Chabil Mar Resort - Belize Blog, Belize Vacation Planning

Belize Government Wins Accolades from Conservation NGOs

Posted on March 21, 2018

Belize creates one of Central America’s largest biological corridors

As yet further proof of the government’s long-term committing to protecting the environment, the Belizean legislature has passed a new law to establish a biological corridor in the northeast of the country.On February 18, 2018, the Belizean government signed into law a bill that established a 42-square mile (110-square mile) section of northeastern Belize as a wildlife corridor between the Shipstern Nature Reserve and the Freshwater Creek Forest Reserve. This corridor will allow local wildlife to safely transit between these two areas without having to intrude on private land, farms, or cross paved roads where they may be at risk of collisions with motor vehicles.

According to Belize-based Corozal Sustainable Future Initiative (CSFI), the new biological corridor will be one of the biggest of its kind in Central America. Its establishment is also a landmark victory for CSFI, which has been working with the government for over 20 years to establish the corridor.

“What makes this all the more special is that the corridor is the result of cooperation between NGOs, private landowners, and the government,” said Heron Moreno, executive director of CSFI. “The privately-owned land will be placed in a trust that will operate according to national law on conservation, meaning that the corridor will be protected in perpetuity.”

The new biological corridor in Belize will allow animals such as pumas, tapirs, and jaguars to freely travel between the wetter, more tropical forests of the Freshwater Creek Forest Reserve on the coast and the drier, deciduous forests of the Shipstern Nature Reserve further inland. Recent expansions in agricultural development in the region have begun to infringe on the animals’ ability to move between these two reserves.

“We enthusiastically support and celebrate the government of Belize’s forward-thinking decision to establish Central America’s largest biological corridors,” said Larry France, marketing manager at Chabil Mar. “Belize’s greatest resource is its nature, and this new corridor will help protect the country’s wild beauty for generations to come.”

Chabil Mar Resort is located in southeastern Belize on the Caribbean coast of the Placencia Peninsula and is located just a few miles from the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the largest animal sanctuary in Belize and home to the country’s largest population of jaguars and other big cats.

Chabil Mar offers guests accommodations in luxuriously appointed villas and has a number of Belize jungle and sea vacation packages for visitors who want to experience the best of both the mainland and the islands.

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.

UK’s Telegraph Recommends Visiting Belize

Posted on March 13, 2018

The Telegraph, one of Britain’s most widely read newspapers, recently published a list of its top 10 recommended places to visit in Commonwealth. Formerly known as the British Commonwealth, the Commonwealth of Nations is an organization of 53 countries and territories that were formerly part of the British Empire, including Belize, which was formerly named British Honduras.

Much like Canada and Australia, Belize continues to have the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, as its official head of state. Queen Elizabeth’s portrait also adorns all bank notes in Belize. Proud of its history, Belize is now a fully independent nation. Today, Belize’s unique heritage is why the country is the only one of its kind in Central America where English is the official language.

According to the Telegraph, many Britons are only scarcely aware of Belize due to the fact that there are no non-stop flights to the country from Europe. However, the British government maintains strong ties with Belize, and many Britons have made the long trans-Atlantic journey in order to enjoy the fantastic natural beauty of the country.

The Telegraph extolled Belize’s lack of mass-market tourism and overcrowding and strongly recommended visiting Belize during the late spring when whale sharks visit Belize’s offshore reef. Adult whale sharks are approximately the same size and weight as a school bus, yet because they feed exclusively on micro-organisms, they are a popular attraction for snorkelers and scuba divers.

The Telegraph also recommended its readers to visit the ancient Maya site of Caracol in southern Belize. While less famous than other regional Maya sites like Tikal and Chichen Itza, Caracol was once an enormous city that contended for power in Central America. Caracol once covered more than 200 square kilometers and had a bustling population of approximately 150,000 people.

