Placencia Sailing Club brings home trophy for first place in national regatta

The Placencia Sailing Club (PSC) is overjoyed to announce that their club is bringing back the first place trophy in this weekends optimist regatta in Belize City and the National Optimist Champion of the year 2017 award both won by Peter Joo.

Chabil Mar is so proud of all of our Placencia Sailing Club Youths who participate in regattas throughout the year. And, as sponsors of this extraordinary team of Placencia Optimists from day one, it so very special to celebrate their latest success! And, Peter Joo did so in the Chabil Mar sailboat no less.

The PSC joined the Belize Sailing Association (BzSA) in May 2012 with the objective to teach children how to sail and race.

The PSC was founded by Alan Usher and Shelly Bradley from the Belize Sailing Association, and Mr. & Mrs. Alvin Cabral Jr., owners of South Waters Resort and Belize Sailing Adventures in Placencia.

Every year, Chabil Mar sponsors the popular Placencia Youth Regatta which is organized by the PSC. The race is held annually in May in Placencia village and its purpose is to teach children how to sail and race and to immerse them in a fun and exciting sport that will strengthen them mentally and physically.

The regatta also helps to improve the self-esteem, self-confidence and leadership skills of children.

The BzSA is building on a long tradition of sailing in Belize and has re-energized the sailing community in Belize by making sailing affordable to sailing enthusiasts and accessible to young aspiring sailors.

The optimist regatta was held in Belize City from October 28- 29, 2017. The BzSA thanks all participants that made the event successful and congratulates the winners:

Optimist Class:

Peter Joo- 1st place
Devaughn Morrison of CBSC 2nd place
Adya Teck of CBSC 3 rd place

Laser Class:

Trent Hardwick of BSS 1st place
Darwin Velasquez of CBSC 2nd place
Nigel Rosado of CBSC 2rd place

Radio Station in Canada features Chabil Mar

CHQR, the leading news talk radio in Calgary, Alberta, included a segment recently about Chabil Mar in Placencia, Belize. Featured as part of their Informed Traveler show, host Randy Sharman spoke with Larry France, the marketing manager of Chabil Mar resort.

France spoke about the origins of Chabil Mar, first opening its doors in November 2005. Designed as a luxury resort, Chabil Mar was, right from the beginning, dedicated not just to hosting visitors but also introducing them to the cultures and lifestyle found in Belize. As a traditional fishing region, Placencia, Belize, is still a laid-back, relaxed area where locals and visitors alike love to stroll along the beach.

The Placencia Peninsula is a north-south narrow strip of land that measures approximately 16 miles long and just half a mile wide. With the feel and atmosphere of an island, the peninsula serves as the gateway to the beautiful Caribbean Sea and the majesty of the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the second-largest barrier reef in the world.

France was invited to Sharman’s popular travel show to discuss the recent announcement by low-cost carrier WestJet that it will be adding a brand new non-stop flight to Belize City from Calgary’s airport starting on November 3, 2017. The new route will be WestJet’s second Canada-Belize foray, having begun flying non-stop to Belize City from Toronto beginning in October 2016. Rival carrier Air Canada responded to WestJet’s success by adding its own Toronto-Belize flights that will begin on December 15, 2017.

“It was a true pleasure to be able to speak to Randy Sharman on the Informed Traveler show, introducing our resort to Albertans and residents of Western Canada who can now fly non-stop to Belize for the first time” said Larry France, marketing manager of Chabil Mar. “We look forward to welcoming Canadians to the beauty and wonder of Belize.”

The Informed Traveler is a weekly radio show on CHQR radio that also broadcasts on CKNW Newstalk 980 Vancouver. CHQR and CKNW are radio stations broadcasting on 770 owned by the Global News network, a division of Corus Entertainment, a company that owns 45 television channels and 39 radio stations in Canada as well as more than 38 media channels worldwide.

