Some 15 km north of San Pedro, accessible by a 20-minute boat launch, this is a chic Hollywood-esque hideaway that hosts celebs, movie stars and fashion shoots.
This luxurious resort fronting a manicured beach is the baby of a vivacious Italian makeup artist and her creative French husband, a fashion photographer and interior designer. Fleeing Hollywood, they designed a flamboyant collage of soaring thatch, spiraling beams, extravagant murals, split-level floors, exotic collectibles and handcrafted furnishings.
Ownership changed hands in 2006, resulting in a general upgrade of Matachica’s style. The main lodge and beachfronts were revamped, the menu and wine list changed, and the environment remained classy and exclusive. The art comes from Singapore Morocco, Mozambique and New Mexico.
Ambient music fills the air, and somehow, Guatemalan textiles, bamboo and rope combine to form unbelievably stylish sofas.
Homemade pasta with decadent sauces, fresh seafood and luscious desserts are served in Mambo, the elegant candlelit restaurant that shares the same, palapa roofed structure as the lobby lounge. The service shows European flair. Nonguests, ferried in nightly from San Pedro, line up with guests to savor the eclectic fare amid wonderful decor. Cushioned banquettes fill intimate corners, and an alfresco bar fronts the beach.
Diving, snorkeling, fishing and lounging are pursuits here, and kayaks and sailboards are at guests' disposal. But for most guests, the pace is more languorous, consisting of little more than reading, sunning and socializing. The highpoint for many 
is a session in the Jade Spa, a dimly lit bungalow dedicated to massages and therapy. Mainland tours of ruins, rivers and rain forests can be arranged.
Staggered back from the beach, each air-conditioned guest room is unique, decorated with fruity themes. All feature thatched roofs topping bright yellow and brick red exteriors, suedelike sanded floors and built-in white banquettes. Color schemes reflect the thematic fruit: tangerine, blueberry and mango, for example. Most units have king beds with crisp white linens and Ralph Lauren feather pillows, and some have mosquito nets.
Clever artistic twists include vibrant frescoes of Picasso-like nudes, mosaic floors, Guatemalan textiles and bamboo window grilles. Baths have huge showers and hand-painted ceramic basins, and some have fractured 
tile work. Hammock-slung porches front each unit.
Beachfront casitas afford the best views, but the Sea View suites are larger, though set farther back from the beach. Luxury Caribbean Villas are larger still, and a three-bedroom villa in the back offers panoramic views of the whole resort.
The very attentive staff caters to their often glamorous guests with warm, effusive hospitality. Of its two primary competitors at the top of the market, Cayo Espanto may offer more formal service, and Victoria House provides more conventional and prime facilities. But Matachica's success comes from a chic informal air more in keeping with the spirit of Ambergris Caye.
