Lush, green and floating above the sea 3 miles from the coast of Belize, Cayo Espanto private island resort is a haven of tranquility for travelers in search of respite. The island resort has received multiple awards, including a World Culinary Award for Belize’s Best Hotel Restaurant.

© Cayo Espanto

Dining experiences are under the direction of executive chef Patrick Houghton, who incorporates local fare and tailors menus according to personal preferences expressed by each guest prior to arrival. Sample menus might include almond-crusted local grouper fillet served atop blackened corn and plantain mash; hard-shell clams, green lip mussels and calamari sauteed with garlic, white wine, spinach and parsley and lightly tossed with freshly made linguine; or char-grilled lamb chops with sauteed green beans and beet curls over Lyonnaise potatoes and finished with cherry-infused pinot sauce. Chef Houghton’s culinary team can also assist with wine pairings from the resort’s own wine collection.

© Cayo Espanto

Also at the resort, guests find an on-site spa therapist available to deliver a variety of facials, therapeutic treatments and massages such as the Coconut Ginger Glow — a sugar body polish followed by a warm coconut milk bath. Activities include a selection of bird-watching tours, scuba-diving charters, fishing trips and private snorkeling excursions. Daytrips to mainland Belize include tours of Mayan ruins, local spas and river expeditions.

Each of the seven 5-star luxury villas features a personal butler and its own dock — the ideal setting for private fishing lessons. Other amenities — which vary according to specific casa — include private plunge pools, walled gardens and a private infinity plunge pool.

© Cayo Espanto

Accommodation choices include an over-the-water bungalow, along with one- and two-bedroom casas. Make it a family, friend or corporate getaway and rent the entire island, which can lodge up to 18 guests.