4 Ways to Get Your Cultural Fix in Belize

Why are travelers opting for vacations in Belize rather than crossing oceans to tour Paris, London, Rome and Berlin? Because they save a bundle, have access to water sports and perpetual sun and they don’t have to learn another language. But the highlights of any visit to Belize will always be the nation’s rich cultural diversity, rivaling anything you see elsewhere, minus the jet lag. Seeing Belize through the eyes of so many heritages will open your eyes to a world where cultural diversity is celebrated.

Here are 4 ways to get your cultural fix in Belize:

1. Build a Belize City itinerary to experience the richness of the nation’s Creole culture. Start at the Government House of Culture on Regent Street to see a collection of artifacts symbolizing Belize’s past as a British Colony. Walls, shelves and display cases are filled with silver utensils, paintings, photos and more, but don’t linger too long because heaping plates of rice, beans and stew chicken await at a variety of nearby restaurants. Alternately, tour the stained glass and mahogany environs of St. John’s Cathedral across the street before you eat. Enjoy a road trip to a Creole village like Burrell Boom to sample fruit wines and spot howler monkeys. Want more? Take the water taxi to Caye Caulker where friendly islanders, cultural sites and more Creole foods await.

2. Nothing compares to visiting a Garifuna Village—especially after you learn how founders risked their lives to escape their homeland, arriving in Belize in 1802. Music is so important to Garifuna society, the culture’s unique, drum-driven beat has come to re-define Caribbean music. For full Garifuna immersion, go to Hopkins, a fishing village easily navigated by foot if you like to walk and find yourself eating too much delicious Garifuna cookery. What’s the most popular cultural experience of all? A stop at the Lebeha Drumming Center where you can quickly learn a few signature drum moves. Visit in November for Garifuna Settlement Day, a national holiday that pays tribute to the history and culture of this unique society.

3. Immerse yourself in Mayan culture by visiting Toledo, where the most number of Mayan settlements in close proximity are located. For the ultimate cultural experience, don’t just tour ruins filled with cultural reminders of Mayan culture; book a two-night stay in a thatched hut at any of six ancient villages eager to host guests via the Toledo Ecotourism Association. The Mayan ancestors of Belize’s original settlers will welcome you into their world, but be forewarned, this is a hands-on stay! You’ll not only see how members of this ancient culture lived but you may be asked to help make tortillas or undertake another ancient chore. Round out your cultural experience by reading the Toledo Howler, your authority on current cultural events in Toledo.

4. Close proximity to Hispanic neighbors is the reason Spanish is Belize’s second language. Learn more about the heritage of Mestizos (people of Spanish and Mayan descent) in Northern Belize where this society enjoys a lifestyle that’s distinct from Central American neighbors. Whether you tour Corozal or Orange Walk, expect to see beautiful Mestizo art, hear foot-tapping Latin music and eat mouth-watering foods. Living in close proximity to the Mestizo people of Corozal is a large community of East Indians who arrived in the 19th century as slaves and wound up staying in Belize after being freed. Sample the curry. It’s distinct. Visit the only East Indian Museum in Belize. You’ll enjoy the unique experience of exploring a culture within a culture, and what other Central American country can make that claim?

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 cultural vacation.

Once upon a time, kayaks represented the best in primitive water travel for members of North America’s Inuit people and Aleut tribe members. We have these Arctic dwellers to thank for inventing the first driftwood, animal skin and whalebone kayaks, rendered waterproof by the application of whale fat.

Historians say that the word kayak mean’s hunter’s boat—but we like to think it actually means provider of the best deals in travel! After all, Kayak.com is the resource savvy folks turn to when they don’t want to pay full price. When this popular resource began touting amazing deals on Belize travel in October, we wanted you to know, too.

Belize finds itself in distinguished company

For a small nation like Belize to wind up on a heavily read website like Lonely Planet is a big deal—-particularly when the other countries on the list include magnets like Osaka, Ontario, Melbourne and Brussels. By applying due diligence to their search, analysts were surprised to discover that when folks decide on Belize as their vacation destination, they get the best deals of all in October.

Why does it cost less than usual to fly to Belize during the month usually reserved for haunted houses, Halloween costumes and trolling for candy? We tried to grill the folks at Kayak but they wanted to keep this secret to themselves, so you’re going to have to trust all of us when we tell you that you couldn’t find a better month to visit.

