A new private-island destination is coming to Belize, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

It’s called Ray Caye, and it will make its debut off the coast of Placencia in January 2020. 

The 20-room resort is a reimagining of the former Hatchet Cay Resort, now expanded and transformed, set about 18 miles east of Placencia Village. 

The change aims to reflect “the unforgettable tropical experience of the island, highlighting the nightly visits from our friendly neighborhood Spotted Eagle Rays,” the resort said in a statement. 

Ray Caye includes four new oceanfront villas, all with private plunge pools, along with six renovated waterfront cabanas and six new guest rooms. 

That’s along with a new welcome center, a newly-built Great House (which includes four hotel rooms, an additional pool and an eatery), along with a new main pool and three new standalone cabanas. 

Ray Caye is also billing itself as the first resort in the world to install a TESLA Powerwall system, allowing the resort to operate exclusively on solar energy. 

The 7.4-acre private island was purchased in 2018 and has been undergoing a transformation project for the last year. 

All of the rooms and suites offer private outdoor spaces, while the rooms are outfitted in local hardwood and sustainable materials. 

Dining concepts include La Bodega, a provisions shop, the Lionfish Grill restaurant and the Catch831 eatery. 

There’s also a dive shop called The Pirate Reef, a pool. a gym and a yoga studio. 

Another amenity? The nearby Moho Caye, a 12-acre island also owned by Raye Caye perfect for day trips on the resort’s 46-foot catamaran. 

The relaunched resort is part of what is arguably the Caribbean’s biggest concentration of private-island destinations, from legendary outposts like Cayo Espanto to new projects like the Four Seasons Caye Chapel.

For more, visit Raye Caye Belize. 

— CJ