Chabil Mar is a multiple award-winning resort located on the Placencia Peninsula in southern Belize. A perennial TripAdvisor favorite, Chabil Mar has luxuriously appointed beachfront villas and is conveniently located near all of the top attractions in the country.

Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information on Belize, and don’t hesitate to send us an email, or call US/CAN Toll Free: 1-866-417-2377, Local: (011-501) 523-3606, if you have questions or need help in planning your Belize vacation.

Escape the Winter Up North…and Head for Belize!

The holiday season is a time for family, feasting, and plenty of good cheer, but it’s never any fun having to deal with cold, ice, and snow. That’s why the perfect place to enjoy an unforgettable vacation this holiday season is Belize, a small Caribbean country just 2-5 hours’ flying time from the United States.

Located just south of Mexico’s famous Yucatan Peninsula, Belize enjoys warm sunshine and beautiful weather all year-long. It may be winter on the calendar, but in Belize, the holiday season is a time for enjoying the great outdoors, walking along a beach, taking a swim, or perhaps catching a glimpse of one of the more than 500 bird species that have been spotted in the country. Even if the nights get a bit “chilly” (75 degrees Fahrenheit), one thing is for certain – you’ll never, ever see it snow in Belize.

But Belize is more than just great weather and sunny skies. It’s a natural wonderland where plants and animals far outnumber people. The mainland is a cornucopia of lush rainforests, verdant jungle, misty mountaintops, and stunning waterfalls inhabited by a rich diversity of plant and animal life. Belize is home to parrots, macaws, and toucans as well as monkeys, enormous harpy eagles, and five different big cat species, including the jaguar, once revered by the ancient Maya as a sacred animal of the gods.

The ancient Maya called Belize home, the heartland of their vast civilization that once covered all of Central America. Today, Belize is home to more ancient Maya sites than anywhere else, including the colossal cities of Caracol and Xunantunich and spectacular caves like Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) that were used by the ancient priests to perform human sacrifices.

Offshore, Belize has more than 100 islands, the perfect place to enjoy world-class diving, snorkeling, sailing, and fishing.


One of the best places to experience Belize at its best is the Placencia Peninsula. Located on the southeastern coast of the country, the Placencia Peninsula is 16 miles of golden sand beaches, beautiful views of the Caribbean, and close access to all the top attractions in the country, including the offshore reef and wildlife sanctuaries on the mainland.Chabil Mar is a multiple award-winning resort featuring luxurious villas, a lush tropical garden, a gourmet restaurant, and a complete range of modern amenities. Chabil Mar is a perennial TripAdvisor favorite and is the perfect place to stay for families, honeymooners, and adventure travelers.

For more information about Belize vacations, 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 Romantic Tourist Features Weddings in Belize

On March 8, 2017, Romantic Tourist magazine published an article listing their top 5 beach wedding destinations, one of which was Belize. Focusing on the breathtaking biodiversity and resplendent nature found throughout the country, The Romantic Tourist article focused on the Placencia Peninsula on the southeastern coast of Belize.

Referring to the peninsula’s motto of “Barefoot Perfect,” The Romantic Tourist highlighted the gorgeous views of the Caribbean Sea, the lagoons, and islands as the perfect complement to the country with the world’s most untouched rainforests, giving couples a dream setting to tie the knot in a tropical paradise.

According to The Romantic Tourist, one of the most beautiful and romantic places to enjoy a storybook wedding in Belize is at Chabil Mar. Located on the golden shores of the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize, Chabil Mar is a picturesque beachfront resort with a lush tropical garden, majestic villas, and award-winning services that include assistance with wedding planning and arranging for honeymoon excursions.


See also: 6 Ways to Make Your Belize Honeymoon Unforgettable!


The resort’s name, Chabil Mar, means “Beautiful Sea” in the ancient Maya language, and the article highlighted just what an appropriate name it is for this stunning resort that features more than 400 feet of private beach and the beautiful backdrop of the Caribbean Sea. The Romantic Tourist article also mentioned how the Placencia Peninsula is the country’s leader in eco-tourism, combining sustainable tourism practices with a strong commitment towards preserving the environment.

