You’d think that having the world’s second longest coral reef would make you famous. Or having two luxury lodges owned by director Francis Ford Coppola would make you glamorous. Or having the world’s largest jaguar population would make you safarious.

Belize has all three (plus a few pretty swell beaches), but somehow has never parlayed its assets into an eco halo the way Costa Rica has done with its rainforests.

This is the Central American road less taken and right now you can take it for less, thanks to a clutch of low Business Class fares from many U.S. cities.

The Deal

The lowest fare on a major U.S. carrier is on American from Miami or Fort Lauderdale to Belize City, but the ticket must be purchased 30 days in advance of departure. From New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Taca (a Continental and United mileage partner) offers the best fares.

Sample Special Business Class Fares to Belize for Under $900

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Logistics

None. All of these flights go to Belize City, landing and departing during the day. Belize City is a two-hour flight from Miami and a five-hour one from Chicago. Belize is on Central Standard Time, so you gain an hour coming from the East Coast.

Once in Belize, you’re better off taking puddle jumpers than driving—unless you’re really up for adventure. Hotels can organize transfers. The properties listed below consist of two resorts and two jungle lodges. I’d suggest doing one of each to get the full flavor of Belize.

Where to Stay

Cayo Espanto The northern coast of Belize is speckled with tiny coral islets (or cays), many the size of a helipad or two. This cay is unique for the fact that it is a platform holding just seven, butler-serviced villas. The thing you need to know is that there are no public spaces here—no restaurant, bar, or lobby. Everything, from check-in to meals, happens in and around your room, so you have to go with the one you love. Bring books, a bulging iPod, and reef walkers because there’s no beach to speak of and lots of coral stone on the seafloor, which makes for very good snorkeling. Blancaneaux lodge This is the older of the two Coppola properties in Belize. It seems in character that Coppola would fall in love with what was then a derelict lodge and after a number of years of personal use, turn it into a 20-room hotel. Tucked away in the Maya Mountains, Blancaneaux offers a luxury jungle experience—horseback riding, hiking (there is a seven-hour trek for the fit), and mountain biking, as well as excursions to Mayan sites, including Xunantunich, the country’s largest. ‍

The Lodge at Chaa Creek Mick and Lucy Fleming came to Belize in the ‘70s, found this spot on the Macal River in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, and never left. The 23-room lodge is surrounded by a 365-acre reserve, and the emphasis here is on outdoor and nature-related activities, including horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, and a visit to a breeding center for the Blue Morpho, among the world’s largest butterflies. It also offers a surprising creature comfort considering the location, a spa that uses natural ingredients and herbal-based treatments. Turtle Inn Coppola’s second property is one of the top beach hotels in Belize. It’s at the tip of the 26-mile-long Placencia Peninsula on Belize’s southern coast and a good jumping-off spot for diving and snorkeling excursions to the reef.