Administrator, Author at Chabil Mar Villas

8 Hidden Gems around Belize You Need to Visit

Posted on February 12, 2026

In almost every corner you visit in Belize, you will encounter something beautiful – a Maya site, a diverse culture, a pristine nature reserve. The charming beauty of Belize is one of a kind and will certainly entice you to become one with Belize as the Belize Tourism Board alludes.

Below, we share with you 8 hidden gems that in our opinion are top attractions in the country that you must explore on a Belize vacation.

Xunantunich

Xunantunich is the most visited Maya sites in the Cayo District and is located atop a ridge above the Mopan River in the quaint village of San Jose Succotz in western Belize. The site served as a Maya civic ceremonial center in the late terminal Classic periods to the Belize Valley region and Xunantunich’s name means “stone woman” in the Maya language.

“El Castillo”, the largest pyramid offers an impressive and panoramic view of the area.

Monkey River

The Village of Monkey River is habitat to a plethora of flora and fauna and as a result it has been rated as one of the top destinations to visit in Southern Belize. Tropical birds, butterflies, crocodiles, iguanas, and of course howler monkeys are just a few of the wildlife that you will find encounter in this hidden gem.

Laughing Bird Caye

Laughing Bird Caye is an elegant and stunning Belizean Isle that is located 11 miles from Placencia Village and serves as an ideal destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. In fact, many travelers who vacation in Placencia visit this gorgeous piece of paradise for a full day of diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking and even picnicking.

Laughing Bird Caye got its name from the Laughing Gulls – the birds that once used to breed on the Caye, however due to a growing human presence, the colonies moved to a nearby undisturbed Caye for breeding. Presently, the Island is home to a number of exotic birds like the brown pelican, green heron, and melodious blackbird.

Placencia

Over the years, Placencia has been recognized as one of the best beach destinations not only in Belize but in the Caribbean, and this exquisite hidden gem can serve as a base to a potpourri of adventures like snorkeling, diving, deep sea fishing, hiking, and even exploring ancient Maya cities.

ChabilMar, a guest exclusive resort is located right on the beach and their professional staff can assist you in arranging tours to the natural attractions in Placencia and surrounding areas.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Cockscomb Basin is recognized globally as the world’s first jaguar preserve and this hidden gem has been voted by travelers as a must see nature reserve in Belize.

Cascading waterfalls, panoramic mountain views, nature trails, furry mammals, colorful insects, scaly reptiles and a variety of tropical birds are just a few of the things you will see at this sanctuary. Cockscomb Basin is also home to one of Belize’s highest points — Victoria Peak.

Half Moon Caye in Belize

Another hidden gem in Belize that a lot of travelers do not know about is Half Moon Caye. This incredible caye offers divers the chance to go on a wall dive – a dive in which the vertical facades of the earth’s landmasses are explored. The depths at Half Moon Caye (and really at any wall dive) are tremendous, giving divers the very correct feeling that you are staring into an abyss.

The waters of this beautiful gem are particularly clear, despite the depth, so you will be able to see all manner of wildlife, including loggerhead turtles, rays, barracuda, and eels.

Great Blue Hole

The world famous Blue Hole is an incomparable natural wonder in Belize. It is located at the center of Lighthouse Reef and measures 1000 feet across and 412 feet deep. Giant stalactites, dripstone sheets and columns, and colorful marine life are the enchanting geological wonders that will fascinate you if you decide to dive this gem in Belize.

It is interesting to note that Jacques-Yves Coustea, the popular ocean explorer revealed the secrets of the Blue Hole to millions of viewers in 1971 through the television serious The Undersea World of Jacques-Yves Coustea.

Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave

Actun Tunichil Muknal or the ATM Cave as it is locally known is one of the most breathtaking caving experiences you will have in Belize. The cave is located in the karstic limestone terrain of Roaring Creek Valley in the Cayo District and is approximately 5 km long and contains a perennial stream that runs through it including a ledge with two stelae and a large chamber full of intact human remains and Maya pots.

Jaime Awe, Director of Archeology asserts that Actun Tunichil Muknal was a sacred place to the Maya who utilized the cave during the classic period AD 250-909.

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.

Belize Vacation Ideas to Help Plan Your Adventure

Posted on February 12, 2026

The popular British travel website Wanderlust recently published an article entitled 4 great Belize itineraries that discusses some travel ideas for first-time visitors to Belize.

