Belize is a small Caribbean nation sandwiched between Guatemala and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula but the country has been blessed with fabulous weather and incredibly diverse natural landscapes. Ranging from unfathomably beautiful tropical islands in the east to lush jungles, majestic waterfalls, and pristine rivers in the west, Belize truly has something for everyone.

The best way to see and experience all the best that Belize has to offer is with a jungle and beach vacation package from Chabil Mar. You can choose from exciting offshore activities like fishing, snorkeling, sailing, and scuba diving the islands and atolls of the Belize Barrier Reef and mix it with adventures on the mainland, including hiking through vast, trackless rainforests, zip lining through the jungle canopy, and exploring ancient ruins left behind by the Maya more than 1,000 years ago.

Belize’s small size makes enjoying a day out on the water one day followed by an exciting tour of the mainland the next simple and easy. Some beach and jungle packages offered by Chabil Mar include staying at the famous Caves Branch Lodge, home to five-star luxury tree houses and exciting nighttime explorations of the jungle.

Other options include heading to the heart of Belize’s western Cayo District and staying at The Lodge at Chaa Creek while enjoying trips to see butterfly farms and exploring ATM Cave, rated by the Discovery Channel as the number one sacred cave in the world. You can also choose to visit the gorgeous Gaia River Lodge located in the heart of the vast Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve where you’ll get a chance to see the tallest waterfalls in Central America.

Chabil Mar is a multiple award-winning luxury resort located right on the golden sands of the Placencia Peninsula in southern Belize. For the beach portion of your vacation, you can choose from sea kayaks to explore the nearby islands, boat safari trips up the pristine Monkey River (where yes, you will definitely see plenty of monkeys), and hiking tours of the Cockscomb Basin Nature Preserve, home to all five of Central America’s big cat species, including jaguars.

Chabil Mar’s jungle and beach vacation packages have everything you’ll need to enjoy an unforgettable vacation in Belize. Packages include transportation, accommodations at Chabil Mar as well as a partner jungle resort, exciting tours, meals, and other exciting amenities like professional massages, special nature events, and complimentary use of all of the resorts’ facilities.

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.

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The word “treasures” usually refers to riches, precious metals and in some cases, your kids, but if you’re a frequent visitor to Belize, you know that the land is filled with natural treasures that have no equal. Belize is home to unspoiled rainforests, endangered species, ancient Mayan cities and lush beaches, so if these criteria don’t describe a nation rich in treasures, nothing will! We recommend the following 15 to begin your journey.

Silk Cayes

Silk Cayes: Just off the coast of Placencia Village, divers and snorkelers discover underwater jewels clinging to the Belize Barrier Reef in the vicinity of the Silk Cayes. Known for excellent water quality and modest waves, dive year round in this marine paradise.

Laughing Bird Caye

Laughing Bird Caye: Get away from crowds in nearby Placencia Village to kayak, snorkel, dive, scuba and picnic. When you’ve had your fill of ocean depths, spot another of the nation’s treasures: exotic birds that make this island their home.

Placencia Village

Placencia Village: Why is this colorful epicenter of fun and good times a treasure? Because it has everything a vacationer seeks in close proximity—water sports, Mayan ruins, nightlife and luxurious resorts like Chabil Mar.

Monkey River Village

Monkey River Village: This must-see trip balances howler monkeys with cool birds, butterflies and assorted lizards that inhabit this region. The gem-like colors of birds and butterflies will amaze you–and you’ll fall in love with those monkeys.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary: The world’s first jaguar preserve isn’t the only reason you’ll find this location a treasure: it’s home to Belize’s highest point, Victoria Peak, and so many colorful insects, mammals, birds and reptiles, you won’t want to put your camera away.

Chabil Mar Resort

Chabil Mar Resort: There’s a reason travelers pick Chabil Mar over other Placencia Village lodgings when they visit: Hosts tuck guests into sea-facing villas offering the ultimate in privacy. Tropical gardens, infinity pools and al fresco dining are steps away, so you couldn’t avoid relaxing if you tried!

Blue Hole

Blue Hole: The famous Great Blue Hole is a one-of-a-kind diving destination that challenges even veteran divers thanks to its unique configuration of collapsed caves at the ocean floor. Celebrity Jacques-Yves Cousteau couldn’t stop talking about the geological wonders at this spot in the Caribbean. You’ll agree.

