Fodor's Expert Review El Secreto

Editor's Note: This location is no longer in operation.

Billed as "barefoot luxury," El Secreto is on a sandy strip 11 miles north of San Pedro and offers a secluded beach and 13 private villas kitted out with Egyptian cotton sheets, outdoor Jacuzzis, and private decks with hammocks. Four villas sit on the beachfront, five are spread out around a saltwater lake, and the final four have garden views—along with Malin + Goetz amenities and new-to-Belize touches like pillow menus. Meals can be enjoyed at the main restaurant, which serves international fare with a Belizean accent, or at a private table set along the sand. Along with on-site activities like yoga on the pier, biking, and sailboat rides, the hotel can arrange for fishing, diving, and snorkeling trips, helicopter tours, and visits to ruins. After all the outdoor exertion, the intimate spa—with beachside and "moon tour" cabañas—is a popular choice for its nature—and marine-themed treatments. There are complimentary boat transfers on arrival and departure.