Month: September 2017

Happily ever after begins with a wedding or honeymoon in Belize. With a reputation for romance quickly growing among young trendsetters, the azure sea found here coupled with pristine sands, lush jungle and mystic Maya temples all serve to create a gloriously exotic celebration destination. And, the sultry tropical weather, affordable luxuries and warm hospitality of the Belizean people make this a perfect setting to host any type of wedding gala – from extravagant or intimate to exciting or tranquil.

Many people choose a Belize honeymoon because it offers the perfect combination of luxurious relaxation at a top resort with fun and exciting activities to enjoy before and after the wedding. And in Belize, romance seems to bloom thanks to unforgettable sunsets and sunrises, sugar sand white beaches, and romantic activities like enjoying candelit dinners underneath the stars.

Closer Than You Think!

The ultimate getaway romantic destination, Belize is just 2-5 hours’ flying time from major cities in the United States and Canada. There are non-stop flights from cities across North and Central America to Belize, including:

• American Airlines – Charlotte, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, Miami.
• Delta – Atlanta, Los Angeles.
• Southwest Airlines – Houston (HOU), Denver, and Ft. Lauderdale.
• United Airlines – Houston (IAH), Newark, and Chicago.
• Air Canada – Toronto.
• WestJet – Toronto and Calgary.
• Avianca – San Salvador (El Salvador).
• COPA Airlines – Panama City (Panama).
• Tropic Air – Cancún (Mexico), Merida, (Mexico), Roatan (Honduras), San Pedro Sules (Guatemala), and Flores (Guatemala).

Chabil Mar – The Perfect Belize Honeymoon Resort

If you’re looking for the perfect Belize honeymoon resort, look no further than Chabil Mar.

Chabil Mar blends a perfect amount of adventure, nature and relaxation in our Belize honeymoon and romantic getaways. We understand that everyone is different, and these itineraries offer couples the opportunity to pick and choose the level of adventure that they would like to include on their special trip.

There will be plenty of time to relax on the beach and around the pool, but a trip to Belize is not complete without an excursion or two to experience the jungle or the great Belize reef. Based on your desired level of adventure, we will make recommendations to ensure your activities are personalized.

Chabil Mar is an award-winning honeymoon resort located on the beautiful Placencia Peninsula, famous for its golden sand beaches and beautiful views of the Caribbean Sea. To find out more about Belize honeymoon vacations, contact Chabil Mar today.

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On September 25, 2017, the world learned that two stone panels inscribed with ancient Maya hieroglyphs have been deciphered. The two stone panels were discovered at the Tipan Chen Uitz site in Belize and depict ancient Maya playing the ubiquitous ballgame sometimes known as ulama or simply as the “Maya ball game.”

Played in large courts with sloping walls and a large stone ring, the ancient ball game was considered both a sporting as well as a religious event by the Maya. Similar to modern racquetball, teams of 2-6 players would compete to keep a large rubber ball (up to 9 lbs/4kg) in play without using their hands.

Archeologists believe that the stone tablets unearthed at Tipan Chen Uitz date from around 700 AD during the heyday of the ancient Maya culture. The first tablet shows a ballplayer wearing a traditional protective belt, hitting a large, round ball. However, what makes this carving unusual is that the player is holding what appears to be a fan in his left hand.

As one of the largest carvings of a Maya ballplayer ever discovered, the engraving of the player measures about five feet wide and 28 inches high. A combination of aging and ancient vandalism has somewhat obscured the image, but archeologists have managed to decipher a nearby hieroglyph that states, “nine hand-span ball,” referring to the size of the enormous rubber ball used in the game. Next to that is the player’s name or nickname, “Waterscroll Ocelot.” The other panel depicts a second ballplayer, but, unfortunately, his name and face were scratched out by ancient vandals.

Mesoamerican ball game court in Monte Alban (CC BY 2.0)

Thousands of ball courts have been discovered throughout Central America, and it is clear that it was a popular event for the ancient Maya, Aztecs, and Olmec civilizations. While no one is quite sure what name the Maya gave for this game, or even exactly how it was played, all ancient Maya cities have one or more ball courts located in prominent positions next to temples and pyramids. A modern variant called ulama is still played by some indigenous communities in Mexico and Belize. It is believed that the ancient ballgame is the oldest known instance of an organized sport involving round balls.

Located in the beautiful Placencia Peninsula in southern Belize, Chabil Mar resort offers guests Belize jungle and sea packages that include tours to all of the top ancient Maya sites, including vast cities where visitors can learn about the ancient Maya culture and see things such as ball courts, engravings, carved monuments, palaces, pyramids, and hieroglyphs.

