Francis Ford Coppola turned abandoned Belize lodge into 20-room resort

In 1981, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola bought an abandoned hunting lodge in the forests of Belize and turned it into a private family retreat.

Twelve years later, it opened as Blancaneaux Lodge, a 20-room resort.

The property has retained much of its original character, with cottages, wooden interiors and outdoor activities including kayaking, horse riding and swimming near waterfalls.