Chabil Mar Resort - Belize Blog, Belize Vacation Planning

Placencia Yamaha Saltwater Fishing Tournament

Posted on July 24, 2017

One of the most exciting fishing tournaments is set to begin in Placencia, Belize on September 9 &10, 2017. The two-day Marelco Yamaha Fishing Tournament is a chance for anglers to compete in a number of different categories:

Kingfish – 3 points per pound and a minimum of eight fish caught
Barracuda – 1 point/lb and a minimum of 12
Jack – 1 point/lb and a minimum of fishExtra points will be given on the following basis:

Wahoo – 5 points/lb with a minimum of 15
Dorado – 5 points/lb with a minimum of 7
Tuna – 3 points/lb with a minimum of 5

All fish caught during the tournament must be weighed during the same day in order to qualify. All competing boats must leave the dock at the same time every day and return by the finish time on each day of the tournament. Only lures are allowed and no loose (bare) hooks, cast nets, or live bait is permitted. Registration for the competition closes Friday evening, September 9, 2016.

Although it is not necessary, all competitors are strongly encouraged to obtain a Sport Fishing License from the Placencia Tourism Center in Placencia Village or from the Coastal Zone Management Authority Institute on Princess Margaret Drive in Belize City.

For more information about the tournament, click here.

Chabil Mar

With luxuriously-appointed villas just a short walk from Placencia Village, Chabil Mar is a great place to stay for competitors and those attending the Marelco Yamaha Fishing Tournament.

Chabil Mar is a multiple award-winning resort with its own private beach on the Placencia Peninsula. From a Maya term meaning “beautiful sea”, Chabil Mar is a boutique luxury resort that features its own lush tropical garden, a gourmet restaurant and bar on site, and a full-service spa. All guests of the resort have full use of the facilities, including a private seafront pier ideal for dining or relaxing, free high-speed wireless internet, and the complimentary use of bicycles, kayaks, and paddle boards.

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Belize: An unbeatable family vacation destination

Posted on July 21, 2017

Kid-friendly Belize is the Ultimate Family Vacation Destination

Lots of people call Belize the Kid Capital of the Caribbean. You’ll probably agree once you visit. Unlike neighboring nations, everyone speaks English in Belize, white beaches stretch forever, there are all sorts of ancient Mayan cities hiding amid thick jungle and rain forests and when your youngsters catch their first glimpse of mysterious, ceremonial caves open for exploration to visitors of all sizes, they’re going to be transfixed. Even the flowers, plants, trees, animals and exotic creatures will capture your child’s imagination. They’ll call it awesome. You’ll call it heaven.

Here are 6 reasons why Belize is a great family vacation destination:

1. Your kids can race down beaches, build sand castles and scream their heads off in the surf year-round, and you’ll never have to worry about offending neighbors, shoppers or disapproving parents. Kids love the sun, the water and the vibe they feel from the moment they arrive in a land where the weather’s perfect year-round. As a matter of fact, kids expend so much energy when set free to explore and discover Belize, they’ve even been known to ask to go to bed early!

2. Your kids will learn that zoos are not really the homes of animals, so when you expose them to Howler Monkeys in the wild, manatees that aren’t on TV and hundreds of species of birds (your kids may only have met robins, sparrows and pigeons in urban environments), you expand their minds. Fill your Belize itinerary with a vast array of animal-focused destinations to expose your kids to animal habitats thereby widening his or her horizons.

3. Don’t tell your kids that they will “learn a lot” when you talk about Belize. They don’t want to learn a lot. They want to have fun. But, here’s the amazing thing about kids: regardless of their age, they’re always curious and you can count on them peppering you with questions when you expose them to Belize’s Barrier Reef, Mayan archaeological ruins, jungles, kayaking, deep sea fishing and more. They’ll learn plenty. Just don’t tell them that.

4. Stay at a kid-friendly resort where staff is all about children. A resort like Chabil Mar is so childcentric, staffers frequently know the names of little guests by the time they leave! Chabil Mar has won myriad awards for superior accommodations, onsite appointments, amenities and activities, so even if you stick around for your entire visit, you won’t hear, “I’m bored!” But why wouldn’t you venture out? Belize family vacation packages include excursions designed just for kids; visit our package page to see what awaits from the moment you arrive here: https://chabilmarvillas.com/belize-vacation-packages/belize-family-vacation-package-beautiful-sea.html.

