A large infusion of cash by Irish investors who struck it rich with oil wells in the Spanish Lookout area of the Cayo has turned a failed mid-level tour hotel into a well-designed, upscale boutique resort. With tranquil gardens, a wine cellar, spacious rooms outfitted with iPod docks, espresso machines, high-end toiletries, and LCD TVs, Ka'ana, which opened in 2007, brings a new level of luxury, not to mention high prices, to San Ignacio. The restaurant, while beautiful, is very expensive—for example, breakfast is BZ$40, and several entrees at dinner are BZ$60 or more, all plus tax and tip. Oddly, since Ka'ana is more than 70 miles from the sea, the pool is salt water. Pros: Terrifically comfortable beds; attractive and convivial staff. Cons: Roadside location; very expensive.
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