It only takes 30 minutes to fly from Belize City to Placencia, a charming fishing community located on the country’s southern coast. Just half a mile wide, the Placencia Peninsula is a 16-mile long stretch of golden sands sandwiched between the Caribbean Sea on the east and a mangrove-lined lagoon on the west. With a laidback attitude, this coastal area is becoming one of the top destinations for visitors interested in enjoying a wonderful beach vacation.

The “capital” of the peninsula is Placencia Village, home to around 1,500 people and a charming collection of juice bars, yoga studios, cafes, and Instagram-ready street murals. But it’s Placencia’s proximity to so many of Belize’s most beautiful natural attractions that makes it a popular destination for visitors.

On the mainland, Placencia is located just a few miles from the vast Cockscomb Basin Wilderness Sanctuary (CBWS), home to the world’s very first jaguar conservation project. The CBWS is also home to an incredible variety of terrains, including mountain slopes, wetlands, and tracts of virgin rainforest that teem with an incredible variety of flowering plants, birds, and animals.

Also on the mainland near to Placencia is the well-named Monkey River, a pristine watercourse that wends its way through some of the most spectacular jungle scenery in the country. Boat tours on the Monkey River allow visitors to explore the jungle while learning more about the plants and animals that thrive there.

Many visitors to Placencia, however, prefer to head east, out into the shimmering waters of the Caribbean Sea. Belize is home to hundreds of islands strung out like jewels along the length of the world’s second-largest barrier reef. National parks and protected marine areas such as Laughing Bird Caye and the Silk Cayes are where some of the best scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing spots in the world can be found.

And last, but definitely not least, the reef is also where you’ll find whale sharks. The largest non-mammalian creatures in the oceans, whale sharks visit Belize every year in the springtime, giving divers and snorkelers a unique chance to interact with these gentle giants.

Looking for the perfect beach resort to stay on your summer vacation in Belize? Chabil Mar is a boutique seaside resort in Placencia with its own private beach, lush tropical garden, and features luxuriously appointed villas. Chabil Mar in the local Maya language means “Beautiful Sea,” the perfect description for this little corner of paradise located in Placencia, Belize.

For more information about travelling to Belize this summer, 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.

May is the official start to the summer season in Belize and the perfect time to enjoy a fantastic vacation in this gorgeous country. Whether you’re looking for a getaway destination to celebrate Mother’s Day, want to enjoy an unforgettable honeymoon, or are searching for a great place for your next family vacation, Belize has it all.

And no place in Belize is better than the fabulous Placencia Peninsula, home to the most beautiful beaches in a country with hundreds of miles of Caribbean coastline. Called the “Island You Can Walk To,” Placencia is a narrow isthmus of land on the southern coast of Belize.

Here are some of the amazing things you can enjoy in Placencia, Belize in May:

Great Weather

In the mood for a swim? Or just want to enjoy a relaxing stroll along the beach? Well, the month of May is the perfect time to visit Placencia. This area of the country sees water temperatures of 81° F (28° C) and air temperatures of around 82° F (28° C) during the day and pleasantly cool evenings.

Perfect!

Whale Sharks

Whale sharks are the largest non-mammalian creatures in the world’s oceans, approximately double the size and weight of a semi truck. But they feed exclusively on microscopic plankton and fish spawn, so whale sharks don’t pose any danger to humans.

Whale sharks only visit Belize once a year, and May is the perfect time to see them in the wild. Scuba diving or snorkeling amidst these gentle giants is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Chocolate Festival

Did you know that the Maya have been making chocolate in Belize for thousands of years? It’s true. And few events garner as much excitement as the annual Chocolate Festival in southern Belize.

From May 18-20, 2018, the town of Punta Gorda will be home to all things chocolate, including interesting items like chocolate beer and chocolate soap. Every Belizean chocolate producer will be on hand to tempt your taste buds with their finest creations. This three-day festival also features live music, street fairs, cultural displays, and games for the whole family to enjoy.

