Author: Chabil Mar Manager

Are honeymooners hard to please? “No way!” say staff at Chabil Mar Resort on Belize’s Placencia peninsula coast. “Who doesn’t love being around couples who are so enamored of each other, it’s a pleasure to serve them during their stays with us!”

What’s it like being surrounded by lush tropical gardens, gorgeous environs and a staff eager to satisfy every desire of honeymooning couples?

“Far exceeded anything we could have imagined,” enthused one pair of lovebirds who recalled the names of Darren, Sheldon, Luiz and Hector when writing their glowing review for TripAdvisor: “These guys perform at the highest levels of their profession.”

Having read this, you may wonder why we bring up the importance of staff. It’s because service can make or break a vacation and poor service can ruin an entire honeymoon, say bloggers writing for ITravel.net. Post-honeymoon Chabil Mar reviews are especially reassuring as you make your own plans.

Staff-recommended things to do during your Belize honeymoon

The most important thing to do, say staffers, is to take advantage of resort packages because they take the stress out of figuring out where to go and what to do during a romantic stay. Unlike other resorts, you don’t have to settle for one type of Belize honeymoon package, so count on your experience being tailored to your wishes.

Chabil Mar employees urge you to make your wishes known the minute you arrive on the property. Don’t be shy. If your intention is to lay low for the entirety of your honeymoon, say so and you’ll be informed about all of the things you two can do to ensure the ultimate amount of privacy, like meals delivered to your suite and the best parts of Placencia to visit if you hope to run into the fewest number of people.

Don’t want to hide away?

Every amenity at Chabil Mar is at your disposal. There are two freshwater infinity swimming pools on site and both are tucked into lush gardens lining the Caribbean beachfront so you may have one of them all to yourself. The resort’s 400-feet of private beach offers you two room to spread out and if the urge for a cocktail strikes, the beach captain will appear as if by magic. He says he’s not clairvoyant, but honeymooners insist that his timing is perfect!

Say the word and a kayak, paddle board and bicycles will be provided and tours associated with packages are so diverse, you two could get into the first tiff of your marriage if each of you picks a different one. No worries. Chabil Mar staff will share details of each so you’re both delighted. While you’re on that Belize vacation web page, take check out money saving specials.

But staff has limits
-They won’t take one side if you two get into a spat because they’re as neutral as Switzerland.
-They won’t say no to special requests during your stay, especially if you want to do something romantic.
-They won’t disturb you if you post a “do not disturb” sign on the door of your suite.
-They won’t recommend dishes on the resort menu because everything the chef prepares is fabulous.
-They won’t stop you from writing your own review after your unforgettable Chabil Mar honeymoon experience either!

Belize is famous for its stunning offshore islands and atolls, and the Turneffe Atoll is one of the finest. This incredible destination is just a few miles from Placencia.

What Is the Turneffe Atoll?

An atoll is a ring of coral on the ocean’s surface. It differs from an island because it contains its own body of water.

Most of the world’s atolls are in the Pacific Ocean, but Belize has three of the four atolls in the Western Hemisphere. They are Glover’s Reef Atoll, Lighthouse Reef Atoll and Turneffe Atoll.

Why Is It Important?

Turneffe is one of the most diverse, critically important ecosystems in Belize. It has over 150 mangrove islands, littoral forest, saltwater flats and lagoons. It is a nesting and breeding site for dozens of rare and endangered fish, waterfowl and marine mammals. Sea turtles, manatees, crocodiles and whale sharks all find refuge in these waters.

The Belize Barrier Reef and its surrounding islands are important for Belize’s two biggest industries, eco-tourism and commercial fishing. Protection of these waters is crucial for Belize’s independent fishers and for Belize’s eco-tourism industry.

Why Should You Visit the Turneffe Atoll?

Like the other offshore cayes and atolls, Turneffe is breathtakingly beautiful with white sand beaches, lush tropical vegetation and clear blue water. With over 50 miles of coral reef, it is a magnet for snorkelers and scuba divers. Some of the world’s best dive sites are on this tiny island, and the legendary Blue Hole of Belize is only an hour and a half away by boat.

Visibility in the warm Caribbean waters can be as deep as 200 feet near Belize. Here’s your chance to see live coral, sea turtles, eels, reef fish, sharks, groupers, barracudas and much more.

