Family fun in Belize

Just a few hours’ flying time from the United States, Belize is increasingly becoming a popular destination for families wanting to experience an unforgettable vacation. With a stable, peaceful democratic government and English as its official language, families can enjoy the time of their lives in Belize as they explore ancient lost cities, see wildlife up close and in person, splash in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean and enjoy plenty of fun in the sun.

Belize has a large network of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks that provide animal lovers of all ages a chance to see a colorful array of birds, plants and animals. Families can see the endangered black howler monkey at the Community Baboon Sanctuary, big cats like pumas and jaguars at the Belize Zoo (an animal sanctuary), or hike through Cockscomb Basin Reserve to see Baird’s tapir, Belize’s national animal.

When it’s time for adventure, families can explore one of the many Maya ruins, enormous cities occupied for thousands of years until they were abandoned and reclaimed by the jungle. For cooler and shadier thrills, exploring one of Belize’s many caves is an excellent opportunity to learn about geology as well as witness artifacts left behind by Maya priests who conducted solemn ritual rites therein.

Offshore, the islands of Belize and the enormous barrier reef offer a chance for the entire family to don snorkeling or diving equipment and witness some of the most ecologically-diverse environments on the planet. Whether it’s just a few feet offshore or at the bottom of the famous Belize Blue Hole, you and your family will be enthralled by swimming with nurse sharks, rays, sea turtles and large schools of fish. The islands are also a great chance to unwind as motor vehicles are largely prohibited and everyone gets around by bicycle or electric golf cart.

Chabil Mar

From a Maya term meaning “beautiful sea”, the resort of Chabil Mar on Placencia Peninsula offers family-friendly modern luxury in a beautiful beachfront setting just a few minutes’ walk from Placencia Village.

The resort of Chabil Mar is an ideal base of operations for exploring the most exciting destinations in Belize. You and your family can experience the best sites in Belize with Chabil Mar’s family fun vacation packages that include trips to Maya ruins, a boat tour up the Monkey River, a hike through Cockscomb Nature Preserve, and plenty of time to relax and enjoy the wonderful weather, food, and rich cultural heritage of Belize.

For more information about visiting Belize or traveling to Belize with kids, 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.

Held on Saturday, May 21^st 2016 across Belize including Placencia Village, the Hands Across the Sand movement attracted hundreds of Belizeans who joined hands to protect and preserve what Mother Nature has blessed Belize with.

May 21st, 2016 marked the 6th anniversary of the Hands Across the Sand movement and according tohttp://www.handsacrossthesand.com/ more than 83 events were held around the globe to say no to filthy fuels and yes to clean energy.

In Placencia Village, the event was held between Cozy Corner and Typsy Tuna and was sponsored by Oceana Belize.

Hands Across the Sand was founded in 2010 and has grown into an international movement after the BP oil disaster in April of that year. People came together to join hands, forming symbolic barriers against spilled oil and to stand against the impacts of other forms of extreme energy.

Chabil Mar is a proud supporter of Oceana Belize and the Hands Across the Sand movement.

Using his deep knowledge of astronomy, 15-year-old William Gadoury recently startled archeologists by discovering a hidden Mayan city located near the coast in Belize, in the southern Yucatán Peninsula. By analyzing Mayan astronomical records, Gadoury realized that the Mayan system of constellations precisely matched the location of 117 different Mayan cities. Using this information, Gadoury was able to predict that a 118th city must exist. After plotting potential locations, Gadoury scoured through satellite photographs to discover K’aak Chi, where researchers discovered a pyramid and more than two dozen buildings lost within the deep jungle.

Archeologists have yet to visit the area of K’aak Chi to confirm the satellite imagery. Gadoury has expressed an interest in visiting the site but will have to wait until funding becomes available to reach the remote site. “To see K’aak Chi with my own eyes would be the dream of my life after spending three years calculating its location,” said Gadoury.

The city was named by Gadoury from a Mayan term meaning “fire mouth”. After a large forest fire in 2005 thinned the jungle cover, satellite photos were able to make out more details of this once-lost city. Mayan experts were startled when they realized that, based on their calculations from satellite images, K’aak Chi is one of the five largest Mayan cities ever discovered.

Modern-day Belize was once the heartland of the Mayan Empire and has the highest concentration of Mayan sites in the region. Top draws for visitors in Belize include the Mayan ruins of Altun Ha, Cahal Pech, Caracol, Lamani and Lubantuum.

The award-winning resort of Chabil Mar on the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize is a great place to begin an adventure. With  luxury beach front villas, the resort offers Belize jungle and sea packages that include tours to all of the top Maya ruins, perhaps you too can discover a lost city on your vacation in Belize.

Chabil Mar also offers a special Belize and Guatemala combo packages that includes a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tikal, once a leading Maya city-state and home to dozens of soaring palaces, temples and buildings.

For more information about Belize or to find out more about Chabil Mar accommodations, Belize vacation packages, rates and amenities, please don’t hesitate to send us an email, or call US/CAN Toll Free: 1-866-417-2377, Local: (011-501) 523-3606.

Long known by residents and visitors as one of the most spectacularly beautiful ecosystems in the world, the Belize Barrier Reef was recently seen from a brand new angle when NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, currently on assignment aboard the International Space Station, posted high-resolution photographs of the reef on his Twitter feed.

The gorgeous color photograph taken from space pictures the entire Belizean coastline with the reef clearly visible. “Beautiful Belize coastal waters,” wrote Jeff Williams alongside the photograph. The next few pictures posted by the intrepid astronaut showed Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, commenting, “Fantastic Belize barrier reefs!”

If you’d like to experience the wondrous beauty of the Belize Barrier Reef from a much closer distance, the resort of Chabil Mar in Placencia offers comprehensive scuba diving and snorkeling packages that include lodging and guided trips to some of the best places to swim, dive and snorkel along the reef.