Beachfront Resort on Pristine, Privately-Owned Island

Hundreds of tiny cays and shallow reefs are scattered out like dust from the coast of mainland Belize. They're some of the most untouched islands left in the Caribbean. Among them, South Water Caye stands out; it's lined with lush mangroves and pristine beaches. Travel + Leisure recently named it one of the Best Secret Islands on Earth, highlighting its proximity to the Belize Barrier Reef, a habitat for rare sea creatures such as endangered manatees, longsnout seahorses, and soaring coral pinnacles. Blue Marlin Beach Resort & Spa (formerly the Blue Marlin Lodge) is situated here, only 50 yards from the reef, and its land covers more than half of South Water Caye with a range of tropical-themed guest rooms and wooden cabins.

Blue Marlin specializes in snorkeling and diving tours, which take divers through both shallow and deep waters frequented by sea turtles and dolphins. You can also book fishing trips to angle for bonefish, which swim offshore, as well as for the barracudas lurking in channels that cut through the reef crest. Blue Marlin can also arrange land tours, such as sightseeing excursions to private waterfalls and small villages as well as high-adrenaline activities such as ziplining and cave tubing.

Most accommodations here overlook the ocean, including the standard guest rooms with private verandas decked out with hammocks. If you opt for the private island getaway, you'll rent out all the resort's rooms, dome casitas, and cottages, which is ideal for a family vacation or an elaborate two-person game of hide-and-go-seek.

South Water Caye, Belize: Small Islet Close to Barrier Reef and Marine Reserve Attractions

South Water Caye, one of Belize's many offshore islets, is the kind of place where people go to get off the grid. It's privately owned, only three-quarters of a mile long, and just a quarter mile at its widest point. There's not much room for facilities outside of the island's two resorts. But there's still plenty to do here. South Water Caye is one of the few islands off Belize that sits right atop the barrier reef, so you can step off the beach and snorkel amid schools of tropical fish.

The island also lies within the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, a protected area that encompasses a range of coastal and marine habitats such as littoral forests, seagrass beds, and mangroves. You can easily explore the area by hopping in a water taxi or kayaking to nearby cays. But between the coral reefs and inland attractions, seeing all of the sites in this reserve will probably take more than one visit. One of the highlights is the underwater cave named "Hell Hole," which features fully formed stalactites and stalagmites. Check out the bird sanctuary at Man-O-War Cay to see one of the largest nesting sanctuaries of magnificent frigate birds.