This year’s Maya Spring Equinox celebrations atCaracol, Belize’s premier Maya archaeological site were a fitting kick-off to the 2012 equinox and solstice calendar, Chaa Creek’s Larry Waight said.
On Wednesday March 21st was the spring equinox in the final year of the current cycle of the Maya long count calendar, which ends on December 21, 2012. To commemorate the ending of the 13th Baktun, as it is called, the Institute of Archaeology hosted a night of camping, cultural presentations and history at the ancient Mayan city-state of Caracol in the Cayo District.
In January of this year, the BTB was proud to share with you that Trip Advisor, the world’s largest internet travel website, had ranked various hotels in Belize as some of the top 25 hotels in the world.
“The Spring Equinox has always been a tremendously important event for the Maya of Belize, and with March 20 heralding the last Spring Equinox before the completion of one of humankind’s longest recorded cycles, the 13th Bak’tun of the Maya Long Count, the celebrations take on even greater significance,” Chaa Creek owner Lucy Fleming said as she announced the eco resort’s Spring Equinox 2012 activities today.
A recent Fox News television broadcast highlighting Belize as one of a few selected international tourism hotspots shows that North Americans needn’t travel far to visit one of the world’s best vacation destinations, according to The Lodge at Chaa Creek’s Larry Waight.
The 15th annual La Ruta Maya River Challenge, held between the 9th and 12th of March and one of the world’s longest canoe races, replicates an ancient Maya river trade network through the rainforests of Belize to the Caribbean seacoast and is capturing a larger audience this year due to global interest in the 2012 Maya “prophecies”, according to one long time participant.
The Lodge at Chaa Creek, which has been promoting environmental sustainability in Belize for over 30 years, has been a long-time supporter and enthusiastic participant in La Ruta Maya. So passionate, in fact, that owners Mick and Lucy Fleming sent a staff member to Canada to learn canoe building from Ted Moores, a master canoe builder of Bear Mountain Workshop in Ontario, and now produce their own handmade timber canoes.
Queen Elizabeth II christened the QE2 in 1967 with a bottle of champagne. When Prince Harry christened the Jubilee last week, named in honour of his grandmother’s Diamond Jubilee, or 60th anniversary of occupying the throne, he used a bottle of beer, according to the canoe’s builder, Chaa Creek owner Mick Fleming.
Prince Harry enjoyed both his stay at The Lodge at Chaa Creek and the real life rags-to-riches story about how his fellow countrymen turned an overgrown little farm on the banks of a then remote part of Belize into a 365 acre luxury eco-resort fit for, well…
Prince Harry was as comfortable climbing Xuntunantich as he was participating in some of the indigenous cultural dance. Certainly one of the highlights of his tour of Belize, His Royal Highness also sampled fine Belizean cuisine and even their prized libations.
The following letter was written to the Governor General and the People of Belize by Prince Harry while en route to The Bahamas:
Hosting a member of the Royal Family is a responsibility in itself, but for the managers and staff of The Lodge at Chaa Creek one of the most important tasks was keeping Prince Harry’s visit under wraps until the royal entourage departed, Chaa Creek owner Lucy Fleming said today.
“Wow, this place looks so relaxing!” HRH Prince Harry exclaimed as he arrived at the Lodge at Chaa Creek, setting the tone for what he and Chaa Creek’s staff described as a very pleasant stay at Belize’s premier eco-resort, according to Chaa Creek’s owner Lucy Fleming.
For the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales has traveled to Belize. After climbing to the top of El Castillo at Xunantunich, he is beaming with great things to say about Belize.
Yesterday, March 2nd 2012 we had the privilege of hosting Prince Harry at our beautiful eco resort – The Lodge at Chaa Creek. Prince Harry was in Belize as part of a Diamond Jubilee tour in honor of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who is celebrating 60 years on the throne.
