Belize to Hold Third Annual End of the World Marathon

Posted on August 31, 2014

Placencia Belize, Larry Waight Reporting:

For many, the end of the 13th Baktun in the Maya Long Count Calendar, December 21, 2012, was a prediction of end times. Didn’t happen. To commemorate the event, the annual “End of the World Marathon” was organized in Belize, the heart of the Maya civilization.

This year’s marathon is scheduled for December 7 in picturesque Placencia, a town nestled up against the white powdery beaches and azure waters of the Caribbean Sea.

The event kicks off on Saturday, December 6, with registration and the traditional pre-race carb packing dinner. Sunday’s race events include a full marathon, half marathon, and two miles fun run.

The completely flat course is a loop along the Placencia peninsula, rapidly becoming one of the choice vacation destinations in the Caribbean. Runners will be alongside the sea at several points in the race.

All entrants who complete the course will receive a commemorative finisher’s medal. Over $10,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in both the men’s and women’s marathon, with special awards also given to the victor in age classes: under 29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 & over.

At the conclusion of the marathon, an after party will keep winners and contestants reveling well into the wee hours.

Race registration is open until midnight EDT on October 15, 2014, and all registrants will receive a race tee, and have a chance to win prizes donated by local sponsors. Minimum age requirements are 18 for the full marathon, 16 for the half.

Race participants can plan to experience the wonders of Belize, arriving early or staying post race with an all inclusive race package from Chabil Mar Villas.

For water enthusiasts, Belize is home to the world’s 2nd largest barrier reef, a spectacular underwater environment for divers and snorkelers, and home to turtles, rays, nurse sharks, dolphins and moray eels. Playfully darting between the reef and onshore mango groves, communities of sea manatees inhabit the area from November to January.

One of the top things to do on a Belize vacation is the very unique caving tubing. On inner tubes, you’ll float through the Maya underworld, viewing amazing stalactites and stalagmites, “curtains” made entirely of crystal, cave drawings, and even skeletal remains. Up on the surface, the Maya world offers many surviving structures to visit, including ceremonial centers, tombs, and a complete astronomical observatory. Seek answers on where the Mayans came from, and what happened to them.

The special package put together by Chabil Mar Villas includes everything race participants need or desire. It includes your round trip flights between the international airport at Belize City and Placencia, ground transfers, race registration, five nights in a luxury villa, five breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Your package includes a half day snorkeling trip and a choice of one of three specially designed land tours.

Chabil Mar is an exclusive, boutique resort, with just 19 villas and one honeymoon suite facing the Caribbean. Guests can expect to be pampered in luxurious accommodations at a resort full of amenities tailored to discriminating travelers.

Travel Channel Features Placencia as a Daily Escape

Posted on August 28, 2014

The Travel Channel, one of the most popular travel sites on the Internet is currently featuring Placencia as a travel escape on their website which reaches thousands of intrepid travelers every day.

“Today’s #DailyEscape is from Placencia, Belize. “ says the tweet which was tweeted at 8am today.

“Made up of 2 deserted islands fringed by crystalline waters and covered in snow-white sand, the Silk Cayes are the preeminent spot to live out one’s deserted island fantasy. Located just 20 nautical miles from the bustling beach town of Placencia and nestled beside a barrier reef, it’s a popular spot for locals and savvy tourists who come here to free dive and snorkel while taking in the tropical aquatic life. Bring along some fish from the market and prepare to make friends; sunset island barbecues beneath coconut trees are becoming a nightly tradition,” reads the description of Silk Cayes on their website.

Speaking about the recognition, Larry France, Marketing Manager of Chabil Mar, the only guest exclusive resort in Placencia said that he was delighted to see a respected organization like Travel Channel feature Silk Cayes as a daily escape on their website.

“It definitely helps in promoting not only Placencia but the entire tourism industry of Belize,” he added.

