Located in Central America just south of Mexico, Belize sits along enchanting turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Every year, thousands of scuba divers from around the world visit Belize in search of the perfect dive. Belize is home to three of four atolls, – a ring-shaped formation of coral reef – located in the Western hemisphere. This makes Belize one of the best dive spots in the world. Their crystal clear and warm waters provide great visibility.

Here’s a list of the best dive locations in Belize:

Host to one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, Belize provides the perfect getaway and hands on research for students studying evolutionary biology, botany, biodiversity, or even sustainable farming methods. The country has more than 150 species of animals, 540 species of birds, 151 species of amphibians and reptiles, and over 3,400 species of plants. One of Belize’s most popular destinations, for both vacation and field research is Cha Creek, a tributary of the Macal River located in the western region of Belize.

When we returned to our room, we were in for quite a surprise. Sitting on our bed was a small wooden box, with glass walls. Inside it was a cocoon, and beside this were two cards, and two vouchers for free drinks at the bar. One letter explained that we were being given a butterfly that would emerge from a cocoon in a couple days time. We were to let it wait at least three hours after it emerges before releasing it. The other letter was welcoming us to The Lodge at Chaa Creek, personalized to us.

“When you think about it, Chaa Creek is a great family vacation destination in itself. It‘s also the perfect base for exploring Belize’s beautiful rainforests, Caribbean beaches and the spectacular Belize Barrier Reef as well as Maya temples, sacred caves and archaeological sites. “No matter what your age or interests, there’s something to do at Chaa Creek, from exploring the miles of rainforest trails on foot, horseback or mountain bike, canoeing the beautiful Macal River, visiting our on-site Maya temples and sites or taking part in nature walks and tours.”

Xunantunich was amazing. Joe knew the history of everything we saw, and told us all about the mythology, rituals, habits, politics, and even showed us their ball court. As we moved through, we came to a clearing. As we came into the clearing, it opened up to our left, showing us a massive palace, El Castillo, and several small temples. They looked incredible. A dozen pictures later, Joe took us closer. We looked up at it from the bottom, and I snapped away on the camera.

Hi, my name is Shaneli Pop, I am 10 years old and I live in beautiful Cayo District. I really want to be an eco kid because I want to discover the life between the plants and animals. I want to help protect the endangered animals. I also want to help the plants grow big and beautiful. I have seen with my naked eyes how men cut down trees and I felt bad because I couldn’t do any thing.

We should help the environment by recycling; reusing, reducing .some of the ways we can help is carpooling throwing garbage in its proper place, not burning garbage, planting more tree, using less electricity ,and more solar power. If we do not keep our environment clean it would no longer be a beautiful and special place to life our life. To be an eco kid you have to be loyal to the earth and to help to restore the natural beauty of the world and save some species in danger of extinction.

I want to be an Ecokid so that I can protect the environment from the pollution of the cars because we are destroying our world. People if we cut the plant and the grass is like if we are killing someone very important. Because we are killing a piece of land where children can have fun. We will not be able to respire good air if we live in garbage. Because we have no air people we need to discontinue the chemical in the water.

Visiting Belize can be a lot of fun. Some of the most interesting and beautiful caves in the world are located there. Like most of Central America, Belize once had a large Mayan population. Remnants of their social and spiritual lives can still be found intact inside magnificent caves with underground waterfalls and fantastic mineral growths. Cavers and intrepid tourists need only hire an experienced, licensed guide to show them an underground world they will never forget. The combination of mythology, geology and artistry are unmatched anywhere in the world.

Yes, the competition entry essays have all been submitted and carefully read, and the winners have been selected. And now, 24 very lucky young people aged between eight and 13 years old will be taking part in an incredible opportunity to experience, up-close and personal, Belize’s beautiful natural environment while learning about how to help preserve this stunning national treasure and ensure its survival into the future.

We eventually arrived at Chaa Creek, where we parted ways with Joe Awe and our fellow tourists. We were shown to our room. For lack of a better word, it was incredible. The bathroom was huge, with a double shower. We had a second shower that was outside, with large stone walls for privacy. Our bed was massive, with more than enough room for the both of us, and placed casually in the middle of the foot of the bed was an elephant. It was designed from several small hand-towels. We set down our bags, for we had finally arrived.

For the next two years, the Belize Tourism Board will be following the blueprint’s outline to balance growth of a vibrant tourism market with the need for conservation and sustainability of the nation’s precious resources. Working with partners including ecotourism consultant Megan Epler Wood, the Planeterra Foundation, of which Wood is executive director, and the tour company, Gap Adventures, a founding partner of the foundation, the board is hoping to successfully sell investors and tourists the very same treasured assets it is duty-bound to protect and conserve.

Today June 21st is summer solstice which means that today will be the longest day and the shortest night of the year. According to Wikipedia, summer solstice occurs when the Earth’s and moon axial tilt is most inclined towards the sun which is why the days near the solstice have the most daylight of any days of the year.

Check out this video on a Social Flycatcher feeding its young in the moring at Chaa Creek Lodge in Cayo, Belize.

If our actions contribute to destruction of the environment then someone else has to clean up the mess while the flora and fauna become innocent victims of our carelessness. If everyone enjoyed their environment by keeping in mind that we are accountable for our actions, pollution would diminish..

So, at the airport on day zero, carrying spontaneously packed luggage in a backpack, it was feeling like a reality. And I’m not saying I didn’t expect it to happen, exactly, but just that it didn’t feel like reality to me. When my wife (fiancee, at the time) told me we won, I was happily surprised. However, it still just felt like words. It felt like maybe there were stipulations we had not yet met, and it could be taken back at any moment. A year passed. We still planned on going, and Chaa Creek seemed more excited than me. We were wed, and my wife set up an exact date.

From here I really was part of the forest. Light mist hung in the trees and caught the early rays of the sun. Birds awoke from their slumbers and began their usual raucous rituals especially the Macaws and Tucans. Not to be outdone, in the distance, began the cries of the Black Howlers, fighting over territory, mates or just happy to be alive. As usual, basking in the early sun, eying me up, was my resident Green Iguana. He just lay on the railing of my deck as if he owned the place, perhaps he did?

Ever felt suffocated and congested in hotel rooms? You are experiencing nights during your vacation where you tossed and turned because of the lack of oxygen or fresh air in the room? When you are supposed to be relaxing and sleeping…you are actually developing a migraine because of the lack of sleep and comfort.

Your meals wear you down. You can’t seem to put a finger at what causes you to feel that way after every meal. Is it the greasy food or the artificial ingredients that were added to the cooked food? What happened to the old-fashioned goodness home cooked meals that they advertised?

Jenny learned a lot from the children about how communities need their local wildlife to ensure the sustainability of not only animal populations and healthy ecosystems, but also the economies of the people who depend on tourists to visit the area and help local businesses prosper, when otherwise they would have a very difficult time doing so.

It would be a privilege to visit another land that has taken the time to put the ecosystem before the financial gain of tourism. I have visited home a few times since I moved up north and Key West is not like it was 21 years ago when I was fifteen years old. Many corporations and chain restaurants moved in slowly and changed the vibe of the island and along with it they have tampered with the nature of the island.