Press Room

FACT SHEET

LOCATION:

Five lush acres tracing the pristine shoreline of the northern tip of Placencia Caye, a secluded island less than 10 minutes by boat from the Placencia peninsula in southeastern Belize.

OPENING DATE: Late Fall 2024

OWNER/DEVELOPER: Prana Maya, Ltd.

MANAGEMENT COMPANY: Ashlex Hospitality, Atlanta, GA

INFORMATION/RESERVATIONS: 888-487-2011 or info@pranamayaresort.com

WEB SITE: www.pranamayaresort.com

ACCOMMODATIONS:

The Inn at Prana Maya

• 10 spacious open concept suites with residential living and sleeping areas spanning about 800 sq. ft.
• 8 suites with four poster king bed, 2 suites with two queen beds, all with 10 ft. tray ceilings, original artwork, coastal color palette, interior and exterior doors hand carved by Belizean craftsmen
• Furnished balconies with panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening to suites
  Complimentary wireless internet, 65” smart TVs, in-room coffee and beverage station, ceiling fan and air conditioning

The Villas at Prana Maya

• Seven waters-edge villas with three and four bedrooms ranging from 3,000 to 6,000 sq. ft.
• Chef-inspired kitchen; furnished terrace with unobstructed water views; infinity plunge pool; and outdoor grill area
• Villas have air conditioning, additional queen pullout bed in living area; some villas have game room, wet bar; largest villa features fitness space, steam room, outdoor hot tub and palapa

DINING:

The Grill at Prana Maya

• Island-inspired signature cuisine , with sustainably sourced, hyper-local ingredients from farm and sea
• Water views and open-air seating
• Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner
• The Cocktail Bar for cocktails, beer and wine

The Island Club at Prana Maya

• Beverages and light fare offered every afternoon
• Scenic views of Caribbean Sea and the Lagoon
• Outdoor kitchen, full-service bar, seating, firepit

Private Chef Services and In-room Dining

WELLNESS:

The Spa at Prana Maya

• Purposefully curated therapies for mind, body and spirit
• Six rooms for spa treatments, couples’ massage and sound bath meditative therapies
• Open air terrace for relaxation
• Yoga studio with view of the Caribbean Sea
• Spa refreshments and boutique
• Reef-friendly, eco-conscious sourcing of products

RESORT SERVICES:

Offerings

• Concierge
• Butler service for all accommodations
• Pre-stocked provisions upon request
• Private chef upon request for dining in villas
• In-room dining
• Daily housekeeping and turndown service
• Complimentary wireless internet throughout property
• Complimentary transportation by boat to Placencia Village

ACTIVITIES:

The Island Club at Prana Maya

• Headquarters for the resort’s recreational activities
• Paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, lawn games
• Palapa-shaded pickleball court, lighted for evening play
• Caribbean Sea and Lagoon views, chaise seating, firepit, outdoor kitchen light fare, full-service bar

Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon Fishing Expeditions—with Single-Day “Grand Slam” Potential

• New fishing boats and best-in-class equipment provided by exclusive vendor High Adventure Company

Resort Amenities

• Infinity pool with novel banquette seating, deck furnishings and views of the Caribbean Sea
• Catamaran evening cocktail cruises
• Spa for signature treatments, yoga, sound bath therapy

WEDDINGS AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS:

Seaside Ceremonies and Celebrations

• Intimate seashore setting
• On-site catering services
• Palapa (thatched roof handcrafted by Belizean palaperos)
• Wedding planner required for resort buyout

EXPERIENCES AND EXCURSIONS:

Immersive Experiences and Curated Itineraries

• Experiences may be arranged prior to arrival
• Private yachting, diving and fishing boat charter services
• Exclusive vendor High Adventure Company for world-class Permit, Bone and Tarpon fishing plus diving expeditions
• Deep sea fishing for Wahoo, Mahi-Mahi, tuna, Blue Marlin
• Diving, snorkeling, fishing and sailing at the Belize Barrier Reef, largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, second largest globally after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef 
• Diving and snorkeling experiences during annual Whale Shark season from March to June
• Iconic Xunantunich Mayan Ruins
• Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) “Cave of the Crystal Skull,” discovered in 1992
• The Great Blue Hole, giant marine sinkhole and UNESCO World Heritage Site, made famous by Jacques Cousteau in 1971
• Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
• Adventures into the Belize rainforest
• 16-mile stretch of beach on the Placencia peninsula, the longest on mainland Belize
• Placencia Village art galleries, handicrafts, jewelry, and restaurants