5. Belize is a great place to teach children skills and spend one-on-one time with them when work and other obligations don’t claim most of your waking hours. Your child may be ready to learn to kayak or ride a bike, and since both are available through the Chabil Mar concierge, imagine your little one telling schoolmates she piloted a kayak. Belize’s intriguing cultures are sure to feed your child’s imagination once he is exposed to the traditions and foods of this Caribbean melting pot. Even picky eaters have been known to taste yummy ethnic foods on holiday (and yes, it’s okay to promise dessert if they do).

6. Make memories big time on your family vacation to Belize. Because resorts like Chabil Mar like making your visit effortless, you can book the aforementioned package and just about every detail will be sorted so the toughest part of your trip could be packing. Bring nothing but bathing suits, shirts and shorts for everyone and even packing could take no time at all. Check out the Chabil Mar website to start dreaming and while you’re there, let the kids check out the resort so they can see for themselves the adventures that await once your family arrives!

For more information about visiting Belize or traveling to Belize with kids, 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.

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Chabil Mar Recognized With Prestigious 2017 Certificate of Excellence

Posted on June 22, 2017

Chabil Mar, a five-star luxury resort located in Placencia, Belize, has been awarded the prestigious Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor for the year 2017.

Since 2010, TripAdvisor has been awarding Certificates of Excellence to hospitality businesses that consistently deliver service above and beyond those of their peers. The Certificates of Excellence are determined on an annual basis by carefully assessing the honest and uncensored reviews of travelers who have frequented the establishment during the previous year.

The standards for determining Certificate of Excellence awards are:

A minimum of 12 months of user reviews for the establishment;
A pre-set minimum number of reviews; and
A minimum user review rating of at least four (out of five).

Establishments awarded the Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor are entitled to post a window sticker announcing the designation and will receive an online badge on TripAdvisor’s website. Commercial relationships have no bearing on the determination of TripAdvisor, and the awarding of Certificates of Excellence is entirely based on user-generated reviews and feedback.

“We are both honored and delighted to have been awarded the Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor for 2017,” said Larry France, marketing manager of Chabil Mar. “We consistently strive to deliver outstanding customer service to all of our guests, and we are very proud to read the reviews of satisfied guests who have shared their unbiased reviews on TripAdvisor.”

Chabil Mar is a luxury resort located on the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize. The name of the resort in the local Maya dialect translates to “beautiful sea”, an apt description of the lovely Caribbean coastline where Chabil Mar is located. Chabil Mar is a perennial TripAdvisor favorite and has consistently garnered positive guest reviews thanks to its world-class customer service, beautiful architecture, and luxury vacation experiences. Chabil Mar has a number of slogans, including “Barefoot Luxury”, “Champagne Flutes and Bathing Suits,” and “Beauty by Belize, Luxury by Design.”

TripAdvisor is the world’s most popular travel website with over 315 million members. Founded in the year 2000, TripAdvisor was one of the first travel sites to feature user reviews and feedback in order to give travelers a better way to discover resorts, activities, and beautiful destinations. Today, TripAdvisor’s website has more than 500 million reviews of restaurants, resorts, and other travel-related businesses. TripAdvisor has an annual revenue of 1.5 billion dollars and employees more than 3,000 people around the world.

2017 Promises to Be a Profitable Lobster Season in Belize

Posted on June 19, 2017

The Belize Fisheries Department (BFD) regulates the consumption and harvesting of lobster. According to the BFD, the 2017 lobster season will run from June 15, 2017 to February 14, 2018 and initial estimates are that this year’s harvest will be a profitable one.

According to Ramon Carcamo, a BFD official, lobster catches over the past five years have remained stable. According to Carcamo, the BFD is estimating that between 500,000 and 600,000 pounds of lobster tails will be harvested during this year’s lobster season, ensuring an ample supply of the tasty crustaceans both for local festivals as well as for export. Carcamo said that the BFD is estimating a net profit of $15 million for the 2017-2018 season.

