The. Best. of. Times - To add to Mark Thuneman reviews, since I was one of the friends that went with him 🙂 -Douglas, our boat captain, was great. He was shy at first, but... read more really nice guy! Great to snorkel with; great swimmer. On our last day goin back to the main lands to catch our flight, it was rainy with lots of big waves and he drove the boat as safe as possible. But we also knew that if one of us fell over that Douglas (along with KC and Mora) would save us 🙂

We had the best time there! I wish I could repeat that week over and over again. I wish we woulda stayed for two weeks. From day drinking, snorkeling, kayaking, tanning, exploring, to gazing at the stars at night - it was awesome! The only changes I would make is for them to upgrade the toilet and a working wifi. Thank you, Fantasy Island! Your staff was awesome! The experiences we had there will be hard to beat.

Fantasy Island is a very nice small island 30 min boat away from Dangriga. We spent 6 days there with my wife. It is a small paradise away from big... read more towns and modern world. Perfect top enjoy sun and sea activities like diving, snorkelling and fishing. Eddie who is the island manager (also managing isla marisol resort) is very nice and answering any request for tailored service or diving questions. Prices are very reasonable for the extremely nice location and the quality of service and food.

Unwind & Relax - A dream come true - My son Connor (18) had been talking about how we needed to get away (somewhere tropical, other than Mexico). We did a bit of research and found Fantasy Island-... read more Eco Resort just south of Dangriga in Belize. Fantasy you say...ahhh, it truly was the perfect escape.
A quick 15 minute plane ride from Belize City (tip...leave a couple of hours to clear customs and get to your gate - Tropic Air & Maya Air do not fly after dark either and will not wait for your arrival). Once you land, there begins your amazing adventure. The adventure is as busy and eclectic as you wish it to be.
Our host, Ronald and Douglas met us and quickly loaded all of the luggage (way overpacked - don't need that much stuff, just a bathing suit, shorts, t-shirts, water shoes, bug spray - off the island tours, long sleeve shirt/light long pants, hiking boots (if doing hiking, jungle tours, Belize zoo, Myan Ruins, ziplining), a bottle or 2 of vino if you like good wine and maybe a bottle of your favorite liquor, plenty of sunscreen, a hat that provides full coverage, sunglasses and you are good to go! Girls, chap stick/lip gloss & mascara if you have too, benedryl, motrin (insect bites if you do the jungle adventures), aloe gel for the burn and leave everything else at home! A good pair of flip flops are great too! And don't forget your camera gear for sure!
Douglas loaded the boat with our luggage and off we went to the island, small boat takes about 25-30 minutes, big boat about 15 minutes. Beautiful views of the Carribean Sea and the mountains as well as other islands along the way.
As we arrived on the island, Alex was there with the island dog, Lassie, to great us! What a welcome we received. Lena followed shortly thereafter with such a beautiful smile. We then met Mora, the man in charge 🙂 and Margaret, the amazing and talented Chef! Douglas was shy at 1st but we got him to open up quite a bit and what a nice young man he is!
The hospitality was amazing. My son Connor, my daughter Haley & I were the only people vacationing on the island. What a reception, what fantastic service and I can't even begin to tell you how beautiful the island it.
The views from the cabanas were noteworthy...something you will never forget and hopefully will remain embedded deep in your subconscious mind for years to come! The water was crystal blue/green and very shallow. The cabanas faced toward the East and we were welcomed each and every morning (5:50 AM) by the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen. The deck of the cabanas have 2 chaise lounges and 2 adirondack chairs for relaxing, reading, sleeping...your choose! We shared a few bottles of wine on the back deck many evenings.
The rooms are large enough for 2 - 4 people comfortably containing 2 queen beds, 1 bathroom with shower and composting toilet, sink & mirror, 1 futon and coffee table as well as an end table between the queen beds.
The cold showers in the morning were quite refreshing actually and by noon or later, the water became quite warm. Also, you do have the option of using the solar heated water as well. I never did as I rather liked the cooler water.
The toilets were not too bad. I know others have written about them. I never really felt they smelled all that bad really. The staff did a wonderful job of cleaning the cabanas each morning and they were very comfortable places to stay. Again, the views are unbelievable!
Most mornings, Alex would cut down coconuts for us...so very good and how refreshing! The food was cooked fresh for 3 meals a day and I never felt hungry. The menu was incredible each and every meal...including lobster, fresh fish, salads and the most incredible coconut bread made from fresh coconuts that we retrieved from Tobacco Key Island.
Mora has many adventures available for you to choose from. My only regret is that we would have spent a few extra days just relaxing on the island as it is full of serenity and beauty. The weather was spectacular. Of course, if it rains at night, be prepared for some gut-wrenching wind, thunder & lightning...kind of scary but fun too, quite an adventure, just may not sleep soundly each & every night!
Carl was our tour guide and what a knowledgeable person. The people of Belize are the most friendly people I have ever met. They are sincerely excited to have you visit their beautiful country and are most proud and helpful.
We went snorkeling, to the Belize Zoo (amazing animals), ziplining (wanted to go to the cave tours but the roads were flooded). We also saw quite a bit of Belize traveling with Carl and it was great journey and we learned so much.
I also wish we would have arranged a day to go to Isla Marisol, their other resort as we have heard equally wonderful things about that island as well. However, the unique eco quality and small size of Fantasy Island are well worth it!
They do not have wi-fi but in all seriousness, I needed a complete break from work and the fast pace of life and this seriously did the job and then some! Unfortunately, you have to come back to the real world and leave the fantasy behind.
This is one of my most treasured and favorite vacations I have ever taken. I would highly recommend it! Enjoy 🙂

