Turtle Inn

Belize

Rooms

25

Floors

1

Pools

2

Restaurants

3

Location

  • Beachfront

key features

Calm Beach

Calm Beach

Delicious Food

Delicious Food

Eco-Friendly

Eco-Friendly

Kid-Friendly Grounds

Kid-Friendly Grounds

Welcoming Staff

Welcoming Staff

Stay here for

The rustic charm of beachside cottages nestled away in an intimate corner of Belize, with a family feel but a touch of Hollywood glam.

Cottages start around $489. Get exclusive VIP perks, including $100 resort credit, when you book through Mango Tree.

why we like it
for families

Location and
Activities

Tour of Amenities

Best Rooms
for Families

Traveler Reviews

Other Hotels
and resources

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mango tree

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Why we like it for families

  • The Attentive Staff. Turtle Inn is part of the Francis Ford Coppola Family Hideaways Collection. The family acquired the hotel in 2001 to create an idyllic escape in Belize, and prioritize maintaining a family-feel. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a staff member who isn’t smiling or offering cheerful assistance during your stay. Turtle Inn employees are easy to spot in their blue-and-yellow uniforms, and many have worked on the premises for several years.
  • The Blissed-Out Vibe. Between the thatched-roof cottages and unspoiled beauty of the coastal landscape, you’ll forget you know the word “stress” while you’re here. The crashing waves will lull you to sleep in the evenings, as well as provide a gentle wake-up call in the mornings. Although Turtle Inn provides complimentary Wi-Fi, there is no TV available in the cottages – so if the kids need their daily dose of Bluey, remember to bring along a tablet, laptop, and/or smartphone.
  • The Kid-Friendly Activities. Turtle Inn may not have a kids’ club, but there are numerous child-centric activities that can be arranged by the resort’s staff. Kids can go fishing and feed the turtles and chickens on-site. They might even get the chance to collect eggs from the chickens too! But the best part of all is Turtle Inn’s kids-only gelato bar, “No Adults Allowed”!
  • The Adult and Family Pools. Turtle Inn boasts two infinity swimming pools, with one designated for adults only, and the other for families. The setup is the best of both worlds: The family pool lets the kids swim around to their hearts’ content – with the adult pool ready and waiting should a parent need a quick break.

Turtle Inn offers Mango Tree guests VIP amenities including: Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability; $100 resort credit; Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability; Complimentary Wi-Fi. Let’s get you VIP’d!

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Location and Activities

Turtle Inn is a 2 hour-and-a-half hour drive from Belize’s International Airport (Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport). But most travelers choose to take a one-hour domestic flight to Placencia, with Turtle Inn a two-minute drive from the Placencia Airport.

Tour of Amenities

Dining

  • 2+ Restaurants
  • All-Inclusive Option
  • Breakfast Included
  • Farm-to-Table
  • High-Chairs
  • Kids Menu
  • Restaurant On-Site
  • Room Service
  • Walk to Restaurants

Rooms

  • Air Conditioning
  • Bathtubs
  • Cribs
  • Fridge
  • Kitchen
  • Laundry
  • Private Pools
  • Rollaway Beds
  • Terrace/Balcony

For Kids

  • Animals
  • Babysitting
  • Calm Beach
  • Good Pool for Littles
  • Kids Activities
  • Kids Club
  • Ocean Waves for Active Kids
  • Playground
  • Waterslide
Pool at Martinhal Sagres in Portugal

