By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
Blancaneaux Lodge is the film director Francis Ford Coppola's hideaway in the mountains of Belize. Coppola found the abandoned lodge while filming in Central America and spent a decade restoring it, and today its cabanas and villas line a river of waterfalls and natural pools in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, with wood-fired pizza, an organic farm and a spirit of relaxed, bohemian luxury.
Blancaneaux Lodge is the film director Francis Ford Coppola's hideaway in the mountains of Belize. Coppola found the abandoned lodge while filming in Central America and spent a decade restoring it, and today its cabanas and villas line a river of waterfalls and natural pools in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, with wood-fired pizza, an organic farm and a spirit of relaxed, bohemian luxury.
Location: Mountain Pine Ridge, Belize
The lodge is in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, in Belize's Cayo District, a region of pine-clad hills, rivers, waterfalls and caves, very different from the country's coastal jungle and reef. Big Rock Falls is a short walk away, and Thousand Foot Falls and the Rio On Pools are nearby, while the great Maya city of Caracol, the largest in Belize, can be visited on a day trip. Belize International Airport is about 85 miles away, roughly two and a half to three hours by road, and the lodge has its own airstrip for charter flights.
The Cayo District is the adventure heart of Belize. Caracol, hidden in the forest, has one of the tallest Maya pyramids in the country, and the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave, near San Ignacio, is one of the most extraordinary adventures in Central America, wading and swimming into a cave where ancient Maya ceremonies left skeletons and pottery. Coppola also owns Turtle Inn on the Belize coast, and many guests combine the mountains with a few days on the beach or the Barrier Reef.
Rooms at Blancaneaux Lodge
There are 20 rooms, cabanas and villas, including two-bedroom villas, a family cabana, a private cottage and the Francis Ford Coppola Villa itself, set along the Privassion River with thatched roofs, local hardwoods and Guatemalan textiles. Many have screened porches over the water, where the sound of the river lulls you to sleep.
The lodge has a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere, reflecting Coppola's personality, with his films, photographs and furniture throughout. It is family-friendly, with plenty of space for children to explore, and the staff are warm and welcoming.
Facilities at Blancaneaux Lodge
There is a horseshoe-shaped hot pool and a newer infinity pool, and the riverside spa offers massages. Montagna serves Italian dishes, including pizza from a wood-fired oven, and the poolside restaurant serves Maya dishes, with produce from the lodge's organic garden and orchard. Activities include swimming in the river's pools, horse riding, mountain biking, birdwatching, cave tours and trips to Caracol and Xunantunich.
The mountain moment
The Blancaneaux moment is a late-afternoon swim in the natural pools below the lodge's waterfalls, followed by a glass of Coppola's own wine and a wood-fired pizza by the river, as the pine-covered hills fade into the dusk.
In the morning, a ride or hike through the pine forest to a hidden waterfall, with the chance to spot toucans, king vultures and the occasional orange-breasted falcon, shows the wild beauty of the Mountain Pine Ridge.
Why Blancaneaux Lodge is one of the best mountain hotels
Blancaneaux earns its place for its setting, its character and its story. It is relaxed, romantic and full of personality, in one of Central America's least-known mountain regions. It is remote, and the style is rustic-chic rather than polished luxury. But for couples and families who want waterfalls, Maya ruins and Coppola's sense of style, it is a joy.
For Guatemala, just across the border, see Casa Palopó.
Three nights is ideal to explore the waterfalls, Caracol and the caves, and many travellers combine Blancaneaux with Tikal, just across the border in Guatemala, and with Coppola's beach resort or the cayes of the Barrier Reef. Bring swimwear for the river pools, sturdy shoes for the caves and a light jacket, as the mountain evenings are cool.
When to go to Blancaneaux Lodge
The dry season, from late November to April, brings sunny days and cool nights in the mountains, and is the best time to explore Caracol and the waterfalls. The rainy season, from June to November, brings lush landscapes and fuller waterfalls, with September and October the wettest months and the peak of hurricane season on the coast.
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Questions, answered
- Who owns Blancaneaux Lodge?
- The film director Francis Ford Coppola, who restored the lodge after discovering it while filming in Central America.
- Does Blancaneaux Lodge have a pool?
- Yes, a horseshoe-shaped hot pool and an infinity pool, plus natural river pools.
- How far is Blancaneaux Lodge from Belize City?
- About 85 miles, roughly two and a half to three hours by road, or by charter flight to its airstrip.
- Can you visit Maya ruins from Blancaneaux?
- Yes. Caracol, the largest Maya site in Belize, is a day trip away.