On the historic occasion of The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee, members of the royal family are touring many of the Commonwealth countries which her Majesty has visited during her sixty year reign. The Queen has asked her grandson, Prince Harry of Wales, to start his overseas travels in the Central American country of Belize. Belizeans are determined to make his first visit to Belize the highlight of his itinerary.
Every visitor to Belize shares the common experience of enjoying a product of Bowen and Bowen Limited. After all, it bottles everything from water and Coca Cola products to energy drinks and fruit juices and it is the only national bottler of local beer and Guinness Stout. When Prince Harry of Wales arrives in Belize on Friday, he’ll get the royal treatment from the beer company. At the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Block Party, company executives will introduce Prince Harry to all their products and allow him to sample and savour their prized Belikin beer.
The April to July mating season for hundreds of bird species in lush rainforests combined with twenty per cent discounts for the entire month of May presents an extraordinary opportunity to discover the amazing bird life of Belize, Chaa Creek marketing administrator Larry Waight said today. Belize is home to one of the world’s largest and most eclectic populations of native and migratory birds, with over 308 species recorded at Chaa Creek alone.
Findings from new research into the dramatic collapse of the ancient Maya Empire that covered Belize and much of the neighbouring region pose warnings we should heed now, Chaa Creek owner and environmental studies coordinator Mick Fleming said today.
For more than 500 years, the Maya kings ruled the New World’s richest and most advanced civilization. But then, around 800 C.E., the Maya empire began to collapse and its kings soon disappeared; by 1000 C.E., most of its great cities and temples lay in ruins. What happened?
In our fast-paced, material-heavy modern world, it can be difficult enough at home to live sustainably: Practicing environmental and ecological ethics on the road is sometimes that much tougher. There’s less under our control; we’re often beholden to local practice and custom about which we know little; and we may, like it or not, be part of a massive tourist horde, the impacts of which are substantial.
The Lodge at Chaa Creek, Belize’s foremost eco resort and, with over 135 staff members, one of the country’s largest private employers, honoured two of its team members for 20 service this week.
On Monday, Dr. Rosita Arvigo delivered a compelling presentation to more than 25 Chaa Creek Guests on her apprenticeship with Don Elijio Panti – Belize’s last Maya Shaman.
Belize features predominantly in global, pop culture this year, like no other. In case you have been able to avoid the 2012 meme over recent years, what makes this year so special for Central American countries, like Belize and neighboring Mexico, is a cosmic prophecy foretold by the ancient Mayans.
Last month we hosted renowned Mayanist Dr Mark Van Stone, author of the recently released book, 2012 – Science and Prophecy of the Ancient Maya as part of our 2012 year-long series of Maya presentations, special tours and events.
The Lodge at Chaa Creek is hosting Tales of a Maya Shaman, a presentation by Dr Rosita Arvigo DN on 20 February 2012 as part of the Chaa Creek 2012 Maya lecture series.
Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the Oregano which is scientifically known as Coleus aromaticus benth. This Eurasian herb is a member of the mint family and has a peppery flavor with a mild hint of sage and thyme. If taken in excess, the herb releases a pungent chemical that can numb one’s tongue.
The growth of romantic vacations as a uniquely Belizean attraction has been highlighted again this week with the airing of The Bachelor reality TV show, and this is a welcome trend for Adventure Romance specialists such as Chaa Creek, the eco resort’s spa manager Bryony Fleming said. The 7th episode of the 16th season of The Bachelor began with Bachelor Ben Flanjik and six female contestants arriving in Belize for a holiday that ended with only four women remaining. The Belizean series included Ben and his dates leaping from a helicopter into the famous Blue Hole.
Here in the home of Adventure Romance, the managers and staff at Chaa Creek would be seriously remiss in not wishing lovers around the world a Happy Belize St Valentine’s Day.
Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the White-Collared Manakin and is scientifically known as Manacus candei. These compact forest birds are short-tailed, big-headed, but are quite tiny measuring to a mere 11 cm in length, and 18.5 grams in weight.