Xanadu Island Resort

Xanadu Island Resort lies hidden on an inviting palm lined beach, overlooking the Caribbean and the Barrier Reef. Just a short walk to San Pedro Town, Xanadu Island Resort is close enough to enjoy the restaurants and other amenities of town, yet far enough from the hustle and bustle to be quiet and relaxed.

All 19 of our luxurious condominium suites offer fully equipped kitchens and living/dining areas. Each suite is centrally air conditioned, cable tv, telephones, internet access, safes for valuables, hair dryers, IPOD docking stations, beach towels, and large shaded decks overlooking the ocean, pool and/or gardens.

All of our condominium suites offer fully equipped kitchens complete with full size refrigerator, stove, microwave, coffee maker, blender, toaster, cooking utensils, plates, glasses and cutlery. All suites are equipped with central air, ceiling fans, cable tv, telephone, high speed internet access (must bring own laptop), hair dryers, alarm clock radio IPOD docking stations, environmentally friendly liquid shampoos, conditioners and body wash, private safes for valuables, beach towels and large shaded decks overlooking the pool, garden and/or ocean. Daily maid service is also provided.

Xanadu-Samuel Taylor Coleridge coined that name for his imagined paradise when, in 1797, he wrote, “In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure dome decree…” Some two hundred years later, Ivan and Judy Sheinbaum began creating their Xanadu-a Monolithic Dome tropical island resort on Ambergris Caye in the West Caribbean nation of Belize.

Ivan and Judy, in their “active sixties and seventies respectively,” have traveled extensively, owned and operated a hotel in South Africa, and developed housing and apartment complexes in Israel. Now they are permanent residents of Belize and highly excited about the achievement of their paradise.

Construction of Xanadu Island Resort began in the summer of 1998. Today, they have six domes housing 18 fully equipped condominium apartments.

The accommodations at Xanadu (a word which means “idyllic, beautiful place”) feature some of the most unique structures on the island. The resort’s buildings literally are monolithic (“one-piece”) domes — fireproof, soundproof, steel-reinforced concrete structures.

Inside, the domes’ curves give each luxury condominium suite an architectural uniqueness that can’t be found anywhere else. Outside, a thatched roof and wooden deck give each structure such an authentic, natural Belizean appearance that one can hardly believe that they are domes.

All 18 suites at Xanadu offer fully equipped kitchens, living/dining areas, and a choice of studio, loft, 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms. Each suite is centrally air conditioned, equipped with ceiling fans, cable television, telephones, satellite Internet access, private safes for valuables, hair dryers, and beach towels. On-site laundry facilities are also available.

The resort features an exotic, freshwater swimming pool and complimentary bicycles and kayaks for guests to explore the island — or, they can enjoy bird watching in Xanadu’s private nature reserve. Scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, fishing or guided eco-tours to the jungle or Mayan ruins can be arranged through their full service tour desk. Dive and tour boats will pick up and return guests at Xanadu’s private pier.

The Sheinbaums said that they “built each dome as if it were our own home.” Ivan said that they decided on Monolithic Domes for their structures because they’re “engineered to combat just about anything nature can deliver, including 300 mph hurricane winds, extreme storm surges and earthquakes.”

Coleridge probably never thought of those factors when he poetically created his paradise. But Judy and Ivan did. Unlike Coleridge’s imagined Xanadu, the Sheinbaums’ Xanadu, a Monolithic Dome Island Resort, is real.