Chabil Mar Resort - Belize Blog, Belize Vacation Planning

AeroMexico Launching New Flights to Belize

Posted on August 16, 2018

Mexico’s largest airline, Aeromexico, has just announced that it will be flying to Belize for the first time in the company’s history. Beginning on Saturday, November 17, 2018, Aeromexico will begin flying non-stop from the Mexico City International Airport to the Philip Goldson Airport in Belize City.

The new Aeromexico schedule features two flights a week between Mexico City and Belize City. Each Saturday and Sunday until April 28, 2019, the Aeromexico flights will depart at 8:30 AM from Mexico City and arrive in Belize at 10:30 AM. The return flights will depart each Saturday and Sunday at 12 noon and arrive in Mexico City at 2:25 PM. At the moment, the only flights between the two neighboring countries are provided by Belizean air carrier Tropic Air which flies between Cancún, Mexico, and Belize City daily.

The announcement of the new Aeromexico flights comes less than a week after Canadian air carrier WestJet declared that it will be adding two new weekly flights to Belize from Calgary and Toronto. Currently, WestJet operates three flights a week from Calgary and Toronto to Belize City, and archrival Air Canada flies four times a week to Belize from Toronto during the winter season. WestJet’s new flights will bring the total to nine this winter season, giving Canadians even more options for visiting Belize.In a similar vein, COPA Airlines, the national carrier of Panama, has concluded a new interline agreement with Belize’s own Tropic Air. Currently, the only COPA Airlines flight to Belize departs from Panama City, but the new interline agreement will allow COPA Airlines passengers from across the carrier’s vast network in the Western Hemisphere to continue their journeys onward in Belize aboard a Tropic Air flight without having to buy a separate ticket or re-check their luggage.

“We are very excited about all of these new flights to Belize,” said Larry France, marketing manager of Chabil Mar. “Whether from Canada, Mexico, or from across Central and South America, we warmly welcome visitors from all around the world to our lovely enclave on the beach.”

Chabil Mar is a boutique luxury resort located on the stunning Placencia Peninsula in southern Belize, perfectly situated near both the attractions like scuba diving and snorkeling on the reef as well as the top destinations on the mainland such as national parks, ancient Maya sites, caves, and the rainforest.

For more information about things to see and do in 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.

Chabil Mar Congratulates Belize’s Champion Power Lifters

Posted on August 13, 2018

In a stunning and decisive victory, Belizean powerlifters took home three gold medals and one bronze medal at the recent North American Powerlifting Federation championships in Mexico which took place from August 1-5, 2018.

This year marked the 16th anniversary of the North American Powerlifting Federation championships. Winners of this regional championship will then move onto the World Championships that will be held in November in Sweden. Powerlifting is a strength-based sport wherein athletes compete in different age groups and weight classes. Winners are determined by the combined results of three different lifts: the squat, the bench, and the deadlift.

Belizean powerlifter Ryan Bood-Usher, age 20, took home two gold medals, one for the 59kg/130lb junior weight class and one for the 59kg/130lb open weight class. Bood-Usher successfully lifted a total of 480 kilograms (1,058 pounds), yet he only weighs just 58.4 kilograms (128 pounds).

Kaylon Cadle-Godoy, age 23, took home a gold in the 120kg/264lb open weight class, lifting a total of 772kg (1,703 pounds). Khalid Usher, age 20, took home a bronze medal in the 93kg/205lb junior weight class, lifting a total of 570 kilograms (1,256 pounds).

Belize’s Powerlifting Association (BPA) was only formed in March of this year by Bood-Usher, Usher, and a third friend, Kevin Ake, who traveled to Mexico in order to compete but were denied participation because they are not Mexican citizens. The trio then returned home and formed the BPA and then organized all the necessary paperwork in order to be recognized by the International Powerlifting Federation for this year’s competition.

“Having literally just started earlier this year, it is an amazing success for Belize to have taken home any medals at all,” said Larry France, marketing manager of Chabil Mar. “And for Belize to win four medals, including three gold, is just phenomenal. We warmly congratulate all of the Belizean powerlifters for their amazing success!”

Belize Prepares to Receive Taiwanese President

Posted on August 13, 2018

For the fourth time since Belize formally established diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (also known as Taiwan) in 1989, that country’s head of state, President Tsai Ing-wen, will be visiting Belize from August 16-18, 2018. The last visit by Taiwan’s president was in 2004 when President Chen Shui-Bian visited Belize.

Belize is one of just 18 countries that has formal diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, a state that is not recognized by the mainland government of the People’s Republic of China based in Beijing. Despite strong opposition, Belize has always cherished its warm ties with Taiwan. Currently, Taiwan is one of the top three largest development partners in Belize.

President Tsai Ing-Wen is Taiwan’s first female head of state. She assumed office in May 2016 for a four-year term. One of Taiwan’s largest projects in Belize is an effort to prevent and reduce the effects of chronic renal failure. It is likely that President Ing-Wen will visit the Taiwanese team during her time in Belize which has trained over 300 community health workers, nine instructors, 17 specialized nurses, and 118 medical officers.

