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Call us Toll Free: US/CAN
1-866-417-2377 |
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The waters
of the Caribbean Sea along the Placencia Peninsula
in southern Belize, Central America. |
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BELIZE - The Central
American country of Belize in located in the Western Caribbean.
Belize shares it's borders with Mexico to the north, Guatemala
to the south and west, and 174 miles of coastline with
the Caribbean Sea to the east. Belize land mass encompasses
over 22,800 square kilometers/8,803 square with approximately
266 square miles of islands.
Belize, formerly referred to as
British Honduras while a member of the British commonwealth,
was granted its independence on September 21, 1981.
Today Belize is a melting pot of cultures. Within her
borders there are several ethnic groups that speak a
variety of languages. With a population of over 256,000
people, during your visit to Belize you will find that
Belizeans are comprised of many ethnicities: from Creole
to Mennonite to Lebanese to Chinese to Garifuna to Belize
Maya to Mestizo to Taiwanese to East Indians to expats
from Canada, the United States, Italy, Holland, Great
Britain and other points from around the globe.
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The Pier
at Point Placencia. |
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PLACENCIA - Founded by English buccaneers
in the 1600's, the village of Placencia is located at
the end of the sixteen mile road that defines the Placencia
Peninsula. The Peninsula is actually comprised of three
distinct villages, the communities of Maya Beach, Seine
Bight and Placencia. World renown for it's mile long stretch
of concrete sidewalk referred to by the Guinness Book
of Records as the narrowest main street in the world,
the village lies just west of the Barrier reef, the second
largest on the planet. With countless dive shops, tour
companies, gift shops, bars and restaurants, there is
a little something for everyone in Placencia. |
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Art Galleries and colorful houses line
the Sidewalk in Placencia Village. |
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Maya
woman selling baskets in southern Belize. |
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WEATHER - The
weather in Belize is subtropical. The annual mean temperature
is 30 degrees Celcius/80 degrees Fahrenheit. Annual rainfall
ranges from 50 inches per year in the far northern Orange
Walk District to as much as 165 inches in the far southern
Toledo District. The rainy season usually runs from mid
June through late August, with the dry season primarily
from January until late May. During the rainy season it
generally rains during the night, though at any time of
the year an occasional refreshing rain can pop up at a
moments notice.
LANGUAGE - Although English is the
official language of Belize, while visiting you are
likely to hear Creole, Spanish, as well Yucatec, Ketchi
and Mopan dialects of the Belize Maya. You are also
likely to encounter the Germanic based language spoken
by the Mennonite as well as the Garifuna language of
the coastal populations, the Garinagu.
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CURRENCY - The official
currency is the Belize dollar, it has a fixed exchange
rate to the US dollar. One US dollar is equivalent to
two Belize dollars. Most restaurants, gift shops and tour
operators will accept U.S. currency, traveller checks,
or major credit cards. Please note that when using your
credit cards in Belize, most businesses will add a 5%
service charge to your bill. Be sure to ask when making
purchases whether the price quoted is in US or Belize
dollars. |
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Holidays and Popular events
in Belize:
| New Years Day |
January 1 |
| Placencia Sidewalk Art Festival |
February |
| Baron Bliss Day |
around March 9 |
Good Friday
Holy Saturday
Easter Monday |
changing
changing
changing |
| Labour Day |
May 1 |
| Commonwealth Day |
May 24 |
| Placencia Lobster Fest |
June |
| Deer Dance Week (Toledo) |
August |
| St. George's Caye Day |
September 10 |
| Independence Day |
September 21 |
| Columbus Day |
October 12 |
| Garifuna Settlement Day |
November 19 |
| Christmas Day |
December 25 |
| Boxing Day |
December 26 |
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| Students
carry the Belizean flag through the streets to celebrate
Belize's Independence Day. |
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Flying
over the nortern Placencia Peninsula, looking
south. |
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FLYING IN
- Only two hours by air from either Houston or Miami,
connecting flights from the feeder markets of the United
States, Canada, Europe, Central and South America all
arrive into the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport
in Belize City. From Philip S. W. Goldson International
Airport, you can easily connect from within the main terminal
to either of the two domestic air carriers, Maya Island
Air and Tropic Air. After an in-country flight of less
than 1 hour, you will be met at the local Placencia airstrip
for your transfer to Chabil Mar Villas which is located
about one mile from the airport. |
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The road
south of Riversdale, Belize, which leads to the
Placencia Peninsula. |
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DRIVING IN - To arrive to Chabil Mar
Villas by car, depart Belize City on the Western Highway
to the turnoff for Belmopan, the Capital City of Belize.
From Belmopan follow the Hummingbird Highway south towards
Dangriga. Just outside the village of Dangriga, there
is a turn-off to Independence. Turn south there and
follow the Southern Highway until you see the sign on
the left for Placenica. From that turnoff it is twenty-two
miles to the village of Placencia. The drive takes about
four hours and there are several attraction along the
way that invite for a stop-over such as the Old Belize
Museum, the Belize Zoo and the Blue Hole cave.
The road south of Riversdale, Belize leads to the Placencia
Peninsula and the Village. Chabil Mar Villa guests enjoy
a location just 1 mile from the Village, along the only
paved portion of the road south of the airstrip, a superior
location only one of two luxury villa Belize resorts
in Placencia can offer.
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MAP
OF BELIZE |
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| click
on the map for a large view |
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Call us Toll Free US/CAN 1-866-417-2377 |
Partner Links: Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3 |
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