Feel at Ease at Chabil Mar

You can create an unforgettable vacation when you stay at the Gold Standard Certified Chabil Mar in Placencia. We can arrange tours to Turneffe Atoll and other incredible places in Belize.

Booking at a Gold Standard Certified hotel ensures you will have a safe stay, but Chabil Mar has taken extra steps to protect guests and employees. We feature roaming butler service to your villa or private veranda. We reserve our amenities for the exclusive use of our guests. Enjoy dining al fresco at any of our onsite restaurants. We want you to be at ease when you stay with us.

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 or WhatsApp us at +501-633-7547.

Like many Caribbean countries, the natural beauty of Belize has given birth to a booming tourist sector. But it’s also a nation that’s aware of the devastating impact that the tourism industry can have on that natural beauty. The Belize government has been good about fostering long-term policies whether that takes the form of eco-tourism initiatives or their widely lauded hospitality standards in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. But the latest praise for Belize is borne from their willingness to preserve some of the region’s most unique ecosystems.

That’s especially promising because the mangrove forests targeted by the initiative aren’t regular attractions for tourists — but that doesn’t mean that preserving this ecosystem isn’t important to the larger ecology of Belize and Central America. Mangroves serve as a safe place for fish, birds, and animals of all stripes to raise their young and feed — but the dense and marshy structure of these ecosystems also help minimize the force of tropical storms that hit the coast. Thanks to the fact that they can survive anywhere from freshwater rivers to coastal seawater expanses, mangroves are resilient and capable of surviving just about any natural disaster.

But mangrove wetlands are less equipped to survive threats that come directly from humans. They’re frequently a target for residential development, but Belize has taken some serious and impressive steps to help both nurture existing mangrove ecosystems and restore those that have been decimated in the past. This includes the promise to preserve an addition 6,000 hectares of mangroves by 2025 and 6,000 more by 2030. It also necessitates the development of a portfolio which identifies the most important mangrove ecosystems and those at greatest risk.

These new policies are being overseen by the National Climate Change Office which falls under the purview of the federal Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management. NCCO CEO Dr. Kenrick Williams sees it as more than an investment in eco-tourism by recognizing that ecological preservation helps build a better world for all of us.

All of this is being done as part of Belize’s commitment to the Paris Climate Change Accord. By helping bolster coastal ecosystems, the Belizean government is protecting wildlife both deeper inland and in the neighboring Caribbean Sea. Here’s hoping that it will signal a tide change in the region and the world and encourage other countries to start pursuing more aggressive conservation efforts.

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.

If you keep encountering “7 Wonders of the World” lists and feel confused, you’re not the only one. Many of the ancient wonders referenced over centuries are no longer on this “A List,” say The Guardian editors. The London paper held a contest asking readers to name the 7 Wonders and millions of online votes were cast. Once tallied, a majority of the wonders that made the cut were new!

While the world is reaching its own conclusions, we recommend satisfying your appetite for wonders by vacationing in Belize where 7 Wonders are less than 3 hours away by plane. Since English is Belize’s first language, no language lessons required to understand everything about these 7 amazing destinations.

Stay at a Wonder-filled resort

Belize is a small country measuring less than 9,000 square miles, so staying at one of the top Belize resorts gets you to all 7 Wonders on this list, minus the stress and fatigue of having to travel long distances to reach each one. At Chabil Mar Resort, located on Belize’s trendiest peninsula (Placencia), you relax in luxury accommodations when you’re not out discovering magnificent, one-of-a-kind wonders.

Leave the planning to your Chabil Mar hosts. They are prepared to make sure you enjoy every minute of the best holiday ever by providing gorgeous accommodations, fabulous meals, select tours and you’ll even be met at Belize’s international airport and driven to the resort where your adventure begins the moment you arrive.

Belize’s natural wonders never disappoint

Once you read our list of Belize wonders, book your reservations and get your plane tickets, it’s time to prioritize the following 7 wonders so you don’t miss a thing. Depending upon the length of your stay, you can see all 7, so bring your imagination and curiosity. You’ll satisfy both during your stay!

