Belize is proud to have the longest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere. But in 2010, the tiny country faced a huge problem — the potential loss of the reef’s UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Already under threat from coastal development, pollution and climate change, the reef’s species were being depleted by bottom-dragging fish trawlers.

Kate Walsh, the famous Doctor Addison Montgomery on the hit series, Grey’s Anatomy, was in Belize over the past weekend. But she wasn’t here on vacation, she was here as an Oceana activist. Walsh, whose visit was to raise awareness on Belize’s Barrier Reef and the fragile ecosystem, met with local journalists for a one day visit to the Blue Hole.

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!

Some of the things we are really looking forward to are: diving and snorkeling in the Belize Barrier Reef, exploring the ancient Maya historical sites, sampling the best local restaurants, white water rafting through the jungles, and meeting many new and interesting people along the way! I actually have a keen interest in photography and so I’m looking forward to toting my big DSLR camera and zoom lens and capturing as much of the country as possible… More than just hitting the routine tourist destinations and then hopping on a plane back to the States, I hope to really get a chance to intermingle with the local culture and people and get to know them on a more personal level.

By Future Perfect Travel
Hard Corals
These showy colonial animals are the most noticeable component of the Belize Barrier Reef. Their forms range from large tree like structures and large boulder structures to small fragile looking forms.
Hard corals are colonial animals, each small individual has its own living chamber and feeding tentacles, but digested food is shared throughout the colony by connecting tissues. As each individual builds its own calcium carbonate living chamber, its chamber is joined to adjacent ones to make …

The Killer Whale
Killer whales are characteristically marked with a black back, white chest and sides, and a white patch above and behind the eye.  Calves are born with a yellowish tint that later fades to white.  Killer whales have a heavy and tough body (tougher than other dolphins)and a large dorsal fin up to 6 feet tall.  Behind the fin, they have a dark grey “saddle patch” across the back.
The Killer whale, locally referred to …

Our meet-and-greeter was an independent, curious, jowly fish with wings like scalloped shells, a Nassau black grouper. Its face came right up to the camera, as if to say, “Welcome to my universe of color.”

We would like to introduce you to the Great Blue Hole of Belize. This is a natural sinkhole that is about 1000 feet across and close to 500 feet deep. it is ringed by stalagmites, and there is even a cave that you can reach near the blue hole. It is one of the largest Blue Holes in the world, and some of the stories (like the one inside) from the blue hole in Belize are amazing.