After 10 years of grueling search and failed negotiations, actor Leonardo DiCaprio has finally found a partner that would help him restore an island.

DiCaprio, a well-known environmental activist, is building a luxury eco-resort, Blackadore Caye, in an island off the coast of Belize.  The project isn't just all about sprawling villas and infinity pools, but aims to heal the island from decades of abuse.

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DiCaprio and a partner bought the 104-acre Blackadore Caye for USD$1.75 million not long after the actor's first visit in Belize in 2005. 

"As soon as I got there, I fell in love," DiCaprio said. "Belize is truly unique. It has the second largest coral reef system in the world, and it has some of the most bio diverse marine life," he added.  "And almost immediately, I found this opportunity to purchase an island there."

The guests' villas will be built on top of the water, lined up on an arched platform.  Artificial reefs and fish shelters will be built underneath the villas.  Indigenous marine grass will be grown to support a manatee conservation area and mangrove trees will be replanted.  The resort's objective is to reverse the environmental damage in the island caused by years of overfishing, deforestation and an eroding coastline.

"The main focus is to do something that will change the world," DiCaprio said. "I couldn't have gone to Belize and built on an island and done something like this, if it weren't for the idea that it could be groundbreaking in the environmental movement."

The guests are required to take an environmental orientation to be allowed to stay in the resort.  Bringing in of plastic bottles is prohibited.  The island is a 45-minute boat ride from Belize City international airport, and 15-minute boat ride from the nearest big town. 

Blackadore Caye is forecast to open in 2018, and will be built by developer Restorative Islands L.L.C, owned by Paul Scialla. He also sits as chief executive of New York developer company Delos.  A team of designers, scientists, landscape experts and architects will monitor Blackadore Caye's impact on the environment. 

Villa rates have not been announced, but reports said some may be for sale for up to USD$15 million. 

Tagseco-resort, restorative, belize, Leonardo DiCaprio, luxury resort