This Central American state sandwiched between Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean Sea, is small in size but brimming with opportunities for tourists to explore. As a former colony in the British Empire, English speaking tourists will find it easy to get by. This is a fairly unique attribute for a country in this region, which is predominantly Spanish or Portuguese speaking.

Here are the top things to see and do in Belize:

Xunantunich

Xunantunich (pronounced shoo-nahh-too-neech) is a Mayan archaeological site located on top of a hill near the Mopan River. Whilst you’ll get spectacular views on site, the journey to the site is a significant part of the experience, since you’ll be transported across the river on a cable ferry, moved manually using a hand crank. Once across you’ll be able to admire the Mayan construction that dates back to the 7th century AD.

If you’re interested in the history of the site, take a look at the visitor center located near the ticket office. Here you will find artifacts found at the site, including jewelry and pottery as well as information about a Mayan burial site. 

Have a Flutter in the Princess Casino

Belize differs from some of its neighboring countries in that is has a very limited choice for those looking to head to a casino as part of their vacation. Of the small selection of casinos in the country, the biggest, and arguably the best option for tourists, is the Princess Hotel and Casino which is located in the capital, Belize City. The casino is modeled on the venues you’d find in casino destination cities like Las Vegas, with a grand faux marble interior. You won’t be spoilt for choice in terms of the games on offer, but there’s certainly enough variety to cater for most interests. The casino has three table games: Roulette, Blackjack and Caribbean Stud Poker, a game similar to other Stud games, with cards being dealt in rounds. Caribbean Stud Poker varies in that you complete against the house instead of other players.

Koko King

Located on the island of Caye Corker, Koko King is a white sandy beach location for a permanent beach party, with a restaurant serving great Caribbean food, and the opportunity to partake in beach games.To get there you’ll need to take a ferry or a kayak or paddleboard if you’re adventurous. The island is a great place to go swimming, take a walk along the beach and watch the sunset.

Museum of Belize

Located in the Fort George District of Belize City, the Museum of Belize provides an insight into the history of the country through several exhibits. The museum is housed inside Belize’s former main jail that was built back in 1857. In addition to the history of Belize and some Mayan artefacts, the museum also has a number of pieces of contemporary art in its gallery.

Dangriga and Hopkins

For those looking to experience what Belize is like beyond the tourist hotspots, Dangriga and Hopkins Villages are the places you’ll want to visit. Dangriga, an urban area in the Stann Creek district, is regarded as Belize’s capital of culture, and is brimming with musicians playing Punta Rock and other types of music indigenous to the region. Hopkins is a smaller, quieter village a couple of miles south of Dangriga.

Canoeing on the River

The Mopan River, Macal River, and Belize River form the main river system in Belize and all feed into the Caribbean Sea. Like in many places in the world, they were used as the main method of transport before roads were constructed.

There are a number of companies that will hire you a canoe or kayak for the Mopan and Macal Rivers, allowing you to explore Belize in a way that has been used for hundreds of years. Along the way, you’ll find plenty of nature to admire with many species of birds and large iguanas common sights along the rivers.

Belize is a unique and beautiful country, with a lot of cultures to absorb and experience. Its pristine beaches, picturesque nature and unique history make it a great place for tourists looking for something beyond the typical tourist destinations. Tourists from English speaking countries, particularly those in North America will find Belize easy to travel to, and easy to get by in. With a diverse set of attractions, activities, and destinations, there’s plenty to do in Belize.

At first glance, a perennially sunny and warm country like Belize may seem like a strange place to celebrate Thanksgiving. After all, Thanksgiving isn’t even an official holiday in Belize. But because of the close ties between Belize and the United States and the large number of American visitors who come to Belize in November to escape the cold and snow, Thanksgiving has become a very popular holiday in Belize.

