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Ambergris Caye is the largest island in Belize and is known for its beaches and a wide array of marine adventures like snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing. However, lately  many travelers are discovering the Placencia Peninsula, a superb destination in southern Belize that is not overcrowded and offers amazing snorkeling, scuba diving, land adventures and is known for having the best white sandy beaches in the country.

The gorgeous Placencia Peninsula is a beautiful 16-mile stretch of land that features sandy mangrove-lined lagoons on one side and the sparkling waters of the Caribbean on the other. At the southern tip of the peninsula is the village of Placencia. Once a small community of fishermen, the village has recently expanded to accommodate visitors with lovely cafes, restaurants featuring fresh seafood, and dive shops that have all the gear necessary to enjoy snorkeling, fishing, and diving at the nearby Belize Barrier Reef.

Placencia Peninsula is also ideally situated for mainland adventures. Located in the southeastern part of Belize, Placencia is close to Monkey River Village where tourists can ride a boat upstream to witness a spectacular variety of flora and fauna in its natural habitat, including the howler monkeys that gave the river its name. Also nearby is the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, home to the last native jaguars in Central America as well as hundreds of species of birds and exotic plants.

Many visitors come to Placencia because they prefer the beaches to those found on Ambergris Caye. With miles of pristine sand and transparent waters, the peninsula is an ideal place to enjoy snorkeling, work on your tan, or simply drink in a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Just a few miles offshore is Gladden Spit, a marine reserve that allows divers to explore a wide variety of marine life, including migrating whale sharks that visit the area once a year.

Placencia is also near the region that is home to the Garifuna people who began emigrating to Belize over a century ago, bringing their special blend of music, dancing, and food with them. The towns of Dangriga, Hopkins and Seign Beight near Placencia are the de facto capitals of the Garifuna culture where visitors can immerse themselves in this unique laid back and warmly inviting lifestyle.

The pace of life in Placencia is far more relaxed and moves at a slower pace than tourist hotspots like Ambergris Caye and is a premier location to enjoy both marine and land adventures. To get a truly authentic experience of what life in Belize is all about, you simply must visit the Placencia Peninsula.

For information about visiting Placencia, 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.

Although today Tikal is an isolated site located deep within the jungles of Tikal National Park in Guatemala’s El Peten department, more than 1,400 years ago Tikal was a powerful city-state that dominated the Maya world.

Tikal was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979 in recognition of the superb public squares, palaces, and enormous temples that have survived intact for more than a millennia in the jungle. Probably the most famous building in Tikal are the five enormous temples that dominate the landscape. Temple IV (four) is the the largest pyramid ever built by the Maya and measures more than 230 feet (70 meters) tall. The adjacent Temple V (five) is nearly as tall, measuring 187 feet (57 meters) tall. All of the principal pyramids and temples were built to honor special dates in the Maya calendar and were used for special religious ceremonies.

Tikal was first founded in the Preclassic Period (around 800 BC) and grew to be one of the dominant city-states in the Maya Empire before it was abandoned around 900 A.D. The greater Tikal complex is a protected bio-reserve of more than 57,600 hectares (142,000 acres) of wetlands, forests, and jungle that harbor a wide spectrum of plants and animals including 300 species of birds, a half-dozen species of monkeys, and five great cat species, including the Jaguar and Puma.

Beyond the impressive temples and pyramids that have made Tikal such an iconic location, visitors can explore more than 400 hectares (1,000 acres) of roads, terraces, public squares, ball game courts, and residences, many of which are covered in elaborate stone carvings or painted with Maya hieroglyphics that describe the history of the city. One of the most popular attractions in Tikal is known as the “Lost World” complex (“Mundo Perdido” in Spanish) that sits just southwest of Temples I and II. Many of Tikal’s ruling elite were buried in the cemetery adjacent to the site.

During its long history, Tikal had an active relationship with such important sites as Teotihuacan (later the Aztec capital) and Calakmul in Mexico, Copan in Honduras, and Caracol in Belize. Tikal is widely recognized for its wealth of art, unparalleled architecture, and large-scale engineering that demonstrate the genius of the ancient Maya.

Sanctuary of the Nine Maya Gods

To experience Tikal and a Guatemala/Belize holiday at its finest, Chabil Mar offers a complete vacation package that includes seven nights at luxury resorts, transportation, and a boat trip across the fabulous Mystic Lake Peten Itza to the see Tikal and the surrounding area.

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One of the great things about visiting Belize is that there’s always something going on. No matter what time of year you come to Belize, you can join in on the fun with one of the country’s many exciting festivals, holidays, and events.

Here are 5 festivals in Belize that you shouldn’t miss in 2026.

Placencia Lobsterfest

Summer kicks off with style every July on the Placencia Peninsula with a festive three-day party that celebrates the mighty lobster. Local chefs compete to create the most savory dish from the world’s favorite crustacean while diners work to burn off all those extra calories with fun games, live music, and a beach party that lasts until dawn. There’s plenty for the whole family to enjoy, including other seafood treats, face painting, and homemade handicrafts and artwork for sale.

