On September 7, 2017, the Washington Post published a story entitled, “How to be a socially conscious traveler,” describing the growing trend of travelers who are more mindful of how their actions affect the local economy and environment. Best practices include spending money on locally-owned restaurants, buying handicrafts, and cultural tours that help indigenous people preserve their traditional knowledge.
As part of the Washington Post article, a special mention was made of the Ethical Travel Guide published by Tourism Concern, a British charity. The Ethical Travel Guide lists countries that are working hard to promote sustainable and responsible travel, including Belize.
Ethical Traveler has listed Belize as one of the top 10 countries in the world that are doing the most to promote human rights, protect the environment, and support sustainable social programs that are elegantly integrated with community-based tourism. One such program in Belize is the Community Baboon Sanctuary (CBS). Established in 1985, it brings seven local villages together to protect and preserve the environment. Today, the CBS has one of the largest black howler monkey (known locally as “baboons”) populations in all of Central America.
Other popular eco-tourism destinations in Belize include the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize. This narrow strip of golden beaches on the Caribbean coast has several pedestrian-only zones, and golf carts and bicycles are the dominant modes of travel. And the nearby Cockscomb Basin Nature Reserve is a vast, trackless wilderness home to beautiful mountain vistas, waterfalls, gorgeous flora such as orchids and exotic wildlife including crocodiles, tapirs, and jaguars.
Other socially conscious travel destinations in Belize include boat tours up the Monkey River which cuts through the heart of a large section of pristine jungle in southeastern Belize. Dotted along the banks of the river are many traditional villages that offer home-cooked refreshments and souvenirs to tourists. Other sites in Belize that integrate socially conscious tourism practices include several ancient Maya sites like Caracol and Xunantunich where the living descendants of the Maya serve as tour guides, site custodians, and artisans that sell handmade handicrafts and artwork to visitors.
Chabil Mar resort located on the golden sands of the Placencia Peninsula offers award-winning accommodations for socially conscious travelers wanting to experience the best that Belize has to offer, including cultural tours. Chabil Mar is now offering special prices on accommodations, including a permanent 15% discount for members of the military and one free night for every four-night booking made before December 20, 2017.
For more information about 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.
