“Once again, Cupid rules during the entire month of February here at Chaa Creek, where we’re offering some seductive specials and lots of loving attention,” Mr Waight said, “Belize is a lover’s playground all year round, but during February we go the extra distance to make sure our guests enjoy the most romantic getaway on the planet. We pioneered adventure romance in Belize years ago and we’re all looking forward to making February 2013 our most loving month yet,” he said.

Belize is becoming increasingly popular as a new Spring break destination with more and more students wishing to mix exotic adventure with the annual ritual of sun, fun and partying.

Belize is a hidden gem when it comes to tourism, especially if you’re looking to go scuba diving or simply relax on a gorgeous beach. The unique culture and flavors of Belize also offer some excellent souvenirs to take back from your trip.

Madre de Cacao is nitrogen-fixing tree that can grow from 10 to 12 meters high. The tree is referred by many people as a quick-stick due to the characteristic of growing almost right away just by cutting it and directly planting it in the ground.

Belize’s The Lodge at Chaa Creek’s break with tradition by offering three Super Tuesdays in a row is a major boon for bargain hunting travellers, according to marketing administrator Larry Waight.

Belize is a small and eclectic country that is bordered by Mexico to the north, south and west by Guatemala, and east by the turquoise Caribbean Sea. Ethnically diverse and culturally rich; Belize has many things to offer visitors from its varied ecology to its historical pre-Columbian Maya temple cities. Below are ten interesting and fun facts about Belize:

Maxillaria tenuifolia is a long time favorite because of its strong coconut scent; it smells just like a Pina Colada. This was species was discovered near Veracruz, Mexico by Karl Theodore Hartweg and ranges from Belize through Nicaragua. Native to tropical America, this genus derives its name fromn the Latin word maxilla which means jawbone.

Japanese glass fishing floats were once used by fishermen in many parts of the world to keep their fishing nets as well as long lines or drop lines afloat. Norway was the first country to start production and use of glass fishing floats around 1840. Christopher Faye, a Norwegian merchant from Bergen is credited for their invention.

Today, chocolate is still an important part of Maya culture and day to day life, drank in the mornings hot and spiced with chili just as it has been for thousands of years.

Belize’s Chaa Creek is kicking off their popular Super Tuesday special discounts for 2013 with an extra kick this week, according to marketing administrator Larry Waight. “Beginning today, January 15, every Tuesday in January will be a Super Tuesday, meaning that vigilant travellers will have three opportunities to secure some pretty amazing discounts this month,” Mr Waight said. “And, as a surprise kick, we’re giving prospective guests until 12 midnight on each following Wednesday to book in and receive the discounts, basically doubling their chances to receive hefty savings off all Chaa Creek accommodation and some select all-inclusive Belize vacation packages,” he added.

“February and especially St Valentine’s Day has always been a big month for us here at Chaa Creek, and this year we’re offering even more special activities and tours aimed at giving couples a truly exceptional exotic getaway. Love will definitely be in the air all month long,” she said.

Rio on Pools are beautiful and spectacular waterfalls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve of Belize that features a wide, open expanse of pine forest, and small waterfalls that cascade over large granite rocks, ending in round pools connected by natural waterslides.

“ATM is a relative newcomer to Belize’s Maya attractions, but word of mouth has steadily increased interest in it in recent years,” Mr Waight said, “It’s certainly one of the most captivating things I’ve experienced anywhere, and without exception our guests return from excursions to the cave completely amazed. It’s an experience that’s difficult to put into words,” he said.

As anthropologist Joe Awe explained to the guests who attended the unveiling ceremony held at Chaa Creek, the ancient Maya used the carved stone monuments to record important dates and events in their various city-states spread across the vast Maya empire, which covered all of Belize and parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Ms Fleming said that people from around the world have been converging at the Belizean eco resort for days of educational workshops and hands-on training in Maya skills such as tortilla and chocolate making, thatching with jungle palm fronds and the use of medicinal plants in preparation for the grand ceremonies that will take place on the evening of December 21 2012.

According the December 19 Sydney Morning Herald article (“China alert to doomsday rumours”), authorities in China have detained more than 90 people across seven provinces for spreading rumours about so-called Maya prophesies linking the 2012 Winter Solstice to the end of the world. According to the reports, theories posted on the internet and in the US film “2012,” which was hugely popular in China, have fueled fears of what is being called the “Maya Apocalypse” resulting in people scrambling to prepare for survival.

Dr Jaime Awe, one of the expert guest speakers at Chaa Creek’s weeklong Maya culture exposition, scoffed at theories that the world would end on December 21, 2012, and, as a noted author and anthropologist, said he could back his assertions with scientific facts.

“We’ll be updating our posts throughout the week with information gleaned from the workshops, seminars and lectures we’re hosting, and will be compiling that information into one document to be released early next year. Besides hosting a great celebration, we’re hoping that renewed interest in this fascinating culture will be an outcome of the 2012 Winter Solstice,” Ms Fleming said.

Travellers to Belize will find it easier to combine a Caribbean beach vacation with a rainforest and Maya temple experience, thanks to today’s launch of a new air service linking Belize’s San Ignacio Town to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, The Lodge at Chaa Creek’s marketing administrator, Larry Waight said today. According to Tropic Air, their new service will run between the Maya Flats airstrip located midway between San Ignacio Town and Benque Viejo del Carmen on the Guatemalan border, and the domestic airports at San Pedro and Belize City.

As international attention focuses on the Maya during 2012, it is important for the world to realise that the Maya people are still battling to preserve their culture, Brion Young, assistant manager at the Chaa Creek Natural History Museum in Belize said today.