Four Seasons has announced plans for the development of Caye Chapel, a private island in Belize adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage designated Belize Barrier Reef System – the largest in the Northern Hemisphere.

Scheduled to open in 2021, the project is being launched in partnership with Thor Urbana, Immobilia Dessarollos and GFA Grupo Immobiliario, three real estate development groups based in Mexico.

The resort will include 100 guest rooms and suites designed by Studio Caban, including a collection of overwater bungalows, as well as 35 private residences and 50 private estate lots.

A Sunrise Sanctuary, located on the farthest point of Caye Chapel, will be perched on the end of a modernist dock, and is designed as a space for focus, meditation and silent sports. It will feature retreats, workshops and daily classes with yoga, Pilates, fitness and meditation experts from around the world.

The island will also feature an 18-hole golf course designed by Greg Norman in consultation with Lorena Ochoa, a Fabien Cousteau nature and conservation institute, a marina and a private airstrip.

"We are 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," said J. Allen Smith, president and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

The 280-acre (113 hectare) island is outlined by 6 miles (9.7 kilometres) of white sand beaches, and is located 16 miles (26 kilometres) from Belize City.

The on-site Fabien Cousteau Nature and Conservation Institute and Adventure Center will be home to research and education initiatives that guests and residents can participate in, including a 3D coral reef printing programme.