Chabil Mar Resort - Belize Blog, Belize Vacation Planning

Fun For The Whole Family: 10 Top Family-Friendly Things To Do In Placencia, Belize

Posted on October 5, 2024

Placencia, a picturesque peninsula in southern Belize, offers a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure for families seeking an unforgettable vacation. With its pristine beaches, top-notch resorts, and vibrant culture, there’s something for everyone in Placencia.

Here are the top 10 family-friendly things to do in this charming destination.

Relax on Placencia’s Beaches:

Unwind on the stunning white-sand beaches that line Placencia’s coast. The warm, gentle waters of the Caribbean Sea make it an ideal spot for families to swim, sunbathe, and build sandcastles together.

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving:

Introduce your family to the magical underwater world of Belize’s barrier reef. Placencia offers a variety of snorkeling and diving sites suitable for all ages and experience levels.

Monkey River Tour:

Embark on a guided boat tour along the Monkey River, where you’ll have the opportunity to spot diverse wildlife, such as howler monkeys, iguanas, and a variety of bird species.

Visit Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary:

Take a day trip to the world’s first jaguar reserve and enjoy family-friendly activities like hiking, birdwatching, and waterfall swimming. Discover the diverse flora and fauna that call this sanctuary home.

Explore Maya Ruins:

Immerse your family in Belize’s rich history by visiting nearby Maya ruins, such as Nim Li Punit or Lubaantun. Learn about the ancient Maya civilization while marveling at their architectural achievements.

Go Fishing:

Placencia is an angler’s paradise, offering a range of fishing experiences suitable for the whole family. Try your hand at reef fishing, fly fishing, or even embark on a guided fishing trip.

Take a Chocolate Tour:

Visit a local cacao farm or chocolate factory and learn about Belize’s chocolate-making traditions. This interactive and educational experience is sure to delight family members of all ages.

Attend a Local Festival:

Experience Placencia’s vibrant culture by attending a local festival, such as the Placencia Lobsterfest or the Placencia Sidewalk Arts Festival. These events offer live music, delicious food, and fun activities for the whole family.

Kayaking and Paddleboarding:

Rent kayaks or paddleboards and explore Placencia’s calm lagoon or the nearby mangrove forests. This is a fantastic way to appreciate the area’s natural beauty while enjoying some quality family time.

Take a Sunset Cruise:

End your day with a relaxing sunset cruise along the Placencia coastline. As you watch the sun dip below the horizon, enjoy the breathtaking views and cherish the memories made with your family.

Placencia, Belize, is a family-friendly paradise that promises unforgettable experiences for all ages. For an ideal accommodation during a family vacation, consider Chabil Mar, a luxurious beachfront resort tailored to families, promising comfort and unforgettable experiences.

Book your family getaway at Chabil Mar today and start planning your Placencia adventure.

Where to Stay in Placencia Belize

Posted on September 13, 2024

Chabil Mar, the best resort for your Placencia Belize vacation

One of Belize’s top destinations is the lovely Placencia Peninsula, a gorgeous finger of land measuring one mile across and 16 miles long on the country’s southeastern Caribbean coast.

Placencia Peninsula

With a north-south orientation, the eastern side of Placencia Peninsula fronts the sparkling waters of the Caribbean while the western side is framed by a bio-diverse mangrove-lined lagoon. The pristine beaches are ideal for swimming or relaxing under the shade of a coconut tree while the lagoon side is an angler’s paradise, teeming with gamefish all year round.

The world-famous Belize Barrier Reef is just a few miles offshore, making Placencia an ideal jumping off point to enjoy some of the best fishing, sailing, snorkeling and diving opportunities in the world.

Placencia Village

At the southern tip of the peninsula is the area’s unofficial capital, Placencia Village. Still a small, active fishing village, Placencia is featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the smallest main street in the world (a 4,000 foot-long sidewalk that measures four feet across at its widest point). With several colorful cafes, ATMs, bars, and dive shops, the village makes a great base for visitors seeking to explore the nearby reef or mainland attractions.

Placencia Peninsula’s Attractions

Beyond the delicious foods and drinks, the village of Placencia is a popular attraction in its own right due to its position as a center of Garifuna culture. Visitors can meet and learn from master craftsmen or take classes to learn the unique Garifuna drumming techniques.