ABOUT BELIZE:

Central America’s least densely populated country is located south of Mexico, east of Guatemala and bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the east and dense jungle to the west.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: English

CURRENCY: Belize dollar (BZD); $2 BZD = $1 USD

TIME ZONE: U. S. Central Time Zone; Daylight Saving Time not observed

MOBILE SERVICE: Check with your carrier

PASSPORT: Valid U.S. Passport required; see www.Travel.State.gov

AVERAGE TEMPERATUREOF PLACENCIA CAYE: 75 to 87 degrees (F)

BELIZE AIRPORTS
AND TRANSFERS:

Philip S. Goldson International Airport (BZE), Belize City

• For all international arrivals and departures
• Tropic Air and Maya Island Air offer 30-minute flights to Placencia Airport
• Custom transfers by helicopter or luxury van may be arranged to Placencia Village for private boat transportation to Placencia Caye
• Car rental companies offer range of vehicles

Placencia Airport (PLJ), Placencia

• 8 minutes from Placencia Caye
• Domestic airport served by Tropic Air and Maya Island Air

DIRECT FLIGHTS:

Philip S. Goldson International Airport (BZE), Belize City
Check for specific airlines; schedules may vary seasonally

U.S.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
Denver International (DEN)
Reagan National (DCA)
Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW)
Newark Liberty International (EWR)
George Bush Intercontinental Houston (IAH)
John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
Los Angeles International (LAX)
Miami International (MIA)
Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)
San Francisco International (SFO)

Canada
Calgary International, Alberta (YYC)
Toronto Pearson International, Ontario (YYZ)

Latin America
Cancun International (CUN)
La Aurora International, Guatemala City (GUA)
Tocumen International, Panama (PTY)
Juan Manuel Galvez International, Roatan (RTB)
San Salvador International (SAL)
San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP)

BELIZE’S NEWEST PRIVATE-ISLAND RESORT IS ALL ABOUT WELLNESS—HERE’S A LOOK INSIDE

Though he’s supposed to be in what he calls his play years now, Knoxville-based real-estate entrepreneur Steve Hall still finds himself working on vacation. After a trip to Belize, he got the itch to build something new and started meeting with developers. Hall hit it off with David Keener, CEO and owner of Vision Properties, and together they acquired an isolated tract on Placencia Caye, a private island just five minutes by boat from the mainland.

In December, after two and a half years of work, they’ll start welcoming guests to Prana Maya, a secluded, wellness-focused retreat that enjoys expansive views of the Caribbean Sea, the island’s lagoon, and the Maya Mountains.

“We designed everything to inspire people,” Hall says of the property. “Every aspect of the resort is intentional. Every service we offer is designed to create that aha! moment that will rock someone’s world.”

The property includes seven three- and four-bedroom villas featuring locally carved wooden doors. The breezy, secluded structures are sited to prioritize views of the water, and each has its own plunge pool. Rooms at the Inn—a collection of 10 airy, light-filled suites—face the Caribbean. Each guest has an assigned butler, and every bed at the resort is fitted with a custom grounding mat, designed to replicate a connection with nature; some studies suggest they promote mental and physical well-being.

Belize’s tropical landscape is the locus of myriad ways to get outdoors. Its unique saltwater flats give sportfishing aficionados a bucket-list opportunity: catching what the International Game Fishing Association calls the Grand Slam—permit, tarpon, and bonefish—all in one day. So Hall and Keener recruited High Adventure Company, a global outfitter with 30 years of guiding expertise, to take guests on exclusive fishing excursions. The resort will also offer cave tubing, jungle trekking, zip-lining, and diving trips.

If you’re in search of less rugged activities, head to the spa and wellness center. The design team placed it on prime real estate: the Inn’s top floor, which has 360-degree water views and 18-foot ceilings. Here, you’ll find a yoga studio, five private treatment rooms, and a sound-therapy room. You can also enjoy Prana Maya’s private beach, the only sandy stretch on the island that isn’t shared with another property.

