Seafront and Stylish: Why Turtle Inn Is The Pinnacle For Placencia’s Luxury Scene

by Carolee Chanona

When the warm weather arrives, cool off with sea breezes in Belize, where you’ll sit back and soak up Caribbean panorama at the stylish Turtle Inn that’s almost cinematic in nature. That’s no mistake—it’s a Coppola Hideaway, aka the family-owned resorts of famed film director turned hotelier Francis Ford Coppola. Gelato or rum punch in hand, the pinnacle of luxury in Southern Belize spells bright interiors with gorgeous seaside views throughout, quick access to the microcosm of Placencia, and incredible family-like service with Turtle Inn, a Coppola Hideaway

Love At First Sight With Turtle Inn

Mare Restaurant at Turtle Inn

“I found myself owning a little place in Belize, a little lodge I originally bought because I thought I could write there,” Coppola says in an interview with Haute Living. “To protect it, I had to have caretakers, and then to pay the caretakers, I found myself in the hotel business. It became a pattern.”

Just like that, Coppola became enamored by the property (and the nearby Placencia beach town), which he bought in 1999 and transformed into the perfect getaway for affluent travelers and other celebrities. The entire resort was refurbished a few years ago and the family still makes regular jaunts to this day. In fact, guests can take out Roman Coppola’s private, vintage Chris Craft boat, which JFK himself once rode.

And if you’d like to visit the nearby Placencia Peninsula town and bicycles simply won’t do it, take a vintage car or an electric Moke for a bit of cinematic drama. For those unfamiliar, the Placencia Peninsula juts out from the mainland as a skinny offshoot for a paved 16 miles. Its name translates to ‘pleasant’ and it certainly lives up to it with a beach strip of vacation homes and resorts before its namesake Placencia Village at the pointe. Regardless if you’re a honeymooning couple, solo traveler, or large group, Placencia welcomes you with open arms and southern hospitality. We won’t blame you if it’s love at first sight.

Build Your Belize Itinerary Of Your Dreams

Despite rooms being alfresco (with the exception of Sofia’s Beach House), you won’t miss air-con between the Italian fusion fare of Mare and the Bangkok-trained masseuses at Sunset Spa. There’s also a wine aquarium featuring over 1,200 bottles from around the globe, including from Coppola’s Winery and Inglenook estate in Napa Country, and it’s available for private tastings. Seemingly bottomless glass jars of cookies are placed in your room every morning at turnover, which is the sweet treat you’ll need after a salty day at sea snorkeling or diving with the onsite PADI-certified Dive Shop; witness why the UNESCO-ranked Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System gets bragging rights from your private charter as you snorkel and swim with friendly locals like sharks, eagle rays, and sea turtles. And although the beach is the main show, rainforests, rivers, and Maya ruins are only a short drive away.

If your Placencia vacation in Belize looks like a seaside cottage or the Francis’ Family Pavilion with its high-walled garden, the luxury service of Turtle Inn remains unmatched.

All images via Turtle Inn unless stated otherwise.

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