Exotic and secluded - It IS like a tiny B&B on the sea. Three little cabanas, all painted bright tropical colors, hang out over the water in this secluded resort on a tiny caye... read more off Dangriga.
When we were there, more staff were on the island than guests. Amazing. It means: personalized service, diving and snorkeling when we wanted it, plenty of delicious fresh-caught food, and solitude. Naps in the hammocks in the shady palm trees are divine. Cap it off with a cold Belikin beer and a beautiful sunset dinner of grilled lobster tail - to die for.
Diving with KC was personalized and fun, and Douglas is a friendly snorkel companion/boat driver. All of the staff, really, are wonderful. The barrier reef is only minutes away and so are turtles, huge moray eels, and spotted eagle rays.
A few notes on the "eco" part of the resort. There is no A/C, but windows on all 4 sides of the cabana can be opened to let in the glorious tropical breezes, and there are fans. There is no running hot water. Hot water, if you'd like it, comes in a camp shower. The toilet is a composting toilet, which is pretty neat. Fresh, soft towels are provided daily. Rooms are pretty spacious - ours had two queens and a futon - so there was plenty of room to spread out dive/snorkel gear.

Unforgettable Family Adventure - I feel horrible that it has taken me this long to get a review posted! Our family visited the small island for spring break last year. I have... read more a 10 year old son and a 13 year old daughter. I was worried when I saw how small the island was that the kids would be bored but that was far from the truth. The kids found fun in just exploring and hangin out with the staff who were amazing. They would let my son squeeze fresh OJ, which was the most delicious OJ ever!! The chef (who we loved) taught me how to make some of the authentic food. The food was served three times a day. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner). It was delicious and my kids still talk about how yummy it was. If we weren't eating, we were out on an adventure with Douglas our boat captain and KC our scuba instructor. (My son could not get enough of Douglas). Douglas and KC took us to the reef for amazing snorkling. He took us to Bird Island and showed up around the islands. After an adventure we would come back to the island, play cards, take a nap or read. (BTW, i loved taking naps...there was always a strong warm breeze that would lull us to sleep and I normally can never nap) Then it was time to go sit out on the deck of the dining hall and have a cocktail while we visit and watch the sunset as we can smell the yummy food cooking. It was a rough vacation. 🙂 We stayed on the island for 4 days and then we went up in the jungle for the remaining part of our vacation. We didn't want to leave. We had made friends and the island was staring to feel like home. Thank you Ezra, Douglas, KC, Lena, Alex and Mora for making us feel so welcome.

The perfect honeymoon destination! - My husband and I stayed at Fantasy Island in January and have nothing but good things to say about it.
The staff is what really makes this place... read more special. By the time we were leaving, we felt like we were saying goodbye to friends. (We miss you guys!!)
The island is beautiful. It is very small and only has three cabanas so it is perfect for couples.
We would definitely recommend Fantasy Island!!

