The Lodge at Chaa Creek, Belize’s oldest eco resort and one of the country’s largest employers is reflecting a nationwide sentiment in congratulating President Obama on winning the US Presidential election, marketing administrator Larry Waight said today.

Belize is at the top of every adventure addicts Bucket List as there are different experiences in each region. We will be featuring several articles in a series that tap into the array of types of experiences one can have in this stunning destination.

“We were happy to see Chaa Creek picked as one of Fox News’s best ecofriendly resorts, and then, I noticed that our good friends and partners in two all-inclusive Belize vacation packages, Chabil Mar, were also on the list,” Mr Waight said. “What that means for our guests is that when you book one of those packages, you can rest assured that you’re getting the best, most eco-friendly inland and Caribbean beach resorts.

Anticipation for the December 21 event has been building in popular imagination for the last few years, with the Hollywood blockbuster film “2012” and many articles, documentaries and internet posts giving conflicting and sometimes sensational versions of what to expect. Some people are anticipating a new awakening of human consciousness and outpouring of positive energy, while others predict that the completion of a major cycle of the Maya Long Count calendar, which occurs on December 21, will bring about the end of the world.

Mr Tonti was speaking in response to the Belizean airline Tropic Air’s announcement that an inaugural service linking Western Belize to the popularCaribbean island destination will begin on December 10, 2012. He said the new, fast connection will be a boon for those Chaa Creek guests who wish to add a Caribbean island experience to their rainforest and Maya culture adventures.

“It’s pretty ironic that while some people on the other side of the planet are promoting doomsday scenarios based on the so-called Maya prophesies surrounding 2012, those of us living in the Maya heartland are preparing for 2013, just as the ancient Maya no doubt would be,” marketing administrator Larry Waight said today.

“I received an email from a woman in the US thanking us for a holiday that she said rekindled her and her husband’s love for each other. She said that their time together here worked miracles and did more for bringing them closer together than months of expensive counselling. Later on, during a staff meeting, everyone seemed to have a similar story about couples saying they left here happier and more affectionate than they’d been in a long time.

What does next Tuesday’s US presidential debate have in common with Belize? Plenty, if you’re looking for an affordable tropical vacation in Belize, The Lodge at Chaa Creek’s Business manager, Peter Tonti said today while announcing new Super Tuesday discounts.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek’s annual festivities to honour both Halloween and the Day of the Dead will have a distinctly Maya flavour this year as Belize and the Mundo Maya region prepare to celebrate the completion of the Maya Long Count cycle on December 21, 2012, according to the eco resort’s Food and beverage manager Bryony Fleming.

“It’s an exciting time here at Chaa Creek as we’re preparing for the week long 2012 Maya Winter Solstice celebrations centred on December 21. It’s our most ambitious project yet, and we want to make sure we get it right, from the educational lectures and workshops through to the grand procession to the ancient Maya temple of Tunichilen on the night of the winter solstice.

“These natural wonders are not only Belizean, but also part of the world’s natural assets and shared heritage. National Geographic has always played an important role in letting the rest of the world know just how spectacular they are, and this awareness goes a long way in helping us protect them.”

Belize is the only English speaking country in Central America. It is a country filled with natural beauty, miles of white sandy beaches, and mystique ancient Mayan culture and owns the second largest barrier reef in the world.

Today, September 21 is Belize’s Independence Day and the entire country will come alive with the exhilarating celebrations one would expect from a young nation with such a rich history and culture.

In the run up to the nationwide celebrations about to take place in Belize under the theme of “Many faces, many dreams, but one goal; celebrating Belize”, Mick and Lucy Fleming said they wished to highlight one of Belize’s most fundamental but sometimes overlooked qualities.

Today’s photo of the day is the Amazing Belize Barrier Reef which straddles the coast of Belize – roughly 300 meters offshore in the north and 25 miles in the south. The Reef is home to a large diversity of plants and animals and is one of the most diverse ecosystems of the world.

As far as Central American countries go, Belize has not always been known as a “must-see” travel destination as compared to its more famous neighbors, Mexico and Guatemala. But over the last 10 years, Belize has built a reputation founded on its determination to protect the rainforests and farms of its land. With the rise in the popularity of ecotourism, Belize has positioned itself as a leader in the field, with the government protecting 40% of the land for conservation purposes.

The August issue guides readers through Central and South America. The article on Belize speaks about Prince Harry’s visit in March, 2012, and also lists activities he should experience upon his return. It mentions the street fair that was held in his honor, in Belmopan, and his climb of Xunantunich.

“It’s been amazing to see both Belize and Chaa Creek grow so much during the last three decades, and we’re honoured to have been part of that growth. If those outnumbered patriots fighting so valiantly at St George’s Caye over 200 years ago could see what their beloved British Honduras has become, and the quality of life their descendants are enjoying, I think they would be very happy indeed,” Ms Fleming said.

As the tiny Caribbean nation of Belize prepares to celebrate its 31st birthday on September 21, the owner of one of the country’s most successful eco resorts emphasised that smaller nations must be willing to embrace new technologies, tools and practices to compete with more established tourism destinations.

An Oceanic Society team led by Dr Holly Edwards spotted a record number of manatees during an aerial survey over Belize’s Turneffe Atoll. Combined with results from a coastal survey undertaken by Belize’s Coastal Zone Management’s Nicole Auil Gomez, 507 manatees have now been sighted.The team said that as more manatees exist than the number seen, and considering that less than 2,500 adult Antillean manatees are believed to exist worldwide, the survey results are heartening.