On your Belize vacation, why not stay at the lovely Chabil Mar resort? In the Mayan language, Chabil Mar means “Beautiful Sea,” the perfect description for this boutique beachfront resort located just a short stroll from Placencia Village. Chabil Mar has two infinity pools, a tropical garden dripping with flowers, and is immersed in the natural beauty of Belize.

For more information about travelling to Belize this May, 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.

Last Tuesday, on his way to work at the Chabil Mar Resort on the Placencia Peninsula in southern Belize, a local man came across an enormous octopus just outside Placencia Village, estimating it to be in excess of 100 kilograms (220 pounds) and almost three meters (nine feet) in length with concentric blue rings on its tentacles. According to the man, who refused to identify himself, the gigantic cephalopod was alive and alert, making its way across the sand towards the Caribbean Sea on the eastern side of the peninsula. Taking several photos of the giant octopus with his phone, the man rushed to the resort to report the sighting, causing quite a stir amongst the guests and staff alike.

Over 300 species of octopuses have been documented around the world but they are rarely seen in Belize so close to the shore. The nearby Belize Barrier Reef, just a few miles offshore from Placencia, is home to the Caribbean Reef species of octopus which rarely exceeds 60 cm in length and 1.5 kg in size.

Jeffrey Eickhoff, a marine biologist from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, was amongst the guests at Chabil Mar who viewed the photographs of the eight-legged marauder. “From the pictures I saw, it looks like an octopus krakenus, the so-called ‘cow eater’ of Madagascar in Africa. How it came to be on a beach in Belize is truly mysterious”.

The presence of the giant octopus was reported to local Belizean officials who scoured the area but found no trace of the creature. Lance Reault, a French citizen who resides full-time in the village of Placencia, told reporters that several tourists have reported having their clothing, beach towels and picnic items stolen in the same area as where the giant cephalopod was seen. “Last week, two American tourists staying at Chabil Mar went for a swim right in the same spot. And when they came out of the water, they said all their food had been eaten and a pitcher of daiquiris had been drained, even though no one was in the area.”

Photographs of the mysterious octopus have been forwarded to marine biologists in the United States and Canada. If confirmed, the sighting of the octopus krakenus will be the second incident involving the newly-discovered species of giant octopus, which was filmed dragging a large cow into the water in Madagascar in 2011.

Happy April Fool’s Day, everybody!

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On March 20, 2018, a collaborative government task force involving the Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Commerce introduced a proposal that was approved by Belize’s Cabinet that will completely phase out the sale and distribution of single-use plastic shopping bags, Styrofoam food items, and plastic food utensils by April 22, 2019.

Currently, single-use food-grade plastic waste and shopping bags are responsible for an estimated 19% of all solid waste in Belize. The new law will work to stem the pollution of the environment by single-use plastic food items and shopping bags, especially in coastal and offshore areas, that are both an eyesore as well as a hazard to animals.

Every year, the government, ,volunteer groups, and local NGOs perform clean-ups of highways, rivers, lagoons, and coastal areas in order to restore the natural beauty of the country and to protect wildlife. Animals and birds often mistake plastic pieces for food, which can pose a choking hazard as well as potentially causing fatal injuries.

Regionally, the issue of Styrofoam and plastic pollution is a major concern for Caribbean nations. Large masses of offshore floating plastic debris have begun to affect the health of coral reefs as well as causing a detrimental effect on the tourism industry. Belize has been a regional leader in responsible environmental stewardship, having previously banned all offshore drilling as well as establishing Central America’s largest wildlife corridor. Over half of Belize’s territory is already designated as a protected environmental area or national park.

“We warmly applaud the government of Belize for taking yet another important step towards the long-term protection of the environment,” said Larry France, marketing manager of Chabil Mar. “Belize’s bio-diversity is one of this country’s greatest attractions, and we welcome eco-travelers to visit Belize to explore the pristine landscapes of this magnificent country.”

Chabil Mar is a luxury resort located on the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize. Chabil Mar is located close to some of the most pristine natural areas of the country, including the Belize Barrier Reef and the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.