Beautiful little island, amazing snorkeling - We very much enjoyed our stay here. The island is tiny and free from distractions such as TV, phone, internet, etc.

The staff was all wonderful,... read more very friendly and accomodating. Ezra, the chef, was great about making us meatless meals and wheat-free meals for another guest. She makes everything from scratch, including the tortillas, fry bread, etc. Conch ceviche was a highlight, and the daily lunchtime soups. Dive master Mora and boat captain Douglas too us on awesome snorkeling trips. Amazing coral and sea life. They made us feel very safe.

We stayed six nights and did not mind the compost toilet or solar showers. Given the size of this tiny tiny island, you must expect that you will not have all the modern services. We found the toilet and shower perfectly workable and not a problem. The rooms were very clean (thanks Lena!) and the bed was comfortable. The private deck over the water was excellent! We enjoyed sunrises there and then sunsets from the dining building. Try the Belizean Sunset drink.

Our only recommendation is to stay on the island. :-). We took a day tour one day and there was a lot of confusion and issues. Given the price of the tour, I would have expected more. However, this would not deter us from returning. Next time, I think we would do land touring prior to staying at the island and then just stay on the island once there.

Paradise, With One Exception - We went on our honeymoon in Belize five years ago, and have been eager to return ever since. When we recently discovered a Living Social deal for Paradise Island... read more Eco Resort, we booked six nights in January and packed our bags.

We had some reservations about staying on an island without having found any reviews, but understood that there were none yet because the island was a recent acquisition of Isla Marisol, a resort we’d read positive reviews of. We did exchange emails with the resort, and took the leap of faith.

After flying into Belize City, we hopped on a puddle jumper to the little air strip in Dangriga, where Eddie, the resort owner/manager, picked us up in a van for the short drive to the boat dock where Captain Seth picked us up for the last leg of our journey. Even though we’d seen Belize before, just the trip to get to the island was a fun adventure.

When we arrived, we found that the pictures on the Web were quite accurate. The island is tiny, but beautiful. Despite overcast weather (even when cloudy, it was a heck of a lot warmer and more beautiful than January in Washington, DC), the island was indeed paradise. There are only seven buildings on the island – the boat/dive shack, the living quarters for the staff, the outhouse/shower building for the staff, the kitchen/dining hut over the water, and the three guest cabins which were also built right over the water.

The cabins were simple, but nice. They were furnished with two queen-sized beds, a futon and a couple of tables, with two deck chairs out on our own private balcony. The only inaccuracy we found was that although emails stated the rooms were air conditioned, they were not. There was only a fan, but in truth, we never needed the air conditioning. In fact, it got a bit chilly at night. But if you are going during the hottest part of the year, this is something to keep in mind.

This island is perfect for couples who don’t mind “roughing it” a little for some amazing SCUBA diving. Mora, the dive master, is in fact a master who knew exactly where to dive and made us always feel safe, and K.C. was a patient and fun dive instructor. Although already certified, it had been a while since we’d been diving, and both Mora and K.C. were very knowledgeable and patient with us, and treated us to some amazing underwater experiences.

Underwater experiences were limited to the SCUBA diving though, as there was no place to really go swimming. The water was only a couple of feet deep under the cabins, and for some distance around them. While this prevented swimming, it did provide exciting views as stingrays and even a baby spotted ray swam around just below us. The water was also deep enough that we were able to go kayaking around the island and see some additional wildlife. When walking in the water though, do remember to do the stingray shuffle – shuffle your feet instead of raising them and stepping on a ray buried in the sand. We came across a couple of these, and were glad we were doing the shuffle.

Back on the island, the self-serve bar was on the honor system. Don’t ask for ice though. When we asked for ice, we were directed to a cooler where the unpackaged ice was co-located with raw meat. We passed on the ice for the rest of the trip.

We ate well on the island, as Ezra and Rebecca prepared delicious meals. There was no menu – they prepared the same meal for everyone – but they hit the mark each time. Ezra prepared eggs to order each morning for breakfast. Everything was wonderful; especially the people who prepared the meals.

