Kids and Belize go together like PB&J—especially if you take your brood to these wild places!

Travel agency owner Christopher Wilmot-Sitwell knows a thing or two about family vacations abroad. He has been booking them for 25 years and has concluded that even school curricula can’t compete with visits to exotic destinations. Global vacations helps kids “grow up with an awareness of the world that can’t be gleaned from textbooks,” he says, adding, “well-travelled children often find more meaningful careers in their adult lives.”

Love the idea of broadening the horizons of your children but the thought of wrangling youngsters on lengthy overseas flights gives you pause? How about a plane ride that takes only a few hours to bring your brood into contact with a culture that’s so fascinating, you’ll wonder why you never considered Belize before now?

Regardless of their ages and stages of life, you can make it a carefree vacation by putting arrangements into the hands of a centrally-located property where Belize family vacation packages save time, stress and money. The ideal pick? Chabil Mar Villas where packages include tours your kids will adore:

1. Belize Zoo: Called the best little zoo in the world, your kids will meet Belize’s indigenous wild animals. Once a small collection of species movie-makers used for documentaries, there are now 175 animals, all of whom were orphaned, rescued or rehabilitated before they joined their zoo family. Lessons of compassion and conservation won’t be lost on your little ones.

2. Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary: The Belize Audubon Society prides itself on helping to support the first jaguar preserve on earth. But jaguars don’t occupy this expansive park alone; they share it with other wildcats, deer, tapir and creatures big and small. Searching for critters is a blast, but don’t be surprised if your children are impressed by dramatic waterfalls, nature trails, plants and mountain views that make a visit to Cockscomb unforgettable.

3. St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park: Also managed by The Belize Audubon Society, this intriguing site is a little bit mystery and a whole lot of nature. Located southeast of Belmopan, this sink hole sits amid 500 acres of tropical rain forest where 200 bird species coexist with howler monkeys that are so loud, your kids will want to yell back! Cool down in Mother Nature’s unique pool and be sure to take lots of photos.

4. Monkey River: If Howler Monkeys on your St. Herman’s trip left your children wanting more, a Monkey River tour, where relatives of those primates hang out in large numbers along the riverbank, can get them closer. Other animals live in harmony at this site, but chances are, your children will ignore birds, medicinal plants and even a river swim to get in more monkey time.

5. Silk and Laughing Bird Cayes: Get two fun island visits on the same day by taking the kids to these cayes. Visitors recommend Laughing Bird Caye’s sandy beach and snorkeling down to where lobster and barracuda may be found, while turtles, rays and nurse sharks call Silk Caye home. In either case, if your children are just earning their water wings, either makes a great first-time snorkeling adventure.

6. Maya King Waterfalls: Even boisterous kids’ voices may be drowned out on a visit to Maya King Waterfalls, located within a privately-owned park. Central America is renowned for having the most dramatic waterfalls in the hemisphere and if your youngsters haven’t had the pleasure of splashing in a pool that’s located directly under rushing cascades of water, they will be impressed, too.

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 family vacation.

For a 16-mile-long finger of land at the eastern edge of Belize, you would be hard-pressed to find another piece of real estate in Central America that’s as lush and beautiful as Placencia. Settled by Puritans from Nova Scotia in the 17th century, these fools obviously didn’t recognize paradise because they returned to the ice and snow, leaving local fishermen to create a unique community on this bucolic piece of land.

Over time, Placencia Belize became a bustling Caribbean fishing hub thanks to the weather, breezes, and warm water, and while assaults by Mother Nature included storms and hurricanes, fishermen thrived as developers helped rebuild weather-damaged areas. Quirky sites – like the world’s narrowest street built because a local bishop couldn’t tolerate walking in the sand – even managed to wind up in the Guinness Book of Records.

Tourists discover Placencia Belize and fall in love

Because this sliver of Belize faces both the Caribbean Sea and a calmer lagoon, curious tourists eager to spend time in a splendid area that has retained its character found in Placencia exactly what they were seeking in terms of beauty, tranquility, and the charming vibe of this fishing port.

Word got out and before long, the question of where to go in Belize had but one answer: Placencia, where whale shark spotting, fabulous scuba, and snorkel spots, and the beauty of both coasts drew tourists away from busier locations. Placencia morphed into the destination gourmets seek when they vacation in Belize. Is it any wonder news about this divine place leaked out? Time to see for yourself why visitors can’t get enough!

