Discover Southern Belize

Southern Belize is the home of diverse cultures, societies, and ecologies. As travelers head south, they can witness the transition from citrus orchards and flat savannah land to the forested slopes that are home to modern Maya villages and ancient Mayan ruins. Lovely villages like Placencia and Hopkins offer a laid-back lifestyle, where local fishing and artesian traditions are still kept alive.

For visitors in search of adventure, there is plenty to explore in the jungles of Toledo District, replete with luxury resorts hidden in the remote corners of the rainforest. Offshore, the numerous cayes (islands) and atolls near the Belize barrier reef offer unparalleled fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and kayaking opportunities, a great chance to escape the crowds and higher prices found on the cayes in the northern part of Belize.

Top Places to Explore and Visit in Southern Belize

• Garifuna culture – Southern Belize is the home to a unique people who still make a living fishing in small boats, working in small-scale agriculture, or handcrafting goods and art. Friendly and welcoming, Garifuna culture is also renowned for their love of dancing and music. The center of Garifuna culture is the town of Dangriga, with other iconic villages located in Hopkins, Placencia, and Sittee River.
• Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Preserve – Home to the last surviving native jaguars of Central America, the Cockscomb Wildlife Preserve is also a great place to watch tropical birds in their native habitat.
• Mayan Ruins – The Ancient Mayan Empire once ruled all of Belize, and today visitors can visit the ruins at Nim Li Punit or Lubantuum in Toledo District, or go on day trips from Placencia to see the mysterious Blue Creek Caves, also in Toledo District.
• Placencia – Measuring 11 miles long, the Placencia Peninsula is a truly tropical oasis, with refreshing trade winds, and pristine beaches fronting the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea.
• The Belize Barrier Reef – Just a short boat ride away lies the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest coral reef in the world. Kayaking, diving, fishing, and snorkeling opportunities are unparalleled in this uniquely rich and diverse marine habitat.

Where to Stay in Southern Belize

In the ancient Mayan language, “Chabil Mar” meant “beautiful sea”. Today, the Villas as Chabil Mar live up to that name, with beautifully appointed villas on the gorgeous Placencia Peninsula, all facing the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Located just steps away from the picturesque Placencia Village, Chabil Mar has an on-site restaurant, free Wi-Fi, and a private beach with plenty of room to soak in the rays of sun in this special corner of paradise.

Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information on southern 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.

An unprecedented number of tourists are expected to make pilgrimages to Belize in July, but not for religious reasons. They will come to enhance their mental and physical health as the 2022 Placencia Lobsterfest takes place from July 16-17, 2022, honoring a tradition that’s been around for over 20 years.

Do frequent visitors use this humble crustacean as a reason to escape to Belize every July? Of course, they do. Talk about a vacation with a purpose: attend Lobsterfest, eat as much as you like of this low-calorie, protein-packed seafood, and return home slimmer after undertaking multiple recreational/sporting events associated with this lively three-day party.

“We joke about myriad health benefits visitors get when they attend Lobsterfest because it’s so much more than a seafood eating orgy,” says Larry France, Marketing Manager at Chabil Mar Villas, a popular high-end resort where chefs hold court at the resort’s award-winning onsite restaurant. “Our chefs elevate lobster preparation to a fine art,” France adds, promising guests the experience of a lifetime if they stay at the resort throughout this big celebration.

Curious about how this lobster bacchanal began? Members of the Placencia Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association sought a unique idea to improve the local economy while introducing Placencia to visitors and showcasing its fishing industry in 1998. Lobsterfest was born.

See also: A Brief History of The Placencia Lobsterfest

“Our first Lobsterfest was a humble affair,” recalls France with a chuckle. “A small bunch of enthusiastic eaters gathered at a single table to eat lobster bruschetta and enjoy makeshift carnival games. Word spread that guests had a blast, and every year since, crowd sizes have doubled.”

Over time, Placencia restauranteurs turned the celebration into a friendly culinary competition, at which point, other businesses jumped on the bandwagon, so visitors eager to see what can be crafted, prepared, designed, and sold related to the humble lobster are going to be impressed.

What can travelers expect at Lobsterfest? A vacation that’s part tropical island party and part New Orleans at Mardi Gras without the bad weather. Resorts like Chabil Mar roll out the red carpet for guests who are encouraged to head for Placencia Village where 60+ booths filled with arts and crafts, beverages, t-shirts, art, games, and attractions await. Little lobsters won’t be ignored: fun carnival games are sure to wear kids out.

Each year, the long-awaited culinary parade introduces new palates to delights like lobster stews, fajitas, pies, exotic beverages, and treats while attendees wait to hear if they’ve won the Lobsterfest raffle. Meanwhile, the ongoing music scene fills the air with Garifuna and other trendy musical genres unique to Belize.

As of this posting, organizers have confirmed these 2022 Lobsterfest events, but there are likely to be more:

-A Belikin beer drinking contest
-Biggest lobstah’ competition
-Crowning of Mr. and Ms. Physique
-Tug-of-war
-Tipsy tuna toss
-Spicy hot wing eating contest
-Kayak races and a “reel in the kayak” event that’s not for the frail
-Net casting competition (catch a schilling in a fishing net)
-Beach fly fishing contest.

