8 Pictures of Belize that makes you want to Vacation here!

Chaa Creek - March 2013

Belize is a sanctuary for birds because of its extensive protected forests, varied wetland habitat and strategic location on a major migratory route. Over 587 birds have been recorded in the country, of these approximately 20% are migrants from North America.

Photo of the day: Majestic Maya Temple in Tikal

Misty Tikal

Tikal is one of the largest ancient Maya cities in Mesoamerica and is located in Guatemala about 50 miles northwest of its border with Belize. According to Archaeologists, the Maya began building Tikal around 600 BC and at its peak some 1500 years ago, Tikal was a wealthy metropolis and home to 100,000 Maya as well as a crucial center for religion, science and politics.

5 Amazing Blue Hole Photos

The-Great-Blue-Hole-Belize-

The Great Blue Hole shown is one of the top attractions in Belize and is a Mecca for those wanting to dive among its giant stalactites and stalagmites, which were formed during the last Ice Age.

See a Beautiful Day in Placencia Belize

placenciabelize

Placencia, Belize, is one of the most laid back, pretty and interesting places in the Caribbean. This friendly little village situated on the tip of a long sandy peninsula in south eastern Belize is an affordable, uncrowded little gem of a tropical paradise.

Happy Valentines Day from Belize!

Happy Valentines Day from Belize!

Here at Chaa Creek, the home of adventure romance, where Cupid cavorts with Ix Chel, the Maya goddess of love, we want to wish lovers all over the world a very happy and seductive Valentine’s Day.

Tiny insect discovered in wilds of Belize

Tiny-insect-discovered-in-wilds-of-Belize

U.S. entomologists say they’ve discovered a tiny grasshopper-like insect in Belize and named it in commemoration of a Mayan people who once lived there.

Why is the Groove-Billed Ani an Elusive Belize Bird

Birds of Belize

This is a Groove-billed Ani, Crotophaga Sulcirostris, a bird of savannas and other open spaces. It has a fairly general diet, feeding on fruits, seeds and insects. The Groove-billed Anis is an unusual bird because they live in small groups consisting of one to five breeding pairs. As a group, these birds defend their territory, and they also lay their eggs in one communal nest, where all of the group members incubate the eggs and care for the young.

Is a Tomato a Fruit or a Vegetable?

Fruits of Belize

Tomato is a MUST have ingredient in tomato pasta sauce, tomatoes helps lend a sour tang to various cuisines around the world and is a fruit that can be eaten raw. Tomato refers to the plant (Solanum Lycopersicum) and the fruit that it bears. Tomato is a fruit but is commonly mistaken for a vegetable as it is used among other vegetables in the culinary sense.

A Cool Red-Footed Amphibian!

Frogs in Belize

The Lodge at Chaa Creek located in the western dense forests of Belize is home to the fascinating Red-Footed Tree Frog scientifically known as Tlalocohyla Loquax. Our guests can observe this red-footed frog in our “Creatures of the Night” tour in which our experienced and knowledgeable naturalist guides will take you through trails populated by Ocelots, Howler Monkeys, Tarantulas, Patoos, Jaguarundis and many more intriguing rainforest residents.

Madre de Cacao – A Simple & Elegant Tree

Madre De Cacao Belize Chaa Creek

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.

Ten Things You Need To Know About the Coconut Orchid

Maxillaria Tenuifolia - The Coconut Orchid!

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.

Four Surprising Healing Secrets of the Hibiscus You Should Know

hibiscus

Hibiscus tea benefits have been known to Eastern countries for centuries but they have only recently been studied here in the West. Made from the fragrant Hibiscus flowers, the tea has many health benefits for those who drink it regularly.

Seven Surprising Facts of the Rhyncholaelia Digbyana

rhyncholaelia_digbyana

The Rhyncholaelia digbyana is an uncommon and stunning species of orchid that is native to Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Honduras. Below are seven surprising facts of this beautiful orchid:

Ixcanan aka Polly Red Head : An Important Medicinal Rainforest Plant in Belize

plantsofbelize

The Maya named this plant after the Goddess of the Forest and Healing, Ix-canan likely due to the abundant anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties used in treating a large variety of skin ailments. Everything from sores, ulcers, fungus, rashes, burns, insect bites, burns, and bee stings can be treated effectively with this natural plant remedy.

