Yesterday, March 2nd 2012 we had the privilege of hosting Prince Harry at our beautiful eco resort – The Lodge at Chaa Creek. Prince Harry was in Belize as part of a Diamond Jubilee tour in honor of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who is celebrating 60 years on the throne.

Avid travellers will tell you, to really get to know a place you’ve got to try the local food. In Belize, “local” food is an eclectic collection of dishes with strong influences from the country’s many diverse cultures; like the Creole; Maya;Garifuna; Mestizo offered along with Caribbean; American; Indian and Chinese cuisine. While each culture uses unique flavours and cooking techniques, they all benefit from ingredients like fresh from the nut coconut milk, garden grown herbs and spices, organic fruits and vegetables and freshly caught seafood.

On the historic occasion of The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee, members of the royal family are touring many of the Commonwealth countries which her Majesty has visited during her sixty year reign. The Queen has asked her grandson, Prince Harry of Wales, to start his overseas travels in the Central American country of Belize. Belizeans are determined to make his first visit to Belize the highlight of his itinerary.

Every visitor to Belize shares the common experience of enjoying a product of Bowen and Bowen Limited. After all, it bottles everything from water and Coca Cola products to energy drinks and fruit juices and it is the only national bottler of local beer and Guinness Stout. When Prince Harry of Wales arrives in Belize on Friday, he’ll get the royal treatment from the beer company. At the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Block Party, company executives will introduce Prince Harry to all their products and allow him to sample and savour their prized Belikin beer.

The April to July mating season for hundreds of bird species in lush rainforests combined with twenty per cent discounts for the entire month of May presents an extraordinary opportunity to discover the amazing bird life of Belize, Chaa Creek marketing administrator Larry Waight said today. Belize is home to one of the world’s largest and most eclectic populations of native and migratory birds, with over 308 species recorded at Chaa Creek alone.

In less than five days, one of the world’s most recognized adventure enthusiasts, HRH Prince Henry of Wales will visit Belize March 2 – 3, 2012 on behalf of The Queen as part of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Though Prince Harry will be on an official visit, certainly the many natural wonders and extraordinary experiences that await in Belize will have His Royal Highness caught-up in the moment, and encourage him to “Be one with adventure.”

In our fast-paced, material-heavy modern world, it can be difficult enough at home to live sustainably: Practicing environmental and ecological ethics on the road is sometimes that much tougher. There’s less under our control; we’re often beholden to local practice and custom about which we know little; and we may, like it or not, be part of a massive tourist horde, the impacts of which are substantial.

Safety is becoming more of a factor in the choice of a Spring break location, and this trend is prompting resorts and their guests to consider safe travel options.

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.

Here in the home of Adventure Romance, the managers and staff at Chaa Creek would be seriously remiss in not wishing lovers around the world a Happy Belize St Valentine’s Day.

We recommend Chaa Creek to any soft-adventure traveler – and really want to support the conservation incentives of the Flemings. Jean & I visited Chaa Creek in the fall of 2009. Boy, had it changed since I was there in the early 90′s – back then it was a few thatched huts and outdoor deck / restaurant set on the banks of the Macal River. Of course the location hasn’t changed! But there’s tons more cabanas, an infinity pool that looks like it could be at a luxurious resort (which actually Chaa Creek is now), a proper restaurant aside from the bar….

Chocolate, long referred to in Belize as “the food of the gods”, is also known as the food of love, and features prominently during Chaa Creek’s Valentine’s Month of Love celebrations, according to the eco resort’s food and beverage manager Bryony Fleming.

With 2012 already proving to be a busy and exciting year, we want to take the time out to wish you all the best and to say thank you for being such an important part of Chaa Creek’s evolution from a small family farm on the banks of the Macal River to Belize’s premier ecoadventure destination. It’s no cliché to say that we couldn’t have done it without the efforts of hardworking industry partners such as yourself.

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.

An exotic Valentine’s Day in a tropical paradise has suddenly become more affordable with the Lodge at Chaa Creek offering a twenty per cent enticement for lovers to enjoy a romantic getaway in the Belizean rainforest.

This week we had the privilege of hosting two of Japan’s most acclaimed R&B Singers and Rappers. They were at Chaa Creek to film a TV Show entitled “The Danga Travler” which is about two accomplished popular musicians who were childhood friends and after many years of not seeing each other, they decided to vacation in Belize because of its absolute beauty, wonderful weather and friendly atmosphere.

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.

“Our Valentine’s Day celebrations became valentines week some years back, and the response was so positive, and the guests enjoyed it so much that we began devoting the entire month to love,” Bryony Fleming, the eco resorts food and beverage manager said. Ms Fleming explained that since pioneering the concept of romance adventure in Belize, Chaa Creek has seen a steady rise in interest in their unique approach to weddings, honeymoons, couples’ retreats and other activities.

Belize may be small, but it is not homogenous. With a population around 321,000, the tiny country enjoys a diversity of ethnicities that is undeniably stimulating and improbably serene. It is indigenously Maya; politically Creole (most business owners and political figures); and the largest ethnic group is Mestizo (of mixed Spanish and Amerindian descent). While those are the biggest populations, at least half a dozen other prominent ethnic groups call Belize their home.

The year 2012 has spurred interest in the Maya people and the outlook toward this enigmatic civilization grows each day as we approach the winter solstice of 2012. In the Maya Heartland of Belize, the Maya are very much in our presence and we honor their hard work and dedication in contributing to Belize’s rich heritage.