If you’d like to visit the areas highlighted by the Telegraph, book your Belize vacation with Chabil Mar in southern Belize. The recipient of multiple awards and a perennial TripAdvisor favorite, Chabil Mar Resort is an oasis of comfort and luxury on the southeastern coast of Belize.

Chabil Mar offers visitors luxuriously appointed villas, a lush tropical garden, a gourmet restaurant, a private beach, two freshwater infinity pools, and a full complement of modern amenities and services. Chabil Mar is also conveniently close to all of the top attractions in Belize, including the offshore reef where whale sharks gather and ancient Maya sites like Caracol.

For more information about visiting Belize or 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.

This Summer, You Can Scuba Dive or Snorkel With Whale Sharks in Belize

Posted on March 6, 2018

Summertime is a special season in Belize, not because the weather heats up (Belize enjoys great weather all year long) but because a special group of visitors arrives in the offshore waters as part of their annual circumnavigation of the globe.

Named whale sharks for their enormous size, not because they are actually sharks (technically, whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean), whale sharks can measure up to 41 feet (12 meters) long and weigh up to 21 metric tons (47,000 pounds). Despite their gargantuan size, whale sharks pose little danger to humans as they feed solely on microscopic plankton and fish spawn.

Whale sharks are filter feeders who inhabit the warm waters of the tropics. Beginning in early summer, whale sharks arrive in Belize near the area of Glover’s Spit at the eastern edge of the Belize Barrier Reef. Normally, whale sharks live at deep depths inaccessible to humans, but when the full moon waxes, whale sharks rise to the surface in order to feed.

Whale sharks move surprisingly slowly, allowing scuba divers and snorkelers to get very close. Many whale sharks are curious about humans and enjoy interacting with these strange visitors to their underwater world. Belize is a world-class mecca for snorkeling and scuba diving, but no experience can truly compare to seeing these enormous creatures in the wild.

And after a thrilling day of interacting with whale sharks, you can enjoy exciting activities like Placencia’s Lobsterfest. This three-day non-stop party kicks off in June when the lobster fishing season opens and features live music, fun games, dancing, and plenty of innovative and delicious lobster dishes. Other fun activities you can enjoy include exploring ancient Maya ruins, hiking and bird watching in the vast Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (home to the world’s only jaguar conservation project), and boat tours along the Monkey River.

Chabil Mar

Chabil Mar is a multiple award-winning luxury resort located in Placencia in southern Belize. Chabil Mar offers guests beautifully appointed villas, a gourmet restaurant, open-air dining on a private seafront pier, a lush tropical garden, and easy access to all of the top attractions, including scuba diving and snorkeling with whale sharks.

In order to protect the whale sharks, scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities are strictly limited. If you’d like to scuba dive or snorkel with these gentle giants, book your tour with the Chabil Mar resort today.

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.

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2018 Edition in Belize

Posted on February 23, 2018

The 2018 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition features a number of photographs that were taken in Belize.

The 2018 SI Swimsuit edition was shot on location in Belize in November 2017, and excited locals greeted famed photographer Yu Tsai and six models, Tabria Majores, Iyonna Fairbanks, Olivia Jordan, Haley Kalil, Camille Kostek, and Allie Ayers, as they traveled across the country to shoot photos for the legendary publication.

The models were chosen following an open casting call by Sports Illustrated on Instagram. More than 5,000 women applied, but only 35 were chosen for the final round. Ultimately, only six women were chosen, including both first-time models and women with previous pageant and modeling experience.

The models were chosen to showcase women of all colors and sizes. Model Haley Kalil, age 25, won the Miss Minnesota pageant in 2014 and has graduated with honors from St. Cloud State University with a degree in biomedical sciences. She is currently married to Matt Kalil, an offensive tackle with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.

