Thatch Caye Resort

The idea of an eco-resort in Belize is not an unfamiliar one, and it’s appealing enough as it is. Thatch Caye, however, distinguishes itself with a private-island location, and a positively idyllic one at that — all the photos you see in the slideshow above were taken within a 25-minute boat ride from the property, and in this part of the world a 25-minute boat ride is roughly equivalent to a brisk stroll down to the corner.

Perhaps not coincidentally, a 25-minute boat ride from the mainland is the only way to get here. The island is automobile-free, which certainly contributes to the desert-island atmosphere. It’s like the Caribbean minus what’s stereotypical about the Caribbean — nightlife at Thatch Caye is a mellow affair, with disco dancing and nightclubbing just a distant memory.

The accommodations consist of five overwater cabanas, four larger casitas with rooftop patios, and a single Family Villa, essentially a triple unit on stilts above the sea. There isn't a bad view to be had anywhere. But as is usual with such isolated resorts — especially small-footprint, eco-friendly ones — it’s not the accommodations so much as the setting that provides the real hook. Here you’ll do most anything that can be done in water, from snorkeling and diving to kayaking and fly-fishing — and in a place this tranquil, the time-honored pursuit of complete inactivity is also a very worthy option.

How to get there: From mainland Belize, commuter flights to the Dangriga airport are available from the Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City (15-minute flight). A Thatch Caye Resort boat will shuttle you to the resort in about 25 minutes.