Animals of Belize : The Kinkajou

Kinkajou-Belize

It’s no longer Mother Nature’s best kept secret that Belize has an astounding collection of wildlife living within the 170mi (274 km ) by 68 mi (109 km)of this unique little gem of a country, with many familiar and many not-so-familiar species cohabitating in the huge pristine expanses of protected wilderness. One of the many things we like to do here is introduce some of our lesser known animal friends to the world, and this week we’ve chosen that nocturnal little scamp, the kinkajou.

Flights to Belize City: Delta added four Weekly Runs!

Delta adds new flights to Belize City!

More Good News for Air Service to Belize. Yes, it is great news that major airlines are keeping up with Belize’s growing popularity by offering more and more flights each year. Last month we posted that United Airlines was expanding its air service from Chicago to Belize with new direct flights beginning December 20 2014, and now we have even more good news for travelers. Delta airlines has just announced that, beginning December 4, it is adding four weekly seasonal flights to its Atlanta, Georgia – Belize City run. This is in addition to the eight weekly round-trip flights to Belize it currently offers year round.

Belizean wins first Houston Caribbean Queen Pageant: Congratulations Rheisha Shol!

The beautifully talented Rheisha Shol plays the Violin!

The first Houston Caribbean Queen (HCQ) Pageant, billed as “a cultural, educational, and festive event that seeks to celebrate the talent and intellectual abilities of young Caribbean women” was held on June 28, 2014 and it seems only fitting to us that the very first HC Queen is a talented young Belizean, Rheisha Shol. Rheisha was born in the national capital of Belmopan and moved to Houston, Texas with her family, where she currently attends Texas State University.

It’s Lobster Time Again in Belize!

Grilled Lobster Tail at San Pedro Lobster Fest

It’s that time again to celebrate the opening of lobster season in Belize and show our appreciation for this gastronomic delight. Yes, all over Belize fishermen are out catching, cooks are preparing and diners are consuming the yummy bugs, as Caribbean Spiny Lobsters are known locally. And to celebrate the opening of the lobster season, several Lobsterfests are held around Belize, providing a rare opportunity to not only gorge on these delicious crustaceans, but participate in great community events as well. Here’s a list of the main fests, followed by some facts about rock lobsters that 80s band the B 52s for some reason left out of their tribute song.

New Flights to Belize from Chicago!

New Flights from Chicago to Belize!

The company said it is adding flights from Chicago’s O Hare airport to Philip Goldson International in Belize City, with a Saturday service scheduled to run through to May 2015, depending on government approval. Great news for visitors from the Windy City, as well as the substantial Belizean diaspora living in the Chicago area. With Delta Airline’s direct Los Angeles to Belize City flights that began last year, and joining American and Continental Airlines as well as USAir ways and TACA servicing Belize from Miami, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Charlotte, New York and Los Angeles, and given the close proximity of Belize to major North American hubs, paradise keeps getting closer for our American friends.

Birding in Belize – Six of the Best Spots

You would love Birding in Belize!

Belize sits within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, which stretches from Mexico through Central America and is home to a diverse range of birds and wildlife, helping to make the little country a birders’ paradise, with some 618 resident species and visiting migrants sharing the rich biodiversity of Belize. At Chaa Creek alone, the Birds without Borders project, conducted in conjunction with the Zoological Society of Milwaukee and Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, recorded 308 different species within the eco-resort’s 365-acre private nature reserve. And while Chaa Creek is one of the best places in Belize for birdwatching (small wonder it was picked for the Birds without Borders project), there are other renowned spots north, southeast and west where our feathered friends congregate. Here are five more guaranteed to whet any birder’s appetite.

San Ignacio Belize: The Top 7 Cultural Attractions

San-Ignacio-Belize-The-Top-7-Cultural-Attractions

San Ignacio, Belize is a small lovely town located on the Cayo region of the country and mere minutes away from the border with Guatemala. Considered as the heartland of the Belizean Mayan World, San Ignacio has its fair share of cultural and adventure attractions, even for those who travel with a tight budget. Here are 7 top cultural attractions in this western town of Belize, Central America.