In 2026, the Lobsterfest in Placencia will run from July 3rd to 5th.

September Celebrations

Sometimes it seems as though the entire month of September is one big holiday. Beginning on September 10, the national holiday of St. George’s Caye Day celebrates the historic 1798 triumph of British settlers over a Spanish armada which led to Belize becoming the only English-speaking country in the region. Patriotic celebrations, parades, and red, white, and blue (the national colors of Belize) festooned everywhere culminating with the big bang on September 21, Independence Day, celebrating the moment in 1981 when Belize became a free and independent nation.

Garifuna Settlement Day

More than 200 years ago, the Garifuna people were exiled from their Caribbean home after an uprising against the British. Seeking sanctuary, the Garifuna arrived in Belize on a fleet of dugout canoes, an event which is re-enacted on the morning of November 19 every year for the national holiday of Garifuna Settlement Day. Although the Garifuna compromise only 4% of Belize’s population, their contribution to music, dance, and food has the whole country celebrating on November 19.

Mango Festival in Hopkins

Many consider the mango to be the tastiest tropical fruit grown in Belize, and the idyllic coastal village of Hopkins grows no fewer than 20 different varieties. Besides all the tasty fruit and mango-themed dishes, there’s live music, games, contests, and dancing in the street to herald the arrival of the mango crop.

In 2026, the Hopkins Mangofest is scheduled for the first week in June.

Belize Chocolate Festival

The Chocolate Festival of Belize is set to make a tantalizing comeback in Toledo from May 16th to 18th, 2026. Celebrating Belize’s rich, ancient chocolate heritage, this festival promises an indulgent journey through the world of cacao. Visitors can look forward to a delectable array of chocolate-themed events, tastings, and cultural experiences, showcasing the unique flavors and traditions of Belizean chocolate.

It’s an unmissable event for chocolate enthusiasts and cultural explorers alike.

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.

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Is Belize worth visiting? Ask anyone who has ever visited Belize, and they’ll give you a resounding yes! Whether you want to explore ancient Maya cities, snorkel and scuba dive on the gorgeous Belize Barrier Reef, relax to the gentle rhythms of Caribbean life, hike through unspoiled rainforests, canoe down jungle rivers, or eat fresh-caught seafood, then Belize is the place for you.

Just in case you’re not convinced, here are 10 great reasons to visit Belize:

Scuba Diving

In the 1970s, celebrated marine biologist Jacques Cousteau visited Belize and instantly fell in love with the diving opportunities here, naming the Belize Blue Hole (sometimes known as the Great Blue Hole) as one of his top 10 favorite diving spots in the world.

Maya Caves and Cities

Belize was the heartland of the ancient Maya civilization and is now home to more than 600 sites, including sacred caves and enormous pyramids that are still the largest manmade structures in the country.

The Belize Barrier Reef

The second-largest barrier reef after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the Belize Barrier Reef is home to thousands of islands and atolls where you can sail, fish, scuba dive, snorkel, or simply enjoy a wonderful beachfront cookout.

Nature

More than half of Belize is a protected nature reserve, park, or animal reserve. Enjoy spotting rare avian species or some of Central America’s last remaining big cats as you travel through breathtakingly beautiful rainforests, jungles, wetlands, beaches, mountains, and rivers.

Hiking

Vast trackless wildernesses such as the Cockscomb Basin Nature Reserve give visitors a chance to reconnect with the great outdoors while admiring interesting wildlife species such as tapirs, giant iguanas, and monkeys.

Whale Sharks

There are no man-eating great white sharks in Belize, but you can enjoy the unforgettable experience of diving with whale sharks (the largest fish in the ocean) near Gladden Spit or schools of friendly nurse sharks in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.

Hospitality

The dress code is basic, clocks are rarely consulted, and an easygoing barefoot way of life is the norm in Belize, a country with locals that are world-renowned for their friendliness, amiability, and warm hospitality.

Waterfalls and River

Whether it’s admiring the stunning vista from the base of Thousand Foot Falls (the highest waterfall in Central America) or canoeing down pristine waterways like the Macal River, Belize is a land with wonderful nature areas to explore and photograph.

The Food

Enjoy Central American favorites like rice and beans, Mexican classics like escabeche, British standards like hot cross buns, spicy Caribbean dishes, unique Garifuna foods such as cassava bread, and, of course, lots and lots of delicious seafood.

Islands

Whether you want to play castaway for a day or simply admire an unforgettable sunrise over the Caribbean, Belize has hundreds of gorgeous tropical islands.

Chabil Mar

A multiple award-winning luxury resort located right on the Caribbean coast of the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize, Chabil Mar  offers Belize jungle and sea vacations so that visitors can experience a truly un-Belize-able experience.

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.