Lily of the Palace

Amaryllis,Barbados lily

Not only stunning but also helpful and trustworthy. The bulb of this flower has medicinal properties and is used against asthma, bronchitis,constipation and respiratory diseases.

Christmas Peppers

christmas peppers

The Capsicum annuum is commonly known as the Christmas Tree Pepper and despite its name “annuum”, which means annual, it is not an annual. This variety of pepper originated in northwestern Brazil near Colombia and though this particular species is edible, it is commonly bred as an ornamental plant since its different colored fruits resemble the bulbs on a Christmas tree.

A cautionary tale on eating the Devil’s eggs

Red Cage

The height ranges from 8 to 20 cm. The leathery, basket like structure is usually bright pink to pale orange. Despite the smell of Stink horn mushroom usually being considered an unpleasant odor, it is still considered a delicacy in many European and Asian countries where they are readily available in markets under the common name “Devil’s egg”.

Belize Photo of the Day: A Young Kiskadee

great kiskadee

Among its particularities is its aggressive and territorial nature, often times seen attacking larger birds and able to elude raptors by easily maneuvering through the air with agility and precision.

Belizean Kermit’s existential dilema

sheep frog

One of the interesting oddities of nature is undoubtedly the sheep frog’s ability to confuse those in its surroundings into thinking there is a different animal in its surroundings by making an unusual sound (a sheep like bleat) not particular to its own species (as croaking is the norm for its amphibious cousins). So when you are walking through the tropical rainforests of Belize and hear what sounds like a sheep in the middle of the forest watch your step because you do not want to step on this wonderful oddity of nature.

What do Belize and the Kingdom of Siam have in common?

cycad

The Cycad (Cycas siamensis) is a short plant that looks like a palm with a swollen base, short trunk and an attractive large crown with hard, stiff evergreen leaves. The Cycad is originally from Thailand, formerly the Kingdom of Siam, from where its name is derived.

The Plumeria – one of Mother Nature’s most sublime aphrodisiacs

Plumeria

One can only truly enjoy the plumeria’s full splendor in person within its native habitat. In Belize one is delightfully surprised by these beautiful flowers as your senses become aware and heightened by the plumeria’s unique aroma lingering through the air within the lush green rainforest.

Photo of the Day: Kinkajou – the Honey Bear

kinkajou

The Kinkajou can be found in the Americas with its habitat spanning from northern Mexico to the south of Brazil, nearly half the continent. It is also commonly referred to as the Honey Bear, night walker or Potto.

The Cicada – A Symbol of Rebirth

CICADA

Peter Lourie, in his book “The Mystery of the Maya: Uncovering the lost city of Palenque” mentions these creatures as well. “Hearing the roar of howlers and the whine of cicadas in the long, hot jungle afternoons in Chiapas, Mexico, is an important part of my research into the ancient Maya civilization,” he says.

Maya Masks and the Dance of the Deer

Chaa-creek-belize-Maya-deer-dance

The deer dance is a Maya custom that depicts a scene from around the time of the Spanish conquest. Participants wear masks and costumes that resemble two Europeans and several animals. The dance begins as one of the Europeans sees an animal in the forest…

The Stemadenia Donnel Smithi – A Magnetic Force Deep Within the Jungles of Belize

horseballs

The Stemadenia donnel smithi, has a magnetic draw. Not only does the sweet nectar of its large yellow flowers attract butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and bees but its fruits also draw over 22 species of birds (including toucans and woodpeckers) and small mammals such as kinkajous, squirrels, and even monkeys.
Probably the most interesting species to note is the homo sapiens sapiens…

Belize’s Oregano – An Amazing Medicinal Herb

Belize Photo: Oregano

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.