So once again, retirement in Belize may not be for everyone, but it certainly is for us. We find it’s easy to stay active and healthy, and it’s affordable enough that we enjoy a great quality of life without the stresses we had up north, but it’s close enough that we have plenty of visits from friends and family. Add in my freezer full of fish and our garden full of fruit and vegies, and you’re looking at a couple of very happy Belize retirees.

The genome was mapped using a cacao tree from the mountains of Belize – the same part of the world where the trees were domesticated some 3,000 years ago.

Considering the details of this contest it seems as if winning this prize would make for the most absolute perfect first time visit to Belize. To have the chance to stay in a beautiful resort, be treated to wonderful meals, canoe the Macal River, visit Maya Temple, caves, barrier reef, the Natural History Museum, Butterfly Farm & Rainforest Medicinal Trail would truly become a once in a lifetime experience. The photos of the accommodations at Chaa Creek actually took my breath away! They look as if they’re something from a dream. I can’t believe a place like this actually exists. I’ve also never been in the jungle before! I could just imagine how incredibly fascinating it would be to walk through such a pristine ecosystem and hear and see all of the species of animals and birds. It must feel as if you’re in a movie. Must feel larger than life and surreal!

On my trip to Belize I had an afternoon to walk around the resort I was staying at Chaa Creek. The resort is in the middle of the rain forest and they have a butterfly farm on the grounds. This is one of those butterflies from the farm. All of the butterflies in the building at the time were like this one, a iridescent blue in color.

Caye Caulker, a pretty little island off the coast of Belize has been selected as a top best beach destination for 2011 by AOL Travel.

It is no secret that as the weather turns cold in North America, “snowbirds” look for warmer climates to spend the winter months. With warm temperatures, beautiful landscapes and pristine blue waters, Belize is the perfect destination to escape the harsh winter months. Here are some fantastic Winter Special Deals:

The Belize dollar is fixed to the value of the US dollar at $2BZD to $1USD. It is easy enough to get USD changed to BZD, but it is unnecessary as USD is accepted everywhere. In fact, it can even give you an edge for larger payments.

Belize is a birders paradise. Over 12 species of parrots call Belize home including various Macaws, Amazons, and a variety of Parakeets. I have been rescuing parrots and other birds and providing education about our avian friends for over 10 years and a trip to the Lodge at Chaa Creek would fulfill a lifelong dream of observing these magnificent sentient creatures in their natural habitat.

Actun Tunichil Muknal is one of the most impressive and artefact-rich Maya ceremonial caves ever found, containing rare bloodletting altars used in sacrifices by Maya royalty and over 1400 catalogued artefacts as well as sacrificial human remains. Here are some photos of the ATM Cave from the Hill Family. Enjoy!

We wish everyone Love, Joy, Peace, Abundance and Happiness not only during this special time but also far into the future. Happy Holidays!

Flights to Belize are frequent and because Belize is conveniently located just over two hours from the two major gateway cities of Miami and Houston, it is no wonder that the majority of visitors entering Belize do so via the airline industry. The four international airlines serving the country include American Airlines, Continental, U.S Airways and Grupo Taca. Delta Airlines is also marked to begin serving the country in December 2004.

Belize will be featured on the Buccaneers and Bones TV series on the Outdoor Channel in January featuring anglers such as Tom Brokaw from NBC, and actor Michael Keaton and other celebrities.

Belize is abundant with seafood. Fresh fish, lobster (when in season), shrimp, and conch are widely available, especially in the beach destinations. Ceviche is a must – a cold marinade of fish, conch, and/or shrimp “cooked” in lime juice and seasoned, served with local tortilla chips. Conch fritters are also commonplace…. and deliciously moreish. Rice and beans is a big staple, often cooked in coconut milk and served with stew chicken, stew pork or stew beef. These Creole recipes are rich stews that get their color from a broad mix of spices, as well as red recado, which is made from annatto seed.

I wanted my honeymoon to be relaxing but at the same time adventurous. While looking through travel magazines, there was a page that introduced Belize with a photo of the sea and jungle. As I was about to flip the page, something in the jungle caught my eye. It was the remnants of the great Mayan empire. Right there and then, I crossed out all the other options. The next exciting task was to look for a place to stay in Belize. I searched to see if there were any over-water bungalows but it seemed like a luxury that only existed in Tahiti and Maldives (too expensive for my liking).

Do you know the history of the Garifuna? The epic story of the Garifuna begins in the early 1600’s on the Carribean island of St Vincent when West African slaves were brought on the island by the Spanish.

The slaves who survived found shelter in the existing Carib Indians settlements and over the next century the two groups intermarried and eventually fused into a single culture, creating the Black Caribs or Garinagu culture, commonly referred to as Garifuna.

All in all, our stay at Chaa Creek was something we will never forget, and we are absolutely looking forward to returning to the place where we kicked off our life together for an anniversary (hopefully sooner than later!)

Home to some of the most breathtaking scenery in Central America, Belize is a lovers’ paradise that creates a mystical and passion-infused experience for any type of couple. From secluded getaways to dreamy excursions, experience Belize’s unparalleled offerings by including these not-to-miss romantic destinations into your next trip.

If you step outside late tonight into early Tuesday morning, you may notice the moon looks like a luminous rotten orange. It’s a total lunar eclipse that will be visible to everyone in North and Central America, including Alaska and Hawaii.

With a large – and ever increasing – amount of free information readily available on the internet, is it easy for today’s responsible traveler to search for credible information on ecotourism and responsible travel? Or does more information mean more confusion for conscious consumers?

If I were in Belize and could have anything I wanted for Christmas Dinner, this would be my choice. Enjoy.