At the Grill, the open-air restaurant, executive chef Liesel Kirste cooks with indigenous ingredients—many sourced from the resort’s 10-acre farm. The menu includes elevated fare such as locally caught lobster grilled and served over fresh pasta. Even components of more-casual dishes are made from scratch: At the Island Club—with its outdoor kitchen, lawn games, and forthcoming palapa-shaded pickleball court—the ketchup and mayonnaise are made in-house. That gives the culinary team the flexibility to design a bespoke menu, upon request, to suit your nutritional needs.

Ultimately, Prana Maya is the expression of a million small details (down to the reef-safe spa products, curated by a Belizean supplier) and the location’s natural majesty. “When you get out to the island site, see the spectacular views of the Caribbean, turn another direction and see the beauty of the Maya Mountains, it is such an awesome and almost overwhelming feeling,” Hall says. One he is determined to share with everyone who visits.

PRANA MAYA ISLAND RESORT TO OPEN FALL 2024 DEBUTING A SOULFUL SANCTUARY AND A PORTAL TO THE BEST OF BELIZE

Accommodations embrace a modern aesthetic, achieved by sleek architecture, refined furnishings, coastal color palettes, bespoke artwork, wood accent ceilings, and captivating interior and exterior doors of indigenous wood hand carved by Belizean craftsmen. All accommodations offer commanding views of the Caribbean Sea. The Inn at Prana Maya is home to 10 spacious, open concept suites of about 800 sq. ft. with 10-ft. tray ceilings and expansive furnished balconies. Seven 3- and 4-bedroom waters-edge villas ranging from 3,000 to 6,000 sq. ft. have infinity plunge pools, generous terraces, and chef-inspired kitchens.

The Grill at Prana Maya will showcase Belizean-influenced cuisine with sustainably sourced, hyper-local ingredients from farm and sea featuring prominently in culinary preparations for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Innovative ice cocktails and creations will highlight The Cocktail and Ice Bar.

“Prana is a Sanskrit term meaning breath and sustaining force of life, and one of the ways we reflect that is to weave vitality and renewal into experiences at Prana Maya,” said Mr. Izydore. “We have put great intention on crafting an experiential retreat within our intimate footprint as well as a blissful home base from which our guests may explore the vast adventures unique to Belize.”

Spanning the top floor of The Inn to maximize scenic views and coastal breezes, The Spa at Prana Maya presents sound bath meditations, yoga and spa therapies for mind, body and spirit using reef-friendly, eco-conscious products.

Sea and sky appear limitless during sunset cruises aboard the resort’s catamaran and at the Inn’s infinity pool. Nearby, The Island Club at Prana Maya is headquarters for water sports such as paddleboarding, kayaking, and fishing, plus lawn games and a palapa-shaded pickleball court. Afternoon beverages and light fare are offered daily from the open kitchen and full bar.

Among the immersive experiences that can be arranged by the concierge team are private yachting, diving and fishing charter services; world-class flats fishing; diving, snorkeling, fishing and sailing at the Belize Barrier Reef; explorations to iconic Mayan ruins; and adventures in the Belize rainforest.

For information, please visit www.pranamayaresort.com, call 888-487-2011 or inquire at info@pranamayaresort.com. Reservations will open late summer 2024.

About Prana Maya Island Resort
Located on Placencia Caye, a secluded island less than 10 minutes by boat from the Placencia peninsula in southeastern Belize, Prana Maya is an intimate vacation retreat and a portal to the iconic adventures of Belize. Complementing the resort’s refined décor, works by Belizean artisans, hand-carved doors of indigenous wood, and artistic elements whisper an homage to Mayan culture. Sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea are offered from the resort’s infinity pool, 10-suite boutique Inn and seven villas. The Grill at Prana Maya features Belizean-influenced cuisine, sustainably sourced from sea and farm; The Cocktail and Ice Bar presents inventive ice cocktails and creations. The Spa at Prana Maya is home to therapies for mind, body and spirit, sound bath meditations and yoga. Non-motorized water sports, afternoon beverages and light fare are available at The Island Club at Prana Maya. Direct flights arrive daily from major U.S. airports. For information, please visit www.pranamayaresort.com, call 888-487-2011 or inquire at info@pranamayaresort.com. Reservations will open late summer 2024.