January 2025 - Chabil Mar Villas

Why January to April Is the Best Time to Visit Belize

Posted on January 27, 2025

While much of the world faces the harsh chill of winter, Belize remains a haven of warmth and sunshine. From January to April, when icy winds and gray skies dominate many northern climates, Belize offers an idyllic escape. Whether you’re dreaming of relaxing on golden beaches, exploring lush jungles, or diving into crystal-clear waters, this stretch of the year is the perfect time to experience everything Belize has to offer. At Chabil Mar, we invite you to discover why our slice of paradise is the ultimate destination for your winter getaway.

Belize Weather: January to April

Belize’s weather during the winter months is nothing short of perfection. From January through April, the country enjoys its dry season, characterized by sunny skies, warm temperatures, and minimal rainfall. Daytime highs average between 80°F and 85°F, while evenings bring a gentle coolness, dropping to around 70°F. This balance of warmth and breezy nights creates an atmosphere that’s both invigorating and relaxing.

January marks the height of the dry season, with abundant sunshine and cool breezes. For visitors, this is an excellent time to explore Belize’s natural beauty without the inconvenience of rain. February continues this trend, offering calm seas that are perfect for snorkeling, diving, or fishing. By March and April, the days are slightly warmer, but the low humidity ensures that every adventure, whether on land or at sea, remains comfortable.

Unlike other tropical destinations that experience sweltering heat or heavy downpours during this time of year, Belize’s climate is ideal for outdoor activities. It’s a time when you can enjoy everything from hiking ancient Maya ruins to sipping a cold drink by the beach without worrying about extreme weather conditions.

Escape Harsh Winters for Belize’s Endless Summer

While the northern hemisphere shivers under the weight of winter, Belize is a world apart. January to April are some of the harshest months in North America and beyond, with snowstorms, icy roads, and bone-chilling temperatures. Belize, by contrast, offers the antidote to winter fatigue. The warmth of the sun, the gentle rhythm of the waves, and the vibrant colors of nature come together to create a setting that feels like summer all year long.

For travelers escaping the cold, Belize provides the perfect balance of relaxation and adventure. Picture yourself lounging on the beach in Placencia, the soft sand beneath your feet, and the turquoise sea stretching out before you. The stress of winter fades away as you let the gentle breeze and tropical warmth soothe your senses. For those seeking a more active escape, Belize’s clear, calm waters and lush landscapes are waiting to be explored. From snorkeling at Laughing Bird Caye to kayaking in Placencia Lagoon, the opportunities for outdoor enjoyment are endless.

As spring approaches in March and April, many northern regions still endure unpredictable weather. In Belize, however, these months bring uninterrupted sunshine, making it an excellent time for vacations. With vibrant marine life and blooming tropical flowers, March and April showcase Belize’s natural beauty at its finest.

Chabil Mar: Your Perfect Winter Escape

At Chabil Mar, we understand the importance of finding the perfect retreat during the winter months. Located in Placencia, our luxurious beachfront resort offers everything you need to make the most of Belize’s idyllic weather. Our private villas provide the perfect blend of comfort and style, allowing you to unwind in a space that feels like your own personal sanctuary.

Whether you’re looking to relax by the pool, enjoy a private dinner under the stars, or explore Belize’s many attractions, Chabil Mar is here to make your stay unforgettable. We offer personalized experiences that cater to your desires, whether it’s arranging a boat tour to nearby cayes or setting up a guided trip to explore Maya ruins. From January to April, Placencia serves as an incredible base for experiencing Belize’s warm weather, vibrant culture, and natural wonders.

The sunny skies and mild temperatures of Belize’s winter season create an atmosphere that’s both rejuvenating and inspiring. At Chabil Mar, you’ll find not just a place to stay, but a sanctuary where you can relax, explore, and create lasting memories.

Make Chabil Mar Your Winter Escape

If you’re ready to leave the cold behind and embrace the warmth and beauty of Belize, January to April is the perfect time to visit. The dry season offers ideal weather for both relaxation and adventure, while Placencia provides the perfect mix of charm and natural splendor. At Chabil Mar, we’re here to ensure that your winter escape is everything you’ve dreamed of and more.

Contact us today to book your stay and discover why Belize is the ultimate destination for your winter getaway. Whether you’re escaping the snow or simply seeking a change of pace, Chabil Mar is ready to welcome you to paradise.

Visit our website Chabilmarvillas.com for more information on Belize and Chabil Mar, 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 a Belize vacation.

The Marvelous Maya Mysteries of Caracol Ruins: Exploring Belize’s Enigmatic Past

Posted on January 27, 2025

The Maya Ruins of Caracol

Caracol is one of the most interesting and well-preserved ancient Maya sites in Belize. Previously known as Uxwitza (“Three Water Hill”) to the ancient Maya, the current name of the site was coined in 1938 when the local British head archeologist dubbed it Caracol (Spanish for “Snail Shell”) on account of the curving access road that leads to the site.