Here’s our take on Wanderlust’s suggestions:

Relax and Chill

Many travelers come to Belize simply to relax and unwind.
Sample itinerary:

Head to the island of Caye Caulker, just 45 minutes from Belize City.
Enjoy snorkeling, windsurfing, and kayaking or just chill on the beach.
Head to the island of Ambergris Caye and enjoy amazing seafood.
On the mainland, head to the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary to do bird watching.
Visit a resort and visit a spa, enjoy a champagne dinner under the stars, or relax in a hammock.

Nature’s Beauty

With so much gorgeous nature to choose from, it can be difficult to decide what to do!
Sample itinerary:

From Belize City, head to the western Cayo District.
Explore an ancient Maya ruin like Xunantunich.
Zip line and cave tube in the jungle.
Enjoy a picnic at a waterfall in a national park.
Head to the offshore Belize Barrier Reef and enjoy world-class scuba diving and snorkeling.
Enjoy a sunset cruise.

Culture

Belize may not have an opera house, but it more than makes up for a lack of high arts with an eclectic mix of cultures, traditions, and languages. English is the official language, but it’s possible to hear Spanish, Maya, Creole, Chinese, and Mennonite German as you travel around the country.
Sample itinerary:

Belize City to Dangriga, the home of the Garifuna people.
Visit the Garifuna museum and Pen Cayetano workshop.
Head to the nearby village of Hopkins, another Garifuna community, and learn how to cook Garifuna food..
Visit the Maya Center.
Stay at a Maya home in Toledo District.
Visit a Mennonite community at Spanish Lookout.
Visit a festival, concert, or holiday celebration.

A Bit of Everything

Combine the best of all worlds with this comprehensive itinerary:

In Belize City, visit the Belize Zoo.
Head to the interior and hike through a national park.
Visit an ancient Maya site or ceremonial cave.
Zip line and cave tube in the jungle.
Head offshore to enjoy sailing, snorkeling, fishing, and/or scuba diving on the islands.
Finish up in Ambergris Caye for delicious food and fun festivals.

Chabil Mar is an award-winning resort located on the Placencia Peninsula in Belize. Guests of Chabil Mar can see all of the above attractions and more.

Explore the Amazing Underwater World of Glover’s Reef in Belize

Posted on February 5, 2026

Named for an infamous 17th-century English pirate (John Glover) who once used the area to stage attacks on Spanish galleons laden with gold, Glover’s Reef is the southernmost atoll in Belize.

There are only four atolls in the world that are located in the Atlantic Ocean, and Belize is home to three of them, including Glover’s Reef Atoll. Thousands of years ago, the area was home to an island surrounded by a ring of coral. Over time, the island eroded away, leaving behind the ring of coral with a large central lagoon in the middle.

The protected waters in that lagoon are why people come from around the world to scuba dive at Glover’s Reef Atoll. The lagoon measures some 15 miles (24 km) by four miles (six km) and is home to more than 700 patch reefs with dozens of different species of coral. This diverse landscape is home to a colorful underwater garden where schools of fish, sharks, conch, rays, lobsters, sea turtles, and even dolphins live, play, feed, and give birth to their young.

Scuba diving expeditions usually head to one of the islands located on the outer edge of the atoll. From there, several options await, including places for shelf diving, wall diving, and exploring the coral landscapes. Glover’s Reef has been a protected nature reserve since 1993, and the ban on commercial fishing has allowed the marine life in this area to thrive.

Don’t be surprised to see dozens of different fish species when you dive Glover’s Reef Atoll, including grouper, mackeral, barracuda, tarpon, angelfish, yellow jack, snapper, black durgons, parrotfish, and many more. The waters of the lagoon are incredibly clear, nearly transparent, making it feel like a gigantic aquarium.

There’s also plenty to enjoy on land as well. The islands around the atoll are home to mangrove forests, white sandy beaches, bright blue skies, and incredible views of the Caribbean. There are no full-time inhabitants on Glover’s Reef Atoll, but the Wildlife Conservation Society operates a research station that relies entirely on solar and wind energy. The research station is only open to marine scientists, but visiting the research station serves as a great introduction to the incredible beauty of the region.

If you’re interested in scuba diving Glover’s Reef, book your vacation with the Chabil Mar Resort. Located on the coast of southeastern Belize, Chabil Mar is close to Glover’s Reef and other top attractions on the Belize Barrier Reef.

Contact Chabil Mar’s Concierge at concierge@chabilmarvillas.com to discuss Glovers Reef and your diving options for Southern Belize.

