Belize With Kids: A Guide

Belize is a lot of things to a lot of people: a tropical paradise where newlyweds can connect, a living obstacle course for outdoor adventurers, a natural spa for rest and relaxation. But this Central American country is a great destination for families as well. Here are some of the best activities in Belize that are also suited for vacationers with kids.

Silk Cayes and Laughing Bird

laughing bird and silk cayes

Snorkeling is a great low-intensity way for kids to experience the tropical fish and other sea life off the coast of Belize safely, and there’s no better spots in Belize than Laughing Bird and Silk Cayes. The gentle, shallow waters are ideal for first-timers, but there’s still an abundance of life occupying this stretch of the Caribbean Sea. Both cayes are accessible as day trips.

Monkey River Tour

Monkey River Tour

Monkey River is aptly named. The habitat is home to a vibrant population of mischievous howler monkeys, and the popularity of this region has made them hospitable to strangers. Whether your family is looking to cruise the river by boat, experience the hiking trails, or do a little light spelunking, there are plenty of options. And your kid can go back with stories of meeting wild monkeys up close and personal.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Belize-Jaguar

Looking for something a little more fierce? Cockscomb Basin is home to the world’s first jaguar preserve, but don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe for visitors of all ages. It’s also known for its gorgeous waterfalls, and its biodiversity extends well beyond the local jaguar population. It can double as a learning experience as well, instilling in kids the complicated balance of life that makes up the natural world.

Maya King Waterfalls

Maya King Waterfall in Southern Belize

Maya King Waterfalls is a great place for a relaxing and laidback afternoon with the family. Your kids can go splashing in the cool pool at the foot of the waterfall while you bask on the nearby rocks. The surrounding jungle is a true sight to behold.

Nim Li Punit and Lubantuum

Nim-Li-Punit-Maya-Site

Belize is home to a wealth of natural beauty, but it was also once home to one of the most expansive empires in history. If you’re looking to expose your kids to the importance of history and the experience of immersing themselves in other cultures, you owe it to yourself to make a visit to Nim Li Punit or Lubantuum. Located in the south of the country, these remarkably intact ruins are a testament to the extraordinary engineering skills of the Mayan people.

A Golf Cart Stroll on the Placencia Peninsula

placencia village belize

The Placencia Peninsula is a beautiful stretch of territory where the beach is never more than a few miles away. That means that it’s a great region to explore by golf cart. A leisurely journey through the peninsula is an ideal way to soak up the local habitat and have some quiet family bonding time.

If you’re thinking about bringing your family to Belize, don’t wait to call Chabil Mar. We offer a variety of jungle and sea packages, and we can work with you to create an itinerary your family will love.

What Is it Like to Cave Dive in Belize?

One of the hottest trends in adventure tourism is cave diving. Combining all of the excitement of standard scuba diving with a thrilling underwater environment, cave diving allows divers to explore secret caverns, passages, and labyinths, many of which have rarely been visited before by humans.

In a recently published article in Afar Magazine, Brooklyn-born Ben Popik described why he moved to Belize eight years ago. “There’s simply no thrill more exciting than diving straight down 75 feet through a narrow shaft. You then have to crawl for about 20 feet before you enter an enormous underwater cavern with stalactites and stalagmites in every direction as far as the eye can see.”

One of the top spots for cave diving in Belize is the Great Blue Hole, sometimes known as the Belize Blue Hole. From the surface, the Great Blue Hole looks like a perfectly circular body of water that is several shades darker than the surrounding water. But the tranquil surface hides a true diver’s paradise – a vast cavern system begging to be explored.

Formed over 10,000 years ago by the rising waters of the last great Ice Age, the Belize Blue Hole came to the world’s attention in 1971 when legendary French marine biologist Jacques Cousteau declared it to be one of his top 10 favorite dive sites in the world.

Not a traditional “color” dive where large numbers of fish and other animals congregate, the Great Blue Hole is, instead, a mysterious, gothic underworld that attracts elite divers from all over the world. Beyond the occasional hammerhead shark or elusive octopus, the Great Blue Hole is largely uninhabited. But the shadowy depths of the underwater labyrinth make this a truly unique dive.

Travelers to Belize should be aware that cave diving, including at the Great Blue Hole, is strictly limited to experienced divers. Beginning divers, however, can enjoy plenty of amazing sights at other nearby locations on the reef.

If you’re interested in cave diving, the best resort to stay at is Chabil Mar. Located on Belize’s fabled southern coast, Chabil Mar is very close to all of the top scuba diving spots on the reef, including Laughing Bird Caye, the Silk Cayes, the Turneffe Flats, the Great Blue Hole, and Gladden Spit, where whale sharks come to congregate every year.

Chabil Mar has a number of Belize vacation packages that include diving trips lead by experienced local dive instructors to all of the top spots on the reef.

