Category: Belize Resort and Vacation Blog

At the young age of 19, Simone Biles holds the record for winning the most gold medals in women’s gymnastics in a single Olympics. After her triumphant performance as part of the Final Five during the Rio de Janeiero Olympic Games, Biles is now on tour of the United States to promote her sport.

Biles is proud to have represented the United States, but in a recent interview with the “New York Times”, she spoke about how Belize holds a special place in her heart. Biles is an American citizen but Biles has close ties with the Central American nation via her mother, Nellie Cayetano Biles, who is from Belize. Biles told the “New York Times” that Belize is her second home, and that she tries to spend at least one week every year with her extended family there, usually during the summer.

Biles spoke fondly about both her mother’s home on the mainland and how much she loves staying at resorts in and around the town of San Pedro on the popular island of Ambergris Caye. Biles proclaimed her love for the beach and enjoying activities like swimming, snorkeling, and fishing, remarking on the incredibly clear water that makes it easy to see the colorful abundance of marine life. Biles’s extended family especially enjoy fishing, rising at 7:00 in the morning to head out in the water, each member of the family competing to see who can catch the most fish or the biggest fish.

The Placencia Peninsula

The Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize is a narrow strip of land fronting the Caribbean. Measuring 16 miles in length, it is renowned for having some of the most beautiful beaches in a country with more than 180 miles of them. At the south end of the peninsula is the picturesque village of Placencia, the unofficial capital of the area and the best place to enjoy a meal, do some shopping, or get fishing and diving equipment for a trip out to the nearby Belize Barrier Reef.

Located just a few minutes’ walk from Placencia Village is the  award-winning resort of Chabil Mar. Named from a Maya term meaning “beautiful sea,” the luxury resort has its own lush tropical garden, spacious villas, and a full range of spa and massage services. The Placencia Peninsula and the Chabil Mar resort would be two great places for Biles to visit on her next trip to Belize.

Belize will be going to the Miss Universe 2017 pageant to be held next year in the Philippines. Rebecca Rath, age 22, from Dangriga was crowned as the winner of the Miss Belize pageant held at the Bliss Center in Belize City on Saturday, September 10, 2016. The talented and beautiful Miss Rath topped nine other contestants to earn the long-inactive crown.

Speaking to the press following her coronation, Rath said, “I love Belize with all of my heart, and I am proud to have represented Belize in both sports and tourism. I look forward to representing the country at the upcoming Miss Universe pageant next year.”

Rath has been an active athlete since her youth, playing volleyball since the age of 13. Rath was a member of the national junior volleyball team and also competed in beach volleyball games for Belize both at home and abroad. At age 18, Rath began working for both the Belize Tourism Industry Association and the Belize Hotel Association, earning her valuable experience both locally and abroad while representing her country.

After the pageant, Rath stated, “I’ve always done my best to represent Belize, but getting dolled up for the Miss Universe pageant was in a different league. I did my best to make sure that everything turned out perfectly, and I think it all turned out quite well the way it did. Many people think that a pageant is just about a woman’s outer beauty, but it’s actually about choosing the right woman to represent your country. I am confident that I can do a great job representing Belize.”

Rath is a previous winner of the People’s Choice, Beach Body, and Top Model awards. Rath will represent Belize at the Miss Universe finals in the Philippines in January 2017.

The staff and management of Chabil Mar wish Rebecca Rath all the best of luck in the pageant.

After being rescheduled due to the arrival of Hurricane Earl in August, Belize will host the regional FIVB Men’s World Volleyball qualification tournament in Belize City on September 24-30, 2016. Competing in the regional qualification tournament along with Team Belize will be squads from Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.

The FIVB Men’s Volleyball qualification will be held in a round-robin format with three matches per day, giving fans the opportunity to see a total of 21 games of truly world class volleyball. Teams from the region will start arriving in Belize City on September 22 and the tournament will officially begin on September 24.

The matches will be held daily at 3:00, 5:00, and 7:30 pm. Host Belize will face El Salvador at 7:30 pm local time on opening day, September 24, and will compete at 7:30 on six of the seven nights. At the end of the seven days, the top two teams will progress to the continental round. From there, the top five teams on the continent will head to the World Championships to be held in Bulgaria and Italy.

