Month: September 2025

Nearly four centuries ago, the British Empire began the practice of taking slaves from Africa and putting them to work at plantation laborers in the Caribbean. As time went on, these people began to intermarry with the local Arawak and Carib peoples, blending cultural and linguistic traditions to create the Garifuna people. After standing up to Britain, the Garifuna were chased throughout the Caribbean, ultimately finding a safe haven on the shores of Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua. The Garifuna discovery of Belize happened on November 19, 1802 and is regarded as a national holiday, Garifuna Settlement Day.

Why Garifuna Settlement Day is So Special

Anyone who happens to be in Hopkins, Seine Bight, Placencia or Dangriga knows just how uniquely the Garifuna have contributed to, and improved, Belizean society. Garifuna culture is about storytelling, drums, dances and the preservation of trades pursuits like farming and fishing.

November 19 is when the whole country show up to commend these people for making it to Belize over two centuries ago. It is on this day that many exhibitions of Garifuna music and dance styles are held, street dances are a common occurrence when people are not enjoying plates of cassava bread and hudut (fish that has been cooked in coconut) or listening to village elders’ tales of the Garifuna culture.

Where Is The Best Place to Enjoy Garifuna Settlement Day?

While it is a national holiday, the best places to experience it would be places rich with Garifuna people, like the four settlements mentioned earlier and also Punta Gorda Town in Toledo.

That being said, Dangriga has a special, historical tradition to witness on this day. At the crack of dawn, traditional dugout canoes, packed with locals dressed in traditional Garifuna attire, re-enact the Garifuna people’s arrival on the Belizean shores. After all the re-enactors ground their canoes, the celebration continues with drums, dances, music and lots and lots of food. Dangriga is also a great spot to witness “Jankunu” dancers, clad in elaborate masks and clacking bands of sea shells, listening to the sounds of drums and following through with leaps and terpsichorean motions.

If this at all sounds like a wonderful thing that you would like to experience and you plan on visiting Belize in November to witness it, consider staying at Chabil Mar. Chabil Mar is a resort that has regularly won awards each year for its amenities and hospitality.

For more information about traveling to 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.

Placencia Offers a Little Something For Everyone

There are vacation destinations that exist because they’re overflowing with landmarks and museums of historical importance, and then there are destinations that are all about giving you a chance to relax and immerse yourself in local culture. Belize falls into the latter category, and there’s no region that better personifies that chill and casual personality than Placencia.

It’s the humility of Placencia that makes it such a popular destination for locals, tourists, and expats alike. That’s because it’s not a place where you just check off a list of things to see and do. It’s a place you go to live your life at a different pace. You won’t find a friendlier group of people than those who live in Placencia, and despite being named “the pleasant place” by Spanish conquerors and a recent rise in awareness from visiting tourists, the pace of life in Placencia Village is still slow and steady. Most of the residents continue to live the humble lives of fishermen. And while there are now a few resorts and nice hotels in the area, this is still a placid region through and through.

It’s certainly a nice change of pace from areas like Ambergris Caye that have become overrun by sprawling resorts and tourists pouring in by the boatload. While you’re likely to see some other visitors during your time in Placencia, you’ll have a refreshing amount of time to spend away from the tourist scene, browsing local markets, exploring the surrounding countryside, and tasting delicious but simple local specialties like barbecue chicken.

The fortunes of Placencia’s residents are made on the sea, so it’s naturally easy to get out and explore the waters with this region as your starting point. Half-day and full-day boating expeditions launch from the small pier is a particularly beautiful and secluded worthy of your attention. But there are no lack of opportunities to go snorkeling, diving, or fishing from Placencia.

And it’s not like Placencia is completely behind the times. As tourists and expats have come to recognize the beauty of the region, local bars and restaurants have started to crop up in greater abundance. And the annual Lobsterfest event held in June every year is a major attraction that draws in both Belizeans from all over the country and visitors from far abroad.

If you’re coming to Belize, you owe it to yourself to visit Placencia, and if you’re going to stay in Placencia, there’s no better place to set up shop than Chabil Mar. It’s one of the most luxurious resorts in the region, and you can count on the staff to provide you with the ultimate Belizean experience you’ve been dreaming of.

For more information about Placencia and 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.