Search Results for: barrier reef

There are hundreds of reasons to visit Belize in the spring, but we’ve narrowed the list down to the top five. Check these out and start packing for the best spring vacation of your life.

1. The Weather Couldn’t Be Better

Spring is one of the best seasons in Belize. It’s the beginning of the dry season, which means you can enjoy sunny days without rain or high humidity. Temperatures range from 75 to 85 with gentle, steady breezes.

2. Enjoy the Beaches of Placencia

In a country filled with spectacular scenery, most Belizeans agree that the beaches of Placencia are the best in Belize. The gorgeous, pristine waterfront is the perfect place to enjoy a true Caribbean vacation. Swim, sun and snorkel at the breathtaking Belize Barrier Reef or visit charming Placencia Village.

3. Easter Is a Huge Holiday Here

Easter is one of the most important holidays in Belize. Most Belizeans are practicing Catholics, and they take the holiday seriously. Holy Friday is a national holiday, and many businesses close that day. At the same time, Easter is filled with nonstop events that you can enjoy if you’re a visitor.

Go to Benque Viejo del Carmen to see the annual reenactment of the Easter story. Cheer on the riders at the 140-mile Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycle Race. Check out the Caye Caulker Regatta and the two-day San Ignacio Easter Fair. The holiday ends on Easter Monday with horse races and a parade. That’s just a sampling of the many Easter events taking place here.

4. There Is a Lot to Do

You will never run out of things to do, and the glorious spring weather makes outdoor activities even more enjoyable. Test your nerves and your strength with a challenging cave tour. Visit an authentic Maya or Garifuna village. Spend the day snorkeling on an offshore island where you’ll swim with rays, sea turtles, manatees and nurse sharks.

Relax and enjoy total indulgence in your private beachfront villa at Chabil Mar. Spend the day sunning in a hammock on your veranda or in your rented kayak. Visit a wildlife sanctuary or forest preserve where you can spot toucans, macaws, ocelots, pumas, iguanas, silver foxes and deer. The list is endless.

5. Eat, Drink and Party

One of the best things about Belize is its warm, friendly people. The mix of Belize’s population gives color and flavor to the food, music, and culture here.

Come hang out with the locals while you sample delicious, freshly cooked Belizean food of all kinds. Dance and party at our laid-back beach bars. Learn about the Maya, Garifuna and Mennonite communities that contribute to our amazing cultural diversity.

Enjoy Springtime at the Chabil Mar

There’s never a bad time to visit Belize, but there’s something special about spring. If you’re booking your trip, Chabil Mar  is the perfect place to stay, eat and relax.

The MesoAmerican Barrier Reef is the world’s second largest, spanning 600 miles from the Yucatan Peninsula to Honduras. The 180 mile Belize Barrier Reef is part of this system. It provides a unique marine ecosystem for snorkelers of all levels to explore.

The ecosystem comprises not just the coral reefs but also mangrove forests, lagoons and coastal wetlands. Here are some of the wonders you might see while snorkeling in Belize’s clear turquoise waters:

Yellowtail Damselfish

This brilliantly colored fish can be found among the corals as well. It is unique among fish because it “farms” red algae which is one of its primary food sources.

Manta Rays

Known as “gentle giants”, these are the largest of the rays. They can reach 20 feet from tip to tip and weigh over 3000 pounds. While they prefer the open sea, they sometimes glide over the reef into Belize’s coastal waters. There, you can approach them, but be aware – they have been known to jump up to 15 feet from the water!

Caribbean Dolphin

Another species known for its acrobatic leaps is this variant of the bottlenose dolphin. This gentle and playful animal may be spotted off the coast of Placencia.

Parrot Fish

It’s a delight to swim in schools of these beautiful fish as their scales sparkle in sunlight. They come in gorgeous colors, but are not merely decorative. They also help to build Belize’s beaches. Their teeth grind up coral rock into fine sand.

Green Moray Eel

You will find their distinctive bottle green heads peaking out from holes in the coral. These eels can grow up to 8 feet long and used to be mistaken for sea serpents!

 

Nurse Sharks

While they can grow up to 14 feet long, nurse sharks are gentle. They will let you swim near as they cruise the reefs and mangroves. Their skin is smooth, which you will discover if you gently stroke one. Imagine telling your friends you swam with the sharks and even touched one!

Vase Sponge

Characterized by a large bell shape, this sponge can grow up to 3 feet high. It ranges in color from purple to red to brown and is found attached to rocks in Belize’s lagoons.

Sea Turtles

The waters of Belize are home to three varieties of sea turtle: the loggerhead, green and hawksbill. Since 1993 these have been protected species and are thriving in many locations such as Glover’s Reef Atoll.

To experience these amazing wonders for yourself, consider booking a stay at Chabil Mar Resort . We are an award winning beach resort that are close to the Belize Barrier Reef and offer world class snorkeling, diving, sailing and fishing.

Belize is famous for its stunning offshore islands and atolls, and the Turneffe Atoll is one of the finest. This incredible destination is just a few miles from Placencia.

What Is the Turneffe Atoll?

An atoll is a ring of coral on the ocean’s surface. It differs from an island because it contains its own body of water.

Most of the world’s atolls are in the Pacific Ocean, but Belize has three of the four atolls in the Western Hemisphere. They are Glover’s Reef Atoll, Lighthouse Reef Atoll and Turneffe Atoll.

Why Is It Important?

Turneffe is one of the most diverse, critically important ecosystems in Belize. It has over 150 mangrove islands, littoral forest, saltwater flats and lagoons. It is a nesting and breeding site for dozens of rare and endangered fish, waterfowl and marine mammals. Sea turtles, manatees, crocodiles and whale sharks all find refuge in these waters.

The Belize Barrier Reef and its surrounding islands are important for Belize’s two biggest industries, eco-tourism and commercial fishing. Protection of these waters is crucial for Belize’s independent fishers and for Belize’s eco-tourism industry.

Why Should You Visit the Turneffe Atoll?

Like the other offshore cayes and atolls, Turneffe is breathtakingly beautiful with white sand beaches, lush tropical vegetation and clear blue water. With over 50 miles of coral reef, it is a magnet for snorkelers and scuba divers. Some of the world’s best dive sites are on this tiny island, and the legendary Blue Hole of Belize is only an hour and a half away by boat.

Visibility in the warm Caribbean waters can be as deep as 200 feet near Belize. Here’s your chance to see live coral, sea turtles, eels, reef fish, sharks, groupers, barracudas and much more.

Feel at Ease at Chabil Mar

You can create an unforgettable vacation when you stay at the Gold Standard Certified Chabil Mar in Placencia. We can arrange tours to Turneffe Atoll and other incredible places in Belize.

Booking at a Gold Standard Certified hotel ensures you will have a safe stay, but Chabil Mar has taken extra steps to protect guests and employees. We feature roaming butler service to your villa or private veranda. We reserve our amenities for the exclusive use of our guests. Enjoy dining al fresco at any of our onsite restaurants. We want you to be at ease when you stay with us.

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 or WhatsApp us at +501-633-7547.