For more information about Lobsterfest, specific events and times or to find out more about Chabil Mar accommodations, packages, rates, and amenities, please don’t hesitate to send us an email, or call US/CAN Toll-Free: 1-866-417-2377, Local: (011-501) 523-3606.

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1 – The Weather

Belize isn’t just a great place to escape the winter blues of North America, it’s also a lovely opportunity to enjoy some of the best weather anywhere on the planet with highs around 80F (27C) and lots of sunshine during the Christmas period.

2 – Festive

You’ll hear carols being played in all the cafes and bars, drummers on the street tapping out Christmas tunes, and both locals and visitors alike get caught up in a groundswell of old-fashioned Christmas cheer that’s rarely seen anymore in the United States and Canada.

3 – Surf and Turf

Not just a delicious menu item that you can enjoy at most restaurants in Belize, surf and turf refers to the wonderful vacation packages that top resorts like Chabil Mar offer their guests. By combining a trip to the top sites on the mainland (the “turf”) with scuba diving, snorkeling, and splashing in the Caribbean on the sun-drenched islands of the Belize Barrier Reef (the “surf”), visitors can enjoy a truly varied Christmas vacation.

4 – The Maya

Many visitors come to Belize solely for the opportunity to climb the ancient pyramids and ghostly ruins left behind by the Ancient Maya, touring top spots like Cahal Pech, Xunantunich, and Caracol.

5 – The Language

When you want to relax and unwind on your holiday vacation, there’s simply no destination quite like Belize. As the region’s only country where English is the official language, you’ll never struggle to read signs and menus, talk to the locals, or enjoy the music.

6 – The Locals

Although the country is the size of Massachusetts, a unique blend of just 350,000 locals call Belize home, a mix of Garifuna, Creole, British, German Mennonite, Maya, and Mexican peoples who live together in true harmony. Belizeans are world famous for their easygoing nature, abundant smiles, and natural generosity.

7 – Affordable Airfare

Thanks to new routes announced like AA’s non-stop service from Los Angeles, airlines now connect Belize City to most of the major cities in North America. All these competitors entering this hot market mean that the consumer – you – benefit from reduced airfares and great flights.

Chabil Mar

Chabil Mar, the multiple award-winning luxury resort on the Placencia Peninsula, is where wonderful winter holiday vacations begin. Located right on the beach just a few minutes’ walk from Placencia Village, the resort features a lush tropical garden, gorgeous infinity pool, a full-service spa, a gourmet restaurant, and beautifully-appointed villas to make the most of your stay in Belize.

With so many delightful reasons to visit Belize during the winter holidays, you’ll definitely enjoy a wonderful end to the old year and beginning of the new.

There is a lot more to Belize than beautiful beaches, perfect sunny weather, and many exciting attractions. Belize was the home of the ancient Maya empire, and today the country has dozens of amazing Maya temples and pyramids to explore and climb. With a friendly, laid-back atmosphere and welcoming, English-speaking natives, Belize makes every visitor instantly feel right at home.

Spring breakers can snorkel the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, ride a zipline high up in the canopy of a tropical rainforest, or marvel at jaguars, monkeys, and manatees in their native habitat. More exotic and welcoming than the crowded resorts of Cancun or Playa del Carmen in Mexico, Belize is increasingly becoming the destination of choice for students, families and couples to enjoy their spring break.

Getting to Belize Is Now More Affordable Than Ever

Last year, Frontier, Alaska Airlines among other airlines entered the competitive US-Belize market, making airfare from North America more affordable than ever. Flights from a variety of cities, including Atlanta, Houston, and Miami, arrive in Belize in just three or four hours. All international flights land in Belize City, located in the center of the country with easy access by ground, water or domestic air connection to any destination in Belize.

What You Can Do on Your Spring Break in Belize

• Swim in the beautiful waters of the Caribbean
• Soak in the rays on a pristine white beach
• Dive or snorkel off the amazing Belize Barrier Reef
• Relax in a hammock underneath palm trees
• Savor delicious local cuisine, including seafood, Mexican, and Caribbean-themed dishes
• Dance all night to the sounds of a local band
• Spelunk the amazing ATM cave, once the home for sacred Mayan religious rites
• Explore the ruins of a Mayan city
• Go tubing down a jungle river, passing through a series of caves
• Visit one of the wilderness refuges and spot rare birds or jaguars in their natural habitat
• Paddle a kayak through one of the dozens of gorgeous islands
• Go deep-sea fishing for big gamefish like marlin and swordfish
• Enjoy a relaxing vacation at a luxurious tropical resort

Chabil Mar

One of the hotspots to visit is Placencia Village located in Southern Belize. With sixteen miles of pristine beaches and the beautiful Caribbean Sea, there’s plenty of room to gather, snorkel, canoe, scuba dive the great barrier reef, kayak, zip-line, and sunbathe. Hiking in the rainforests or deep-sea fishing is also readily available.

There are private shuttles that can transfer you from Belize’s International Airport to Placencia Village, rental cars are available, or short flights via Tropic Air or Maya Island Air can connect you easily to the peninsula.

