Francis Ford Coppola's Blancaneaux Lodge Named Best Resort in Latin America

In addition, Coppola's Turtle Inn in Placencia, Belize received the seventh place accolade on the list of Top 10 Resorts in Central + South America. This is the second consecutive year that Blancaneaux Lodge ranks No. 1 on Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards list of Top Resorts in Central + South America. Blancaneaux Lodge is also included on Travel + Leisure's 2010 list of "Top 100 Hotels Overall" ranking 63rd this year.

A prized gem in the Coppola resort family, Blancaneaux Lodge was originally a family retreat after Francis Ford Coppola purchased the property in the early 1980s when he fell in love with the location on a visit to Belize. Tucked away in a pocket of the Maya Mountains where waterfalls tumble into turquoise pools, the twenty-room resort opened to the public in 1993. The remote mountain setting makes it a perfect place to relax, rejuvenate, explore and simply enjoy life's pleasures.

Designed by Mexican architect Manolo Mestre alongside Francis Ford Coppola, the resort is comprised of a series of villas with soaring hardwood and hand-woven thatch ceilings that rise from the jungle on stilts. The décor is based loosely on indigenous designs Francis had seen in the Philippines while filming "Apocalypse Now." These elements contribute to Francis Ford Coppola's personal vision for Blancaneaux Lodge is one of rustic comfort in harmony with its surroundings. Also staying true to this ethos, the lodge is almost self-sustaining through the use of a hydro-electric plant that harnesses the energy of Privassion Creek.

Turtle Inn, Coppola's seafront hideaway, went through a reinvention as well when less than a year after Francis and Eleanor Coppola acquired the property in 2001, it was swept out to sea by the forces of Hurricane Iris. Turning disaster into triumph, the Coppolas led a two-year reclamation project, creating a beachside refuge perfect for those seeking a stress-relieving escape. Turtle Inn's 25 unique dwellings consist of individual thatched cottages and villas, each decorated with handcrafted Balinese furnishings and naturally cooled.

Guests at both locations are offered a window into the world of natural and archaeological wonders through a wide range of adventure tours, activities, hands-on learning experiences and workshops that include Maya archaeology, wildlife observation, birding, jungle treks, snorkeling, scuba diving, horseback riding and more.

Once their appetite for adventure has been fulfilled, guests can satisfy that of their stomachs through local dishes or classic Italian cuisine, many recipes from which come straight from the Coppola family's cookbooks. And of course, all delicacies can be enjoyed with a glass of wine from the Francis Ford Coppola Winery.

Hotel Profile: Blancaneaux Lodge

Hotel Profile: Turtle Inn