Not only that, but many of the “classic” Thanksgiving foods have their origins in the Maya culture of Belize. Turkey meat and corn have both been staple Maya foods for over 3,000 years, and many of the tasty sides that adorn an American Thanksgiving meal are also common foods in Belize. Except maybe, perhaps, that Belizeans like to add a little twist to the cuisine with a touch more spice and some real Caribbean flavor.

And frankly, a lot of people prefer celebrating Thanksgiving abroad simply because of how easy it is. Instead of endless negotiations over where to eat Thanksgiving dinner, you can just hop on a plane and enjoy a delicious feast prepared by a top-ranked chef. And forget about schlepping to the store and dealing with all the clean-up!

Oh, and don’t worry about missing a minute of the big game, if that’s your thing. All of the top resorts in Belize have satellite TV with American channels.

From the United States, American Airlines, United, Delta, Southwest, and Sun Country Airlines fly non-stop to Belize from major cities across the country. And from Canada, WestJet and Air Canada offer non-stop service from Calgary and Toronto.

“There’s no better place to enjoy Thanksgiving in Belize than at our resort,” said Larry France, the marketing manager of Chabil Mar. “This year, we’ll be serving a full Thanksgiving dinner as well as some live entertainment at Café Mar. This year’s menu includes turkey, Belize-style holiday ham, and a full selection of delicious sides.”

Café Mar is the popular restaurant located on the grounds of Chabil Mar resort in Placencia, Belize. Thanksgiving dinner can be enjoyed by guests  and due to its popularity, advanced reservations are recommended.

Here at Chabil Mar (Maya for Beautiful Sea), our slogan is “Beauty by Belize . . . Luxury by Design!”

On the surface, one could assume we have proudly chosen this slogan to reflect the aesthetically eye-pleasing and traditional architecture of our buildings and Villas or the lush landscape and flora that envelops our pools and buildings or the wondrous beauty of the entire country of Belize and all around us in Placencia. It could be the flora that we have imported from the reaches of the jungle to mingle with our local spectacular natural displays, the colorful fauna and spectacular marine life of the Caribbean, or the gentle crash of the waves on our beach. And, with each of these perceptions, you would be correct.

But . . .

On a deeper level, our slogan was chosen to reflect our true passion, to bring together guests and compatriots in a setting designed to foster those special moments in one’s life. We have chosen our slogan to cherish the beauty, hospitality and compassion of the Belizean people. It is then that we truly created a very very beautiful place.

True, a resort is what we all see in photos, a collection of bricks, wood, glass, and mortar filled with carpets, furniture, and art. And yes, these things are very important, meaningful, and even a beautiful enhancement to the vacation experience. While we love our buildings and Villas, and we do, there is a meaning of greater depth behind the phrase “Beauty by Belize” for us at Chabil Mar. We believe the true beauty by Belize is in the people of Belize. Their’s is a natural serenity, friendliness and peaceful happiness.

Enter the people, the life, the laughter, the conversations, the wonderful memories made in this space, our extraordinary service. And, the buildings are revealed to be a luxury backdrop, an additional player on hand, and a focal point where we come together to be one with Belize.

We believe that real value is the value placed by all of us at Chabil Mar on making each and every guest special and unique; getting to know them by name, understanding their passions and their joys, their wishes and their expectations; seeing a smile bloom on their face as they marvel at the wonders of Belize for the first time. Together with them we relish in their delights. Along with them, we smile in their joy at that first unforgettable photo of our barrier reef, the sight of the majesty of an egret or hummingbird in flight or as they feel the deep bass roar of a howler monkey and the surprise of a random iguana crossing their path . . . the sites and sounds of Belize and Placencia greeting them at every turn.

As one guest recently commented in a review of their Belize vacation, “From the minute you go through the gates at Chabil Mar your every request is taken care of. We were greeted like family members and treated as such from the moment of our arrival.”

What is Beauty by Belize? We invite you to discover it with us and be one with Belize, be one with Placencia and be one with Chabil Mar. We designed the luxury and now the beauty of Belize is our best kept secret no more.