Leonardo DiCaprio Builds an Eco-Resort in Belize

A well-known environmental activist, Mr. DiCaprio bought Blackadore Caye, 104 acres of wild, unpopulated land off the coast of Belize, with a partner soon after he set foot in the country 2005. Blackadore Caye is a 45-minute boat ride from Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Belize City and a 15-minute boat ride from San Pedro, the nearest big town. The island has been used for hundreds of years, according to Juan Rovalo, a biologist who leads a team of scientists studying the caye.

Now Mr. DiCaprio has joined with Paul Scialla, the chief executive of Delos, a New York City-based developer, to create an eco-conscious resort there. When it opens to guests in 2018, “Blackadore Caye, a Restorative Island” will feature the trappings of many luxury resorts, with sprawling villas, infinity pools and stunning sunset views.

The 104 acres of unpopulated land will soon feature 68 elevated resort villas, "fish shelters" in man-made reefs, marine grass grown to feed manatees, and private houses that will cost between $5 million and $15 million each. DiCaprio hopes the estate will prove to be beneficial for the area and the planet at large, with a team of scientists, engineers, designers and landscape architects monitoring how the resort affects its location. 

“The main focus is to do something that will change the world,” Mr. 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.”