Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is planning to build an eco-friendly resort on an island off the coast of Belize in Central America.
DiCaprio bought the unpopulated Blackadore Caye with a partner soon after he set foot in Belize a decade ago. "It was like heaven on earth," he said. "And almost immediately, I found this opportunity to purchase an island there."
He bought Blackadore Caye for $1.75 million with Jeff Gram, the owner of Cayo Espanto Island Resort, a luxury vacation spot on another private island in Belize.
Paul Scialla, the chief executive of Delos, a New York City-based developer, is working with DiCaprio to create an eco-conscious resort. When it opens to guests in 2018, the Island will feature sprawling villas, infinity pools and stunning sunset views.
A team of designers, scientists, engineers and landscape architects, some of whom have spent more than 18 months studying Blackadore Caye, will monitor the resort’s impact on its surroundings.
"The main focus is to do something that will change the world," said DiCaprio. "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 ground-breaking in the environmental movement."