Seth (the boat captain who kept close tabs on us when we were diving) and Alex were always around doing maintenance on the island and helping us hang the sun shower in the cabin, and were also very nice.

With Mora, K.C., Ezra, Rebecca, Seth and Alex, there were a total of six wonderful staff on the island – equal to the maximum number of guests. One staff member per guest; not a bad ratio.

There was only one catch with our experience on Fantasy Island, resulting in the “exception” in our headline. The bathroom. Now, to be fair, we knew going into this that it would be rustic, but the truth is that after four nights of a bathroom that waswe’ll just say not as beautiful as the rest of the islandwe cut our losses, and left in search of flushing toilets and real showers. The advertisements were accurate – there were compost toilets in each cabin that were much like what you would find on a boat, and situated over a pit of wood chips that did a good job of not overpowering the cabin with the smell, but they did not have seats, leaving guests to either hover or sit on the rim. Although the sink and shower each yielded only tiny trickles of cold water, the sun-shower that was hung in the bathroom each day after heating up outside did provide some fresh water with which to bathe. However, four nights of dirty bathrooms with limited accommodations were all we could handle on vacation. If you are less squeamish than us though, and can get past this, you may in fact find that you are in paradise.

So, with the exception of discovering our personal limits when “roughing it,” we had a wonderful vacation on Fantasy Island, and do recommend it for couples a little less squeamish than us. Go for the diving. Go for the small tropical island experience. Go for the wonderful people. Go, have fun, and share your Fantasy Island review on Trip Advisor too. We’ll be interested to read how your experience compares.

A different kind of vacation! - If you really, really, really want to get away from it all, this is the place. A 2 acre speck of sand, a 25 minute speed-boad ride off the mainland,... read more covered with coconut palms is all you get. There are 3 over-the-water cabins with large terraces facing the open ocean (and the sunrise). No TV, no phone, no Internet, no shopping. Meals are served in a seperate cabin and the cooking is excellent; we had fresh fish and lobster to die for. Breakfast was wonderful with eggs made to order. The water is warm and welcoming and so is the athmosphere. Daily snorkel and scuba trips are available and a must. Eddie, the resort manager, and Seth, a colorful local boat captain are certified scuba instructors; they know their stuff. Electricity is solar generated but was still hampered by a few problems, but they were working on it; water is collected from the roof tops. Toilets are chemical but no problem. Hot water? don't count on it. Eddie and the staff want to make you feel welcome. They are very knowledgable regarding the local fish, birds and plant life. They also offer several day-tours to the mainland (Jaguar reserve, Mayan temples etc.) Eddy has a small bar in the dining cabin with basic supplies.
Prices are a little stiff. $ 175 per person for the mainland tour or a scuba outing. I was charged $ 45 for using just a snorkel tube for 6 days, I found that outrageous. But alltogether a rather pleasant experience. We were the very first paying guests and were ready to make some allowances for some of the small bugs that were still raising their heads. We do recommend it. Give this one a try. Bring books to read for occasional rains.

Great Honeymoon Spot - This quiet, quaint little island is a perfect spot to get away from our electronic world and just relax. We had a great time and experience on Fantasy Island, despite... read more the cold front weather and rain almost every day. The staff made it amazing, and the scuba diving was incredible. I would highly recommend the scuba package, the dive master and dive instructor are great!
The only downfall was the bathrooms. Although it didn't really bother us, it would have been nice to have at least one hot shower. The showers rely on solar heat to warm up the bags which are left outside, then brought in when warm. Our problem, was there wasn't enough sun to heat ours! The composting toilet was not ideal, but would have been better if they were maintained daily.

The food was to die for. Fresh and made from scratch, Ezra was truly amazing.
The staff are great, and extremely accommodating. They took us into town when we needed to, and helped us with other plans. We went scuba diving when we wanted to, and took us "sight-seeing" spontaneously. Our boat driver was Seth - and we will miss him!

