Where to Celebrate the Holidays in Belize – Christmas and New Year Experiences

Posted on August 12, 2025

When the holiday season arrives, most people think of snow, heavy coats, and long nights indoors. But in Belize, Christmas and New Year’s are celebrated under warm skies, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, tropical greenery, and a culture that blends centuries of tradition with island charm. If you’ve ever dreamed of trading winter blues for golden sands and turquoise waters, Belize — and especially Placencia — is the place to do it. And at Chabil Mar, you’ll find the perfect blend of festive celebration, local culture, and beachfront luxury to make your holidays unforgettable.

A Warm and Welcoming Christmas by the Sea

Christmas in Belize is a vibrant mix of cultural influences — from Maya heritage to Garifuna traditions to Creole celebrations. In Placencia, December brings warm sunshine, clear skies, and a joyful energy that fills the village. Streets are lit up with colorful decorations, local churches hold moving services, and you’ll hear everything from traditional carols to festive punta rhythms. The air smells of rich black fruit cake and the Belizean classic rum popo — a holiday drink that’s as much a tradition as it is a treat.

Staying at Chabil Mar during Christmas means you can enjoy the best of both worlds — peaceful moments on your private beachfront villa terrace and easy access to the celebrations in Placencia Village, just a stroll or short bike ride away. You might start your morning with a swim in the Caribbean, spend the afternoon exploring the peninsula, and return in the evening for a gourmet holiday dinner by the sea. Whether you want to fully immerse yourself in local festivities or savor the season in quiet luxury, Chabil Mar offers a warm, intimate atmosphere that makes Christmas truly special.

Ringing in the New Year — Belize Style

New Year’s Eve in Placencia is nothing short of magical. The village comes alive with beach parties, live music, and fireworks lighting up the Caribbean night. Locals and visitors mingle in the open-air bars, dance barefoot on the sand, and count down to midnight with the waves as their backdrop. There’s an undeniable sense of community and joy — no massive crowds or freezing temperatures, just pure celebration in paradise.

Guests of Chabil Mar have the advantage of enjoying the festivities at their own pace. If you’re looking for a lively night, you can head into the village for music and dancing, or even take part in one of the beach bonfire gatherings that often spring up along the shore. For a quieter evening, the resort can arrange a private beachfront dinner under the stars, complete with champagne to toast the New Year. However you choose to celebrate, you’ll wake up on January 1st to a warm breeze, a golden sunrise, and the promise of adventure in the year ahead.

Why Chabil Mar Is the Perfect Holiday Destination

Holiday travel is about more than just the location — it’s about how the place makes you feel. At Chabil Mar, the holidays are an opportunity to relax, reconnect, and experience Belize’s beauty at its most enchanting time of year. The resort’s guest-exclusive setting ensures privacy and personalized service, while its prime beachfront location means you’re never far from the sea or the village’s holiday energy.

Chabil Mar’s villas are decorated with tropical elegance, creating the perfect backdrop for your festive season. Imagine sipping coffee as the sun rises over the Caribbean, enjoying a holiday feast crafted from fresh local ingredients, and ending the night listening to the waves from your veranda. Add in the chance to explore Belize’s reefs, rainforests, and ancient Maya sites during your stay, and you’ve got a holiday experience that blends celebration with adventure.

This December, skip the snow and embrace the sun. Whether you’re coming for Christmas, New Year’s, or both, Placencia offers the warmth, beauty, and cultural richness that make Belize a truly unique holiday destination. And with Chabil Mar as your home base, your festive season will be as joyful and relaxing as it is unforgettable.

🌟 ✨ SPECIAL RATES ✨ 🌟

1) Military Discounts
Enjoy a 15% discount on the villa rate, available all year long as our way of saying, “Thank you for your service.”

Time, like luxury, is best when it’s never rushed. At Chabil Mar, time slows down, and every moment is curated with care. Now, for a limited time, we invite you to indulge in more of what you love—on us. Reserve a stay of 4 nights or more and enjoy a complimentary night on us. This is your invitation to linger a little longer.

2) Summer in Belize Free
Effective: Now through December 20, 2025
Offer: Buy 4 Nights, Get 1 Additional Night Free

All special rates are subject to availability and are limited-time offers.

Visit our website Chabilmarvillas.com for more information on Belize and Chabil Mar, and don’t hesitate to send us an email, or call & chat with us via WhatsApp Free Worldwide: +501-633-7547, Local: (011-501) 523-3606, if you have questions or need help in planning a Belize vacation.