Far bigger than even Belize City, Caracol once housed up to 180,000 people at the height of the city’s power. Caracol dominated the ancient Maya geopolitical world, variously allying or fighting against other city-states, including Naranjo and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tikal that is currently located just across the border in neighboring Guatemala.

The most famous building in Caracol is the Canaa (“Sky Palace). An enormous period that contains four palaces and three temples, Canaa is still the tallest building in the country at 141 feet (43 meters) high. Other important buildings and items discovered in Caracol include 24 religious altars, three large ball court, five big plazas, 24 carved stelae, reservoirs, causeways, and a very advanced astronomical observatory. A total of 35,000 lesser buildings have also been identified in Caracol along with more than 100 tombs.

Due to its enormous footprint (some 75 square miles), much of Caracol is still awaiting further excavation. A 2009 aerial survey was used to create a 3D map of how the city stands, including large sections of causeway and agricultural terraces that still lie buried in the jungle. The remote location of Caracol in the foothills of the Maya Mountains in southwest Belize also add to the difficulty of performing large-scale archeological work.

Caracol rose to the height of its power during the Maya classic period but the city seems to have been abandoned around the year 1050 for unknown reasons relating to the wide scale collapse of Maya civilization in the area. Once reclaimed by the jungle, the city was accidentally rediscovered in 1938 by a local logger named Rosa Mai who was in the area searching for mahogany trees.

Today, Caracol is located approximately 25 miles south of San Ignacio in the western Cayo District of Belize. The site of Caracol is within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve and is surrounded by both primary and secondary tropical rain forest. The abundance of carved stelae, altars, markers in ball courts, walls, and capstones have allowed archaeologists to accurately document the history of the city, including a monumental military victory of Tikal in the year 562 AD.

Chabil Mar in Placencia Belize & Caracol Mayan Ruins

Chabil Mar resort on the Placencia Peninsula is close to all of the most exciting mainland destinations in Belize. Guests of the resort can include a visit to Caracol Mayan Ruins as part of one of Chabil Mar’s fantastic Belize Reef & Jungle vacation packages.

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 a Belize vacation.

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The Most Beautiful Beach Destination in Belize

Posted on January 27, 2025

Placencia: Where Belize’s Most Beautiful Beaches Await

It’s a topic that continues to be debated by vacationers obsessed with beaches: Which is the best beach in the Caribbean? Insert yourself into this conversation and listen to what seasoned beachgoers have to say—-especially if the debate compares the beaches of Belize.

This small country has more coastline per mile than most nations of comparable size and hundreds of cayes with their own beaches. According to TripSavvy.com, “Approximately 450 Belize islands and islets stud the Belize Barrier Reef” alone. Sound a bit overwhelming? We can help.

From formal surveys to anecdotal research, you would be hard pressed to find beaches that receive more compliments and reviews than those lining Belize’s 16-mile-long Placencia peninsula.

Why Placencia?

For frequent visitors weary of the pace found at the Belize hot spots frequented by folks seeking the trendiest locations, Placencia offers a perfect compromise of beauty, tranquility and just enough nightlife to make things interesting.

For a resort like Chabil Mar, this combination of excitement and relaxation attracts couples seeking a unique wedding, honeymoon or couples experience and families are equally taken with this gorgeous oasis of luxury.

But it’s the beaches that are the focal point of tourists who, when offered myriad choices, choose Placencia over all other locations, and their reasons for doing so could convince you to join them!

Reasons to put Placencia beaches atop your preference list

-Placencia is known as “the caye you can walk to,” so if island vacations don’t float your boat because you’re not a fan of isolation, this peninsula checks off both boxes.

-Placencia separates the Caribbean Sea from a protected lagoon so guests can explore both sides for a more diverse landscape.

-Access to Belize’s popular natural wonders are in such close proximity, Chabil Mar guests can book excursions like diving, seeing whale sharks in season, fishing, cave tubing, and barrier reef exploration without having to be driven miles to get to a launch point.

-That lagoon is amazing. Endangered manatees, dolphin, turtles, stingrays and other marine life find safe harbor there, so your chances of seeing these marvelous creatures increase.

-Placencia’s beaches offer secluded spots where nobody is around to ruin your privacy.

-If you’re a student of cultural diversity, Placencia could remind you of the United Nations: Residents and visitors include Latinos, Creoles, Maya, Mennonite, Chinese, East Indian, European and North Americans.

Stay at Chabil Mar for all the right reasons

Access to the resort’s spectacular beachfront is a big tourist motivator, so you couldn’t choose a property that offers such close proximity to the white sand and soothing waves lapping along the coastline.

Every luxury you desire is included in a Chabil Mar experience: posh accommodations, delicious meals, the spa, and that beach!

Summer awaits at Chabil Mar, and in addition to those spectacular beaches, summer rates are in effect, so if you can think of a reason why you shouldn’t join the Placencia beach fan club before summer fades, we’d like to hear it!

