Ten years ago, Leonardo DiCaprio purchased his very own private island Blackadore Caye, a 104-acre unpopulated island located off the coast of Belize. In an interview with the New York Times, the Golden Globe winner revealed he has plans to build an eco-luxury resort on the island.
The California native teamed up with Paul Scialla, a New York City-based developer. Sixty-eight villas will be constructed over a platform that stretches over the water. Underneath will be artificial reefs and fish shelters. A number of scientists, engineers, landscape architects and designers, many of who have studied the island for more than 18 months, will supervise the resorts impact on the surrounding environment.
Those who opt to vacation at Blackadore Caye will have access to approximately a mile of secluded beach, grassland and jungle. There will be 48 private homes available. The cost for the private options will range from $5 million to $15 million.
Scialla is the chief executive of Delos, a human health and well-being real estate development, and is familiar with constructing ecological real estate properties. Thus far Scialla is responsible for the world’s first wellness residence at 66 East 11th Street, which debuted in 2013.
Many of the Delos’ health-centric amenities and technologies will be used to build the resort such as “state-of-the-art” LED circadian lighting and controls that help support optimal sleep at night and alertness throughout the day. There will be advanced air and water purification systems to ensure the highest quality air and water. The resort will also be constructed using as much native material as possible. In addition, developers hope to employ local laborers, who will be trained in eco-building methods.
Although it took DiCaprio quite a while to find the best developer to see his dream come to life, the actor’s objective is to create a restorative location for vacations.
“The main focus is to do something that will change the world,” DiCaprio said to the NYT. “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.”
Scialla told the NYT, “The idea at Blackadore Caye is to push the envelope for what sustainability means — moving the idea beyond environmental awareness into restoration. 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.”
Blackadore Caye is a 45-minute boat ride from Belize’s Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport and a 15-minute boat ride from San Pedro.
Blackadore Caye, a Restorative Island will open to guests in 2018.
(Photos via the New York Times)
