The recent archaeological find on Burns Avenue in San Ignacio town – discovered during work on a sustainable tourism project – reminds us not only how steeped Belize is in Maya history and culture, but how deeply intertwined tourism and archaeology are in this tiny country.

If there’s any downside at all to a Belize vacation it’s trying to cram so much into the always too short amount of time you have there. Plan as much as you like; new things always present themselves when you arrive in the Jewel, as Belizeans refer to their country.

Driving deep into the woods on dirt roads with Ben in a jeep, we arrived at The Lodge at Chaa Creek’s Macal River Jungle Camp. These little houses are called casitas.

Belize is the heartland of the Maya civilisation, and this legacy takes on even greater significance with the approach of the Winter Solstice of 2012 – an event of almost indescribable importance to the Maya and a time for major celebrations, activities and events throughout Belize.

With a special twist, the wildlife of Belize is once again under the spot light with the latest mention by LonelyPlanet.com

Lonely Planet notes that Belize’s animal and plant life are the stars of the country, thanks to the conservation of its forests and reefs.

BudgetTravel.com, the ultimate resource for the world’s savviest travelers that provide smart consumers with practical and timely tips and tools, and uncovers the best under-the-radar of discoveries by showing just how any destination can be made accessible has named Belize a top budget travel destination in 2012.

Growing up in Belize, James Lovell heard the Garifuna language from his parents and his grandparents; he understood it but he didn’t speak it. He spoke the language of the streets, Belizean Creole. He didn’t think much about Garifuna until the day he heard the music of a local artist Pen Cayetano and his Turtleshell Band.

Count on Belize to carry on the tradition of unforgettable stag weekends for grooms to be. The concept of men celebrating their last moments of being single has existed since the beginning of time.

The approach of 2012 is bringing increased attention on the ancient Maya civilisation of Belize and her neighbours, and, as usual with this fascinating, enigmatic civilisation, there are more questions than answers. One of the big questions is: how did Maya urban centres sustain such large populations in areas modern people would consider to be inhospitable?

The Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport, also known the Belize International Airport is the busiest airport in the country. It was named after an influent politician who died back in 2001 and represents the main access point to the Belize for the several hundred thousand tourists who visit this beautiful Central American country each year.

What sustained the great, expanding populations of the ancient Maya in their seemingly inhospitable tropical environment? Recent pioneering work in Belize and Guatemala is introducing a remarkable new paradigm and setting a standard of sustainability for future generations.

Andrew Zimmern: Chef, Writer, Traveler and TV Host of Bizarre Foods and Bizarre Worlds on The Travel Channel recently tweeted out that he loves Belize.

Take a look at these Hot Belize Deals made possible by Chaa Creek Expeditions:
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Lonely Planet Photographer Todd Lawson has spent over 20 years photographing and celebrating the diversity between Sport, Travel and Nature. After recently returning to the Central American nation of Belize, he gave the 3 reasons he visited Belize.

The Belize Tourism Board is proud to announce its newest venture: FACEBOOK BELIZE. This November, in an effort to augment posting and comments on our Belize Vacation Facebook page, the BTB has been working harder than ever to find ways of engaging travelers to share their experiences at all points of their vacation. Travelers, who are heading home from a Belize vacation experience, now have the opportunity to post their experiences from a total of three internet stations that are located in the departure area of the Philip Goldson International Airport at Gates 1, 3 and 4. As is customary, most travelers are subjected to a layover time in the departure lounge and it is our hope that our visitors can utilize these stations to comment on their vacation in Belize prior to their departure.

The ancient Maya civiliza­tion’s many achievements include a written language, advanced mathematics, sophisticated surgery, and astrological calculations that continue to astound scholars… and the list goes on.
But for many people, the Maya’s greatest achievement is something loved all over the world today—chocolate.

Belize has a multitude of little sand islands, called cayes along its coast. The smaller cayes are nothing more than a pile of sand on some coral while the biggest one (Ambergris Caye) spans 40 by 1.6 km in size. Ambergris Caye is the most developed tourism destination in Belize with a big expat community enjoying fishing, scuba diving and hanging out at the pool.

Destination Belize is the flagship magazine for Belize’s tourism industry. It’s what guests find in their hotel rooms and it’s what Belize’s tourism promoters and vendors hand out at travel agencies and trade shows worldwide, basically to say: “This is Belize.” But this year, there’s a change. The 2011 edition was a home grown effort. Since it was launched 15 years ago, the magazine has been published by Ulrich Communications, a US based company. But this year, the BTIA wanted a fresh feel and approach so they brought in Idea Lab studios to give them that fresh look and feel with an international flair.

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.

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…