Chabil Mar is the place to stay in Placencia! Not only is it a luxury resort but also an award-winning establishment with all the amenities of a five-star resort. With its close proximity to the village of Placencia, it’s the perfect resort to stay in for your spring break! If you were to ask anyone in the world where the best beaches in Belize are, they would tell you, Placencia!

Chabil Mar offers an unbelievable variety of Jungle and Sea Belize Vacation packages so you’ll get the best of both worlds! Spend three or four nights inland enjoying adventures like the jaw-dropping ATM Cave, ancient Maya city of Caracol, canoeing in jungle rivers, and hiking in rainforest trails.

Then spend the other three or four nights at the first-class resort of Chabil Mar where your package includes: a Monkey River tour,  snorkeling in the great Belize barrier reef, golf cart rental for two days, massage, and round trip transfers. You’ll also receive water, coffee, and soft drinks, along with all your meals. Oh, and did we forget to mention that Chabil Mar has two infinity pools with its own private pier?

Why not have a Belize spring break you’ll always remember? Belize luxury vacations are affordable and filled with fun for everyone! Why consider going anywhere else but fabulous Belize?

For more information about visiting Belize and Chabil Mar, 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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Belize, the perfect destination for a surf and turf vacation

The gentle rhythms of the turquoise waters and the sun-kissed beaches of the Caribbean have long made the region a popular choice for vacationers. Belize, a tiny Central American nation with hundreds of offshore islands and more than 180 miles of coastline, offers visitors not only the chance to enjoy an authentic Caribbean experience but also marvel at exotic wildlife, pristine rainforests, and mighty waterfalls on the mainland.

Whether you’re the intrepid traveler eager for an adventure, a family looking for a fun and educational experience, or a romantic at heart looking for the ultimate getaway, Belize has it all. With diving spots rated as the best in the world by famed marine biologist Jacques Cousteau, tropical islands that are ideal spots for playing castaway for a day, and beautifully green jungles teeming with life, Belize has an ideal combination of land and sea attractions for an unforgettable vacation.

The Belize Barrier Reef

As part of the Mesoamerican Reef system, the second-largest in the world, the Belize Barrier Reef stretches for hundreds of miles. Coral reefs constitute less than 1% of the ocean’s volume but play home to more than 25% of all marine life, the hardened exoskeletons of the living coral serving as a shelter for fish and mammals, a place to feed, and a place to pursue prey. Thanks to the transparent waters of the Caribbean and a bright white sandy sea floor, the Belize Barrier Reef is a world-famous destination for snorkeling and scuba diving who come to marvel at the rainbow kaleidoscope of underwater flora and fauna that make their home amongst the coral.

Rainforests and Jungles in Belize

On the mainland, centuries of careful preservation have blessed Belize with pristine rainforests that have never been logged and natural jungles teeming with wildlife, rare flowers like orchids, and brightly-colored tropical birds. More than a third of Belize’s mainland is either a protected nature reserve or park, giving visitors the chance to enjoy unparalleled horseback riding, hiking, and other activities like sailing through the canopy on a zip line. The forests and jungles of Belize are home to some of its most iconic animals, including tapirs (the national animal), monkeys, and jaguars.

Maya Ruins and Ceremonial Caves in Belize

Thousands of years ago, the mighty Maya civilization dominated most of Central America. The heart of this empire was Belize, lying along the Maya’s most important trade routes, a land where ancient architects constructed impressive pyramids, massive stone temples, and large engineering projects carved out of the jungle. For reasons still unknown to archeologists, this civilization collapsed around 500 years ago, and the Maya abandoned their once-mighty cities.

Today, these ruins are amongst the most popular visitor attractions in Belize. Rediscovered in the last 100 years, sites like Xunantunich, Caracol, and Tikal (just over the border in Guatemala) still retain the power to astonish with their sheer scale, artistry, and beauty. Other popular attractions include sacred caves like Actun Tunichil Muknal, once used by the Maya to perform human sacrifices in an attempt to please their capricious gods.

Belize Surf and Turf Vacation Packages

Chabil Mar offers visitors comprehensive vacation packages to experience the best land and sea destinations in Belize, including:

• Swimsuits and Hiking Boots – Enjoy a 7-night trip that includes a sojourn to the eco-tourism center of the west where you can marvel at butterflies, explore Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, and two full days of snorkeling on the reef.
• Rainforests and Reefs – Stay in a tree-top villa in the middle of a pristine jungle combined with two days of snorkeling and walks along the beach in this 7-day exclusive package.
• Mystical Rainforest and Sandy Toes – Explore Caracol, ride down a river passing through a series of subterranean caves, plumb the depths of the sacred ATM cave, and enjoy a full day of snorkeling with this lovely 7-day vacation package.

With an ideal combination of exciting and beautiful destinations on both land and sea, it’s no wonder that Belize has become one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Caribbean.

Contact our Reservations Manager for more information on our Belize surf and turf vacations.

Reservations@chabilmarvillas.com

Toll Free: US/CAN: 1-866-417-2377

Local: 011-501-523-3606

www.chabilmar.com