HotmailTop 10 Central American beach escapes
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Placencia, Belize
Situated on the slender Placencia Peninsula that juts off Belize's southern coast, Francis Ford Coppola's Turtle Inn is anything but Hollywood glam (in a good way). Bungalows outfitted with handsome Balinese furnishings and private pools are tinged with rustic details like outdoor showers; entertainment comes in the form of complimentary bikes, kayaks, and paddleboats; a Thai massage at the spa; or simple wooden tables for card games on the beach. The restaurant Mare skews Italian with brick-oven pizza and a Coppola-heavy wine list. Fly direct to Belize City from Miami, Houston, or Dallas in 2 hours; from there, it's a 40-minute trip on a charter plane.
From $285/night, includes breakfast; blancaneaux.com
Roatán, Honduras
Roatán — north of mainland Honduras in the Caribbean sea and the largest of the Bay Island chain — is surrounded by more than 60 miles of living reef and is one of the most affordable places worldwide to learn scuba. Open-water certification courses last three to four days, after which divers can troll for rare whale sharks. The secluded plantation-style Reef House Resort organizes three dives daily. Non-divers can swim with sea turtles in the saltwater pool or explore the island's west-end beaches. The best time to visit is February through June; fly direct to Roatán from several U.S. cities, including Houston and Miami.
From $290/night, all-inclusive dive package; reefhouseresort.com
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
Lucky for visitors, the remote northwestern Nicoya Peninsula has remained under the radar despite Costa Rica's recent popularity. Like Hawaii circa 1960, the area has wild, empty stretches of pale sand backed by palm and almond trees and only rough roads to get you there. Sumptuous FlorBlanca resort has 10 airy, elegant villas on a lush 7-acre property; accommodations are linked by a footpath, which leads to a quiet beach. Complimentary yoga classes are held in an ocean-facing dojo; bike, surfboard, and snorkeling equipment rentals are included. The resort is serious about environmentalism, meeting the rigorous sustainability standards of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute. To reach this far-flung locale, fly to San José and from there, the resort will help arrange a commercial or charter flight, or a (6-hour) ground shuttle.
From $675/night, includes airport transfers; florblanca.com
Travel Guide: Belize
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Travel Guide: Panama
Travel Guide: Costa Rica
With the buzz of great values and laid-back tropical style, Nicaragua flashed onto the radar and was dubbed the new Costa Rica. Not so fast. Thanks to colonial charm and untouched natural beauty, Nicaragua deserves recognition in its own right. Ridgetop Pelican Eyes ... Piedras y Olas Hotel & Resort overlooks fishing village San Juan del Sur, which sits in a bay rimmed with golden sand on the country's southwestern Pacific coast. The resort boasts starch-white villas set in tropical gardens, with vaulted cane ceilings and spectacular views. Other perks include sailing trips and several infinity pools, which are a welcome alternative to trekking down a staircase to the beach. To reach Pelican Eyes, fly into the capital city of Managua and the resort will arrange a shuttle for the 2-hour ride.
From $240/night, includes breakfast; piedrasyolas.com
San Juan del Sur (outskirts), Nicaragua
Thirty minutes outside the village of San Juan del Sur (see no. 9) and near the Costa Rican border, Morgan's Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge — set up by a French couple as a conservation project — rests on more than 4,400 acres of protected forest, complete with an estuary and private beach. Fifteen primitive-chic bungalows blend into the jungle hillside; each is crafted from a medley of local timber and outfitted with private decks facing west to catch the sunset. Not for acrophobes, the bungalows are connected to the main lodge by a 325-foot suspension bridge that crosses a leafy canyon. Guests dine at La Bastide, which serves Nicaraguan-Asian-French fusion cuisine with many ingredients (like the brown sugar) produced on-site. To get there, fly into the cities of Liberia or San José in Costa Rica, or to Managua, and then take a 2- to 3-hour car transfer to the resort.
From $241/night, all inclusive; morgansrock.com
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