Belize Barrier Reef

Belize Barrier Reef: Charles Darwin called it remarkable and deep sea divers from around the planet find no fault with his assessment! Add this section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System to your list of not-to-be-missed jewels or your Belize itinerary won’t be complete.

Placencia Lagoon

Placencia Lagoon: This rich, bio-diverse wonderland remains so pristine, Jabiru Storks, Morelet’s crocodiles and some dolphin species swim amid mangrove swamps within this verdant, protected lagoon. Pair a visit here with one to neighboring Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve.

Half Moon Caye

Half Moon Caye: If you’ve never experienced “a wall dive,” it’s time to jump in. Once you settle into the tight space and discover a world filled with turtles, rays, eels, barracuda and other marine wildlife through crystal waters, you’ll be glad you took the risk.

Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave

Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave: Plunging into the depths of this karstic limestone cave could take your breath away. Included among the Mayan treasures found at this rare site are stelae, pottery and even skeletal remains of former inhabitants.

Belize Whale Sharks

Belize Whale Sharks: The largest fish in the world uses the Gladden Spit off Belize’s Placencia coast as a playground at certain times of the year. Your best chance of spotting one is to visit during full moons in the months of April and May!

Xunantunich Maya Ruins

Xunantunich Maya Ruins: Ascend to the ridge above the Mopan River in the San Jose Succotz vicinity to find a Mayan ceremonial center unlike any other. The largest pyramid in Belize (El Castillo) is found here, so that alone is worth your journey.

Caracol Maya Ruins

Caracol Maya Ruins: Caracol is a classic example of what archaeologists have unearthed in the Cayo District. Allow plenty of time to explore this huge compound, the former home of about 120,000 people!

Barton Creek Cave

Barton Creek Cave: No list of Belize treasures would be complete without this impressive site, continuously inhabited by Mayans between 200 and 900 AD. Ten ledges near the mouth of the cave display artifacts that run the gamut from pottery shards to skeletons.

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.

For many divers and snorkelers, the Holy Grail is to encounter a whale shark in its natural environment. As big as a school bus, whale sharks are not whales but sharks. Unlike other sharks, however, whale sharks have no teeth, which is why they are simultaneously the largest creatures in the oceans as well as some of the gentlest.

In order to protect whale sharks, contact is strictly limited, but lucky divers can sometimes get the chance to touch and interact with the massive creatures. Whale sharks only exist in tropical waters and follow plankton blooms seasonally across the lower latitudes. The largest whale shark ever recorded was 41 feet (12.5 meters) long and weighed 47,000 pounds (21 tons).

One of the best places to see whale sharks is in the waters of the Gladden Spit Marine Reserve. Located on the outer reaches of the Belize Barrier Reef just a few miles from Placencia, the Gladden Spit Marine Reserve is one of the most diverse environments in the ocean. The shallow waters, mangrove forests, and tides bringing in a rich stream of nutrients make for a perfect breeding site for fish and other marine creatures.

Whale sharks consume several tons of plankton and fish spawn per day, which is why they are drawn to the food-rich waters of the Gladden Spit Marine Reserve. Arriving every spring from their annual circumnavigation of the globe, whale sharks can be seen around Gladden Spit for a few months. Normally feeding at depths unavailable to divers, whale sharks rise to the shallower waters during the 10 days following a full moon in order to feed.

Recently, Afar Magazine profiled whale sharks and encouraged its readers to avail themselves of this truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at Gladden Spit Marine Reserve. One of Afar Magazine’s top recommended resorts to stay in Placencia Belize is the luxurious Chabil Mar Resort. With elegantly appointed villas and its own gourmet restaurant and two infinity swimming pools, Chabil Mar is an award winning resort renowned for providing world-class service.

Located in southeastern Belize, Placencia is the gateway to the Belize Barrier Reef, including the Gladden Spit Marine Reserve where whale sharks visit every spring. Chabil Mar operates diving and snorkeling tours to Gladden Spit as well as other top destinations on the reef.

If you’d like to snorkel or dive with whale sharks, be sure to book your vacation with Chabil Mar Resort.