Turneffe Island Resort

Barrier Reef, Belize

Turneffe Island Resort is located on an idyllic private coral atoll right on the Belize Barrier Reef, where unbelievably rich snorkeling is just a 10-minute boat ride from the white-sand beaches. This represents a huge advantage over the mainland resorts, which require at least a two-hour boat ride (each way!) to reach the quality dive or snorkeling sites. The resort’s original lodge, built by Mennonite craftsmen in the 1960s, was recently remodeled to enhance the original “old Caribbean” design. There are 12 air-conditioned guest rooms and eight cabanas, each with private bath (you’ll love the extra outdoor shower) and patio, and they ring the perimeter of the island so they catch the cooling Caribbean trade winds. Family-style meals feature Caribbean and international cuisine, including fresh seafood from the surrounding waters. A bonus to staying at Turneffe: a dive (or snorkel) at the legendary Blue Hole, a dive site discovered by Jacques Cousteau that’s an amazing marvel of nature with its incredible walls and drop-offs.