With all the attention on the Heartland of Maya during 2012, it’s great to see such positive news and reviews from such internationally recognised travel experts as Trip Advisor and now the BBC and Lonely Planet. It shows that people recognise Belize not just for its position in the heartland of the Maya, but as a high quality, interesting destination in itself.

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.

Santa literally came flying early this year for 65 local children from the surrounding Chaa Creek communities. The children who live nearby Chaa Creek were treated to magical experience this weekend when our staff planned a Christmas party filled with enjoyment, fun games, surprises and hearty Belizean food.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek is pleased to announce the two lucky winners our latest competition: Win a Free Chaa Creek aluminum water bottle.

The water bottles are made of aluminum, very durable, light-weight with a sleek appearance which serves to remind individuals that many small efforts can add up to a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations.

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.

“Walking in a winter wonderland…” That old song always conjures up memories, and for those of us born in northern climes, those memories invoke white pastoral scenes, snow laden fir trees, roaring fireplaces, red cheeks, mittens, even the odd sled or two with tinkling bells. Whether it was Peggy Lee or Dean Martin singing, the song never failed to stir something inside.

Today’s Belize photo of the day is Birdwatching at Chaa Creek. Today’s photo focuses of one of the many fabulous and adventurous onsite activities offered at Chaa Creek – our ” Early morning bird walk”. Starting at 6:30am, a naturalist guide takes guests on an hour and a half of unforgettable birding experience.

Adventuring in Belize by Amelia Thomas – Lonely Planet Author
Galloping along Central American mountain trails, accompanied only by the thrum of hooves and the occasional flash of a toucan among the trees, might just be one of the world’s top ways to start your morning. But incredibly, in lovely, lush Belize, where eco-slanted adventure travel is king, the day gets even better from here.

I’M LUCKY. I have the best job in the world and it comes with offices scattered all over Belize. Best of all, you get to come along. One of my offices sits 140 feet in the sky at Ox Witz Ha (Place of Three Hills) and was built by some of the oldest construction workers in the world, the ancient Maya. I am on the top of Caana (Sky Palace) in the Maya city now known as Caracol.

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?

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.

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 promise of a lighter footprint is everywhere, from luxury resorts (constructed from recycled materials) to Third World guest houses (running on renewable energy), from international airlines (issuing paperless tickets and testing more sustainable fuels) to overland journeys (aboard biodiesel buses). Even A-list celebs are getting in on the game. Leonardo DiCaprio, Al Gore and Bono all sing the praises of low-impact travel.

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The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Government of Australia recently announced a new programme of collaboration on coral reef conservation:

Australia and Caribbean Community nations today pledged to build on a growing partnership and to continue sharing experiences and expertise in addressing development challenges in the Caribbean.

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.

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

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.

We had previously shared a blog post and video featuring My Back Yaad visiting Chaa Creek when shooting video footage for their Destination Cayo episode. Last weekend the video aired on KremTV and it didn’t disappoint audiences as they received a sweet taste of some of the activities that the Cayo District has to offer.

Green Globe Certification today announced the recertification of The Lodge at Chaa Creek, Belize. Green Globe Certification CEO Guido Bauer said: “The Lodge at Chaa Creek is one of the more exemplary Green Globe-certified properties. From its inception, the owners, managers, and staff of this eco-resort have dedicated their business to sustainable development, as well as presenting a quality eco-tourism experience.