The Best Villas to Book for Your Vacation in Belize

Ever fantasised about retreating to a private island? Little Harvest has you covered. The caye is so tiny that you could throw a stone across it, but it has a beach and a pool, and accommodation for up to 10 guests in traditional bougainvillea-pink Caribbean cottages. Spot dolphins playing in the ocean from the foot of your bed, before rising to snorkel over reefs right off the shore. Rates include a chef, bar and staff, and if you fancy a change of scene, Placencia village is a 20-minute boat ride away.

At this six-bed Belize villa, 20 minutes’ bike ride north of Placencia village, it’s all about the bachelor party dimensions. The property stands above a secluded stretch of white sand, with a decent pool and a day spa on the doorstep. Interiors promote relaxation with a palette of creams, polished hardwoods and terracotta tiles, and there’s heaps of communal space, such as a lounge with sink-into sofas, and an eight-place dining table. Hit the large sun deck verandas for their swing seats and Adirondack chairs. A little light exercise? Kayaks and bikes are available on site.

The Enclave is a private island with space for big numbers – 26, to be precise – all within stone-skimming distance of the Placencia nightlife. There’s no beach, but the island is ringed with reef, and has a luxurious pool, complimentary kayaks, a chef and a full complement of staff. Open-plan cottage bedrooms (in contemporary muted tones with sumptuous polished-wood ceilings) are as comfortable as Belize villas get – expect huge bathrooms with optional open-roofed, under-the-stars tubs and showers. There are acres of bright and airy lounge and sun deck space, too.

With its mock hacienda architecture, gently whirring ceiling fans and colonnaded balcony decks, this Belize villa could be in the chi-chi Miami district of Coral Gables. Instead, it looks over a secluded sandy beach to sunrises over the Belize Barrier Reef, just a short paddle away in one of the complimentary kayaks. Rooms are luxurious, in swathes of white and tiles, with large wardrobes. There’s a communal lounge and a working kitchen, and a scattering of low-key restaurants nearby. Need more choice? You’ll find plenty more a 30-minute bike ride away in San Pedro Town.

Villas in Belize don’t get any more luxuriously appointed than Villa Jammin Gecko. It channels pure boutique-hotel chic, with a cool, geometric pool, bright, airy rooms in light creams and polished woods or tiles and beds with high thread-count linens. There’s space for up to 12, in five bedrooms – all with big polished-stone and mirror-lined bathrooms. Rates include a personal concierge, chef and spa service. There are bikes, kayaks and paddleboards for commutes to Placencia village (20 minutes south) or to the offshore reefs.

This imposing neoclassical pile, with a jewel of a pool and space for 14 guests, feels like a plutocrat’s home. It stands right over the sands on Ambergris Caye – the most popular resort destination in the country, albeit still low-key. Interiors work the island-fantasy look: whitewash and dark woods, wicker furnishings, marble-lined bathrooms and decorative tropical plants. There’s loads of lounge space and the house has a near-private beach. The bar-filled downtown of San Pedro is a 15-minute golf cart ride south, if you want to shake a leg.

Tick the paradise checklist: palm-shaded pool; balcony views of the sun rising over a turquoise ocean; a wave-washed reef… This Belize villa is as secluded and serene as its name Descanso (meaning rest) suggests. Yet lively San Pedro Town is just a 20-minute golf cart ride away and there are lobster grills and seafood shacks almost on the doorstep. Rooms turn heads with their Mexican-ranch-house vibes – expect flagstone floors, chunky four posters, Oaxaca textiles and painted mirrors – and there are especially attractive mosaic-lined bathrooms with whirlpool tubs for two.