What’s on Belize’s October surprise list?

-A Halloween celebration that promises to out-do your past experiences.
-The weather is cooling down and the sunsets are spectacular.
-It’s conch season. Enough said?
-Find even more pumpkin and maple pecan coffee drinks in Belize than you do back home.
-The influx of unusual and rare birds picks up in October; birders become spellbound!
-With fewer crowds, booking excursions is a breeze.

There’s more? Maybe you should sit down 

In concert with the lowest airfares to Belize ever, resorts and hotels show their October spirit by offering super deals that are hard to turn down. Thus, there is an epicenter of hospitality that awaits tourists with open arms: the Placencia Peninsula and in particular, the jewel in Placencia’s crown: Chabil Mar Resort, an award-winning property that has been recommended by nearly every travel authority on the planet.

There is a long list of reasons to choose this property, so if you’re thinking vacation, wedding, honeymoon or getaway, see what’s up by visiting Chabil Mar’s website. Pair those amazing Kayak.com flight deals with the luxe hideaways that make up Chabil Mar Villas and if you can come up with a single reason why you shouldn’t make October your Belize visit, maybe you don’t need a vacation after all!

For information about visiting 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.

You’ve seen the photos on your Instagram and the web. You know that Belize is an amazing country with tons of amazing things to do and see. But a difficult question remains – how do you choose the right Belize resort in a country with hundreds of them all competing for your attention?

We believe that a luxury resort should offer great design, tasteful comfort, and consummate personal service. A luxury resort should have everything a guest needs to relax and enjoy their time in the country, including modern conveniences, great food, and superb concierge services.

But choosing the right resort is more than just identifying a property. The best resorts are located close to the places you want to see and the activities you want to enjoy. In Belize, nature is the main attractions, so this means access to wilderness sanctuary, cultural tours to local villages, and exciting adventures on both the land and sea.

Last, but definitely not least, the right luxury resort offers something greater than the sum of its parts. The right luxury resort allows you to experience something more, something new, and something that will make you gasp with wonder. Perhaps it is seeing the sun rise over the Caribbean Sea. Perhaps it is hearing the traditional drums of an ancient culture. Or perhaps it’s just getting outside your head for a while to experience something new.

At Chabil Mar, we’ve worked hard to create an oasis of comfort and luxury. Our resort has just luxury villas nestled amidst a lush tropical garden dripping with flowers, two freshwater infinity pools, and our own private stretch of beach. We are a boutique resort where every customer is given personal service, which is perhaps why so many guests have left favorable feedback on TripAdvisor.

Located just a short walk from Placencia Village, Chabil Mar is perfectly located to enjoy activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, and sailing on the Belize Barrier Reef. Chabil Mar is also close to pristine natural areas on the mainland too, including the vast Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the well-named Monkey River, and ancient Maya cites such as Xunantunich and Caracol.

The name Chabil Mar means “beauty by the sea” in the Mayan language, and we believe our mission is to share the natural beauty of Belize with our guests. If you’re looking for the right luxury resort for your next vacation, choose Chabil Mar.

For more information about 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.

If you already love Belize, breaking into a happy dance each time you book a trip south is likely ordinary behavior, but this is no ordinary destination. Unlike neighboring countries, you won’t need translators to tell you what people are saying, you won’t spend half of your vacation in a van because excellent attractions are in such close proximity, and because Belize is so culturally diverse, it’s the quintessential Central American melting pot. Why choose Belize over other places? Start with these eight reasons…

Belize is manageable. It’s small enough to get everywhere you want to go in reasonable amounts of time so you’ll never find yourself comparing travel notes with friends who admit that their vacations turned out to be one long bus or vehicle ride interspersed by too-short stops at the attractions they paid to visit. Stay in Placencia Village for the most intense Belize experience because everything you seek is nearby.

Belize is culturally diverse. Only the United Nations hosts so many different nationalities! Visit and you’ll run into Mestizos, Garifunas, Mayans, Europeans, North American ex-pats, Chinese emigres, German Mennonites and if you look closer, you’ll identify many more nationalities. Given such a mix of cultures, is it any wonder Belize is called the “only true Central American Caribbean nation”?