The management and staff of Chabil Mar wishes all the best of luck to Team Belize.

Although coral reefs account for less than 1% of the ocean’s volume, they are home to a staggering 25% of all marine life. The small Central American nation of Belize is blessed to share more than 180 miles of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second-largest in the world. One of the most popular activities in Belize is scuba diving and snorkeling this amazing reef, including large protected marine reserves like Hol Chan and the famous Shark Ray Alley.

When it comes to breathtakingly beautiful snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities, there are few areas on the planet that can compare to the Belize Barrier Reef. The white sandy sea floor reflects light through the crystal clear waters, transforming the rich abundance of brightly colored marine flora and fauna into an underwater wonderland. Jacques Cousteau, the famous marine biologist and explorer, declared the Belize Barrier Reef to be the most beautiful reef in the hemisphere when his ship the Calypso visited the area in 1971.

Whether you’re an experienced scuba diver or have never been snorkeling before, there are many wonderful places to enjoy exploring the rainbow of underwater life along the Belize Barrier Reef. Amateur snorkelers can see an astonishing variety of fish, anemones, sponges, and other life amidst the coral backdrop in the waters off of islands like Laughing Bird Caye and Silk Caye. Experienced divers can explore the Belize Blue Hole (rated by Cousteau as one of the top diving spots on the planet) and the wild beauty of the Turneffe Atolls.

One especially unique experience is diving with whale sharks in the waters off of Gladden Spit between March and June. Whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean, spend the year migrating across the globe in search of microscopic krill and fish spawn. During late spring, these gentle giants ply the waters of the Belize Barrier Reef, rising up from the depths during the full moon, giving divers an unforgettable experience of interacting with these inquisitive animals weighing up to 21 tons and measuring up to 40 feet long.

The best way to experience a snorkeling and scuba diving vacation in Belize is with a complete package that includes transportation, a licensed guide, and access to the most beautiful sites along the reef. These comprehensive packages include lodging at the award-winning Chabil Mar resort on the Placencia Peninsula, an oasis of luxury and first-rate customer service.

On August 24, 2016, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) announced that five students have been awarded a scholarship to enter the tourism field of studies. The Honorable Manuel Heredia, Jr., the Belize Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, was personally on hand to present each of the selected students with their scholarships.

Janeen Nal, a student at the University of Belize, was awarded a two-year tuition scholarship to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Management at the University of Belize.

Clarita Ack of Toledo Community College and Akheem O’Brien of St. John’s College were each awarded a two-year scholarship for an Associate Degree in Tourism studies at the Junior College of their choice in Belize.

Nissa August, a student at the University of Belize, was awarded the prestigious Jean Shaw Scholarship which will provide two years of tuition in the Tourism Management program at the University of Belize.

The Jean Shaw Tourism Scholarship was established to commemorate the achievements of the late Jean Ursilla Shaw, a tourism pioneer and leading business woman who played a pioneering role in the development of Belize’s nascent tourism industry. The Jean Shaw Tourism Scholarship is awarded to outstanding female Belizean students who wish to pursue a career in tourism.

Heredia also was on hand to award Einar Marin of St. John’s College a $10,000 scholarship to pursue a culinary degree at the institution of his choice.

The Belize Tourism Board began awarding scholarships to students wishing to pursue a degree in tourism in an effort to help further develop the field of tourism in the country. By providing financial support that includes tuition fees and books, the scholarships will help assist academically-promising students to focus on their courses as they pursue a degree and later a career in tourism.

Since gaining full independence from Great Britain in 1981, Belize has invested a significant amount of time and effort in developing and attracting tourism destinations by protecting large parts of the country as natural parks and nature reserves as well as training Belizean citizens on the fundamentals of operating a tourism economy. Today, Belize is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region with tens of thousands of visitors arriving annually.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Belize Tourism Board congratulated all of the 2016 scholarship recipients and wished them success in their academic pursuits.

“Chabil Mar heartily applauds this forward-looking initiative established by the Belize Tourism Board,” said Larry France, the marketing manager of the award-winning resort of Chabil Mar on the Placencia Peninsula. “We warmly congratulate the winning students and look forward to their contributions to the tourism field.”

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