For more information about Belize and its ancient Maya ruins, 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.

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On September 7, 2017, the Washington Post published a story entitled, “How to be a socially conscious traveler,” describing the growing trend of travelers who are more mindful of how their actions affect the local economy and environment. Best practices include spending money on locally-owned restaurants, buying handicrafts, and cultural tours that help indigenous people preserve their traditional knowledge.

As part of the Washington Post article, a special mention was made of the Ethical Travel Guide published by Tourism Concern, a British charity. The Ethical Travel Guide lists countries that are working hard to promote sustainable and responsible travel, including Belize.

Ethical Traveler has listed Belize as one of the top 10 countries in the world that are doing the most to promote human rights, protect the environment, and support sustainable social programs that are elegantly integrated with community-based tourism. One such program in Belize is the Community Baboon Sanctuary (CBS). Established in 1985, it brings seven local villages together to protect and preserve the environment. Today, the CBS has one of the largest black howler monkey (known locally as “baboons”) populations in all of Central America.

Other popular eco-tourism destinations in Belize include the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize. This narrow strip of golden beaches on the Caribbean coast has several pedestrian-only zones, and golf carts and bicycles are the dominant modes of travel. And the nearby Cockscomb Basin Nature Reserve is a vast, trackless wilderness home to beautiful mountain vistas, waterfalls, gorgeous flora such as orchids and exotic wildlife including crocodiles, tapirs, and jaguars.

Other socially conscious travel destinations in Belize include boat tours up the Monkey River which cuts through the heart of a large section of pristine jungle in southeastern Belize. Dotted along the banks of the river are many traditional villages that offer home-cooked refreshments and souvenirs to tourists. Other sites in Belize that integrate socially conscious tourism practices include several ancient Maya sites like Caracol and Xunantunich where the living descendants of the Maya serve as tour guides, site custodians, and artisans that sell handmade handicrafts and artwork to visitors.

Chabil Mar resort located on the golden sands of the Placencia Peninsula offers award-winning accommodations for socially conscious travelers wanting to experience the best that Belize has to offer, including cultural tours. Chabil Mar is now offering special prices on accommodations, including a permanent 15% discount for members of the military and one free night for every four-night booking made before December 20, 2017.

For more information about 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.

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On September 12, 2017, TravelPulse.com posted its list of the trendiest travel destinations to visit this autumn. One of the top destinations listed in the article was Belize, describing it as the country with the “world’s best dive sites.”

Belize was also favorably mentioned thanks to a growing interest in Maya culture. As the former heartland of the vast Maya civilization that stretched from El Salvador to Mexico, Belize is home to more ancient Maya sites than any other country in Central America, including Xunantunich where the world’s largest Maya royal tomb was discovered in 2016 and Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave, rated by the Discovery Channel as the world’s number one sacred cave, a vast underground labyrinth once used by Maya priests to sacrifice human beings.

Just a few decades ago, Belize was largely unknown to the outside world due to its remote location and limited access. Now, all four of the biggest airlines in the United States – Southwest, Delta, America, and United – offer non-stop flights to Belize. Canadians, too, are increasingly visiting Belize thanks to non-stop flights from Toronto and Calgary, making Belize attainable in just 2-5 hours’ flying time from major cities across North America.

Located in Central America just south of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Belize is the only country in the region where English is the official language. This former British colony has a strong Caribbean vibe thanks to hundreds of miles of coastline as well as picturesque tropical islands along the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to the amazing dive sites mentioned in the TravelPulse.com article.

“As the weather begins to turn chilly in North America, we welcome all travelers to come visit Belize where it’s always warm and sunny,” said Larry France, marketing manager at Chabil Mar. “With beautiful offshore islands and a pristine mainland teeming with wildlife, there is truly something for everyone to do and see here in Belize.”

Chabil Mar is an award-winning luxury resort located on the golden shores of the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize. With elegantly appointed villas, a lush tropical garden, onsite gourmet restaurant, and fully stocked bar, Chabil Mar is the perfect place to stay for trendy visitors wanting to experience the best that Belize has to offer.

TravelPulse.com is part of the travAlliancemedia group, one of the world’s largest multi-channel travel information companies. For more than 10 years, travAlliancemedia has delivered personalized travel news and content to millions of people around the world.

Chabil Mar is currently offering several special offers for travelers who visit Belize this fall.

For more information about visiting Belize this fall, 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.