Backpackers trekking through the jungle highlands of Belize a few years ago sometimes stumbled onto a rustic place called Blancaneaux Lodge - then a row of thatched huts above an idyllic valley where waterfalls drop into granite pools lined with tiger ferns and parrots roost in the palmettos.
Francis Ford Coppola himself stumbled upon this same enchanted retreat in the Mountain Pine Ridge reserve in 1981. "I'd been looking for some kind of tropical utopia," Coppola says. "This was the paradise hideaway I was looking for." The rest is history...

Coppola's personal vision for Blancaneaux Lodge is one of rustic comfort in harmony with its surroundings. He invested in a private hydroelectric plant that harnesses the power of the Privassion River and gives the Lodge 24 hour electricity. He plans to use the surplus heat that the hydro generates for a spa.

Mexican architect, Manolo Mestre worked with Coppola on the expansion of the Lodge into a full-scale resort. The villas he created rise from the jungle on stilts and have soaring hardwood and hand-woven thatch ceilings. Francis and Eleanor Coppola chose the furnishings for each villa themselves from Mexico and Guatemala. The mahogany furniture on the decks and in the restaurant is hand-crafted in San Ignacio - the closest town to Blancaneaux - and the slate bar carved with ancient Mayan symbols was created by a local artisan.

There are bright splashes of tropical color - hand-woven bedspreads, carved animals and masks set against warm wood tones. Luxurious tiled Japanese baths come with a view of the jungle sky and local herbal soaps to wash away urban worries. The end result is both soothing and stimulating in its exoticism.

The food at Blancaneaux is as unique as the decor. Guests can start their day with freshly squeezed orange juice--you pass the groves on the way to the Lodge, bread baked that morning and plates of fresh fruit. The restaurant boasts the only wood-burning pizza oven in the country, and Coppola imported both an espresso machine and coffee roaster. The menu features many Coppola family recipes and proudly reflects his Italian heritage. Local chickens are home-smoked behind the restaurant, and virtually all the produce and fruit come from the large garden on the property. In addition to pizzas and pastas, there are a changing array of daily specials, including Mrs. Scorsese's Lemon Chicken, and a second chicken dish credited to Coppola's mother, Italia. Fresh fish from the coast also appears frequently on the menu. Coppola's wines from his Napa Valley estate, Niebaum-Coppola, are available on the wine list

Tatler magazine recently named Blancaneaux one of "the top 10 resorts with everything" and called it "The last resort for people who don't like resorts." Even the most world-weary traveler will be transported by the beauty of this jungle hideaway, which clearly reflects the vision of its creator.
Blancaneaux also was selected a 1997 Grand Award Winner by Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report.

Accommodation Rates Until Mar 15 /08 Easter week
Mar 16 - 24, 08		 Mar 25 - May 31 /08 Jun 1 - Nov 30, 08
GARDEN CABANAS        
Single Occupancy $225 $225 $225 $180
Double Occupancy $260 $285 $260 $230
FAMILY CABANAS        
Double Occupancy $280 $315 $280 $240
Triple Occupancy $330 $365 $330 $290
Quadruple Occupancy $380 $415 $380 $340
RIVERFRONT CABANAS        
Single Occupancy $265 $290 $265 $220
Double Occupancy $315 $340 $315 $270
HONEYMOON CABANA        
Double Occupancy $345 $365 $345 $290
LUXURY HONEYMOON CABANA        
Double Occupancy $450 $495 $450 $400
VILLAS (2-bedroom/2-bathroom)        
Double Occupancy $500 $550 $500 $475
Triple Occupancy $550 $600 $550 $525
Quad Occupancy $600 $650 $600 $575
FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA VILLA        
Double Occupancy $675 $750 $675 $625
Triple Occupancy $725 $850 $725 $675
Quad Occupancy $775 $950 $775 $725
THE ENCHANTED COTTAGE        
Double Occupancy $1000 $1200 $1000 $800


All the above rates are plus 10% Government Hotel Tax and 10% Service Charge
Include Continental Breakfast, use of the mountain bikes and hiking trails.
*Christmas and Easter weeks 3 nights minimum stay

Extra person using existing bed: $30
Extra person using additional bed: $50
Children under 12 with additional bed: $20
One child (under 12) per adult: no charge if using existing bed

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