The Caribbean Spiny Lobster (panulin argus), is a native animal fished in the waters of Belize. The spiny lobster thrives in the reefs and mangrove swamp environments of Belize, and are some of the top seafood species fished in the country. Also known as the West Indian langouste, the spiny lobster is a close cousin of the American lobster fished from colder waters found in the north of the United States and Canada.

“The BFD’s report about this year’s lobster season was warmly welcomed,” said Larry France, marketing manager of the Chabil Mar. “Lobster is one of the preferred foods of visitors and locals alike, and popular events like Lobsterfest in Placencia will be beneficial to the region In addition, it means we should have a plentiful supply for tourists through summer and well into the winter season. We await you in Belize!”

Lobsterfest is an annual three-day celebration of all things lobster. Held in Placencia, one of the top lobster fishing communities of Belize, Lobsterfest mixes innovative lobster recipes with lots of games, live music, and a fun beach party. Dozens of regional chefs compete during Lobsterfest to come up with the most savory and delicious dish featuring the world’s famous crustacean.

This year’s Lobsterfest will run from June 23-25, 2017, and is expected to draw record numbers of visitors. Originally a local affair featuring a single chef, Lobsterfest has grown to become one of Belize’s most popular and enduring traditions. Beyond the culinary treats on display, Lobsterfest will feature a drinking contest sponsored by Belikin Beer, a Mr. and Mrs. Physique contest, kayak races, fly fishing contests, and spicy hot wing eating contests amongst many other activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Chabil Mar is an award-winning resort located on the Placencia Peninsula just a short walk from all the Lobsterfest activities.

Southwest Launches New Flight from Fort Lauderdale to Belize

Posted on June 8, 2017

On June 4, 2017, the first plane took off from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport (FLL) and landed in Belize City some two hours, part of Southwest’s increasing international expansion plans. Southwest currently operates two non-stop flights from the United States to Belize, one from Houston’s Hobby Airport (HOU) that began operating in 2015 and one from the Denver International Airport (DIA) that began in March of 2017.

Southwest’s website is listing fares for the new Fort Lauderdale-Belize route beginning at just $79 per segment for travelers flying from August 22 through December 13, 2017. Currently, the estimated round-trip price for the new Fort Lauderdale-Belize City route is $412, far more affordable than rival American Airlines Dallas-Belize City flight that averages $785 roundtrip.

Best of all, the new Fort Lauderdale to Belize City route lands at the Philip Goldson International Airport in Ladyville (a suburb of Belize City) in time for travelers to make a connecting domestic flight to Placencia in the southeast of the country. The Fort Lauderdale flight departs Florida at 11:30 AM and arrives in Belize two hours and 20 minutes later (11:50 AM Belize time). Both of Belize’s domestic air carriers, Maya Island Air and Tropic Air have multiple flights connecting the Belize City airport (BZE) to the Placencia airstrip (PLJ), a journey that takes around 40 minutes.

Placencia is a 16-mile long strip of golden beaches on the Caribbean coast of southeastern Belize. Famed for the beauty of its beaches in a country filled with beaches, Placencia is a laid-back waterfront community where the main form of transportation is bicycles and electric golf carts.

At the southern tip of the peninsula lies Placencia Village, a fishing community which more than lives up to its “barefoot ready” motto. Home to small shops, cafes, restaurants, and dive shops, Placencia hosts a three-day Lobsterfest every June to coincide with the opening of the local fishing season. Featuring dozens of chefs competing to craft the tastiest lobster dishes, the festival also has games, local art, and lots of live music.

Just a short walk from Placencia Village is the award-winning resort of Chabil Mar. With luxuriously appointed villas, a lush tropical garden, and one of the top restaurants in the country, Chabil Mar is the perfect base to enjoy a fabulous vacation in Belize.

Chabil Mar also organizes tours to the top attractions in the country, including diving with whale sharks, exploring ancient Maya ruins, and scuba diving and snorkeling excursions on the nearby Belize Barrier Reef.

For more information about Belize or 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.

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