Taiwan has also played an instrumental role in helping Belizean farmers improve sheep and goat livestock. At least 400 people in Belize have signed up for training and breeding information in order to help the country grow its ruminant livestock industry big enough to begin exporting to Mexico and the Caribbean. Taiwan has also financed scholarships for 245 Belizeans to study in Taiwan, 59 of which are currently abroad there for their studies.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) has also been of crucial assistance to several infrastructure projects in Belize. Paving the Southern Highway and upgrading it to a modern thoroughfare was largely financed by Taiwan’s Tourism Development Project which began in 1997. The Tourism Development Program has also financed the upgrading of access roads to important cultural and archeological sites. Taiwan’s Tourism Development Program is currently assisting with the renovation of the Belize City House of Culture (formerly known as Government House) and the revitalization of the historic downtown area of Belize City.

The management and staff of Chabil Mar would also like to extend a warm hand of greeting to President Ing-wen on her visit to Belize. Although it’s not on her official schedule for her upcoming trip to Belize, Chabil Mar sincerely hopes that President Ing-wen will have time to visit the beautiful Placencia Peninsula in the future.

Congratulations to the 2018 Taste of Belize Winners

Posted on July 26, 2018

After several rounds of grueling competition involving the top chefs and mixologists in the country, the champions of the 2018 Taste of Belize culinary competition have been announced.

Taking top honors as Master Chef was Eliza Carr of the Hamanasi Restaurant. Junior Chef of the year was Rojel Ian Lisbey from the Guava Limb Cafe. Pastry Chef of the year went to Einar Marin, and Bartender of the Year went to Emir Sosa of Tony’s Inn and Beach Resort. The winners in all categories will go on to represent Belize at the upcoming Taste of Caribbean culinary competition.

“We celebrate the achievements of all of the amazing cooks and bartenders who participated in this year’s Taste of Belize competition,” said Larry France, marketing manager of Chabil Mar. “We also very proud of our master chef Daniel and our beverage manager Morris for representing the resort as well as the amazing job performed by our hard-working staff each and every day.”

Chabil Mar is a luxury resort located on the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize. With its own private stretch of beach and a private sea pier for dining, Chabil Mar is home to the renowned Cafe Mar headed up by master chef Daniel. The Cafe Mar restaurant specializes in gourmet meals featuring innovative dishes that represent the multicultural heritage of the country all made fresh daily using local ingredients.

Chabil Mar regularly receives positive feedback for its restaurant, including:

“One of the great features of Chabil Mar is that they have a great restaurant. They bring your meal to you ANYWHERE on the property. How awesome is that? Talk about chic, elegant!” Guest Review, November 2017.

“We loved the serine and private atmosphere this resort gave us and we loved the food! Hats off to the chefs at Chabil Mar!” – Tripadvisor review, March 2018.

“The food was just amazing. We brought our fresh caught fish back and the kitchen sent up what is undoubtedly the best meal we have ever had. They started with sushi and then sent banana leaf baked, mango sauce, grilled fish and rice, potatoes and perfectly cooked vegetables. Divine.” – TripAdvisor review.

“We ate in town on three occasions but the food was much better at the resort to be quite frank.” – Tripadvisor Guest Review, March 2018.

If you’d like to sample the delicious foods and drinks on offer at Cafe Mar and get your very own “taste of Belize,” be sure to book your Belize vacation at Chabil Mar today!

Marcia Moody to represent Belize at Costa Maya 2018

Posted on July 23, 2018

The International Costa Maya Festival is one of the biggest annual celebrations in Belize. The highlight of this multi-day festival held every year in San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye is the highly competitive Reina de la Costa Maya beauty pageant which features a roster of beautiful, talented, and intelligent women from across Central America.

This year, Marcia Moody, a native of San Ignacio, will be representing Belize at the beauty pageant. A lifelong resident of Belize, Moody is 23 years old and holds a Bachelor’s degree in teaching. She was previously selected as the first runner-up in the 2016 Miss Universe Belize beauty contest.

Moody will be competing against Adriana Moya Alvarado (Costa Rica), Naydin Madeline Valladares Renderos (El Salvador), Hilary Cumings (Guatemala), Cynthia de la Vega (Mexico), and Emigdielys Arlyn Samaniego Batista (Panama) as well as candidates that have yet to be determined from Honduras and Nicaragua at the this year’s Reina de Costa Maya beauty pageant.

Last year’s Reina de La Costa Maya beauty pageant winner was Michelle Estrella Nuñez from Belize. Ms. Nuñez will be handing over her crown to the next Reina de La Costa Maya on Friday, August 3 in San Pedro.

The International Costa Maya Festival was first held in 1991 and is a celebration of the wider Maya culture in Central America known in Spanish as the “Mundo Maya.” Eight countries are home to the Maya people and each sends musical acts, artists, and other cultural representatives to the multi-day International Costa Maya Festival which is always held in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye in Belize.

In 2018, the festival will begin on Thursday, August 2, with the opening ceremony at 7:00 PM. Friday, August 3, will be when Marcia Moody competes in the La Reina de Costa Rica pageant. Saturday, August 4, is International Night when top music acts from across the region will perform. And Sunday, August 5, is the last day of the festival and when a big beach party will be held.

Chabil Mar Resort wishes Marcia Moody great success and welcomes International Costa Maya Festival attendees to visit Placencia when the event is over. The Placencia Peninsula in southeast Belize is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the country and is located close to many of the top attractions in Belize, including ancient Maya ruins, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, and snorkeling and scuba diving on the Belize Barrier Reef.

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