Celebrate Valentine’s in Belize

Posted on February 5, 2026

Belize seems almost custom-made for romance. Although it is just a short flight (five hours or less) away from major cities across the United States and Canada, Belize is truly a world away.

With no fast food outlets, shopping malls, or even traffic jams, Belize is a beautiful, unspoiled country where the air is perfumed from hundreds of flowering plants. Over half the country is a protected park, sanctuary, or animal refuge, and Belize has hundreds of offshore islands along the western hemisphere’s largest coral reef system.

One of the most idyllic places to enjoy Valentine’s Day in Belize is the Placencia Peninsula. Often called the caye (island) you can walk to, the peninsula is just half a mile wide but stretches 16 miles from north to south. The Caribbean coast of the peninsula has gorgeous, white sandy beaches, making it easy to enjoy a romantic stroll in privacy.

Chabil Mar is an award-winning luxury resort located on the southern tip of the peninsula just a short stroll from Placencia Village, a small fishing enclave with colorful street murals and a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the smallest main “street” in the world, a four-foot wide sidewalk that is packed with eclectic cafes, bars, and restaurants, all completely off-limits to cars and trucks.

Chabil Mar Resort has luxuriously appointed villas with a full range of modern conveniences and comforts, including high-speed internet, gorgeous furnishings made from local woods, and powerful air conditioning. The resort also has a lovely tropical garden, freshwater infinity swimming pools, and a gourmet restaurant serving up a mouthwatering array of local and international cuisine.

One especially romantic option to enjoy at Chabil Mar is a private dinner that you can enjoy on the resort’s seafront pier, gazing up at the natural wonder of another starry, Belizean night.

Other romantic options to enjoy include free use of bicycles, paddle boards, and sea kayaks to explore the coastline and nearby Garifuna village of Seine Bight. February is also when the Placencia Sidewalk Arts Festival takes place, a multi-day affair that sees the central “main street” transformed into booths selling local art, handicrafts, delicious foods, games, and plenty of live music.

Nearby attractions include hiking through the vast wilderness of the Cockscomb Basin Nature Reserve (home to all five of Belize’s big cat species, including jaguars), bird watching, and enjoying snorkeling and scuba diving on the nearby islands like Silk Cayes and Laughing Bird Caye.

If you’d like to experience an unforgettably romantic Valentine’s Day this year, book your vacation at the Chabil Mar Resort in Placencia, Belize.

Best Time To Fish In Belize

Posted on January 22, 2026

Belize Fishing Calendar

Thanks to its tropical weather all year round, the fishing in Belize is excellent no matter when you come. A strong conservation program and a flourishing ecosystem mean that popular gamefish species are easy to land all year round. And whether you prefer deep sea fishing or fly fishing from the flats, there’s plenty to challenge even the most experienced angler here in Belize.

Nonetheless, here’s a brief guide to when you can maximize your chances to land popular fish species in Belize:

January

If the wind’s calm, it’s easy to spot tarpon up to 90 pounds in size. Also a good month for reef fishing.

February

If the wind isn’t too high, fishing on the flats is excellent. Also a good month for bonefish, permit, and tarpon. Reef fishing is fantastic.

March

Lagoons are teeming with tarpon and permit can be found in big schools as well. Reef fishing is good to excellent.

April

Tarpon are getting quite aggressive as they head out to the reef. Bonefish and permit fish are found in enormous schools.

May

One of the best possible months for landing bonefish. Expect schools of bonefish up to 300 individuals in size.

June

Tarpon can be found everywhere from the flats to the reef. Reef fishing for other species is also quite well.

July

Summertime is definitely the best time to land tarpon. Permit fish, too, are also at their maximum size. Reef fishing, in general, is also quite excellent.

August

Another great month for landing bonefish and tarpon. Fishing is good for permit fish. Reef fishing is good to excellent.

September

The very best month to land tarpon. Many tarpon records have been broken in September. Also a great month for landing bonefish.

October

An excellent month for jack crevalle and larger permit fish. If the rain picks up on the mainland, expect to find huge numbers of snook on the flats.

November

A great month for landing jack crevalle and bonefish. Reef fishing is good to fair.

December

On a still, sunny day, expect a bonanza of barracuda, bonefish, jack crevalle, tarpon, and ladyfish. During the full moon, this is an excellent time to do some reef fishing to land grouper and snapper.

If you want to enjoy some fishing in Belize, Chabil Mar Resort offers a number of Belize fishing vacation packages and guided fishing tours to all of the best fishing spots in the country.

Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information about fishing in 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 your Belize vacation.

Author: Administrator