Month: April 2025

On Holy Saturday, Belize will see one of the most exciting and much-anticipating sporting events in the country. Known as the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, this challenging 140-mile roundtrip bike race from Belize City to San Ignacio Town will feature more than 100 competitors from around the country and the world.

Saturday, April 19th, 2025, will mark the 97th anniversary of the race which first began as a way to encourage Belizeans to attend more cricket matches. Due to uneven road conditions, the first roundtrip race between Belize City and San Ignacio Town was a punishing affair lasting more than 13 hours. In recent years the winners usually cross the finish line in less than six hours.

All cyclists will take off with the firing of the starting gun at 6:00 am on mile marker 1.5 on the George Price Highway but awards are given for four different categories of competitors: Masters (professional racers), women, men under 18, and men under age 23. Most competitors race individually but a separate category of award (called “Elite”) is given to the team that crosses the finish line with the best collective time.

Thousands of people will see the racers off at 6:00 am across from Leslie’s Imports in Belize City as well as cheer on the first finishers to arrive back in town at Memorial Park just before noon. The mid-point of the race is Queen Elizabeth Park in downtown San Ignacio, another popular location to witness all the action.

At the end of the race, there is an exciting awards ceremony followed by boisterous banquets and celebrations throughout the day for all of the competitors and their supporters. Falling halfway through the country’s four-day Easter celebration, the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic is one of the most anticipated and popular sporting events of the year in Belize.

Visitors and locals alike line the streets to cheer on and celebrate the thrilling excitement of watching top athletes compete in this grueling 140-mile roundtrip race from Belize City in the east to San Ignacio Town in the western part of the country.

On behalf of Chabil Mar and its Staff, we wish the best of luck to all the 2025 participating teams.

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Okay, so you’ve got the itch to travel to somewhere new, somewhere cool, somewhere exotic, or just anywhere that’s different. No problem! Belize is just a short flight from the United States and Canada, and all the biggest airlines now operate non-stop flights to this jewel of a country.

Truth be told, you could grab a last-minute fare and enjoy some Belize travel without any advanced planning and still have a great time. But if you really want to experience all the best stuff in the country, it’s usually best to book your stay around three weeks ahead of time since many Belize resorts offer discounts on advanced bookings.

Our advice is to first head to your favorite travel agent or airline website and see what’s being offered for a non-stop flight to Belize City (all international flights to Belize land in Belize City). 

Once that’s settled, make sure your passport is in order and has at least six months left to go before it’ll expire. After that, your next question is probably, “Where to go in Belize?”

Well, you simply can’t go wrong no matter what you choose. Belize has the largest coral reef system in the Northern Hemisphere, perfect for activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, and sea kayaking. Islands like Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are great for seafood, too, all of it fresh-caught right from the surrounding Caribbean.

But don’t think it’s just about the islands. The mainland of Belize is amazing, too, with lots of wildlife to see and exotic birds. There are thick jungles, rainforests, and majestic waterfalls. Oh, and there are ancient Maya pyramids, palaces, and temples all over the place, too.

But what if you’re interested in Belize vacation packages? The good news is that all the top resorts offer great deals for one fixed price that usually include ground transportation, meals, lodgings, and even guided Belize trips to nearby attractions. They often throw in some great freebies like wireless internet and the use of bicycles or golf carts to get around, too.

If you’re looking for the best resort to stay in Belize, be sure to stay at the fabulous Chabil Mar Resort located on the beautiful Placencia Peninsula.

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.