Leonardo DiCaprio to open private island luxury eco-resort
Leonardo DiCaprio is the latest in a long line of A-list Hollywood stars to get into the hospitality business.
The New York Times reports DiCaprio plans to build a luxury eco-resort on a private island off the coast of Belize, set to open by 2018.
DiCaprio bought uninhabited 104-acre Blackadore Caye a decade ago and has teamed up with New York developer Paul Scialla to build villas set on a platform over the water above artificial reefs.
"The idea at Blackadore Caye is to push the envelope for what sustainability means — moving the idea beyond environmental awareness into restoration," Scialla said of the resort that will be named ‘Blackadore Caye, a Restorative Island.’
"We don’t want to just do less harm or even have zero impact, but to actually help heal the island, to make it better than before."
Almost half of the island will be designated a conservation area and plastic bottles will be banned, while guests will go through a compulsory ecology orientation program.
There will be a total of 68 guest villas with some offered for sale with price tags of up to $15 million.
DiCaprio who has been involved in eco-activism for many years, says he has waited years to find the right development team that shared his own vision.
The main focus is to do something that will change the world," DiCaprio said.
"I couldn’t have gone to Belize and built on an island and done something like this, if it weren’t for the idea that it could be groundbreaking in the environmental movement."
A manatee conservation area will be set aside and mangrove trees will be replanted to help arrest a growing beach erosion problem.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season