As the oldest and largest protected forested area in Belize, Mountain Pine Ridge can feel like several destinations of Belize all in one— because it is. Waterfalls, caves, trails, and more make Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve the gateway to Belize’s western wilderness. That includes the ancient city of Caracol, the largest Maya site in Belize with the highest man-made structure in the country. A site so spectacular demands going grand; the luxurious riverside Blancaneaux Lodge is not only Rainforest Alliance Verified but also the most glam option within Pine Ridge’s 300,000 acres, boasting a sound definition of eco-luxury. Any closer to nature, and you’d literally be pitching a tent—which is an option too. When in Western Belize, experience Mountain Pine Ridge with the glam of Francis Ford Coppola’s Blancaneaux Lodge, the Best Picture if boutique lodges could win Oscars.
GO GLAM: Blancaneaux Lodge
A welcome bottle of Francis Ford Coppola Wine feels like a beacon of light in the middle of the rainforest to say, “Congratulations, you’ve arrived.” As one of three Coppola Hideaways in Belize, Blancaneaux actually holds special significance to Francis Ford Coppola, considering it was his personal family hideaway before accidentally teetering into his part-time hotelier career. Blancaneaux Lodge’s 20 cabanas and villas, including Coppola’s magnificent personal villa, harmoniously fuse into their natural surroundings with unashamed rustic luxury under thatched roofing.
The dwellings afford a good balance to really appreciate your sense of place like the Mountain Pine Ridge: private plunge pools, heated horseshoe spa pools, Japanese baths, grandiose patios, and more allow you to sneak away for quiet reflection, sans a glass of wine. It’s quiet too, with only the rush of the Privassion Creek, which lulls you with ease and powers the renewable hydro-energy program that powers Blancaneaux.
Get calls on the conch shell phone from the front desk, or call back for extra blankets—the cabanas are ecologically designed not to need air conditioning, and the high elevation keeps things extra cool.
Regardless of what eco-adventure (glam or not) inside Pine Ridge you choose, there’s no better place to decompress than Blancaneaux. The Jaguar Bar makes a cozy nightcap, with its handcrafted furnishings and relics from Apocalypse Now doubling as a feast for the eyes. Or maybe it’s comfort food you’re craving at Montagna Ristorante, with favorites like made-to-order brick oven pizza or other Coppola recipes passed on through the decades. Meanwhile, in the softly candlelit Guatemaltecqua Restaurant, the warm flavors of Guatemala (which shares a border here in the Cayo District) are served via favorites like the plantain dessert Rellenitos, or Jocon, a herby chicken dish.
The onsite organic garden supplies approximately 75% of all the produce used in Blancaneaux’s four eateries, including staff feasts, and you can experience farm-to-table like no other at the Garden Spot—a vegetarian single-table experience that’s as enlightening as it is edible.
Insider tip: Belizeans get a 30% discount at La Lancha, the Guatemalan Coppola Hideway on the Lago Petén Itzá in the province of Petén,
And of course, it wouldn’t be a vacation without a spa day. Handpicked by Francis Ford Coppola himself and trained in the art of Thai Massage, the Waterfall Spa uses locally sourced organic ingredients for the ultimate guilt-free send-off before saying, “See you next time,” to your new family.
OR CAMP: San Miguel Campgrounds
- Photo by San Miguel Campgrounds
- Photo Credit: San Miguel Campgrounds in Mountain Pine Ridge
Again, the Mountain Pine Ridge is close enough for an overnight or weekend trip while still feeling like it’s thousands of miles from any city. Reservations are first-come, first served, but camping is still a stellar way to experience the forest reserve, and San Miguel Campgrounds is one of the nicer locales to do it from. DIY rainforest-style shower facilities, an on-site tiny variety store, and pre-assembled tents are as glam as they’ll get, but the beauty is in its direct access to Mountain Pine Ridge sites like Big Rock Falls, which is only one winding natural staircase away. Expect to be surrounded by a thick forest of its namesake pine trees regardless of which campsite you’re assigned, with quality time guaranteed. And if you don’t feel like reheating last night’s hotdogs? Blancaneaux Lodge is arms-wide-open for day visitors, and the Pizza Sofia is worth the short trip.

Images via San Miguel Campgrounds.
Heads up: San Ignacio is located 72 miles west of Belize City (approximately 90 minutes by car), and nine miles east of the border town of Benque Viejo. Mountain Pine Ridge can be found about an hour from San Ignacio on a semi-paved road.