Turneffe Island Resort recently debuted its relaunched hotel and resort. This unique private island oasis offers adventure-seekers a personalized experience with unparalleled fishing, diving and snorkeling excursions. Spread across 14 acres, this hidden gem island at the southern tip of the Turneffe Atoll is 35 miles off the coast of Belize City and only 30 miles from the world-famous Great Blue Hole.
The resort specializes in customizable, all-inclusive fishing, diving and snorkeling packages for avid water enthusiasts. From the lengths of the saltwater Turneffe Flats to the depths of the Great Blue Hole, guests have easy access to Caribbean waters – and seasoned guides who grew up on the water of the centuries-old Turneffe Atoll channels, lagoons and reef.
“We are delighted to unveil the new Turneffe Island Resort on our 15-year anniversary. We’ve renovated some parts of the property, as we do after each season, but we’re especially excited to make a dramatic debut for guests, both returning and new, this season,” said Deborah Finkler, sales and marketing manager, Turneffe Island Resort. “We’ve enhanced our special adventure packages and have a brand new website to allow visitors to virtually experience all the luxury and adventure that the island and surrounding Caribbean waters can offer.”
Guests come to Turneffe Island Resort to cross something off their bucket list. Anglers can expect up to eight hours on the water every day, whether fly fishing in the flats or spin fishing in the deep waters. The resort is known as one of the only places in the world where one can chase the elusive “Caribbean Grand Slam”, catching a bonefish, tarpon and permit, all in one day. Guests can also fish for snapper, barracuda and jack for a truly unforgettable fish story. With born fishermen guiding the program, guests have landed their names in the International Game Fish Association (IFGA) record books season after season. Turneffe Island Resort is also pleased to announce a new fishing director, Greg Bicker, avid fly fish pro, to help guide the expanding fishing program at the resort.
The resort offers multiple dives per day with Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)-certified guides, a weekly night dive and trips to one of the deepest dives in the world, the legendary Great Blue Hole, a collapsed 1000-year old oceanic cave, where divers head 130 feet underwater. In between fishing, diving and snorkeling guests can enjoy kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming and sun bathing. It is also the perfect destination for foodies with the kitchen and bar staff serving fresh and local international cuisine and cocktail creations.
Turneffe Island Resort has much of the property including its exclusive 22 beachside guestrooms, allowing guests to enjoy the ultimate in privacy and luxury. The secluded presidential and honeymoon villas are available for guests seeking luxury accommodations with even more space. Guestrooms and villas embody peace and relaxation and are adorned with floor-to-ceiling Belizean mahogany wood interiors.
Turneffe Island Resort has had a long and interesting history and was originally the first offshore fishing lodge in Belize. Relaunched in 2001 under new family ownership as the Turneffe Island Resort, today’s resort features three original buildings, an outdoor bar and pool, a string of private villas along its white sand shoreline and a helicopter pad.
The resort and its staff boast consistency in excellence, easily outnumbering the guests at any given time and providing personalized, white-glove service that meet the specific needs and desires of each individual guest. With direct flights from US cities Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and New York to Belize City, Turneffe Island Resort is remote, but not difficult to get to.