Turneffe Island Resort sits on Little Caye Bokel, a private, fourteen acre island at the southern tip of Turneffe Atoll, about ninety minutes by boat from Belize City. First opened in 1962 as one of the country's original offshore fishing lodges, the property has grown into a five star, all inclusive retreat while keeping its old Belizean character: mahogany interiored cottages with red tin roofs, screened porches, and a staff that reportedly outnumbers the guests in any given week.
The island's biggest draw is what surrounds it. Turneffe Atoll holds dozens of dive sites, and the Great Blue Hole is close enough for a day trip, which makes the resort a natural base for scuba divers, snorkelers and fly anglers chasing bonefish, permit and tarpon on the surrounding flats. Back on land, guests can cool off in the freshwater pool, book a treatment at the Serenity Spa, or gather at the clubhouse bar and dining room for family style Belizean meals.
Accommodations range from Deluxe and Superior rooms to freestanding Private, Premium and Sunset Villas, up to a two bedroom Presidential Villa with its own infinity pool, so the resort suits everyone from serious dive and fishing groups to honeymooners looking for a quiet, all inclusive island escape. The remote setting and small room count keep the experience intimate, though the private boat to and from the mainland runs on a fixed weekly schedule, so trips need to be planned around it.