Just a few miles west from the village is the Cockscomb Basin Nature Preserve, a vast protected area covered in hiking trails that allow visitors to see exotic wildlife like monkeys, tapirs, and jaguars in their natural habitat. Another popular nearby destination is the Monkey River, where visitors can enjoy a leisurely boat ride up the river while observing tropical flora and fauna. Placencia is also close to the Belize Barrier Reef, including Gladden Spit Marine Reserve where travelers can snorkel or scuba dive with whale sharks.

Where to stay in Placencia Belize

One of the finest resorts on the Placencia Peninsula is Chabil Mar, named for a Maya term meaning “Beautiful Sea.” With 24 beachfront villas equipped with all modern amenities, visitors can relax and be pampered in one of the most luxurious resorts in the country.

Located just a few minutes’ walk from Placencia Village, Chabil Mar has its own tropical gardens, award-winning restaurant, and infinity swimming pool.

Chabil Mar offers guided tours to all of the top attractions on the mainland and the Belize Barrier Reef.

How to Get to Placencia

The peninsula can be reached by car or private transportation from Belize City in about three to four hours. There are also regular domestic air connections from an airstrip just outside of Placencia Village to Belize City and other locations in the country.

For information about the Placencia Peninsula, 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: A Warm-Weather Escape for Freezing Canadians

Posted on September 13, 2024

Belize is a Central American country with English as its official language. This combination of factors is one of the leading reasons why North Americans and even Europeans have been visiting, and even retiring to, Belize. When you want to duck out of the freezing cold of the Great White North’s winters without needing to know a language other than English or French, Belize is the perfect option for your vacationing.

Belize Has Much to Offer

The Placencia Peninsula in Southern Belize offers just about anything a potential visitor to the central Americas could want:

Beaches to comb and lounge about.
Cockscomb Basin has a 400 square kilometer wildlife sanctuary, making it ideal for nature lovers.
Monkey River spans 16 kilometers and allows intrepid tourists a chance to see ocelots, jaguars, beautiful waterfowl and yes, even monkeys like the black howler.
The world famous ATM Cave gives a chance to spelunk about while also riding an inner tube along subterranean waterways. Rather than be a place concerned with banking, the “ATM” is an abbreviation for a phrase that translates as “Cave of the Stone Sepulcher;” it contains one of the oldest surviving sites of sacrificial rituals performed by the ancient Maya in Belize.
Fans of history and anthropology can visit one of the handful of ancient Maya cities like Xunantunich, Nim Li Punit and Uxbenka.

Getting Here

While the previous list only offers a small sampling of the activities available to visiting Canucks, there is more good news for Canadians looking to fly this far south. Air Canada will be adding additional flights to Belize every other weekday from mid-December until April. Furthermore, WestJet can be used to travel from Calgary or Toronto and many of the major US outfits like American Airlines, Delta, United and Southwest make it relatively easy to fly into Belize.

If you are sold on Belize as a winter getaway spot, Chabil Mar is one of the best resorts you can choose.

Located right along the beach coastline of Belize, you only need a single layer of clothing, if even that, to enjoy your winter. Sure, the closest thing you will get to a white Christmas is building a fort out of white sands while dining in the outdoors, but the warm temperatures and variety of activities have been the siren song for many to vacation or even permanently stay within the nation of Belize.

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 vacation.

2025 Family-Friendly Adventures Await in Placencia, Belize

Posted on September 9, 2024

Are you planning a memorable family vacation for 2025? Look no further than Placencia, Belize. This quaint coastal town, known for its white sandy beaches, vibrant marine life, and laid-back atmosphere, is the perfect destination for a family-friendly adventure. Whether your family enjoys outdoor exploration, cultural experiences, or simply relaxing by the water, Placencia offers a variety of activities that everyone can enjoy. Let’s dive into what makes Placencia an exceptional choice for your next family trip.

A World of Outdoor Exploration Awaits

One of the key reasons Placencia is an ideal family destination is the wealth of outdoor activities available for all ages. From snorkeling and diving to exploring lush rainforests, your family will have no shortage of exciting adventures.

The Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a short boat ride from Placencia, offering families the chance to snorkel among vibrant coral reefs and encounter marine life like sea turtles and tropical fish. If your family is feeling more adventurous, you can also try diving in deeper waters to explore the rich underwater biodiversity.