Belize is an English-speaking country. The music is exotic. The food is ethnically diverse. But when push comes to shove and you must communicate about important matters like passports, directions, restaurants and the best places to stay, saying it in English saves time and it could save money, too. That said, you’ll be charmed by diverse accents, dialects and quaint word inflections during your visit.

Belize operates on the U.S. dollar. If you recall being told it costs 5,000 Lira to buy a glass of wine in Italy or 1,000 Francs for dinner in Paris you probably welcomed the Euro so you could travel without a calculator. Visit Belize and you won’t even have to engage your brain because U.S. dollars are welcome everywhere you go and the conversion rate is simple: $1 USD equals $2 BZD.

Belize will feed you too well. This is not the place to come and knock off pounds, unless, of course, you intend to try every active sport available and stick to fish and produce. Truth is, you’ll be spoiled by the diversity of the cuisine. Expect to find Chinese, ethnic Belizean, Spanish, Mayan and other ethnic choices, particularly in Placencia.

Belize exists between yesterday and tomorrow. Cutting edge ecological projects, green initiatives, wildlife habitats and eco-friendly lodgings thrive in a country that prioritizes respect for Planet Earth, but much of the past is ever present at Mayan ruin sites like Altun Ha, Xunantunich, Lamanai and Caracol. Book your Belize vacation at Chabil Mar  and ask team members to arrange day trips to these popular destinations.

Belize natural attractions can’t be surpassed. Explore caves and rivers, visit wildlife sanctuaries, photograph waterfalls, zip line, rappel, bird watch, dive, snorkel, fish, raft, ride horses and explore rainforests. There’s more, but if you’re in Placencia Village to relax, Chabil Mar staff is more than happy to make suggestions and handle all aspects of your itinerary.

Belize is a happening place! Stay on the mainland shore to be close to the airport or choose the tranquility and amenities of a destination like Placencia. Book your Chabil Mar accommodations, share your preferences with staff for the good life on the beach, the excitement of Placencia Village or some of each, and you won’t have to make another decision during your stay.

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.

The latest edition of Destination Weddings and Honeymoons Abroad magazine has featured the incredible Caribbean nation of Belize. The only former British colony in Central America, Belize offers stunning landscapes and mesmerizing backdrops that are tailor-made for destination weddings and honeymoons abroad in exotic locations. Once a hidden backwater, Belize is now a popular vacation destination with daily flights arriving from the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Belize is a relatively small country, but it has been blessed by nature with lush rainforests on the mainland and hundreds of postcard-perfect offshore islands set along the length of the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage, like shimmering jewels. With sugar sand white beaches, enchanting sunrises, and a verdant landscape teeming with animals like howler monkeys, colorful toucans, and elusive jaguars, it’s no mystery why so many people choose Belize for their wedding and/or honeymoon.

Many couples are choosing Belize for their wedding because of the country’s natural beauty and simplified marriage license procedure. As an English-speaking country, the wedding documents don’t need to be translated for use at home, and local law allows foreign couples to easily get married in Belize, the only requirement being that both the bride and groom be present in the country three days prior to the ceremony.

The recently published edition of Destination Weddings and Honeymoons Abroad magazine included a lovely, two-page spread on Chabil Mar (Chabil Mar’s feature: pages 82 & 83). Featuring the resort’s motto “Beauty by Belize, Luxury by Design,” Chabil Mar was lavishly praised for being a haven of luxury. Decorated with local hardwoods and indigenous art, Chabil Mar was given high marks by the magazine authors.

If you’re looking for the perfect place for your destination wedding, Chabil Mar in southern Belize has it all. Located on its own privately owned stretch of beach, Chabil Mar is a luxury resort with elegantly appointed villas, a tropical garden, and two infinity swimming pools. Chabil Mar also has its own gourmet restaurant, and meals can be enjoyed on a lovely verandah or the resort’s private sea pier.

The Belize resort has an experienced team of wedding planners on hand to handle every detail of your special day, including the officiant, bouquets, catering, a wedding cake, and professional videography and photography services. Chabil Mar is close to all of the top attractions on both the pristine reef and the mainland and organizes Belize tours to all of the most popular areas.

For your dream wedding and/or honeymoon, choose Chabil Mar in Belize.

For more information about Belize weddings and honeymoons, 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.