Category: Belize Resort and Vacation Blog

Being asked to join an exclusive community is always an honor. When that recognition is received for doing an outstanding job of practicing sustainable tourism, that’s cause for celebration–which is exactly what the Chabil Mar Resort team did after learning that the staff and the resort were awarded Green Globe certification.

“This has already been a banner year for us at Chabil Mar, so being notified of our Green Globe certification was like icing on a cake,” said the resort’s Marketing Manager Larry France. “This is no lightweight designation. It’s given only to those in the tourism industry practicing the highest levels of sustainability. At Chabil Mar, we take seriously the beautiful environment surrounding us and we are eager to help with global initiatives that keep the planet pristine for future generations.”

To earn this recognition, an applicant must meet 44 core criteria and fulfill 380 compliance indicators. Only those able to document their achievements, improvements and green efforts are eligible to be awarded Green Globe certification, and thanks to the efforts of management and staff alike, at Chabil Mar, that goal has been achieved.

“Receiving this designation is just a first stop for Chabil Mar,” explains France. “We will be reviewed twice per year by third-party independent auditors to make sure that we are living up to our promise to remain as ecologically responsible as we are tourist-centric. From our lush tropical gardens to kayaks, paddle boards and bicycles we provide so guests can travel from place to place without expending carbon emissions, our green earth commitment has become a priority for us.”

As the only guest-exclusive resort on the Placencia Peninsula, Chabil Mar undertakes unusual measures to promote sustainability, including choosing suite furnishings decorated with locally-grown Belizean hardwoods from trees that are regularly replenished. Wildlife reserves and ancient Mayan ruins are considered treasures so when guests are taken to these locations, guides stress the critical nature of the world’s finite resources.

In addition to being awarded Green Globe certification, Chabil Mar resort is the recipient of numerous awards on a peninsula that is no stranger to worldwide notoriety: Placencia was named “Leading Beach Destination” at the 2015 World Travel Awards held in Bogota, Columbia and Chabil Mar’s laudits include nine years topping TripAdvisor award categories and a “Choice for Luxury” designation by Fodor’s.

“Too often, people say that it’s impossible to balance luxury with conservation and sustainability, but Chabil Mar is proof that not only can this be done, but done in such a way that visitors return again and again for first-class hospitality and service. We’re proud of our efforts and we intend to keep up our commitment to sustainability in every way possible,” adds Mr. France.

For more information about the resort or its Green Globe Certification, please contact Larry France at chabilmar@comcast.net or https://chabilmarvillas.com/.

The philosopher Maimonides uttered prophetic words that have remained as true over time as they did when he said them–“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” His words were never truer that they are today in Belize, where over-fishing threatens the nation’s once-vibrant industry, leading to a decline in conch, reef fish and lobster catches.

Some nations might give up and accept the inevitable, but the Belize fishing community isn’t about to take this dramatic situation lying down—nor is the Belize government willing to give in either. The solution? Resurrecting a concept that’s been around almost as long as the Maimonides quote: Territorial Rights Use for Fishing (TURF).

With the implementation of this system, gone are the days of unrestricted, indiscriminate fishing practices responsible for the current problem. TURF simply gives the estimated 15,000 Belizean fisherman plying their trade dedicated areas in which to pursue their livelihood. With the establishment of these areas, responsibility lies with fisherman to abide by zoned ecosystems so marine life populations can return to their former bountiful states.

Is Belize the only nation to turn to this tried-and-true method of restoring coastal fishing waters? Hardly. Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Mozambique and the Philippines faced the same depletion crisis and adopted the TURF system supported by the Environmental Defense Fund. Some nations have even declared “no-take” areas that prohibit all fishing until marine life numbers begin to increase.

How are the fishermen of Belize responding to this new system? Positively—because they will be the recipients of the benefits of restored stock and because they’ve already seen how fast cessation of overfishing specific zones and establishing no-take areas can reverse this tide. Current research proves that, for example, in a no-take reserve, fish and crustacean populations quadruple, while they double outside these designated areas.

With the support of the marine biology community, the Belize government and the nation’s fishermen, overfishing can, with a concerted effort, finally end as proven by two experimental TURF projects that were set up in Belize in 2012 just to see if it could be done. As a result of the experiment, illegal fishing activity dropped 60-percent as 80-percent of Belizean fisherman complied and are reporting positive catch numbers.

Goals have been set. Pilot programs launched. In concert, everyone benefits—even the tourism industry! At Chabil Mar, Placencia’s award-winning resort where fishing expeditions for guests have been extremely popular excursions, this news was met with great excitement since the resort had just received its Green Globe certification and applauds such efforts.

Because the ocean’s fish population is being restored thanks to TURF, Chabil Mar can continue to offer its extremely popular fishing package and there’s great news greeting guests who arrive eager to grab fishing gear and pursue their favorite sport: Around 70-percent of Belize fishermen report catching more fish since this system was instituted—which portends plenty of luck for guests of Chabil Mar, too!

For more information about fishing 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 has been hard at work throughout October preparing the grounds, accommodations and innovative services for the upcoming 2016 season.