Olivia Jordan, age 29, is originally from Oklahoma but now works in Los Angeles as a full-time model. She won the Miss USA pageant in 2015. Tabria Majors, age 27, was formerly a movie production assistant in Los Angeles but has been modeling full-time since 2015. Allie Ayers, age 23, is a former real estate investor who has never worked a professional model before but plans to launch a size-inclusive line of swimwear later this year.

Camille Kostek, age 25, is a former New England Patriots cheerleader. Iyonna Fairbanks, age 25, grew up in Cincinnati and now works as a security guard. Although she modeled as a teenager, she felt pressured to straighten her hair and never thought she could pursue a full-time career in modeling. She has praised Sports Illustrated for its commitment to diversity.The photos shot in Belize appear in a section of the Swimsuit Edition entitled “Beauties, Beaches, and Bikinis.” Several islands and beach locations across Belize were used for the photoshoot, including areas in and around the town of San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye. The 2018 Swimsuit Edition is the first time that the magazine has featured Belize since 1972. It is estimated than more than 23 million people will read the 2018 Swimsuit Edition.

Chabil Mar congratulates all of the models and the wonderful photographs of Belize that appeared in the 2018 Sports Illustration Swimsuit Edition.

5 Things to do in Belize this Summer

Posted on February 6, 2018

From diving the great blue hole of Belize to exploring Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (one of the most sacred caves in the world), these 5 Belize tours will certainly immerse you in the beauty and wonder of Belize this summer.

Great Blue Hole of Belize

The world famous Blue Hole is an incomparable natural wonder in Belize. It is located at the center of Lighthouse Reef and measures 1000 feet across and 412 feet deep. Giant stalactites, dripstone sheets and columns, and colorful marine life are the enchanting geological wonders that will fascinate you if you decide to dive this site this summer.

It is interesting to note that Jacques-Yves Coustea, the popular ocean explorer revealed the secrets of the Blue Hole to millions of viewers in 1971 through the television serious The Undersea World of Jacques-Yves Coustea.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Globally recognized as the world’s first jaguar preserve, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is a top rated nature reserve to visit in Belize this summer. Cascading waterfalls, panoramic mountain views, nature trails, furry mammals, colorful insects, scaly reptiles and a variety of neotropical birds are just a few of the things you will experience at this sanctuary.

Although the jaguar, the largest spotted cat in the world is what the reserve is famous for, you are unlikely to see one as the cat is nocturnal. However you will see its tracks along with tracks of tapir, deer, and other wildlife that inhabit the nature reserve.

Cockscomb Basin is also home to one of Belize’s highest points — Victoria Peak.

Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (ATM Cave)

Actun Tunichil Muknal or the ATM Cave as it is locally known is one of the most breathtaking caving experiences you will have in Belize. The cave is located in the karstic limestone terrain of Roaring Creek Valley in the Cayo District and is approximately 5 km long and contains a perennial stream that runs through it including a ledge with two stelae and a large chamber full of intact human remains and Maya pots.

According to Director of Archeology Jaime Awe, Actun Tunichil Muknal was a sacred place to the Maya who utilized the cave during the classic period AD 250-909. Thousands of people are attracted to this cave annually due to its remarkable history, elegant stalagmites and stalactites and the Crystal Maiden, the intact skeleton of a young woman who was sacrificed to the gods.

Annual Placencia Lobsterfest

If you will be visiting Belize in June, it is a must to attend the Placencia Lobsterfest. This year, the festival is scheduled from June 22-24, 2018 and is organized by the Placencia Village Council and the Placencia Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association. Thousands of local and international visitors are expected to attend this event.

Kayaking in Belize

Crystal clear waters, tepid sunshine, balmy Caribbean breezes, thousands of coral reefs, and colorful marine life are just a few of the things that make kayaking in Belize a joy. With more than 200 stunning islands, Belize makes an idyllic kayaking destination and cayes such as Glovers Reef, Half Moon Caye and Laughing Bird Caye are favorite destinations for reef kayakers.

For more information about traveling 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.

Belize creates one of Central America’s largest biological corridors

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