Chabil Mar Resort - Belize Blog, Belize Vacation Planning

Latin Post: ATM Cave is Top Sacred Cave in the World

Posted on September 16, 2014

National Geographic ranks Actun Tunichil Muknal (Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre), or ATM as the No.1 “Sacred Places of a Lifetime” in the beautiful Central American country of Belize. (Photo : Flickr/Michael Daines/Antti T. Nissinen)

A recent article on Latin Post, a popular Internet site that caters to the Hispanic Community in the US and the rest of the world praised Actun Tunichil Muknal as one of the top caves that travelers have to explore when they visit Belize.

The article titled “National Geographic Top “Sacred Places” List: Belize Ancient Mayan Cave Ranks First and written by Melissa Castellanos was published on September 13 2014 and generated a lot of exposure on the Internet for Belize.

“Named the No. 1 on its list of “Sacred Places of a Lifetime” by National Geographic, ATM is located in the Cayo District, not far from the charming little town of San Ignacio. It involves a 45-minute hike, crossing streams and river banks of the Tapir Mountain Reserve to get to the cave’s entrance. Once there, you swim, twist and turn and climb to the depths of ATM where there is no natural light,” writes Castellanos who was captivated by the Cave’s aura.

According to Larry France, Marketing Manager for Chabil Mar, the ATM Cave has been making international headlines for the past three consecutive months and is considered one of the most remarkable caves on the Planet.

“It is one of Belize’s most enthralling attractions and the cave has been featured in prestigious publications like Discovery Channel, The Daily Beast and The Huffington Post says France whose resort offers a number of Belize vacations that include a tour of the cave.

Actun Tunichil Muknal or the ATM Cave as it is locally known is one of the most breathtaking caving experiences you will have in Belize. The cave is located in the karstic limestone terrain of Roaring Creek Valley in the Cayo District and is approximately 5 km long and contains a perennial stream that runs through it including a ledge with two stelae and a large chamber full of intact human remains and Maya pots.

For more information about Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave or 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 Resort Supports Belize’s Table Tennis Team in Veracruz

Posted on September 7, 2014

Photo by:Belize Table Tennis Association

Chabil Mar, the guest exclusive resort of Placencia Belize supports the Belize Table Tennis Team that will be competing in the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz Mexico in November.

According to The Amandala Newspaper, Tyrone Tun and Carlos Cui successfully qualified in El Salvador over the past 5 days to now compete in the Men Singles and Doubles event in Veracruz, Mexico.

“12 countries were represented in El Salvador in both Team and Individual Categories. While Belize was not successful in making the top 8 Team qualifiers, we did manage to qualify in the Individual Category,” asserts a press release that was issued by the Belize Table Tennis Association (BTTA) on August 31^st 2014.

On behalf of Chabil Mar Management and Staff, we wish Tyrone and Carlos the very best as they participate in the games in November.

Suitcase Stories Recommends Placencia Belize

Posted on September 6, 2014

Things-to-Do-in-Placencia-Belize-Town — Photo by: Suitcase Stories

Suitecase Stories is a luxury travel blog that provides travel tips, destination guides and stories for those who prefer the finer things in life. The blog also share tips for affordable luxury travel via house sitting to help long term travelers stay on the road longer.

The founders of the site Michael and Nicole were recently vacationing in Placencia Belize and wrote about their experience in a blog post entitled “Things to do in Placencia”.

They described the peninsula as follows:

Placencia to the south of the country is sited on the long ribbon of beaches which runs parallel to the mainland. It is a popular destination for visitors wanting to dive, fish and swim around the atolls and reefs teeming with some of the highest marine diversity in the world.

Getting to Placencia is a breeze with Maya Island Air. Flights are available almost hourly from Belize International and it will take you around 30 minutes to get to the destination. Mayan Island Air will save you time and money!

And of course they stayed at Chabil Mar and recommended our guest exclusive resort to their readers.

“The vibe is laid back, understated efficiency, with a knowledgeable concierge service who are able to arrange experiences tailored specifically to suit your interests. Each villa comes with a fully equipped kitchen but if you do not want to cook (and who can blame you) there are private chefs who will deliver a meal to your veranda dining table. The Cafe Mar has a beautifully delicious no fuss menu based on local cuisine, seafood and produce. They will even cook your daily catch for you,” they wrote about Chabil Mar.