For those who prefer to stay above water, kayaking through the Placencia Lagoon is a relaxing way to observe manatees, dolphins, and a variety of bird species. Hiking in the nearby Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is another fantastic option. Known as the world’s first jaguar reserve, the sanctuary offers miles of trails where you and your family can immerse yourselves in Belize’s rich jungle environment.

Cultural and Historical Experiences

While Placencia is known for its natural beauty, it also offers plenty of cultural and historical experiences that are both educational and fun for families. A visit to nearby Maya ruins provides a fascinating glimpse into the ancient civilization that once thrived in Belize. Sites like Nim Li Punit and Lubaantun are easy day trips from Placencia, where families can explore ancient temples and plazas while learning about Maya history.

In addition to ancient history, your family can engage with modern-day Garifuna culture, a vibrant community in Belize known for its drumming, dancing, and storytelling. You can even participate in a traditional drumming workshop, offering a hands-on experience that your children will love.

Relaxation and Bonding Time

Of course, family vacations aren’t just about staying busy—they’re also about relaxing and spending quality time together. Placencia’s pristine beaches, with their soft sands and crystal-clear waters, provide the perfect backdrop for lazy beach days. While the kids build sandcastles or splash in the shallow waters, parents can unwind under the shade of palm trees or enjoy a good book.

Many of the beach resorts, like Chabil Mar, offer family-friendly amenities such as pools, spacious accommodations, and on-site dining, making it easy to keep everyone comfortable and happy. Whether you’re looking for beachfront villas or all-inclusive options, there are plenty of choices to suit your family’s needs.

Discover Family-Friendly Luxury at Chabil Mar – The Perfect Placencia Resort for 2025

As you plan your family-friendly adventure in Placencia for 2025, remember that this destination offers the perfect mix of adventure, culture, and relaxation. From exploring the Belize Barrier Reef to immersing yourself in Garifuna culture and enjoying lazy days by the beach, Placencia truly has something for everyone.

To make your stay even more enjoyable, consider booking your accommodations at Chabil Mar, a premier beach resort in Placencia. With its luxurious villas, stunning beachfront views, and a host of family-friendly activities, Chabil Mar provides the perfect base for your Belize adventure. Whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation, Chabil Mar is ready to welcome your family in 2025. Book your stay today and create memories that will last a lifetime.

November Is a Great Time to Visit Belize

Posted on September 6, 2024

If you’re still thinking about visiting Belize, don’t hesitate a moment longer. November is a great time to visit.

Here are a few amazing reasons why you should travel to Belize in November:

Enjoy Great Weather

November is the start of the dry season in Belize. The plants and trees are still lush and green, but there is less chance of rain. The days are long and sunny, and the nights are cool.

Get Great Deals

Many hotels and transportation companies offer deep discounts in November. Explore Chabil Mar’s November packages and specials!

Garifuna Settlement Day

Celebrate the heritage of Belize’s colorful Garifuna people. The Garifuna are the descendants of Africans who escaped from a sinking slave ship and made their way to Central America. On November 19, you can enjoy a festival filled with authentic Garifuna food, music and dancing.

Battle of the Drums

Another homage to Garifuna culture, the annual Battle of the Drums is a drumming competition that draws competitors from all over Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. Come and hear some the best drummers in Central America. It takes place in Punta Gorda, the capital of Belize’s Toledo District, on November 17.

Visit Some Wonderful Wildlife

Learn about Belize’s most enchanting, exotic wildlife species when you visit the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center. This wildlife sanctuary is home to dozens of orphaned or rescued mammals, birds and reptiles. It is the first sanctuary in Belize to be completely wheelchair-accessible.

See spectacular scenery and more exotic creatures at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the world’s first jaguar preserve. This beautiful park offers walking trails, waterfalls, bird-watching and the chance to interact with all kinds of wildlife.

Take It Easy on Placencia Peninsula

The Placencia Peninsula is an ideal location for your Belize vacation. It’s close to most of the main attractions. It’s also a lovely area.

From Chabil Mar, it’s an easy walk or bicycle ride into charming Placencia Village, where you can enjoy shopping, dining and nightlife. The beaches of Placencia are the loveliest in Belize.

Chow Down on Conch

November is conch season in Belize. It’s a great time to try this tasty shellfish in conch fritters, conch soup and many other local delicacies. If conch doesn’t do it for you, Belize has wonderful restaurants of all kinds.

Indulge Yourself at the Chabil Mar

Enjoy every moment of your Belize vacation when you indulge yourself at the luxurious Chabil Mar.