #8 Resort in Central America
Matachica Resort.
Photo by Matachica Resort
Mambo's Restaurant, by Adrien William
Breakfast with a view at Mambo, Matachica Resort. Photo courtesy Celia Spenard Ko
A short taxi ride by speedboat from San Pedro’s bustling city life brings you to Matachica – one of the most relaxed resorts on island time in Ambergris Caye. Although the resort is small, each room is its own private beach house and hammock., Matachica’s suites and casitas boldly complement onsite sophistications, like its pool, meditative dock, Mambo Restaurant, and Jade Spa.
Turtle Inn: #9 Resort in Central America
Enjoy barefoot elegance at Turtle Inn.
The Spa at Turtle Inn Resort
As one of three Francis Ford Coppola retreats in Belize, Turtle Inn is tucked between the jungle and the beach. That is, with a Bali-meets-Caribbean look of thatched alfresco cabanas right on the coastline of the Caribbean Sea. Enjoy sumptuous spa treatments for two at the Sunset Spa, or fresh seafood and traditional Italian fare at any of its fine onsite eateries.
Gaïa Riverlodge: #14 Resort in Central America
Photo Credit: Gaia Riverlodge
Photo courtesy Gaia Riverlodge
Surrounded by towering pines in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Gaïa Riverlodge is a stylish, open-air lodge beautifully perched above the Privassion Creek. While an hour jeep ride from the more populous San Ignacio area lands you in MPR, guests can recharge inside the 24 private and spacious cabanas to the waterfall’s sounds. Ps: the riverside and waterfall-view rooms give unrivaled sunrise vistas amongst rural luxury.
