Last year I first wrote about a pretty incredible-looking new Four Seasons coming to the Americas. I wanted to share an update on this property, as we now have a better sense of when it will open. Specifically, I’m talking about the Four Seasons that’s coming to Belize.
While the hotel isn’t yet accepting reservations, and there’s also no way to redeem points at Four Seasons properties (aside from a cashback-based travel rewards program), this truly looks like it’s going to be a very special resort.
In this post:
Four Seasons Belize Caye Chapel basics
The Four Seasons Resort & Residences Caye Chapel, Belize, is anticipated to open in the second quarter of 2024. Unfortunately this represents a pretty significant delay, as the hotel was initially supposed to open in 2021. However, as you’d expect, with foreign investments and general delays with everything nowadays, this isn’t too surprising.
The hotel doesn’t yet have a Four Seasons website, aside from the webpage for residences. Here are some basics of the new Four Seasons in Belize:
- It will be located on a private island (named Caye Chapel) around 16 miles from Belize City, and can be reached by a 30 minute boat ride or eight minute flight (the island even has a landing strip)
- The Four Seasons will feature 104 guest rooms and suites, some of which will be overwater bungalows, and will also feature 24 private residences
- In addition to all the amenities you’d expect at a resort (a beach, pools, restaurants, gym, spa, etc.), the island will feature an 18-hole golf course, and a Fabien Cousteau conservation center
- The island will be close to the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is also the largest coral reef in the Northern Hemisphere
- This isn’t the first time there will be a resort on Caye Chapel, as there was an all-inclusive property and golf course there around a decade ago, but that’s now all being redeveloped
Below are some renderings of the new Four Seasons Belize.
And below is a video with some aerial footage of Caye Chapel, filmed long before construction of the Four Seasons was close to being complete:
You can find more information about the island in general on the developer’s website. It would appear that homes start from $4.5 million — yow!
This private island resort looks incredible
I think I’m not alone in saying that this property looks stunning. What a cool concept — you have a private island with overwater bungalows, access to an amazing reef, golfing, and good proximity to major US airports (Belize City can be reached nonstop from Miami in two hours, and nonstop from New York or Los Angeles in around four to five hours).
This looks like the Maldives, only better, and without the jetlag and distance. I can’t imagine the kind of rates that this hotel will be able to command, given the proximity to California, New York, etc., along with the variety of amenities, from golfing to snorkeling.
Just before the pandemic I visited Calala Island in Nicaragua, which is a Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) property that I booked with World of Hyatt points. I had an incredible stay, though admittedly that’s a slightly different concept — it’s a private island with just four villas, and it’s also a bit more of a trek to get to.
Bottom line
Four Seasons has quite a few hotels in the pipeline, though nothing looks quite as amazing to me as the new private island Caye Chapel property in Belize. This Four Seasons will feature overwater villas, a runway, an amazing reef, and a golf course, and I can’t imagine how popular this will become. Unfortunately we’ll have to wait a bit longer, as the hotel is now only scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2024.
Too bad Four Seasons doesn’t have a loyalty program where you can redeem points!
Anyone else think the new Four Seasons Belize looks kind of amazing?
Belize is known for its real estate scams and paradise fantasies, including multiple hospitality dreams and schemes. Remember Leonardo's island, Blackadore Caye dream, Sanctuary Belize scam, Placencia International Airport fantasy, etc., ect. This is not to question the Four seasons project. Crimes against tourists is a good reason not to visit Belize. Terrible and/or corrupt policing doesn't make one feel safe. Even when you know the place well.
A golf course next to the second largest barrier reef = not good.
Looks great Lucky!
Have you stayed at a Capella hotel? I saw an announcement for a new property in Kyoto and looks like something is underway in Sydney too? Would be interested to hear what you know of them?
Looks amazing. I suspect room rates will start from 2k and the ones on stilt will be 3k and up. Not that different pricing from luxury resorts in Turks and Caicos. This will cater to NY crowd whereas people on West coast will likely stick with Hawaii and Baja peninsula as there are a lot more nonstop flights. And if you live in SF Bay Area, you might as well head to French Polynesia as aggregate flight time, layover will be about the same.
Looks absolutely stunning. I guess I'm going to start saving now :D!
I've been to this island, years ago. It's a small place -- it's gonna be crowded if they build all this stuff. This looks fairly nice, especially by Belize standards. Though some of the "renderings" contain a LOT of unrealistic, laughable wishful thinking. All those individual private pools just a few steps away from the waterline on the sandy beach...not gonna survive the first tropical storm season....that large, square, artificial harbor, no place on that...
I've been to this island, years ago. It's a small place -- it's gonna be crowded if they build all this stuff. This looks fairly nice, especially by Belize standards. Though some of the "renderings" contain a LOT of unrealistic, laughable wishful thinking. All those individual private pools just a few steps away from the waterline on the sandy beach...not gonna survive the first tropical storm season....that large, square, artificial harbor, no place on that long skinny island to put that. This place will not do well in the first hurricane that blows through. But yes, it should be popular until then. Note: Contrary to what's posted (by someone who lives in Miami...), Belize is not particularly "close" to California -- getting to Belize usually involves an overnight on a redeye from much of the US west coast. For Californians, Hawaii or Baja are "close" (unless you have your own Gulfstream, then everyplace is close enough).
Glad to hear from someone familiar with the Caye and Belize. Also, as someone who used to fly from Oregon and CA to Belize. Isn't a quick easy trip. I've stopped visiting Belize and sold my property there and closed my Belize business due to crime and violent crime against tourists. But if you stay on a private island, you may be safe.
Get ready for the sargassum blooms to completely overrun that beach every day. Ever since those giant blooms started happening the windward Caribbean beaches (already not the best) have been unusable thanks to the algae blooms