Month: May 2019

If you live in Belize or if you’re visiting our beautiful country, make sure you set aside time for the annual Maya Beach Clean Up. We’ll be making the Placencia Peninsula proud when we clean up the trash on this quiet, picturesque stretch of beach.

The Maya Beach Clean Up is sponsored by Oceana Belize, the Chabil Mar Villas and YouTube stars Wandxr Bus.

Be a Hero for Our Environment

We Belizeans understand the importance of preserving the natural beauty that surrounds us. Almost half of Belize is protected in a sanctuary, preserve or national forest. We appreciate the rare, exotic beauty of our country.

Now, you can share that love in a community event that joins people of all ages and from all walks of life. Start your morning with an activity that feeds your soul and lets you meet some new friends.

• What: The Maya Beach Clean-Up
• When: Saturday, June 1, 2019
• Time: 7:30AM to 9:30AM

We provide:

• Bags.
• Gloves.
• Snacks and drinks.
• Please bring your own reusable water bottle.

Be a Winner

Cleaning the Maya Beach is a rewarding experience, but we want to reward our volunteers even more. That’s why everyone who participates has the chance to win a raffle.

You could win one of these great prizes:

• One free night at the luxurious Chabil Mar Villas.
• $50 gift card for the Barefoot Beach Bar.
• An Oceana swag bag.

Where to Stay

If you’re joining us to clean the beach and enjoy a Belize getaway, make sure to stay at the Chabil Mar. Our award-winning, full-service resort is located on the beautiful Placencia Peninsula just steps away from Maya Beach. Contact us for an unforgettable Belize vacation.

Ever since Greek runners launched the foot races that morphed into the Olympics events held today, individual nations have sought to make their international mark on sports by reclaiming their own traditions. 

For the people of Central America, an ancient Maya competition that’s as much historic as it is physically punishing has grown into a near-obsession: Pok Ta Pok is a sport that consists of moving a rubber ball around a field by players who are only permitted to use their hips and thighs to control the ball. 

During heyday of Maya domination throughout the region, this life-and-death game had dire consequences for losing teams, and while today’s version has the capacity to leave participants feeling humiliated and depressed, at least nobody loses their lives in the process. 

Who are the victors of the 2019 games? Belize, of course. This tenacious team beat out El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala and Honduras handily on the 5th of May with their “take no prisoners” attitude and a big helping of national pride. In fact, Belize’s Ek’ Balam (Black Jaguars) elevated the world’s longest, continually-played competition to new heights, saluting the ancient teams who invented this sport. 

That Belize is proud of this outcome would be an understatement! There was a lot riding on an Ek’ Balam victory and every one of the 10-member team was willing to take their A Game to opposing teams throughout the competition that started on April 29th under the sponsorship of The Central American and Caribbean Association of the Ancestral Sport of Maya Ball.

Since the Black Jaguars also took first place at this event in 2017, the team is building a reputation for excellence that is going to be hard to beat in the years ahead. For this reason and so many more, the management and staff at Chabil Mar Villas in Placencia applaud this feisty team for bringing the win home to Belize and for showing how team spirit and love of country can make all the difference.

She changed your diapers, put up with your “terrible twos,” stood by when your teen romances dissolved like bubbles and she’s the first person to say, “I really don’t want a thing” each time you say, “Mom, what do you want for Mother’s Day?”

If you know that flowers and candy won’t cut it because neither conveys the deep love you have for your mother, the gift of a vacation in Belize is guaranteed to elevate you to the status of being mom’s favorite child (even if you have no brothers and sisters).

The Caribbean in mid-May becomes a wonderland for moms who are often shocked that their kid(s) sprung for such a remarkable gift. You don’t have to reveal that shoulder season has started and while the weather stays idyllic, rates drop appreciably. Winter crowds have vanished, so she doesn’t have to deal with crowds. 

Once Mom gets over the shock of learning that you’re taking her to Belize, we recommend handing her pen and paper and asking her what she thinks about the following attractions so you can book the ones that are ideal:

-Did she call you “little monkey” when you were a toddler? A Monkey River tour is relaxing and calming–until primal shouts of critters for whom the river was named liven up the journey. 

-Does your mom wax poetic about reading poetry on a beach with a cocktail in hand? Belize, and particularly Placencia peninsula beaches, has so many gorgeous beaches, making a decision can be difficult.

-Does your mom literally light up when the word chocolate is mentioned? Belize chocolate tours are delicious. Mom can make her own chocolate bar and she doesn’t have to share it with you if she doesn’t want to. 

-Is your mom known for taking in every stray animal on the planet? Delight her with Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize Zoo or other animal-focused tours that she’ll talk about for years to come.

-Has your mom read so many murder mysteries, it’s hard to find one she hasn’t already finished? Mayan ruins throughout Belize are tucked into jungles and mysterious caves where sacred chambers still hold artifacts, ritual items and skeletal remains. 

Of course, the resort you pick for mom’s getaway can make the difference between a so-so journey and one that’s unforgettable. One of Placencia’s most popular resorts is Chabil Mar where villas, amenities and luxury are exactly what mom deserves. Chabil Mar’s onsite gourmet restaurant, spa and pool get rave reviews from Fodor’s, TripAdvisor and organizations dedicated to promoting resorts that prioritize the environment, so she’ll be pampered throughout her stay. 

Direct Mom to this page on the Chabil Mar website. Don’t be surprised if she tears up and says, “The place looks like paradise!” It is. And since she’s your angel, Chabil Mar is exactly the place she deserves to be over the Mother’s Day holiday.