About this hotel
General information
This small resort covers five acres of Placencia Caye, an islet just off Placencia village, with the Caribbean and the Belize Barrier Reef on one side and protected mangroves and a calm lagoon on the other. There are only ten spacious suites in The Inn and seven multi-bedroom villas, so the island keeps the feel of a private house rather than a hotel.
Craft from Belizean and Central American artisans runs through the interiors: hand-carved mahogany doors and ceilings, chiselled slate signs and wide windows onto the sea. The days are shaped by the spa, an open-air yoga terrace, a covered pickleball court and cooking built on the resort’s own farmstead and greenhouse, local growers and the day’s catch. A concierge team plans trips to the reef and the rainforest, and villa guests can arrange a butler and a private chef.
Location
The resort sits on Placencia Caye in the Stann Creek district of southern Belize, about five minutes by boat from the pier in Placencia village at the tip of the Placencia peninsula. From Belize’s international airport (near Belize City), Tropic Air and Maya Island Air fly to the Placencia airstrip in around 35 minutes; from there guests are driven to the pier at no charge and taken across in the resort’s boat, while the drive from the international airport takes about 2.5 hours. A boat shuttle runs between the island and the village throughout the day, and guests arriving by yacht can berth at the resort’s dock, with shore power and fresh water.
Spa
The Spa at Prana Maya opens daily from 9am and also welcomes visitors staying elsewhere. Its treatment rooms are finished in hand-carved mahogany and look out to sea, with a separate sound therapy room and a small boutique of Belizean beauty products and botanical infusions. Massages, body and skin treatments use Cocolove, an organic plant-based skincare line made in Belize for the resort with seaweed, aloe vera and cacao.
Sports & leisure
Kayaks, paddleboards, water bikes and snorkelling gear are on hand at the beach at no charge. A lit pickleball court sits under a thatched palapa of roughly 280 m², with equipment and coaching on request, and both the fitness centre and the open-air yoga terrace on the top floor of The Inn are open around the clock. Beyond the island, the concierge arranges:
- snorkelling on the reef, island hopping between the southern cayes and dives with a dive master, including Pompion Caye;
- a sunset cruise on the Placencia Lagoon and a boat trip to the mouth of the Monkey River, where manatees can be seen in the wild;
- waterfall hikes in the Cockscomb Basin reserve, zip-lining and waterfall rappelling in Mayflower Bocawina National Park, and river tubing;
- the Maya archaeological sites of Lubaantun and Nim Li Punit (about 90 minutes each way), and Xunantunich combined with cave tubing;
- a rum tasting with a bartender in the villa and a visit to a spice farm.
Restaurants & bars
Menus draw on the resort’s own farmstead and greenhouse, local farms and fresh seafood, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices.
- The Grove — the main open-air restaurant facing the mangroves and the sea, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with Belizean touches.
- Island Bar — the cocktail bar at The Grove, open daily from morning into the evening.
- The Island Club — a kitchen and bar on the sand by the water, with a relaxed beach menu during the day.
- In-room dining for suites and villas; villa guests can book a private chef and have the kitchen stocked before arrival.
Swimming
The main infinity-edge saltwater pool beside The Inn looks out across the Caribbean in an almost 180-degree sweep. The resort has its own stretch of white-sand beach with direct access to the water, shaded by old mangroves, and every villa has its own plunge pool.
Pets
Small dogs are welcome, up to two per booking, with advance notice.
Rooms
The ten open-plan suites in The Inn each have a terrace facing the sea or the lagoon, while the seven villas, with two to four bedrooms, add a full kitchen, generous living space and a private pool. Every suite and villa has a hand-carved door of Belizean hardwood.
Suites have a 65-inch smart TV, coffee station, mini fridge, bathrobes and slippers, hairdryer, iron and steamer, safe, umbrella, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a bathroom with a walk-in shower and a terrace with seating; villas add a kitchen, washer and dryer, a bathroom for each bedroom and Sodashi bath products.
Oceanfront Open-Concept Suite
An open-plan suite looking out to the Caribbean, with sliding glass doors to a terrace and a walk-in shower; either a king bed for two or two queen beds for up to four.
Lagoon View Open-Concept Suite with Outdoor Shower
A king-bedded suite facing the island’s lagoon, with a large terrace and a bathroom with a walk-in shower, a deep soaking tub and an outdoor shower. For two guests.
Oceanfront Open-Concept Corner Suite
A corner suite with vaulted ceilings of about 5.5 m and open views over the sea and the resort pool. Artisan-made four-poster king bed, terrace and walk-in shower; for two guests.
Oceanfront Open-Concept Corner Suite with Outdoor Shower
A particularly secluded corner suite with vaulted ceilings and views of the sea and the Maya Mountains. Artisan-made four-poster king bed, terrace, and both a walk-in and an outdoor shower; for two guests.
Oceanfront Two Bedroom Villa – Two King
A stand-alone waterfront villa with two king bedrooms, each with its own sea-facing terrace and a bathroom with a soaking tub and indoor and outdoor showers. A kitchen, laundry, plunge pool facing the sea and the Maya Mountains, grill and a sofa bed in the living area; for up to six.
Oceanfront Two Bedroom Villa – Two Queen
Part of the three-storey villa: two lagoon-view queen bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen and two sofa beds. The top floor holds a games room with pool table and wet bar, a fitness area, steam shower, outdoor hot tub and a thatched palapa looking out to sea, with a pool, grill and beach access below; for up to six.
Oceanfront Three Bedroom Villa
Three king bedrooms for up to eight, the lagoon-view bedroom with its own entrance, each with a terrace and a bathroom with a soaking tub and indoor and outdoor showers. A kitchen, plunge pool facing the sea and the Maya Mountains, a grill and a sofa bed complete it.
Oceanfront Four Bedroom Villa – Four King
Four king bedrooms, two facing the sea and two the lagoon, each with its own bathroom and a large soaking tub in the main one. The open living and dining space gives onto an infinity-edge pool, a large terrace and a private stretch of beach with direct access to the water, with a kitchen, laundry and grill; for up to eight.
Oceanfront Four Bedroom Villa – Three King
Three king bedrooms and a bunk room, four bathrooms and two powder rooms, with a double shower inside the main bathroom plus an outdoor shower and soaking tub. A games room with pool table, bar and sofa bed, a kitchen, laundry, infinity-edge plunge pool and grill facing the sea; for up to 14.
Oceanfront Four Bedroom Villa – Four Queen
A three-storey villa with four lagoon-view queen bedrooms, five bathrooms, two kitchens and three sofa beds. The top floor has a games room with pool table and wet bar, a fitness area, steam shower, hot tub and a thatched palapa facing the sea, with a large pool, grill and beach access below; for up to 14.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.