The sign on the right said The Lodge at Chaa Creek and Joe made the left turn and instantly we were on dirt road. Back to nature…love it! Travelers come from all over the world to escape from the hustle and bustle, unwind and explore living creatures like birds, wildlife and butterflies and smell the hundreds of species of plants in their natural environment.

Garifuna Settlement Day celebrates the arrival of the first Garifuna in 1832, descendants of the Black Caribbeans who were first deported from St Vincent in 1797. The day showcases their rich, unique culture with music and a staging of the arrival by the first settlers at the port.

The New Yorker Scott Amron is known for his creativity at Amron Experimental, Inc. but today he caught the world’s and Chaa Creek’s attention with the eco-friendly creation of the vanishing fruit labels. The description on his website states that by washing these Fruit Labels, you will see it dissolve into an organic fruit cleansing produce wash that helps remove wax, pesticides, dirt and bacteria.

Described as, “an elegant 16.1-metre cruiser that apparently draws its aesthetic inspiration from the European timber vessels of the art deco era,” it’s already causing a stir in Australian yachting circles, with three having already been sold to private buyers on the Gold Coast and Sydney, and another reportedly on order by those savvy salts at the Boating Syndicate of Australia.

The thought of just a seven hour window to wander around Belize was nerve wrecking and at the same time unsettling. Many questions came to mind: What if the ship leaves without us? What are we going to do if we are stuck in traffic or the van breaks down?

With so many wonderful options it was hard to decide where to call home. On the one hand, you have the gorgeous turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, and swaying palm trees of the islands, or cayes as they’re called in Belize.

On the other hand, you have the rainforest, rivers and ruins of the Cayo area in the west. If you like the water but don’t want to live on an island, you’ve got coastal towns like Corozal, Placencia or Hopkins, or you can live in the middle of nowhere in Orange Walk, or off the Hummingbird Highway…

The Belizean icon, Pen Cayetano‘s work will be featured at our Art Gecko Rules function on Saturday October 29, 2011. Pen Cayetano is a world renowned painter, singer, songwriter, percussionist, guitarist, leading cultural revivalist and ambassador for Belize’s Garinagu. Born in 1954 in Southern Belize, Pen Cayetano grew up in Dangriga, Stann Creek – the place known as the cultural capital of the Garinagu of Belize.

Many people will be visiting Belize to take part in the historic Maya celebrations and cultural activities running throughout the Belize Maya 2012 observations , and we can only hope that this will result in greater awareness and respect for our natural heritage. The ancient Maya produced beautiful works of art and craftsmanship that are best appreciated in their natural home where they can continue to be shared with the world.

Is there anybody who would not love to take a short break from the busy life and leisure around in his favourite location? Holidaying with loved ones is what anybody would dream of to get away from the hectic boring life. However, it is sometimes astonishing to find that post-vacationing or holidaying can be stressful too.

Today’s Belize photo of the day is the Rio Grande Leopard Frog and its scientific name is Rana berlandieri. This aquatic frog is native to the southern US in Texas and New Mexico, and throughout south and central Mexico. This specie has been found from sea level to about 1,000 ft (333m) in elevation and may occur at higher elevations such as Belize’s Maya Mountains.

The above drawing was done by Miguel Cano our computer programmer. By accident we discovered his hidden talent when he shared this piece with us. To add to our surprise, he added that it was all done digitally. Below he explains.

For more than 3,000 years, from 2000 B.C. until the Spanish started sending colonists across the Atlantic in the early to mid-1500′s A.D., the Mayan civilization reached and maintained a high level of cultural development. In addition to mastering writing, math and astronomy, the Mayans made full use of the natural resources available in what is now Mexico, Central America and parts of South America. This innovative culture learned to not only mine successfully, but managed to turn their somewhat inhospitable tropical swampland into crop-bearing tracts of land.

We at Chaa Creek thank everyone who follows and interacts with us via the various Social Media networks, either it being you’re from Belize, the US or anywhere in the world.

For those who are current with us, you know that you can find us primarily on Facebook and Twitter under The Lodge At Chaa Creek and @chaacreek. And now you can find us on Google Plus. Add us to your Google Circles!

Many people would be surprised to hear that maize actually travelled north and south from present day Mexico and Central America before spreading like a culinary wildfire around the world.

An article titled “The Music of Belize” written by Road Warrior Lily Girma is being featured on the National Geographic’s Intelligent Travel “Radar”.

After centuries of struggle to preserve their culture and, in many instances, their lives, from foreign greed, the Maya are now facing a new battle as a global conglomerate attempts to introduce GMO (genetically modified organisms) corn into Belize. Fortunately, people are beginning to heed the alarm.

Take Advantage of these Special Offers!These special discounts do not apply to existing reservations or Packages. Use code OCT31 to receive the discount.

An ancient Maya white road known as a sacbe has been discovered buried under roughly 17 feet of volcanic ash at the archaeological village of Ceren in El Salvador by a University of Colorado Boulder team. The sacbe, shown here with a drainage canal on the left and several corn plants preserved by ash on the right, is roughly 1,400 years old and is the only one ever discovered constructed without stone linings.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek, Belize’s first eco resort and most vocal advocate for responsible travel, has posted an unusual obituary that highlights Steve Job’s contribution to environmentally sound business practices.

Belize lies at the crossroads between the Caribbean and Latin America. You can physically see the changes in people, architecture and landscape as you drive from the port of Belize City into the mountains beyond San Ignacio and the Guatemala border. Belize has long been known as the dive capital of the Americas, far fewer visitors have recognised the quality and uniqueness of its spa and wellness facilities.