When a nation has as many exciting and unique natural wonders as does Belize—a world-class barrier reef, untold numbers of ancient Mayan ruins, first-class birding and dive meccas like the Big Blue Hole that astonished even the likes of Jacques Cousteau—you might think that this corner of the Caribbean has revealed all of its wonders. But even skeptics were caught off guard when a recent sighting of a rare humpback whale was reported by tourists sailing off the coast of the Placencia Peninsula.
The humpback whale, once thought to be endangered, is making a healthy comeback. Conservationists agree that populations are increasing. Their distinctive body shape makes this particular type of whale easy to identify thanks to long pectoral fins, a knobby head and the mammal’s unique water breaching style, but it’s not usually found in Belize waters, so visitors were both taken aback by the sighting and thrilled.
Local marine mammal experts believe that the whale, estimated to be about 30-feet in length (the average humpback measures 45-feet), may have become disoriented, causing it to lose its way. Excitement since that first sighting has been palpable, thus everyone on the Placencia Peninsula has been keeping close watch over the deep water channel that leads to the Big Creek Port.
“We saw this magnificent creature inside the reef yesterday,” North American tourists reported, after having observed the whale for 15 to 20 minutes before it disappeared beneath the surface. They declared themselves among the of luckiest Belize visitors to have spotted it and thus far, nobody disagrees!
It’s anybody’s guess how long the whale, found most often in Pacific waters, will stick around. Marine mammal and wildlife experts and organizations currently keeping tabs on sightings are prepared to step in if the whale exhibits signs of trouble and there’s something they can do to get it back into deep ocean.
In the interim, this news has spread across Belize like wildfire, so even if scientists don’t spot the whale first, Belizeans and tourists surely will.
“When we booked our late-winter vacation to Belize, we were excited to have found Placencia Village,” said a guest staying at Chabil Mar Villas. “The staff not only recommended great sites and excursions, but they suggested a sailing outing that could offer us a humpback whale sighting if we’re fortunate. Just in case we are lucky enough to spot the whale ourselves, we’ve already cleared out our camera’s memory card!”
Said another Chabil Mar guest, “We thought it was a rumor—until a YouTube video surfaced on the Internet that began to go viral.
If it turns out that we spot the whale, this could turn our already-awesome vacation into one that’s unforgettable on so many levels!”
For more information about visiting Belize and the Placencia Peninsula, 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.