Why Placencia Is Belize’s Top Spot for Snorkeling and Diving Adventures

Posted on August 10, 2025

Placencia is one of Belize’s most coveted gateways to the Caribbean Sea, offering access to some of the most breathtaking snorkeling and diving spots in the world. Sitting along the southern coast, it’s perfectly positioned for quick trips to the Belize Barrier Reef, vibrant cayes, and pristine atolls. For travelers seeking a blend of luxury and adventure, Chabil Mar Villas serves as the ideal base for exploring this underwater paradise.

A World-Class Reef at Your Doorstep

Just a short boat ride from Placencia, the Belize Barrier Reef—recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site—unfolds in a kaleidoscope of colors beneath the waves. This living reef, the second largest in the world, is home to hundreds of coral species and thousands of marine creatures, making every snorkel or dive a completely unique experience. Imagine floating over coral gardens teeming with tropical fish, spotting sea turtles gliding gracefully, and watching nurse sharks patrol the reef’s edge. For divers, the reef offers everything from shallow, beginner-friendly sites to dramatic drop-offs and tunnels for seasoned adventurers.

From Famous Blue Waters to Hidden Gems

Placencia’s central location opens up a range of experiences. The iconic Silk Cayes and Laughing Bird Caye are must-visit snorkeling spots, where calm, shallow waters make for perfect conditions to see stingrays, parrotfish, and even the occasional dolphin. More experienced divers can venture further out to the atolls—Glover’s Reef, Turneffe Atoll, and Lighthouse Reef—where remote dive sites offer unparalleled encounters with larger marine life and pristine coral walls. Seasonal visitors might even have the chance to swim alongside gentle whale sharks at Gladden Spit, an unforgettable bucket-list experience.

Luxury and Adventure at Chabil Mar

After a day of exploring Belize’s underwater treasures, there’s nothing better than returning to Chabil Mar, Placencia’s award-winning guest-exclusive resort. With beachfront villas, infinity pools, and private pier dining, every detail is designed for comfort and relaxation. Our concierge team can arrange your snorkeling and diving tours, ensuring you’re paired with trusted local guides who know these waters inside and out. Whether you’re a first-time snorkeler, an avid diver, or a family seeking a mix of adventure and leisure, Chabil Mar offers the perfect blend of sea-inspired excitement and coastal luxury.

From the moment you step onto our white-sand beach to the moment you dive into Belize’s turquoise waters, your days will be filled with discovery, beauty, and connection to one of the richest marine ecosystems on the planet. Let your snorkeling and diving adventure start here in Placencia—with Chabil Mar as your home on the shore.

5 Terrific Reasons to Visit Belize in September

Posted on August 9, 2025

5 Terrific Reasons to Visit Placencia Belize in September

In the interest of transparency, we must tell you that there are about 500 reasons to visit Belize in September, but we want to invite you here in a gentle, non-frightening way because the thought of having that many reasons to come could make you feel faint. We’d prefer that your spinning head result from rock-bottom discounts, too much local beer and so many unforgettable memories, you’ll wonder why you never thought to visit here in September before now.

1. Visit Belize in September if the idea of a non-stop party that spans all 30 days of the month is something you’ve always wanted to experience. Even the Christmas and New Year’s holidays pale in comparison. Belize finally gained its independence on September 21st, thus that date serves as an annual anniversary party that triggers fireworks, bands, parades and pageants. You’re invited to attend as many of these celebrations as your energy level permits if you visit in September.

2. September in Belize has especially nice weather, with temperatures running between 77- and 86-degrees F. Sure, Belize remains temperate and beautiful nearly 365 days a year, but September is the tail end of the green season, when Mother Nature grows weary of dispensing life-sustaining rain. In September, showers typically arrive late at night or in the early morning hours—before anyone in their right mind gets up after partying late into the night before.

3. Skip the crowds in September. For some reason, this has become the one month of the year that crowds don’t flock to Belize, and we’re convinced that this is because frequent September vacationers want to keep the secret that there’s lots of room to spread out because Belize tourism in September is at a low point. If over-crowded tours, bars, and hard-to-find accommodations sound like a great time, by all means, wait until December when prices rise and humanity arrives in force.

4. September accommodations, attractions and other amenities are less expensive than comparable rates offered during the other 11 months, so your U.S. dollar will stretch like taffy. Consider the strikingly affordable rates offered by Belize’s top lodging choice, Chabil Mar Villas in Placencia, for example. You’ll find deep discounts on everything from luxury suites to adventure tours. All-inclusive Belize vacation packages are particularly economical. Few travelers realize that September is on the cusp of tourism season, so visitors enjoy the same experience, but with less cash outlay.