For more information about the traveling to Belize or Placencia, feel free to chat with our Concierge at: concierge@chabilmarvillas.com or contact our Reservations Manager at: reservations@chabilmarvillas.com. Or perhaps you would like to call toll free from the US or Canada: 1-866-417-2377.

The Wildlife of Belize is Spectacular

Posted on August 25, 2014

According to Lonely Planet, Belize’s animal and plant life are the stars of the country due to the conservation efforts that have been put into place for the forests and reefs.

The country is a natural habitat for a profusion of exotic animals and plants. For example, Belize’s savannas and lowlands are home to rare waterfowls, the forests provide a refuge for tapirs, pumas and numerous tropical birds, and the mountainous regions ensure a niche for elusive jaguars and other beautiful cats.

You can also find more than 140 species of mammals living in Belize and there are 139 species of reptiles and amphibians that have so far been identified including 56 species of snakes.

And yes, Belize is also a birder’s paradise with over 500 species of rare and beautiful birds living in its many distinct habitats.

For the past few months, we have been following the work of Nash Turley a Naturalist, Ecologist, Nature Photographer, Bird Watcher, Anthropod and Plant Enthusiast and the big reason why he visits Belize ( apart from being a PHD Student in Evolutionary Ecology) is because of the remarkable and extraordinary wildlife that can be found throughout the country.

During his visits in Belize, Turley tweets jaw dropping photos of the country’s wildlife and in this post, we share with you a few of his amazing shots:

To learn more about Nate Turley and the work he is doing for the planet, please visit the website http://www.nashturley.org/about/.

If you are interested in seeing the most stunning wildlife in Belize, feel free to to chat with our Concierge at: concierge@chabilmarvillas.com or contact our Reservations Manager at: reservations@chabilmarvillas.com. Or perhaps you would like to call toll free from the US or Canada: 1-866-417-2377.

The 10 Most Popular Belize Vacation Posts of All Time

Posted on August 20, 2014

For the past 9 months we have been blogging consistently on our Belize Travel Blog about different things like the top best foods to eat in Belize, the top best things to do in Belize and why you should visit Belize.

This morning we thought it’d be fun to take a look back to see which blog posts have received the most views so we compiled our top 10 most read articles.

Here they are:

1.) Come join us for Placencia Belize Lobsterfest 2014

The Placencia Lobsterfest is a grand celebration of the opening of the lobster season in Belize attracting thousands of local and international visitors. The event is organized by the Placencia BTIA and the Placencia Village Council and has long been a traditional mainstay of Placencia’s economy.

2.) 10 Exotic Dishes From Around Belize

This blog post highlights the top ten most delicious foods to eat in Belize.

3.) 25 Things You Need to Know Before You Travel to Placencia Belize

Located in southern Belize, Placencia has become a top beach destination in the Caribbean. Lonely Planet, the largest travel guide book publisher in the world describes this stunning Belizean paradise as follows: “How you wind up feeling about Placencia really depends on what you’re looking for. If it’s laid-back ambience, varied accommodations and some of the best restaurants in Southern Belize, this beachfront paradise may well prove to be your personal Margaritaville.

4.) 7 Reasons to Travel to Belize this Summer

Summer is right around the corner and many travelers the world over have started to plan their summer getaway. With beautiful attractions like the great Blue Hole, Maya temple sites like Caracol and Xunantunich, sumptuous Belizean meals like tamales and rice and beans, and the upcoming Lobsterfest in Placencia, Belize is a great ecotourism destination to visit this summer.

5.) 7 Must do Activities in Placencia Belize

Apart from the perfect opportunity to enjoy Belizean culture first hand and mingle with the locals with white sandy beaches and laid back vibes, Placencia Village is also an ideal hub to explore Maya Temple Sites, eat amazing Belizean food, snorkel the turquoise Caribbean Sea and even swim with whale sharks. Chabil Mar is located just ¾ of a mile from the Village center and is the closest full service resort to the Village.

