Belize has many eco-resorts in its unspoiled rainforests — Chaa Creek and the Ka’Ana Resort, to name a couple of outstanding examples — but this Central American nation also has hundreds of miles of Caribbean coastline on its eastern border, as well as hotspots like Ambegris Caye and Caye Culker in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. And where there’s beach in Belize you’ll find beach resorts, from Belize City and San Pedro in the north to Hopkins and Placencia in the south.

Cayo Espanto By Belizean resort standards, Cayo Espanto has been around forever — the opening of this private island resort off the coast of San Pedro 22 years ago helped put luxury travel to Belize’s islands on the map. This tiny island has just seven villas (including one overwater villa) and — with a two-to-one staff to guest ratio — surrounds guests with service, from butler-delivered meals and spa treatments to outdoor activities that include wading into the shallow waters off the island for guided fly fishing, and snorkeling, scuba diving and boating on and around the nearby Mesoamerican Reef and the famous Blue Hole.