10 Interesting Things About Monkey River

Posted on January 27, 2025

The Monkey River Tour is classified as one of the top rated tours in Southern Belize

The quiet Village of Monkey River in Southern Belize is habitat to a plethora of flora and fauna and as a result, it has been rated as one of the top tours in Southern Belize. Tropical birds, butterflies, crocodiles, iguanas, and of course howler monkeys are just a few of the wildlife that visitors see on this tour.

In this post, we bring to you 10 interesting things that you might know about Monkey River.

1.) Monkey River Village lies on the coast of Southern Belize in the Toledo District and is home to about 200 people. The Village can be accessed by road or sea from destinations like Placencia and Punta Gorda Town.

2.) Monkey River Village is a perfect location to experience the amazing flora and fauna of southern Belize.

3.) Families of howler monkeys can be seen and heard here, for which the village got its name.

4.) Nature Trails, Manatee watching, and Bird watching are just a few of the tours that are available in Monkey River.

5.) Hiking the surrounding rainforest of Monkey River will likely bring you encounters with tropical birds, gibnuts, deer, ocelots, tapirs, agoutis and possibly jaguars.

6.) Monkey River was born with the banana industry and at that time in the 1800’s, the population was about 2500 people. Today, the village is home to about 200 people.

7.) The river banks in Monkey River are perfect for birding.

8.)The Monkey River tour is a 15 miles boat ride from Placencia.

9.) There are no cars and only 2 streets in Monkey River Village.

10.) In October 2001, a major hurricane devastated Monkey River Village but it has been rebuilt since then.

For more information about Monkey River or 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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6 Things to Know about the Garifuna people of Belize

Posted on January 27, 2025

Every year on November 19, Garifuna Settlement day is observed which marks the arrival of the Garifuna people in Belizean territory in 1802. The holiday was created by Thomas Vincent Ramos, a Belizean civil rights activist and is celebrated for a whole week with major festivities that include parades, live music, drumming, dancing, prayers and pageantry in Garifuna communities. Here are 6 things to know about the Garifuna people of Belize:

1.) In 2001, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the Garifuna language, music and dance as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity. This designation means that it is a important culture that should be preserved, promoted and celebrated.

2.) According to Historians, the Garifuna resisted British and French colonialism in the Lesser Antilles and were defeated by the British in 1796. Because of a violent rebellion on St Vincent, the British moved 5000 Garifuna across the Caribbean to the Bay Islands off the north of Honduras. From there, they migrated to the Caribbean coasts of Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize. By 1802 about 150 Garifuna had settled in Stann Creek (present day Dangriga) area and were engaged in fishing and farming.

3.) The Garifuna are resilient people who have survived many years of extreme hardships and are the only black people in the Americas to have preserved their native Afro-Caribbean culture due to the fact that their ancestors were never slaves. The Garifuna’s deep sense of kinship and participation in community cultural activities have provide them with a sense of solidarity and cultural identity during times of turmoil.

4.) The religion of the Garifuna consists of a mix of Catholicism, African and Indian beliefs. They believe that the departed ancestors mediate between the individual and external world and if a person behaves and performs well, then he will have good fortune. If not, then the harmony that exists in relationships with others and the external world will be disrupted leading to misfortune and illness. Their spiritualism is expressed through music, dancing and other art forms.

5.) The Garifuna foods consist of fish, chicken, cassava, bananas and plantains. One of the staples of the diet is cassava. Cassava is made into bread, a drink, a pudding and even a wine! The cassava bread is served with most meals. The process of making the bread is very labor intensive and takes several days. Hudut is a very common traditional meal. Hudut consists of fish cooked in a coconut broth (called sere) and served with mashed plantains or yams. Dharasa is the Garifuna version of a tamale made with green bananas. It can be made either sweet or sour. The foods are very labor intensive and used to be cooked over an open fire hearth. Today, stoves save time, but some families still prefer the taste of the fire hearth.

6.) The Garifuna flag consists of three horizontal strips of black, white and yellow, in that order, starting from the top. The flag has been accepted internationally as the flag of the Garifuna Nation and the colors have been used in forums where Garifuna people assert their Garifuna identity. Discover the culture of Belize.

Month: January 2025

Why January to April Is the Best Time to Visit Belize

Belize Weather: January to April

Escape Harsh Winters for Belize’s Endless Summer

Chabil Mar: Your Perfect Winter Escape

Make Chabil Mar Your Winter Escape

The Marvelous Maya Mysteries of Caracol Ruins: Exploring Belize’s Enigmatic Past

The Maya Ruins of Caracol

The Most Beautiful Beach Destination in Belize

Placencia: Where Belize’s Most Beautiful Beaches Await

Why Placencia?

Reasons to put Placencia beaches atop your preference list

Stay at Chabil Mar for all the right reasons

10 Interesting Things About Monkey River

6 Things to Know about the Garifuna people of Belize

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Belize Weather: January to April

Escape Harsh Winters for Belize’s Endless Summer

Chabil Mar: Your Perfect Winter Escape

Make Chabil Mar Your Winter Escape

The Maya Ruins of Caracol

Placencia: Where Belize’s Most Beautiful Beaches Await

Why Placencia?

Stay at Chabil Mar for all the right reasons

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