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Star Struck - On a private island

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Pole to Pole

Pole to Pole

What it’s like to stay at an ultra-luxurious villa resort on a private island in the Caribbean where guests are treated like A-listers

by Ali Wunderman

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All photos credit: www.aprivateisland.com

Admittedly, I hoped to cross paths with an A-list celebrity like Leo during my four-day stay on the ultra-exclusive cay, but privacy is so thoughtfully built into the landscape that I was barely aware six other villas existed beyond my own. The moment my Tropic Air flight touched down in San Pedro, the team at Cayo Espanto whisked me away into a world of elegance and service, starting with a private boat ride directly to my 2,600 square-foot, two-bedroom villa with its own dock, personal plunge pool and al fresco showers.

All photos credit: www.aprivateisland.com

Hundreds of islands can be found peppering the coast of Belize, but none offer the level of luxury afforded Cayo Espanto’s guests. Each villa is staffed by two dedicated attendants, able to meet essentially any whim their charges may have. Detailed pre-trip surveys gather information like what types of desserts you prefer, or how involved you want your attendants to be in your stay. The open-air villas are stylish and well constructed, combining comfort with relaxation and decked out with perks like Turkish bathrobes, Egyptian cotton linens, a butler’s pantry with snacks and drinks. It’s exactly what any celebrity vacation should entail.

All photos credit: www.aprivateisland.com

I, at least, felt famous being flown by private charter to visit the Lamanai Maya ruins, the pilot waiting on the jungle runway for me to finish my leisurely tour. When I spent a morning fishing before eating our freshly-grilled catch on a white sand beach, I half expected the paparazzi to burst from the surrounding mangrove.

All photos credit: www.aprivateisland.com

Indulgent excursions would surely please anyone, but it’s the details behind the decadence that really made Cayo Espanto stand out. To preserve guests’ privacy, dinner is served nightly in your villa (featuring a menu catered individually to each party), and my attendants made sure to place and set the table somewhere unique each night: out on the dock, on the sandy beach, at the edge of the deck. Although I was always dining in my villa, a two-story architectural wonder called Estrella, they ensured I experienced the sensation of novelty every night.

All photos credit: www.aprivateisland.com

In fact, I was most impressed by the team’s ability to anticipate my needs, which was not only delightful, but allowed me to truly relax instead of getting bogged down with decision anxiety. After snorkeling with sea turtles at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, my guide asked if I would like a drink waiting upon returning to my villa. When I asked for a banana, he suggested I get a strawberrybanana smoothie instead, a much more delicious way to get the potassium my body was craving.

All photos credit: www.aprivateisland.com

It’s no wonder celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, Bill Gates, Robert De Niro, Tiger Woods, and Bradley Cooper have all reportedly stayed at Cayo Espanto. The combination of heightened privacy, top notch service, and being on a beautiful exclusive island in the Caribbean Sea is everything an A-lister could want from their Belize vacation. Belize is home to the second largest barrier reef in the world.

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