Activities

  • Adventure Sports
  • Fitness Center
  • Golf
  • Hiking
  • Pool
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Surfing
  • Tennis
  • The Family Coppola Hideaways Turtle Inn may be a rustic resort, but the name behind it has an alluring pedigree. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola purchased this piece of paradise with his wife, Eleanor, in 2001. The result: a chic, sustainable beachfront resort, with an undeniable hint of glam and luxury.
  • Turtle Inn sits at the end of a 26-mile-long beach peninsula between the Garifuna community of Seine Bight and the picturesque Creole fishing village of Placencia. Come here for the beach, the marine life, and the chill atmosphere.
  • The moment you set foot on the property, and especially when you enter the rooms, you will notice how everything just screams “Bali” – from the intricate design and woodwork, to the beautiful gardens overlooking the sea. The entire inn is immaculately designed with Balinese artwork, linens, and custom wooden doors.
  • Turtle Inn has just 25 cottages and villas, arranged to ensure all guests’ privacy. The single room cottages are best for couples and solo travelers, but Stella’s Starfish Cottage has two bedrooms and is ideal for families. Two- and three-bedroom seafront villas will provide families the most space. Large families or groups of friends might also book the property’s crown jewel, the multi-bedroom Sofia’s Beach House.
  • All cottages contain a hammock on the balcony, mosquito screens and bed nets, a standard bathroom with wooden furnishing, and an enclosed garden with an outdoor shower. The rooms have raised roofs and screened windows for constant air flow. There are no televisions or air conditioners at Turtle Inn.
  • There’s no shortage of bar and restaurant options on property. Restaurant Mare, the flagship restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and features Italian cuisine like pasta and pizza. The Laughing Fish Bar, a smaller beachfront restaurant, serves similar fares but here you can dig into your food while dipping your toes in the sand. Other choices include the Gauguin Grill, offering grilled lobster and fish, and Auntie Luba’s Kitchen, which serves up authentic Belizean cuisine.
  • Children’s menus are available at the on-site restaurants. Also, did we mention the kids-only ice cream bar?
  • For guests looking to relax, Turtle Inn features two saltwater infinity pools, including a smaller, adults-only pool in the gardens with stunning ceramic flooring displaying the resort’s namesake. The family-friendly pool overlooks the sea.
  • The staff is happy to help arrange babysitting with advance notice.
  • Parents should book a treatment at the Sunset Spa, or arrange a private yoga class on their deckAvailable excursions for more adventurous days include boating trips, ziplining, and visits to Mayan ruins and organic farms. If you’re planning a water-based activity, the inn provides free-to-use sports equipment, and the concierge is more than happy to make suggestions and book activities as needed.
  • Golf carts for drives into Placencia can be added onto your room.

Best Rooms for Families

The hotel has several categories of cottages and villas, but these ones have the best room configurations for families.
Stella’s Starfish Cottage

Stella’s Starfish Cottage

  • Best for families of 3-5
  • Two bedrooms (queen, queen)
  • Two bathrooms (ground floor, upstairs)
  • Separate living room
  • Fully equipped kitchen
  • Private deck and swimming pool
View on Hotel Website
Garden View Villas

Garden View Villas

  • Best for families of 3-5
  • Two bedrooms (king, king)
  • Living area and dining area
  • Two ensuite bathrooms with bathtub
  • Screened-in private porch garden view
View on Hotel Website
Seafront Villas

Seafront Villas

  • Best for families of 3-5
  • Two bedrooms (king, king)
  • Living area room with couch
  • Two ensuite bathrooms with bathtub
  • Outdoor shower
  • Screened-in private porch with private garden
  • Steps from the sea
View on Hotel Website
Francis' Family Pavilion

Francis' Family Pavilion

  • Best for families of 4-6
  • Two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms
  • Third loft bedroom accessed by a ladder
  • Living area and dining area
  • Two ensuite bathrooms with indoor showers
  • Outdoor showers
  • Private pool and oceanfront lounge deck
View on Hotel Website
Sofia’s Beach House (Four bedrooms)

Sofia’s Beach House (Four bedrooms)

  • Best for large families and groups
  • Master bedroom (king)
  • Adjacent children’s room (bunk beds)
  • Two guest bungalows with king bed + bathroom
  • Full kitchen, living room, dining room, media room
  • Private pool and sundecks
View on Hotel Website

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Traveler Reviews

A Touch of Paradise This was the most relaxing vacation we have ever had. We took advantage of all the excursions the Inn has to offer. The food was excellent. We were so impressed with the kind and friendly staff. From snorkeling to visiting Mayan ruins, the trip couldn’t have been better! Whether you are a family, a couple, or a business looking for a place to have an employee retreat, you won’t be disappointed.

Reviewed by clairerM6028AB, Dec 2022, via TripAdvisor

We love it! This is my favorite place to escape to a tropical beach on the water, sand, beautiful accommodations, spa, snorkeling and dive trips, and fabulous service. We will continue to go at least once a year. We love to go just the two of us, with adult friends, or with the family. It is one of the very few places we make repeat visits. We love it.

Reviewed by clairerM6028AB, Dec 2022, via TripAdvisor

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Other Hotels and Resources

Want to see more of what Belize has to offer? Dive into our complete Belize Collection for more family-friendly hotels in Belize and must-do activities. If you’re still in the ‘Hmm, which island?’ phase, our ‘Find Your Caribbean Island‘ page is designed to help busy parents like you sift through the noise and pick the perfect family getaway.