1. The Belize Barrier Reef always tops lists of not-to-miss attractions because it’s the second largest on the planet. Thanks to Belize environmentalists, this ancient reef, formed of lava from the Earth’s core, is healthy, protected and if you scuba dive the area, you’ll be treated to an undersea wonderland that has no equal.

2. Belize atolls consist of more than 300 small islands that are especially appealing to more than 500 species of birds who claim these oases when humans are scarce. You can borrow a Chabil Mar kayak and paddle around as many as you have time to see or sail to these isolated havens so you don’t strain your arm muscles.

3. Belize’s network of limestone caves are a feast for the eyes and the senses. Some were once headquarters for secret Maya rituals, which is how a select number of these underworlds came to be littered with the artifacts, skeletal remains and pottery tourists can still see today.

4. Get significantly wet at a couple of Belize’s most delightful spots. Niagara Falls pales in comparison to Belize’s Maya King Falls and Rio on Pools, situated within the Maya Mountain Range, makes a fabulous alternative for those who aren’t impressed by grandiose waterfalls.

5. There are 900 Maya ruins scattered across the nation. Some of them represent entire cities while others are small enclaves tucked into jungles where they have remained hidden for centuries. Belize’s Maya population may have disappeared mysteriously, but the legacy they left behind is breathtaking.

6. Prepare to revise the way you think about the humble sink hole when you visit The Great Blue Hole, a 1,000-year-old limestone formation that remains one of the world’s most popular diving challenges. If you’re not quite ready to take the plunge, cut your aquatic teeth at St. Herman’s Blue Hole before daring yourself to try Big Blue.

7. Belize’s Wonders list wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Cockscomb Basin where the diversity of plants, streams, wildlife and Victoria Peak make this stop essential. Home to world’s only jaguar reserve, Cockscomb is one of Belize’s most treasured natural wonders, and if you happen to spot one of these majestic animals during your visit, who needs the Giza pyramids?

Reserve a stay at Chabil Mar now to take advantage of your choice of packages before this small, luxurious resort is completely booked. Your hosts will be happy to customize your visit so you don’t miss any of Belize’s 7 wonders!

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.

Placencia is regularly praised as the home of Belize’s most beautiful beaches — and that’s an especially high honor considering how many beautiful beaches there are in Placencia. But considering that the peninsula is 16 miles long and only roughly half a mile wide, it makes sense. But having an abnormally high square mileage of beaches is a great selling point in its own right, it’s far from the only reason to visit Placencia. Whether you’re looking for culture, history, or an opportunity to get back in touch with nature, you’ll find a lot to love here.

Cuisine to Die For

Sitting directly on the Caribbean Sea has its advantages, but one of the most appealing is the access to fresh seafood. Lobster and conch season are cause for intense festivities throughout Placencia, and it’s easy to find fresh and exceptionally prepared seafood for cheap. But you might be surprised at the culinary variety on display here. The Italian gelato in particular stands out as an absolute highlight.

Stunning Nature

There are plenty of beautiful natural preserves and parks near the Placencia Peninsula, but few manage to be both as immersive and relaxing as a Monkey River cruise. You can hear and see the screeches of howler monkeys as your boat floats down the river, but they’re just one species in an ecosystem that’s rich with colorful and fascinating animals. Monkey River is also one of the best places to go bird watching in the area.

Another must visit nature park from Placencia is Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Measuring over 150 miles in area, the sanctuary is home to a rich variety of landscapes and wildlife, including some of the last native jaguars in Central America.

The Offshore Islands

Offshore the coast of the Placencia Peninsula, travelers will discover pristine islands and cayes. Two of them that stand out are the Silk Cayes and Laughing Bird Caye. The Silk Cayes are the ideal place for first-time snorkelers to marvel at the rainbow of marine life that thrives in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, while Laughing Bird Caye is a protected nature reserve that is home to the laughing gull and dozens of other species of birds, marine mammals, and flora. Laughing Bird Caye is also a world class scuba diving site.

Chabil Mar

The Placencia Peninsula is home to a lot of resorts, but the award-winning Chabil Mar is a reason to visit Placencia in its own right. Between the private luxury villas that lead directly out to the beach, the helpful and exceedingly experienced staff, and the wealth of amenities, you could reasonably spend all your trip within Chabil Mar Resort and never get tired of it.