9 Reasons to head to Belize for your next Vacation Getaway!

Belize-Snorkeling

Belize is way less crowded than most vacation hotspots, but still has everything a tourist could want — snorkeling, hiking and incredible ancient ruins to tour. Bonus: It’s also the only Central American nation where English is the official language. If you need more convincing, here are 9 reasons to head to Belize over the rest:

OK, Hand up! Who Eats Sea Cucumber?

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From our out-of-the-way file comes an out-of-the-way story…Belize’s alleged Sea Cucumber Queen was busted and remanded to gaol. Now, we think this is an interesting story because how many people are familiar with the sea cucumber, and the huge illegal trade in this most humble of marine animals?

A LETTER FROM LUCY FLEMING

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Along with many Belizeans I am disturbed by the lack of consultation and the haste in which the memorandum of understanding between the government of Belize and Norwegian Cruise Lines in regards to the sale of Harvest Caye has been signed.

Chaa Creek Featured on USA Today’s Bucket List

Chaa Creek Butterfly Farm

The owner of the Lodge at Chaa Creek said that the eco resort’s inclusion in a recent USA Today travel guide “bucket list” is good news for the nascent Belizean tourism industry, and further proves that environmentally sustainable, Green tourism can provide a high quality travel experience. Lucy Fleming, who with her husband Mick started Chaa Creek by accepting guests at their small family farm in a remote part of Belize in 1981, said that recognition such as USA Today’s provides an important boost to the Belizean tourism industry, which since it’s relatively recent inception has struggled to achieve name recognition in the highly competitive Caribbean travel industry.

A New US Ambassador for Belize?

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We’ve just received word that US President Barrack Obama has nominated a new ambassador to Belize, and by all indications Justice Carlos Moreno sounds like a very good choice.

New Direct LAX Air Service a Boon for Belize

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The recent announcement of direct flights from Los Angeles to Belize has been hailed by Belizean resort owners as a boon for the local tourism industry. According to the Lodge at Chaa Creek’s marketing director Larry Waight, the new service, scheduled to begin December 2013, will encourage more west coast travellers to consider the Caribbean as a viable alternative to destinations like Mexico’s Pacific coast and Hawaii. The direct flights will also make it easier for members of Belize’s large diaspora, many of whom reside in California, to visit family and friends and spend holidays in their country of origin, he added. “It very good news for the entire Belize tourism industry, as it makes a Belize vacation more viable to a larger audience.

Belize’s Blue Hole – The 8th Wonder of the World? Your Vote Counts!

Organised by Trip Advisor’s Virtual Tourist, the 8th Wonder election is attracting attention the world over with many countries, states, municipalities, towns and organisations rushing to get their local wonders recognised internationally with the big ones.

Why I’m heading to Belize this summer – again

First of all, I’ve done the math, and I don’t think I’d save any money by holidaying up here. We did it the year before last, and after the gas, admissions to parks and other attractions, eating out and everything else, we spent a lot more than we’d budgeted for.

Belize and Australia Team up to Save Their Reefs

What do Australia and Belize and have in common? More than you might think, actually, and not the least of which is a pressing need to protect their stunning great barrier reefs; the world’s largest and second largest, respectively.

Celebrities Continue to Help Belize’s Conservation Efforts

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Chaa Creek naturalist guide and Natural History Centre assistant manager Brion Young said that several people had recently called his attention to an April 2013 article in Travel + Leisure magazine, and that this highlights the importance of celebrity endorsement of local conservation efforts.

Ambergris Caye Wins Top Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice Island Award

Ambergris Caye hovers in a vacation sweet spot: just enough amenities to make it exciting, but not so overdeveloped that you’re tripping over flip-flopped tourists. A mangrove swamp is the eye of this white beach island, the largest in Belize, and golf carts are the main form of transportation along the sandy roads.

Five don’t-miss spots in Belize

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Protected rainforests, Maya ruins, Caribbean beaches and the longest barrier reef in the western hemisphere. Add English as the official language and the widely accepted U.S. dollar, and you can get a great vacation on easy mode in Belize.

UFO GREAT BLUE HOLE BELIZE Caught on Tape

UFO filmed and caught on tape while we were flying over The Great Blue Hole, off the coast of Belize, near Belize City. The Great Blue Hole is a large submarine sinkhole off the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 70 km (43 mi) from the mainland and Belize City. The hole is circular in shape, over 300 m (984 ft) across and 124 m (407 ft) deep.

Belize and Australia Co-host The International Coral Reef Initiative

Global estimates from the international scientific community suggest that 10 percent of the Earth’s coral reefs have been seriously degraded and that a much greater percentage is endangered, which if allowed to continue is likely to lead to the loss of most of the world’s reef resources during the next century. Damaged or destroyed reefs can be found in more than 93 countries, with coral reefs in South and Southeast Asia, East Africa and the Caribbean facing the greatest risks.