An unforgettable experience - My husband and I are from Chicago, USA and we stayed at Fantasy Island with two of our closest friends from Europe (Bulgaria). We each had our own cabana... read more and all of us absolutely loved our experience there. We stayed on the island for 4 nights and by the end of our trip we felt like we were saying good bye to close friends when we parted ways with Seth, KC, Ezra, Rebecca, and Mora! The island is tiny but gorgeous, Ezra prepared homemade food every day from scratch and the fresh-squeezed juice was delicious. Besides her culinary skills, she is also a phenomenal dancer - and would be happy to show you a few Belizian moves and teach you the "Slow Tornado" 🙂
KC was a great dive instructor who was patient beyond belief and managed to take us divining after just a morning of practice.
Seth was our unforgettable and extremely funny captain/showman/snorkeling guide. We will forever chant his mantra "be free - like me."
Mora was extremely accommodating and "game" for whatever we wanted to do.
The time spent on the island would always be remembered for great rum drinks (self-prepared), Belikin beer, laughter, dancing, and a ridiculous amount of stars in the sky...
We absolutely recommend,
Vanya and Chris

My friends and I stayed at Fantasy Island Eco resort the last week of February. We had so much fun, words can not describe. It is very much... read more like a bed and breakfast in the middle of the sea. The staff is the real standout here. Mora, the dive master, who seemed to manage the island, was very chill and relaxed. He took us on numerous snorkeling trips which were a BLAST! Our party consisted of 5 of my friends, and me, so we had reign over the entire island. A few nights we would get a little loud drinking and dancing on the beach or in the dinning hall, and we were worried that we would bother the staff. We were never up really late, but Mora didn’t care at all. KC, the Diving Instructor, was very entertaining, hanging out with us, making us drinks, and keeping us occupied after dinners. I didn’t go scuba diving, but my friend did and she said that KC was really helpful. Ezra, the Chef, had us in stitches every night from laughing so hard. A few times she hung out and drank with us, telling us jokes, teaching us how to dance punta, and teaching us Creole slang . And her food was fantastic too. We LOVED her carrot soup. Lena and Alex did a fantastic job of keeping the island clean and working properly. Alex was out everyday clearing sea debris from the shore, and was always willing to help if something needed fixing or what not. Lena was great serving dinner, very patient with our rowdy bunch and always kept the cabanas clean every morning.
We took a day tour on the mainland to the Mayan Ruins. They are about a two and half our drive into the mountains. While we were really impressed by the ruins, the drive through the country of Belize also stood out. We were planning on doing a few mainland tours, but when we discovered the price of the first, we decided to take advantage of the island for the rest our stay. It is very convenient though; all you have to do is decide the day before (before lunch) which tour you want to go on, and Mora takes care of everything else as far as planning. However, the information we were provided about the tours stated that lunch was included it was not. It was very inexpensive, so it wasn’t big issue at all.
A few tips. If you plan on drinking, get some bottles of alcohol at duty free at the airport and some mixers at a corner shop on the way to the island. Alcoholic beverages are extra cost on the island, while inexpensive, you don’t pay for them till the end of your stay and the cost can add up without you realizing it. Be prepared for the eco friendly toilets and showers. It is possible to get a hot shower, but it requires asking Alex to set up the solar powered hot water bags. I discovered that the best time to take a shower is right before dinner after sunset, as the water in the rain collecting tanks has been heated by afternoon warmth. The toilets are compost toilets and do not flush with water like we are used to at home. After a few days we had to ask that the compost be replaced as it was starting to smell up our room. Take LOTS of sunscreen, but also take a day or two off from sunscreen. I wore a second skin of sunscreen my entire stay. I went home a darker pale then I was when I left. That’s no fun. You want a good deep burn so everyone you meet for the next few weeks knows you just took a vacation. Take advantage of the daily snorkeling trips. You’ll regret not going everyday. If you need ANYTHING ask Mora. If he can’t do it, he won’t be afraid to tell you. But the man is magical, more then likely it can get done. We had a friend who threw out his back half way through our week and had to remove himself from the island and go home early. Mora was very understanding and did everything in his power to make my friends emergency go as smoothly as possible. Enjoy the island. Lay in the sun everyday, watch the stars every night (I’m sure there are more starts in the sky down there then there are anywhere in the US). Go swimming, play in the water. Go kayaking as far as you can. Catch some hermit crabs and have a hermit crab race. And lastly, make sure to tell Ezra a funny, DIRTY joke. You won’t be disappointed!

... For more photos - Instagram: #fantasyislandecoresort @mthuneman