For more information about scuba diving in 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.

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.

Here are seven reasons why you have to travel to Belize this summer:

The Belize Weather

island beach

The average yearly temperature is 84° F (29°C), which means that it is pretty much near perfect to be in Belize this summer. In addition the intact jungle and rain forests provide relief in the hot summer months.

Belize is the only English Speaking Country in Central America

children of placencia belize chabil mar resort

Belize is a diverse society with many cultures and languages (Creole and Spanish are widely spoken) however English is the official language, making it easy for travelers to get around.

Belize is a nature lovers paradise

Howler Monkey Chabil Mar Belize Resort

Belize has some of the most intriguing and fascinating wildlife in Central America. In fact 40 percent of the land is classified as protected and is habitat to a variety of species of plants, birds, amphibians, reptiles and marine life.

Belize is the epicenter of the ancient Maya world

xunantunich

Archaeologists estimate that more than one million Maya lived in present day Belize and flourished during the Classic Period from 300 to 900 AD. Maya temple sites like Caracol, Xunantunich, Altun Ha, Cahal Pech and Lamanai are just a few of the spectacular sites that can be discovered in Belize this summer.

Belize is home to the world renowned Blue Hole

great-blue-hole-belize

The gigantic underwater Blue Hole off the coast of Belize is believed to be the world’s largest hole measuring 1000 ft across and 412 ft deep. It offers divers a great opportunity to see geological wonders like giant stalactites, dripstone sheets and amazing marine life such as nurse sharks, groupers and a vast array of fishes and Caribbean sharks.

The Blue Hole was made famous in 1971 by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the French Explorer in the television series – The Undersea world of Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

See also: 25 Things You Need to Know Before You Travel to Placencia Belize

Belize has one of the most intricate cave systems in Central America

ATM-CAVE

Caves were used extensively by the ancient Maya to conduct their sacred rituals and ceremonies and today a plethora of impressive caves can be discovered throughout Belize. The Chiquibul Cave System for example is nearly 540,000 square foot long and is the longest in Central America and offers a treasure trove of geological and archaeological wonders.

Some of the top caves to explore are: Actun Tunichil Muknal, Barton Creek Cave and Caves Branch and the Chiquibul Cave System.

Belizean food is tasty and succulent

lobsterfest in placencia 2014

The food in Belize is as diverse as its population and consists of a vast array of elements from the different ethnic groups like the Garifuna, Maya, Mestizo, East Indian and Creole. Some of the top must eats in Belize this summer are: Rice and Beans, Fry Jacks, Johnny Cakes, Stew Chicken, Gibnut, Escabeche, Tamales, Hudut, and Fish Sere.

For more information about travelling to Belize this summer, 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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The Most Romantic Place to Go in Belize This Summer

honeymoons in belize

What do whale sharks and honeymooners have in common? For starters, both love privacy and several types of sharks like to dance, using those moves as mating rituals. Humans do, too. Men kiss the hands of their dates as a show of affection while male whale sharks nip at female fins to say, “Hey, I’m interested in you!” 

Why is it fun to compare the two? If you’re planning a honeymoon—or just a romantic getaway—choosing Belize as your destination gives you two the opportunity to see these amazing creatures up close and personal.

Of course, romance is less about whale sharks than it is about intimacy and privacy when the objective of a vacation is falling even more in love, so why not use whale shark spotting as your excuse to get away this summer? Whale sharks remain in Belize through June and if that’s the month you’ve chosen for your honeymoon, you’re in luck. 

Staying at Chabil Mar Resort in Placencia during summer months is heaven. Accommodations are just what honeymooners crave: luxurious, spacious and isolated enough to give you the privacy you desire. 

belize whale sharks

Take a virtual tour and if you don’t fall as much in love with these gorgeous surroundings as you did when you realized that your sweetheart “is the one,” you may need several whale shark tours to get your pulse rate up!

Summer at Chabil Mar is idyllic for practical reasons. Rates are lower. There are fewer crowds. The resort restaurant and bar are posh and menu items are exotic and delicious since authentic Belizean cuisine is guaranteed to please even travelers with picky appetites. 

June happens to be the month of Lobsterfest in Belize so guess what you can find on your dinner plate as often as you like? Here’s a hint: it’s not shark!

Honeymooners visiting the Belize Barrier Reef together start their life together on an awesome note because sharing underwater adventures builds colorful memories and for active couples who love to balance alone time with thrilling activities, you won’t find a better place to pair fun with romance. 

Belize in June is a honeymooner’s paradise for so many reasons, there’s a chance you might not have enough time to see those whale sharks. No worries. You’ll come back. Chabil Mar is the place couples return for anniversaries down the road! Sometimes, they even bring their kids to see the whale sharks they missed while on their honeymoons!

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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