This may very well be a record-breaking summer—besides the temperatures—as more and more travelers get back out there. After all, the appeal of getting away is almost painfully obvious. A mental break from work (especially if you’ve returned full-time to the office), a chance to decompress, catch vitamin-nourishing sunrays, and simply expand your horizons to the unknown. Clinical psychologist Dr. Sarah Stevens PsyD backs this up with science, and no, you won’t need to travel across the pond to get it. “The rejuvenating benefits of vacation, including cognitive enhancements and self-reports of increased happiness, are not limited to faraway destinations.” Sometimes, all you need is an excuse. When you’re ready, the coolest “hot” property to do it all from is on the northern coast of Ambergris Caye at the all-villa, self-catering rental at La Perla del Caribe.
La Perla del Caribe: Personal and Personable
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- Photo by La Perla del Caribe
From a multigenerational beach vacation to an adventurous off-the-beaten-path girls’ getaway, Belize will surprise you by being both close enough and worlds away. Unlike other vacation rental businesses, La Perla del Caribe focuses on making personal connections with guests thanks to a personal concierge.
Its eight individually owned, partially air-conditioned villas range from oceanfront two-bedrooms to massive five-bedroom mansions decorated in a montage of Caribbean, Mexican, North African, and European styles. Not to worry, though, a handwritten blackboard standing at the foot of each villa’s steps will remind you which one is yours. Plus, just 6 miles outside of San Pedro Town, La Perla offers a heightened sense of privacy.
As part of local support, from the moment a booking is confirmed, La Perla’s local experience specialist and concierge will oversee every aspect of a guest’s stay. From organizing the practical—booking and confirming airport transfers, rental cars, and dinner reservations at nearby restaurants—to handcrafting the complex—a comprehensive day-by-day itinerary full of local experiences and activities.
And because there is no onsite restaurant, that also includes in-villa private chef services, like Chef Maria.
What You Can Expect Inside Your Private Villa
All units have spacious full kitchens, housekeeping, huge bedrooms with open bathrooms, and private balconies to longingly gaze at the breaking Belize Barrier Reef from Northern Ambergris Caye. Furthermore, La Perla guests can enjoy nearby activities such as Belize’s world-class snorkeling, scuba diving, and fishing, or day trips inland or island hopping. The pool is open 24/7, kayaks are free, and bicycles and golf carts can be rented.
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- Photos by La Perla del Caribe
And of course, the Belize Barrier Reef is just beyond the wooden pier. With gear provided, shallow reefs are excellent for beginners and Marine Reserves like Hol Chan promise reef fish like snappers, angelfish, and damselfish, while Shark Ray Alley means you can experience swimming with nurse sharks and stingrays too. Rather hang out at a beach bar instead? The not-so-secret Secret Beach is just a short drive away from La Perla by golf cart with iconic over-the-water palapas for lounging with a sundowner. Sitting half-submerged in the Caribbean Sea on 7-foot tall picnic tables, Secret Beach is a cult favorite for the nowhere-else kind of bars, like Blue Bayou Belize.
All images via La Perla del Caribe.