The Romantic Tourist article mentioned just how simple it is for couples to get married in the country. Local law stipulates that both the bride and groom must be in the country for three days prior to the wedding in order to file for a wedding license. Within two working days, the license is approved, and a registered Justice of the Peace or ordained minister can then perform the ceremony. And considering that Belize is the only country in the region where English is the official language, couples getting married in Belize won’t have to translate their wedding certificate once they return home.

The Romantic Tourist was founded in 2011 by a real-life couple named Chloe and Jason who fell head over heels in love and then had to plan a wedding in an exotic honeymoon destination but were frustrated with the lack of clear information and the inability to find the right venue. After successfully pulling off their dream wedding, they vowed to assist other couples who wanted to find exactly the right venue along with the right package of experiences, including accommodations and honeymoon excursions.

For more information about Belize Weddings & Honeymoons, 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.

Belize to create the world’s first ray sanctuary

This week, the government of Belize announced the establishment of the first-ever nationwide ray sanctuary.

This new sanctuary was motivated by data from Global FinPrint scientists at Florida International University (FIU).

According to a press release from FIU, researchers deployed baited remote underwater videos (BRUVs) to monitor the abundance and distribution of sharks and rays, and surprisingly found thriving populations of rays after analyzing the hundreds of hours of video footage.

Around the world, rays are threatened with extinction due largely to over-fishing, habitat loss, and climate change and are even more at risk than sharks.

In Belize, more than 20 species of rays are known to populate the coast.

Global FinPrint researcher and FIU Ph.D. student Kathryn Flowers shared the find with officials from the Belize Fisheries Department.

“I was surprised to hear how threatened rays are globally and decided that Belize could be a good global citizen by protecting them,” said Belize Fisheries Administrator Beverly Wade. “Neighboring countries are exploiting rays, but here in Belize, rays are valuable to our tourism industry.”

Belize is home to the world’s second largest barrier reef with a diversity of rays ranging from tiny yellow round rays to large manta rays. The critically endangered small tooth sawfish and endangered Ticon cownose ray are also believed to be in Belize waters.

“Moving forward, we want to ensure that this remains a conservation success story,” Flowers said. “We will continue working with the Belize Fisheries Department to monitor populations of sharks and rays and engage in outreach with the local fishing and tourism communities.”

Global FinPrint is a three-year survey of reef sharks and rays throughout the world and is led by researchers from FIU in collaboration with Australia’s James Cook University, Curtin University and the Australian Institute of Marine Science, as well as Canada’s Dalhousie University. The project has received core funding from philanthropist Paul G. Allen and is one of several ocean health initiatives within the Microsoft co-founder’s portfolio.

“The establishment of new shark and ray sanctuaries such as this is exactly the reason we partnered with FIU to roll out the Global FinPrint surveys,” said James Deutsch, director of Biodiversity Conservation for Paul Allen. “We have been confident that data from Global FinPrint will catalyze conservation action to protect threatened shark and rays on coral reefs around the world.”

FIU scientists have become increasingly concerned about the vulnerable populations of sharks and rays around the world and especially in Belize, where Global FinPrint lead scientist and FIU professor Demian Chapman has worked for nearly two decades on shark conservation. Earthwatch Institute, the Roe Foundation, and the Mays Family Foundation have also contributed to these research programs.

Belize becomes the first country in the world to designate a sanctuary for rays.

The staff and management of the Chabil Mar warmly welcomes this news and applauds the government of Belize and the Belize Fisheries Department for taking steps in creating the first first-ever nationwide ray sanctuary.

Chabil Mar is firmly committed to the protection and conservation of Belize’s flora and fauna including the country’s pristine barrier reef. Chabil Mar offers guests the opportunity to visit the reef and enjoy activities such as snorkeling, sailing, and scuba diving.

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