The Magic of Xunantunich Maya City in western Belize

Belize-Xunantunich-maya-City-fascinates-visitors

Mayan for “Stone maiden” Xunantunich is definitely one of Belize’s prettiest Maya archaeological sites, renowned for exquisite architecture, beautiful frescos and stelae, as well as its park-like atmosphere and stunning views from the top of El Castillo, the iconic pyramid temple. Xunantunich was an important ceremonial centre built around AD 600 near the end of the Maya Late Classic Period, boasting a population of some 10,000 people at its peak, and apparently continued to thrive while other Maya centres such as Tikal and Caracol were in decline. However by around 1000 AD Xunantunich was abandoned.

Belize Once Again Ranked Top Honeymoon Destination

Belize-Honeymoon-ranked-top-destination-2014-

So when the AARP says something, a big audience is listening. And recently the AARP named Belize as one of the top ten honeymoon destinations, sharing honours with Tahiti, the Maldives, Bali and other exotic tropical locations. Yes, tropical seems to be a key element for a happy honeymoon. But of course, it takes more than a warm sunny climate to make the AARP’s top ten. This is a discriminating group looking for the very best for its members, so no wonder Belize got a nod.

Belize Butterflies on the Road: Chaa Creek visits school

Chaa-Creek-Butterfly-on-the-road-outreach

As part of our commitment at The Lodge at Chaa Creek is to work with our local communities in building awareness and educating our local people on conservation and preservation of our natural environment. And in that respect, as part of our community outreach program, today saw our “Butterfly on the Road” Program when two of our Naturalist Guides packed up their equipment and visited the Sacred Heart Primary School in San Ignacio Town.

New US Ambassador to Belize: Carlos Moreno

US-Ambassador-to-Belize-Carlos-Moreno

While we don’t know Ambassador-designate Moreno personally, his impressive record and his personal history would seem to make him an excellent choice for the job, and indicates that the Obama administration takes the US relationship with Belize seriously.

Belize Tourism Expo BETEX Reflects Eco-Tourism Growth

BETEX-Belize-Travel-Expo

This year’s Belize Tourism Expo, BETEX 2014, held May 7 to 12, highlighted the little country’s increasing range of tourism options and confirms Belize’s maturity as a world class travel destination, according the owners of the Lodge at Chaa Creek.

Lizards of Belize – What makes the Belizean Iguana Incredible!

Belize-Lizards-Iguana

So the next time you come across a Belizean iguana sunning itself or diving into the water as your canoe passes we hope you’ll see more than just some lazy lizard lounging around, and appreciate that here is another example of nature’s marvellous ability to adapt and evolve. And when you consider that he or she is just one of hundreds of thousands of crucial components to Belize’s rainforest habitat, a habitat of amazing interdependence and diversity, we hope that you’ll share our sense of never ending excitement and appreciation for the sheer elegance of our natural world.

Belize elected to top level UN Security Council

Belize-UN-Security-Council-Aprils-Fool

In a surprise move, Belize has been elected to the UN Security Council, and will be sharing an office with Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon, who requested the move “in order to work in close proximity with the Belizean advisors,” he said.

Once again Belize makes top ten happiest countries in the world!

Belize-Central-America-Happy-Country-in-the-world

You may remember back in August last year when we reported that the Travel Channel listed Belize as one of the top 10 happiest countries in the world? Well, it’s happened again, the time the March 18th edition of the Wall Street Cheat Sheet, an investor’s guide and lifestyle site e-zine, listing Belize as one of the world’s ten top happiest countries!

The Things We Live For – We Love What We Do!

Belize-Tourist-Yuen-Family-Thanks-Chaa-Creek

These are the things we live for – we love what we do! And it is the best feeling to know that our guests leave happy and appreciate the hard work our team puts into creating truly unique Belize vacations from start to finish.

Belize Celebrates Baron Bliss Day

Belize-Baron-Bliss-Lighthouse

Belize Celebrates Baron Bliss Day With the Red Baron, Baron Barracuda (for those of you who remember the kids’ show “Under the Sea”) and many … Read more

OK, Hand up! Who Eats Sea Cucumber?

Belize-Barrier-Reef-Sea-Cucumber

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?

Yo! Jesse Pinkman! We’re still waiting

Breaking-Bad-Belize-Invitation

This all happened after the infamous Breaking Bad episode where Saul Goodman, the lawyer of dubious ethics and moral fibre, suggested that Walter White’s brother in law, DEA agent Hank, be “sent on a trip to Belize” as a euphemism for killing him.

New Archaeology Finds in Belize

New-Archaeology-Belize-Maya

We mention this to explain our excitement about a recent find in northwestern Belize called Tulix Mu.