Being number one has its responsibilities and at Chabil Mar that means being the best in the industry by providing award winning service every day and every moment, to not just meet expectations, but exceed them, to anticipate our guests needs before they even know that want them. In a recent tripadvisor review, a guest wrote two weeks ago, “Chabil Mar is the epitome of excellence. It is exactly the most comfortable place to stay. It is exactly the best meals to be had. It is exactly staffed with the most knowledgeable, friendly, and efficient people . . . I genuinely miss everyone of the staff that I met.”

“Come as Friends, Leave as Family”.

And another guest wrote on tripadvisor three weeks ago, “This was our 2nd trip to Placencia, BZ and our return to Chabil Mar . . . The trip was just as beautiful, relaxing and amazing as the first time 3 years ago . . . If you want to feel like Royalty, you’ve found it here, no matter where you are on the property you will see someone asking if you are doing good, need a towel? need a drink? can we bring you anything?

We are so proud to have won Traveler’s Choice Awards for 8 consecutive years in the Service, Romance, Best Hotel and Family categories.

Our accommodations, all Caribbean sea-facing villas have been upgraded, including comfort features and details such as new bedding, only the best 400 thread count sheets, pillow cases and comforters. New kitchen backsplashes, stainless steel appliances, comfort robes and furnishings to the already luxury designs we are known for. Art and decor, always a Chabil Mar delight!

At Chabil Mar attention to detail is a requirement. Must we say it or let our guests say it for us . . . “We’ve been to Chabil Mar 4 times now, and it always exceeds our expectations. We have just completed our annual refinishing of the pier, Cafe Mar, the verandas and the furniture. The pools are sparkling, the 400 feet of beach is manicured (daily) and awaits.

We do not forget about your desire for first class dining and this year we are serving up a brand new menu from our Chef Carlos and Sous Chefs Marsha and Salvino. Eat al fresco style anywhere you choose among the Chabil Mar property and don’t forget to reserve your private dinner on our pier, the best dining location in all of Placencia.

We’re waiting for you . . . Placencia awaits you . . . All of Belize awaits you.

We hope to serve you in 2016.

For more information about visiting Belize or Placencia in 2016 , 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.

The Wedding of Bill and Tess at Belize’s Chabil Mar Resort in Placencia

The groom wore a tangerine-colored shirt. The bride donned an elegant white wedding ensemble and carried a bouquet of tropical flowers that were almost as gorgeous as the day on which Bill and Tess married on the beach at Chabil Mar, Belize on September 26, 2015.

If you smiled when you read the headline, you may already know the answers. Placencia Belize is a hot spot for multiple reasons: you’ll find all the hot weather you desire when snow falls on your coat, affordability makes this a hot destination most of the year, and you won’t find more variety in the place that’s both a quaint village and a verdant peninsula. Need more convincing? Keep reading.

If you’re going to make the most of your vacation in Placencia, you require accommodations that will keep you close to everything this area has to offer, so choosing Chabil Mar Villas, as so many travel authorities recommend, gets your holiday off to the right start. Chabil Mar gives paradise a run for its money and since the name of this luxe resort means “Beautiful Sea,” the 400-feet of Caribbean beach, just steps away from your beautifully-appointed villa facing the sea, offers all of the privacy, amenities and service you desire.

Using your Chabil Mar quarters as a base, take time to explore the peninsula. This ecologically splended area is home to some of Mother Nature’s finest work, so both your eyes and your spirit will be treated to a bounty of wonder. Visit a virgin mangrove-lagoon that’s so ancient and unspoiled, even elusive, endangered Manatees visit. Close proximity to lush, fascinating jungles and rainforests make for exceptional inland adventures that don’t require endless travel time to reach them.

Since Placencia residents are serious about conservation, you benefit as a visitor. Everywhere you travel you’ll be charmed by birds, butterflies, iguanas, flowers, trees, plants and lush gardens. Reverence for the land is not new to Placencia residents; this peninsula’s history is thousands of years old. Mayans may have left their mark before vanishing, but by the 17th century, North Americans, followed by Spaniards, colonized Belize and the Spanish stuck around long enough to bestow the peninsula’s name: Placencia or Pleasant.

Perhaps because this area has been such a melting pot over time, Placencia has a proud history of welcoming people from all points on the compass, so when you visit, you’ll find an international mix of residents, ex-pats and tourists alike. Walk the streets of Placencia village and you’ll as likely run into Chinese immigrants as those whose native tongue is German or members of the region’s Garifuna society, yet everyone speaks English so you can converse with them all.

Getting to know the people of Placencia is a delightful experience, but the excursions, tours, activities and adventures in which you engage will remain forever in your memory. Chat with Chabil Mar Resort hosts and they will take care of booking details so you see and do everything you’ve dreamed about: snorkeling, diving, fishing, tours to see Belize’s Howler Monkey population, river and cave tours, sailing, river kayaking and the unforgettable Belize Barrier Reef that’s so close Placencia, can be geared up for your first dive into the Caribbean Sea in no time.

When you’ve had your fill of nature and history, stroll the village where you will encounter every sort of entertainment and service you require. From fine dining at Placencia bistros to street vendors offering tasty servings of rice and beans and stew chicken to tourists who don’t want to sit down long enough to eat because they’re too busy shopping, having fun and sending selfies back home—it won’t take long for you to discover why Placencia is the only place to visit in 2016.

For more information about visiting Belize or Placencia in 2016 , 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.