Though he’s supposed to be in what he calls his play years now, Knoxville-based real-estate entrepreneur Steve Hall still finds himself working on vacation. After a trip to Belize, he got the itch to build something new and started meeting with developers. Hall hit it off with David Keener, CEO and owner of Vision Properties, and together they acquired an isolated tract on Placencia Caye, a private island just five minutes by boat from the mainland.
In December, after two and a half years of work, they’ll start welcoming guests to Prana Maya, a secluded, wellness-focused retreat that enjoys expansive views of the Caribbean Sea, the island’s lagoon, and the Maya Mountains.
“We designed everything to inspire people,” Hall says of the property. “Every aspect of the resort is intentional. Every service we offer is designed to create that aha! moment that will rock someone’s world.”
The resort is a high-end haven for committed fishermen; its bars and restaurants use produce from a private 10-acre farm.
Courtesy of Prana Maya
The property includes seven three- and four-bedroom villas featuring locally carved wooden doors. The breezy, secluded structures are sited to prioritize views of the water, and each has its own plunge pool. Rooms at the Inn—a collection of 10 airy, light-filled suites—face the Caribbean. Each guest has an assigned butler, and every bed at the resort is fitted with a custom grounding mat, designed to replicate a connection with nature; some studies suggest they promote mental and physical well-being.
Belize’s tropical landscape is the locus of myriad ways to get outdoors. Its unique saltwater flats give sportfishing aficionados a bucket-list opportunity: catching what the International Game Fishing Association calls the Grand Slam—permit, tarpon, and bonefish—all in one day. So Hall and Keener recruited High Adventure Company, a global outfitter with 30 years of guiding expertise, to take guests on exclusive fishing excursions. The resort will also offer cave tubing, jungle trekking, zip-lining, and diving trips.
If you’re in search of less rugged activities, head to the spa and wellness center. The design team placed it on prime real estate: the Inn’s top floor, which has 360-degree water views and 18-foot ceilings. Here, you’ll find a yoga studio, five private treatment rooms, and a sound-therapy room. You can also enjoy Prana Maya’s private beach, the only sandy stretch on the island that isn’t shared with another property.
The property occupies the northern tip of Placencia Caye, five minutes via boat from the mainland.
Courtesy of Prana Maya
At the Grill, the open-air restaurant, executive chef Liesel Kirste cooks with indigenous ingredients—many sourced from the resort’s 10-acre farm. The menu includes elevated fare such as locally caught lobster grilled and served over fresh pasta. Even components of more-casual dishes are made from scratch: At the Island Club—with its outdoor kitchen, lawn games, and forthcoming palapa-shaded pickleball court—the ketchup and mayonnaise are made in-house. That gives the culinary team the flexibility to design a bespoke menu, upon request, to suit your nutritional needs.
Ultimately, Prana Maya is the expression of a million small details (down to the reef-safe spa products, curated by a Belizean supplier) and the location’s natural majesty. “When you get out to the island site, see the spectacular views of the Caribbean, turn another direction and see the beauty of the Maya Mountains, it is such an awesome and almost overwhelming feeling,” Hall says. One he is determined to share with everyone who visits.