Play where you stay at this fun Belize vacation spot

Home to the hemisphere’s best beaches and buoyed by the emerging foodie scene, Chabil Mar Resort has become the most desirable place to stay for people eager to experience the essence of Placencia Belize. Chabil Mar is considered the quintessential hot spot for guests who love lush environs, breathtaking accommodations, and every amenity under the sun.

Imagine your day at Chabil Mar. You awaken to the sun reflected off the ocean’s surface, tucked into a villa that’s so exquisitely decorated with local art, artifacts, and Belize décor, you feel like you’re in a South Seas movie. The smallest accommodation measures nearly 1,000 square feet, yet your accommodation feels intimate. What’s next? You repair to the resort’s beachfront eatery where culinary masters turn breakfast into feasts. And that’s just the start of your day.

How active would you like to be during your stay?

Swim in either of the resort’s infinity pools. Lounge by the water. Discover why two in a hammock is better than one! Alternately, borrow complimentary kayaks, paddleboards, and bikes so you grab your share of activity before making a pilgrimage to Placencia Village for an afternoon of exploration.

Chose a Belize vacation package and every detail of your visit will be pre-arranged, including tours of places you have only read about: ancient Maya cities, jungles, breathtaking waterfalls, wildlife preserves and so much more.

Placencia Belize has become the place to see and be seen, the only answer to the question “Where to go in Belize” and the destination you would create if someone asked you to imagine the perfect Belize resort.

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.  

Don’t laugh when you read this, but are you aware of the fact that some travelers spend the entirety of their leisure time searching for “the perfect beach”? It’s true. Imagine their despair in 2020 when Covid-19 dashed their travel plans and interrupted their missions.

Fortunately, long-awaited news that vaccines and eased travel restrictions are energizing people who have dedicated themselves to this quest, especially since they had plenty of time to research beaches while sequestering. Belize’s Placencia peninsula has grabbed the attention of these folks because – according to travel experts, reviewers and editors – the best beaches in the Western Hemisphere can be found here.

What’s unique about Placencia that beach lovers find compelling? This 16-mile-long stretch of land offers two distinct types of beaches, so visitors can play in the ocean’s surf or explore beaches along the lagoon side. Both offer variety, fun and beauty that make choosing a favorite hard, so make sure you experience both this summer.

Make Chabil Mar your beach mission headquarters

Affectionately referred to as “the island you can walk to,” Placencia has few hotels or resorts that compare to Chabil Mar Villas. The resort is nestled into gardens that are so lush, guests compare the property to Eden – if Eden had private beaches. The resort’s emblem is the Ceiba tree, an ancient Maya symbol that pays homage to the nation’s ancient, but it’s the accommodations, award-winning onsite restaurant and amenities that turn an ordinary holiday into an extraordinary one at Chabil Mar.

Check in to any of the villas on site and enjoy a private veranda that faces the sea and beach, while environs within each accommodation are thoughtfully lavished with rustic furnishings featuring hardwoods, lush textiles, Belize handicrafts, art and more. Air conditioning and fans keep things cool after long days at the beach or while touring the nation’s most impressive attractions.

To tour or not to tour? That is the question

Plenty of guests prefer to stick around the resort because there is so much to do that leaving their preferred hammock is just not worth the effort. Others are fascinated by the variety of tours arranged by Chabil Mar staff that showcase Belize’s most popular marine activities: boating, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing and island hopping.

If you prefer to stay dry, you can stick to land-based tours that explore ancient Maya temples, ceremonial caves, jungles, forests and wildlife sanctuaries and you’ll have your fill of excitement and awe.

One of the most efficient ways to enjoy your Chabil Mar stay is by booking a Belize vacation package so you enjoy dining, touring and amenities included with each package. View this Belize vacation menu for package options and while you’re there, consider specials that save you money on your entire vacation.

Summer is on the horizon, so it’s time to make up for that year of missed beach visits right now. Grab your swimsuit, sun blocker and sunglasses. Bring a camera. Your lifelong quest to find the world’s best beaches may come to an end once you spend time on the beaches of Placencia.