Both Michael and Nicole also endorsed Laughing Bird Caye as a diving and kayaking destination.

Monkey River, Cockscomb Basin and Lubaantun were the other popular tours they recommended to travelers who vacation in Placencia.

You can read the article in its entirety here: http://suitcasestories.com/things-placencia-belize/

Belize’s Blue Hole Named Top Wonder in the World

Posted on September 5, 2014

Thefrontierpost.com has listed the great blue hole of Belize as one of the top wonders to explore in the world. The blue hole was among a collection of 19 other best underwater attractions in an article entitled “Top 20 wonders of the underwater world”.

“Charles Darwin described it as “the most remarkable reef in the West Indies,” a statement that still rings true today. Forming part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, this underwater World Heritage Site is home to a cornucopia of marine life, including 500 species of fish and 106 species of coral. The jewel in its crown, though, is the Great Blue Hole, a large submarine sinkhole that attracts divers and snorkelers from around the world”, asserts the article which was published on the travel section of Thefrontierpost.com.

At Chabil Mar we offer a 4 to 7 night’s scuba diving package that entails diving the great blue says Larry France, Marketing Manager of Chabil Mar, the guest exclusive resort of Placencia in Southern Belize. The package also includes diving Glovers Reef, the world renowned atoll as well as a plethora of jungle or maya ruins tours says France.

Rated as one of the top attractions in Belize, the great blue hole is a stunning jewel set in a ring of corals that measures 1000 feet across and 412 feet deep. It is believed to be the world’s largest blue hole and it is a rich habitat for a variety of marine life like nurse sharks, reef sharks, black tip sharks and even giant groupers.

For more information about the traveling to Belize or diving the great blue, 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.

Belize to Hold Third Annual End of the World Marathon

Posted on August 31, 2014

Placencia Belize, Larry Waight Reporting:

For many, the end of the 13th Baktun in the Maya Long Count Calendar, December 21, 2012, was a prediction of end times. Didn’t happen. To commemorate the event, the annual “End of the World Marathon” was organized in Belize, the heart of the Maya civilization.

This year’s marathon is scheduled for December 7 in picturesque Placencia, a town nestled up against the white powdery beaches and azure waters of the Caribbean Sea.

The event kicks off on Saturday, December 6, with registration and the traditional pre-race carb packing dinner. Sunday’s race events include a full marathon, half marathon, and two miles fun run.

The completely flat course is a loop along the Placencia peninsula, rapidly becoming one of the choice vacation destinations in the Caribbean. Runners will be alongside the sea at several points in the race.

All entrants who complete the course will receive a commemorative finisher’s medal. Over $10,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in both the men’s and women’s marathon, with special awards also given to the victor in age classes: under 29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 & over.

At the conclusion of the marathon, an after party will keep winners and contestants reveling well into the wee hours.

Race registration is open until midnight EDT on October 15, 2014, and all registrants will receive a race tee, and have a chance to win prizes donated by local sponsors. Minimum age requirements are 18 for the full marathon, 16 for the half.

Race participants can plan to experience the wonders of Belize, arriving early or staying post race with an all inclusive race package from Chabil Mar Villas.

For water enthusiasts, Belize is home to the world’s 2nd largest barrier reef, a spectacular underwater environment for divers and snorkelers, and home to turtles, rays, nurse sharks, dolphins and moray eels. Playfully darting between the reef and onshore mango groves, communities of sea manatees inhabit the area from November to January.

One of the top things to do on a Belize vacation is the very unique caving tubing. On inner tubes, you’ll float through the Maya underworld, viewing amazing stalactites and stalagmites, “curtains” made entirely of crystal, cave drawings, and even skeletal remains. Up on the surface, the Maya world offers many surviving structures to visit, including ceremonial centers, tombs, and a complete astronomical observatory. Seek answers on where the Mayans came from, and what happened to them.

The special package put together by Chabil Mar Villas includes everything race participants need or desire. It includes your round trip flights between the international airport at Belize City and Placencia, ground transfers, race registration, five nights in a luxury villa, five breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Your package includes a half day snorkeling trip and a choice of one of three specially designed land tours.

Chabil Mar is an exclusive, boutique resort, with just 19 villas and one honeymoon suite facing the Caribbean. Guests can expect to be pampered in luxurious accommodations at a resort full of amenities tailored to discriminating travelers.

Follow Us!

Archives