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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.

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.

Chabil Mar Resort in Placencia, Belize has just been awarded the Travelers’ Choice Award by TripAdvisor for the year 2018. This marks the 11th consecutive year in which Chabil Mar has been recognized by TripAdvisor for providing outstanding customer service and hospitality in the travel industry.

Chabil Mar has previously been recognized by TripAdvisor in a number of key categories. Currently, Chabil Mar is rated number five in Belize for small hotels and number eight overall in Central America for small hotels. Chabil Mar has also been awarded numerous times by TripAdvisor in a number of categories, including Top 10 small hotels in Belize, top 10 family resorts in Belize, the top 10 romantic destinations in Belize, the top 10 in hospitality service in Belize, and the top 25 small hotels in Central America.

“We wish to thank all of our guests who took the extra time to post a review of their Belize vacation experience and to congratulate our wonderful staff for another year of providing superior service,” said Larry France, marketing manager of Chabil Mar. “We are always proud to receive an award at any given time and any year, but marking 11 consecutive years of excellence is a very special treat for us this year.”

Chabil Mar is a luxury beachfront resort located on the southern coast of Belize. With well-appointed villas, a lush tropical garden, and a gourmet restaurant, Chabil Mar has consistently been recognized by TripAdvisor and other travel information publishers for providing superior customer service to its guests.

Chabil Mar is located close to many of Belize’s top attractions as rated by TripAdvisor, including, the ancient Maya sites of Xunantunich (number four in Belize), the ruins of Caracol (number eight in Belize), and the ruins of Cahal Pech (number nine in Belize). Chabil Mar is also just a few miles from the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and first-class destination for snorkeling, swimming, sailing, fishing, and sea kayaking, while benefiting from a stroll along the beach to the traditional fishing Village of Placencia where guests enjoy the daily culture and life of Belize.

TripAdvisor is the world’s most popular website for travel information, customer reviews and opinions, accommodation bookings, and other travel-related content. Since its founding in February 2000, TripAdvisor has grown to 315 million members and has recorded more than half a billion reviews, opinions, and ratings.

The Travelers’ Choice award is TripAdvisor’s highest honor and is presented every year to the top 1% of businesses on the site as determined by user rankings.

The Financial Express recently published a list of their Top 10 Winter Destinations, and Belize received high praise. Recommended for its lovely warm climate during the winter months, the Financial Express described Belize as a small country full of amazing attractions, including bird watching, exploring ancient Maya ruins, and snorkeling and scuba diving on its pristine barrier reef.

The latest article from Financial Express is just one of many from popular publications that have recommended visiting Belize in 2018. In the last few months, Fodor’s, CBC, Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, and National Geographic have all listed Belize as a must-see destination in 2018.

The best place in Belize to enjoy both the beauty of the beach and offshore reef, as well as all of the exotic nature on the mainland, is the Placencia Peninsula on the southeastern coast of Belize. Often called the “Caye (Island) You Can Walk To,” Placencia is connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land less than half a mile across but has more than 16 miles of golden sand beaches along the Caribbean.

At the southern tip of the peninsula is Placencia Village, a Guinness Book of World Records holder for having the smallest main street in the world, actually a four-foot wide sidewalk that is off-limits to vehicular traffic. This “main street” is where Placencia hosts an annual Sidewalk Art Festival every February that transforms the passageway into a gauntlet of booths selling artwork, furniture, food, drinks, and handmade items.

Other popular things to do and see in and around Placencia include snorkeling and diving on the reef, celebrating Lobsterfest in June, visiting whale sharks during the springtime, and exploring the vast Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, home to the world’s only jaguar conservation program.

“We are happily surprised to see the Financial Express join the growing list of travel publications that recommend visiting Belize,” said Larry France, Marketing Manager of Chabil Mar. “We look forward to sharing authentic Belizean hospitality to visitors from around the world.”

The best place to stay on the Placencia Peninsula is Chabil Mar. Located right on the beach just a five-minute walk from Placencia Village, Chabil Mar has luxuriously appointed villas, a gourmet restaurant, two freshwater swimming pools, and a full complement of services and conveniences.

Chabil Mar is an excellent place for honeymoons, weddings, family vacations, and adventure travelers and has a number of Belize vacation packages available that include the best that both the jungle and sea in Belize have to offer.

For more information about Belize or Placencia, 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.