The growth of romantic vacations as a uniquely Belizean attraction has been highlighted again this week with the airing of The Bachelor reality TV show, and this is a welcome trend for Adventure Romance specialists such as Chaa Creek, the eco resort’s spa manager Bryony Fleming said. The 7th episode of the 16th season of The Bachelor began with Bachelor Ben Flanjik and six female contestants arriving in Belize for a holiday that ended with only four women remaining. The Belizean series included Ben and his dates leaping from a helicopter into the famous Blue Hole.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is The Cauldron of the Chiclero that was famously used to make chicle, many centuries ago.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the Yucatan Banded Gecko which is scientifically known as the Coleonyx elegans. These small nocturnal lizards live primarily in rocky habitats and are strictly terrestrial with very elegant skin marks and red brown skin.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the Christmas Palm Tree which is scientifically known as Veitchia merrillii. This tropical palm originated from the Philippines and has a polished grayish stem that becomes slightly swollen at the base with rings of old leaf scars rising up to the crown shaft where its flowering stalks are located.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the White-tipped Dove and its scientific name is Leptotila verreauxi.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the Calabash and its scientific name is the Crescentia cujete. This small evergreen tropical tree belongs to the family of Bignoniaceae and is known to originate from Central America.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the White-Collared Manakin and is scientifically known as Manacus candei. These compact forest birds are short-tailed, big-headed, but are quite tiny measuring to a mere 11 cm in length, and 18.5 grams in weight.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the Maya Harp. The Maya Harp is beautifully hand crafted and was an integral part of the Maya society since it was used for religious and healing ceremonies and for cultural and entertainment purposes.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the Ixora Coccinea or Ixora Nora Grant flowering shrub. This popular hybrid is native to all tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world and its specimen dominates over 500 of its close relatives.

The Two-Man Crosscut Saw came into sight by the Romans but it was until the middle of the 15th Century that it was used as a tool across Europe and its major function was for cross cutting of large logs by wealthy logwood owners.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the Nightshade Eggplant which is scientifically known as Solanum Melongena. The Eggplant is native to the Indian subcontinent and has been cultivated in Southern and Eastern Asia from where it later made its way to the Western World.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the Mottled Owl and its scientific name is Ciccaba Virgata. The Mottled Owl can be found in Northern Mexico, Central America, and Northern South America and lives in extensive, diverse, and wild habitats.

A chultun is a subterranean chamber carved by the ancient Maya, out of the soft limestone bedrock, that has a narrow cylindrical opening. Chultuns can be vastly found in Central America, primarily in locations near Maya archaeological temple sites.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the White-lipped Mud Turtle which is known scientifically as Kinosternon leucostomum. Pretty and personable, this turtle can be found in quiet waters with soft bottoms in southern Mexico and Central and South America.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the Bay Leaf Palm which is scientifically known as Sabal mauritiiformis.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the Piper Auritum which is commonly known as False kava or Hoja Santa. The Piper Auritum is native to Central and South America and the West Indies and can be found on forest edges. The above picture was shot at Chaa Creek’s private 365 acre nature reserve.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the Pill Millipede and its scientific name is Glomeris marginata. The Pill Millipede is a very fascinating arthropod as it has twelve body segments which are dome-shaped. They are very secretive herbivores, making their home in soil and leaf litters.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the Teeth of the American Mostodon whose scientific name is Mammut americanum. The American Mostodon first appeared during the early Miocene period and persisted in the fossil record until the end of the Pleistocene era and were widespread throughout North and Central America.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the Sapodilla Fruit and its scientific name is Marnilkara zapota. The Sapodilla fruit is native to Southern Mexico, Northeastern Guatemala, Belize and throughout Central America, and it is believed that the Spaniards introduced it long ago in tropical America and the West Indies.

Today’s Belize Photo of the Day is the Brazilian Red Cloak and it is scientifically known as Megaskepasma erythorochlamys. The ‘Brazilian Cloak’ is a herbaceous shrub that is very showy and fast growing. Being an exhibition of beautiful red/scarlet terminal flowers, this plant never fails to thrill its viewers.