Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has announced plans for the development of Caye Chapel, a private island in Belize, to create “a luxury destination for residence owners and leisure travellers” in the heart of the country’s largest marine sanctuary.

Scheduled to open in 2021, the project is in partnership with Thor Urbana, Inmobilia Desarrollos and GFA Grupo Inmobiliario, three real estate development groups based in Mexico.

Named the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Caye Chapel, the property will feature 50 private estates and 35 private residences that owners can help design and build to their own preferences, choosing between a site on the east to enjoy sunrise or on the west for views of the sunset.

Each private lot will have access to a private beach and the island’s 18- hole golf course, created by Greg Norman and Lorena Ochoa.

Design firm Studio Caban, meanwhile, have planned 100 guest rooms and suites, including a collection of overwater bungalows.

Health, wellness and leisure facilities will include two beach clubs, multiple dining and bar options, retail outlets, a young residents club, a marina and tennis courts. The island will also have a marina, a private airstrip and a Fabien Cousteau nature and conservation centre, with the latter offering education initiatives that guests and residents can participate in, such as a 3D coral reef printing programme.

The 280-acre (113 hectare) island is outlined by 6 miles (9.7km) of beaches. It is situated in the Belize archipelago in the Caribbean Sea, adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage designated Belize Barrier Reef System, the largest reef system in the northern hemisphere.

In a statement, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts said: “A select group of families and individuals are invited to have a hand in building one of the most distinctive island communities on earth for generations to come.”

President and CEO J. Allen Smith added: “We’re excited to be a part of the reimagination of Caye Chapel into an exclusive luxury experience, and to do so in a way that protects and reinforces the natural wonders of the island.”

Belize is emerging as a popular destination for hospitality investors and operators. Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio is building an eco resort and wildlife reserve to become the world’s leading example of green hospitality; architect Roberto de Oliveira Castro and interior designer Samuel Amoia recently completed a 16 mile-long resort; and film director Francis Ford Coppola has transformed a former fishing camp into a “Robinson Crusoe experience.”