The prow of the boat cut through the gentle surf before slowing to a stop just offshore from a powdery white-sand beach. Beyond the bow, the water shifted from a deep, opaque blue to a clear aquamarine, beckoning us from sea to shore.
Half an hour later, I was swaying lazily in a hammock, curled up like a cat with a plate of some of the freshest ceviche I’ve ever tasted. Bright lime tingled on my tongue as I used salty tortilla chips to scoop tender shrimp into my mouth.
This private island experience is exclusive to guests of The Lodge at Jaguar Reef, one of eight properties under The Belize Collection, a portfolio of luxury beach and jungle resorts within the Central American country. Accessible via a 45-minute boat ride from the village of Hopkins (home to Jaguar Reef), Rhythm Reef Caye — as the island is now known — was once owned by The Beatles’ member Ringo Starr. Today, little remains of that era beyond the crumbling shell of a concrete foundation hidden among swaying palms, a quiet reminder of an ambitious vision that never fully materialized. Now, travelers can enjoy a taste of private-island luxury without the celebrity-size price tag.
Visitors can relax along the sun-bleached beaches of Hopkins.
Credit: 2026 The Belize Collection
For clients looking to spend the night on a private island, The Belize Collection has recently acquired Blue Reef Island, a secluded 3-acre retreat with just five oceanfront cabanas, located a 20-minute boat ride from Dangriga. Beginning in December, the Rhythm Reef Caye experience will also be available to guests of Duna, the newest oceanfront addition to The Belize Collection in Hopkins. “Duna,” the Garifuna word for “water,” reflects the resort’s strong connection to Belize’s coastal culture and natural surroundings.
That connection comes alive throughout the day. In an open-air kitchen, a chef cooked over a rustic wood-burning stove, serving smoked fish and juicy grilled chicken atop crisp vegetables. As evening fell, I indulged my inner child with gooey, perfectly charred marshmallows — an elevated take on the classic s’more. The feast fueled an afternoon of snorkeling above gently swaying coral reefs, as well as wobbling across the water on a paddleboard as waves slapped against its sides.
The serenity of island life felt worlds away from the adrenaline-fueled adventure we experienced on the Waterfalls Cave Expedition as guests of The Banks, another Belize Collection property tucked deep within the country’s rainforest interior. Though many travelers skip this region, the Sibun River Valley lies just over an hour from the soft, sun-bleached beaches of Hopkins. Connecting these contrasting landscapes — reef and rainforest — is central to the collection’s philosophy.
Our day inland was spent navigating a sprawling limestone cave system, squeezing through bat-filled tunnels, floating across dark pools and scrambling up — then leaping from — rushing waterfalls. After hours of adventure, a candlelit lunch awaited us deep inside the cave.
It’s one of several immersive excursions available to guests of The Banks and another nearby Belize Collection hotel, The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant, through operator and eco-lodge Ian Anderson's Caves Branch. And when the more famous Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (better known as ATM Cave) is inaccessible due to flooding, travelers can instead explore a hidden ceremonial cave tucked within the vast wilderness surrounding the two hotels via a guided tour.
Back at either property, clients can unwind beside their private pool or dine on a tranquil riverside patio. Complimentary bicycles make it easy to explore hanging bridges and the fort-like Nest at Sleeping Giant, while horseback riding excursions and tours to the ancient Maya ruins of Xunantunich can also be arranged.
Still, leaving one’s room may prove difficult. Riverfront suites at The Banks feature private plunge pools that can be heated against the jungle’s evening chill. Suggest clients wake before dawn to catch a smoldering sunrise ascending through steam drifting softly above the river. It has the feel of a prehistoric landscape — I half-expected a brachiosaurus to emerge above the canopy in search of breakfast.
By late 2026, The Banks will evolve into a more family-focused resort.
Credit: 2026 The Belize CollectionBy late 2026, The Banks will evolve into a more modern, family-focused resort, with every new villa featuring a kitchenette and private plunge pool. The two rainforest properties will also share a new spa and fitness center complete with massages, sauna experiences and cold plunges.
Art, culture and conservation are also becoming central to The Banks’ evolving identity. A continued artist-in-residence program will invite creatives to split their time between The Banks and Jaguar Reef, giving guests the opportunity to engage with artists and their work firsthand. The property has also launched Riverside Rhythms. a monthly jazz-and-dinner series that spotlights Belizean musicians and performers in a country where live jazz remains relatively rare.
That connection to place extends beyond culture and into the surrounding landscape. The 600-acre property, once part of a citrus plantation, now serves as an important wildlife corridor. Through the Trail Tales program, clients can participate in wildlife tracking and camera-trapping initiatives in partnership with Belize Wild Cats, while reforestation efforts continue across The Banks and Sleeping Giant through dedicated tree-planting and habitat restoration projects.
From coral reefs to rainforest rivers, The Belize Collection offers more than a luxury escape; it creates a deeper, more intimate connection to Belize itself. Whether clients are adventuring through caves or unwinding beneath swaying palms, each experience is rooted in the country’s culture, landscape and natural beauty.