6.) 9 Delightfully Geeky Facts About Placencia Belize

Placencia was settled by the English Puritans who were originally from Nova Scotia in the 17^th Century; however the settlement died out during the Central American wars of independence in the 1820’s.

7.) Watch Now: A Mesmerizing Video of a Belize Vacation

Alex Parillo recently visited Belize and created this amazing video that summarizes the things he did on his vacation. Watch now to find out the beautiful and mesmerizing things that awaits you in Belize.

8.) What It’s Really Like To Dive The Great Blue Hole

The Mysterious Belize Great Blue Hole is a large underwater hole off the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 100 kilometers (62 mi) from the mainland and Belize City. The hole is perfectly circular in shape, over 300 meters (1000 ft) across, 3140 feet circumference and 125 meters (410 ft) deep.

9.) 12 Incredible Belize Vacation Photos

Time for a Belize vacation? Might be wise to consider Belize, a country where almost everything is just visually stunning. Hopefully these 12 shots nudge you into checking out the ATM Cave, Belize Barrier Reef and Chabil Mar, the only guest exclusive resort in Placencia in a country where you will find new adventures around every corner.

10.) 13 Photos That Will Make You Want To Visit Belize

Belize is one of the last unspoiled places on earth that offers a vast array of natural attractions for the adventure traveler. The country is a fabulous destination for scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, visiting ancient Maya cities, canoeing, zip lining, cave tubing and much more.

In things blog post, we are delighted to share with you 13 stunning and remarkable pictures of Belize.

For more information about the traveling to Belize, feel free to chat with our Concierge at: concierge@chabilmarvillas.com or contact our Reservations Manager at: reservations@chabilmarvillas.com. Or perhaps you would like to call toll free from the US or Canada: 1-866-417-2377.

Stunning Wildlife Tweets Incredible Belize Jaguar Photo

Posted on August 18, 2014

With more than 160,000 followers on Twitter, Stunning Wildlife @SWildlifepics a popular Twitter account that tweets amazing photos of wildlife from around the world just tweeted an incredible photo of a Belize Jaguar.

“Belize Wildlife – Jaguar by Gemini,” were the exact words that were tweeted by Stunning Wildlife.

For those who do not know, the Belize Jaguars are the largest and most powerful cats in the Western Hemisphere and can be found throughout Belize in the lowland forests and along the coasts.

According to the Belize Zoo website, in a forest such as the Cockscomb Basin, a jaguar will roam over a territory of about 20 square kilometers.

“Jaguars hunt mainly on the ground and mainly at night. Its food consists of everything from mice to birds to tapir. Across it’s range in the Americas, the Jaguar has been known to hunt 87 species of prey, sometimes including tapirs and crocodiles! Its favorite prey items in Belize include armadillos, pacas, and peccaries. Unlike other wildcats, the Jaguars prefer to kill prey with a single bite to the skull; they posses the most powerful jaws of all the big cats,” reads the description of the Jaguar on the Belize Zoo website.

Speaking about the Tweet, Larry France, Marketing Manager of Chabil Mar, the only Guest Exclusive Resort in Placencia Belize said that Social Media sites like Facebook and Twitter have become the perfect platforms to market Belize’s beautiful attractions and he was pleased to see a photo of a Jaguar tweeted by a popular social media account like Stunning Wildlife @SWildlifepics.

“Belize is also home to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the only Jaguar preserve in the world and a tour of this spectacular sanctuary can be booked at Chabil Mar,” said Larry France.

Note: Although the jaguar, the largest spotted cat in the world is what the reserve is famous for, you are unlikely to see one as the cat is nocturnal. However you will see its tracks along with tracks of tapir, deer, and other wildlife that inhabit the nature reserve.

For more information about the Belize Jaguar or traveling to Belize, feel free to chat with our Concierge at: concierge@chabilmarvillas.com or contact our Reservations Manager at: reservations@chabilmarvillas.com. Or perhaps you would like to call toll free from the US or Canada: 1-866-417-2377.

Month: August 2014