5. The kids are back in school! Parents desperate for an indulgent vacation that reminds them of what life was like before lunch boxes, report cards, and sulky teens set the family barometer can rediscover each other at reduced prices. Time to ring Granny to babysit so you can vacation with the person with whom you fell in love. Environs at Chabil Mar Villas are so lush, private, and intimate, that even if you can’t recall a time when the two of you couldn’t get enough of each other, you’ll recapture it. Sure, there’s one long party going on in Placencia during September, but Chabil Mar accommodations are tucked away so exquisitely into the landscape, you might never even know it!

Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information on Belize and Placencia, 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 for the month of September.

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How to Make Belizean Chimole “Black Dinna”

Posted on August 9, 2025

Chimole or locally known as “Black Dinna” in Belize is a succulent and delicious black soup that is enjoyed by many Belizeans throughout the country. The soup is easy to make and the black recado that is used in the preparation gives the food its black color. Once you have tasted it, you will always crave it.

Below is the recipe brought to you by our very own Chef Daniel.

Chimole / Black Dinna

Ingredients:

1/4 cup black recado

1 chicken (cut into parts)

2 tablespoons cilantro ( chopped)

2 tomatoes (diced)

2 tablespoons malher ( chicken bouillon)

3 potatoes in cubes

3 to 4 fresh tomatoes

1/2 onion (sliced)

3 garlic cloves (mashed)

Salt and pepper

6 boiled eggs

Method:

Season the chicken with salt and pepper and brown in a hot pot with little oil. Once browned, add enough water to cover the chicken and then add the onions and garlic and potatoes, Cook, over low heat for 30 minutes. Dissolve the recado and the malher (chicken bouillon)and add it to the chicken. Add diced tomatoes and cilantro. Add more water if necessary. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Served hot with boiled eggs and corn tortillas.

If you are visiting Chabil Mar and want to learn about our dining experience, click here: Dining at Chabil Mar.

The Beers of Belize

Posted on August 9, 2025

Few people might think of beer as one of the most enjoyable parts of a vacation in Belize, but the small Central American nation has a proud history of brewing delicious local lagers.

Perhaps the most famous brewer in Belize is Belikin Beer. With their distinctive logo featuring the ancient Maya site of Altun Ha, Belikin is a multi-generational family-owned business based in Ladyville just outside of Belize City. The name Belikin comes from a Maya term for the Belize River, literally meaning “road to the east.” Founded in 1969, Belikin is the largest domestic producer of beer, producing 450 bottles per minute in their state-of-the-art breweries.

Belikin’s beer offerings include:

Belikin Beer – The flagship brew, Belikin Beer is a classic European-style lager with an alcohol content of 4.8%.
Belikin Stout – With a velvety, rich head, Belikin Stout has a delightful smoky taste. Made with German hops, Canadian malt, and cane sugar from Belize.
Lighthouse Lager – A refreshing, crisp beer, Lighthouse Lager is a Canadian Pilsner with a 4.2% alcohol content.
Belikin Premium – With a malty, hearty taste, Belikin Premium is made with two different hops and three different malts.
Guinness Stout – Belikin is a licensed brewer of this classic stout featuring a rich color and assertive bitter overtones.

Belikin also makes a number of seasonal brews, including:

Chocolate Stout – Inspired by a traditional Maya recipe, Chocolate Sout is a creamy beer with a velvety chocolate finish.
Sorrel Stout – Introduced for the first time a few years ago, Sorrel Stout features a careful blend of German hops, specialty malts, and local sorrel.

Other Beers Available in Belize

Beer lovers can enjoy a variety of other brews in Belize, including:

Red Stripe – The Jamaican classic in an iconic rounded bottle.
Heineken – One of the most popular beers in Europe, Heineken is a pale lager with a distinctly crisp finish.
Carib – This refreshing lager is brewed in Trinidad and Tobago.
Dragon Stout – Brewed in Jamaica, Dragon Stout has a rich, velvety head with a lovely dark color obtained from barley.

Enjoy Belizean Beers at Chabil Mar

The bar and restaurant at the award-winning resort of Chabil Mar on the Placencia Peninsula has a full range of Belizean and international beers in stock.

Visitors to the resort can ask the bartender for a recommendation of the best beers to try. The experienced, professional bartenders at Chabil Mar can recommend food pairings and other details about the different beers available in Belize.

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.

Month: August 2025

Where to Celebrate the Holidays in Belize – Christmas and New Year Experiences