Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Belize a Wonderful Second Home Destination for Cold Winter Months

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If this is what you are looking for in a winter destination,?
You will not find this in Belize.
Every year many people run away from the harsh winters around the world and flock to the wonderful Central American nation of Belize. Belize has much in common with the Caribbean and its borders with other Central American nations offers much more than an island or mainland attraction alone. 
During the cold winter months in other parts of the world, Belize remains a true natural beauty with almost near perfect weather. Belize is one of those places where the warm sunshine kisses the skin and the cool azure waters caress the senses.

Belize is approximately 174 miles from North to South and 68 miles from East to West with a population just over 300,000. This makes it one of the countries with the lowest population density in the Caribbean and Central America. So much is packed into the borders of the wonderful and truly beautiful nation of Belize. We will take you through a journey of activities that are available to you in Belize during the winter seasons. We will not be telling you about Alpine skiing, snow tubing, snow sledding, snowboarding, ice skating or even the dreaded building a snowman that makes the fingers go numb, Brrrrrrrr. We will, however, be telling you about the tropical activities that keeps you warm and away from the cold. So much so, that you might want to consider Belize your Home away from Home.
 
Snorkeling in Belize
One of the most favorite and popular destinations for Snorkeling and Diving in Belize is the largest living Barrier Reef in the Western Hemisphere. If you are flying over the Barrier Reef on your way to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker you will see that on the inner side of the reef the waters are shallow and has some wonderfully light shades of blue to aquamarine while on the other side of the reef the waters are deep and has a royal blue color.  The reef is just more than a decorative piece to Belize. It is an important eco-system that protects the shores from erosion while offering the ability for us to learn more about the many fish and the corals that make up the very fragile system. Year round many come to snorkel and dive at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve which is one of Belize's oldest marine reserves and has four unique zones and eco-systems for people to appreciate. You can even swim with and feed the sharks at Shark Ray Alley. 
Scuba Diving in Belize
 
Belize Blue Hole
Belize offers an excellent location to all Scuba Divers from the beginner to the fully experienced with shore diving to the deep Blue Hole. The Blue Hole is a large underwater sinkhole that is approximately 984 ft across and about 407 ft deep, a part of the larger Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System and is a World Heritage Site. This site was made famous by Jacques Cousteau who declared it one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. Unfortunately once you have experienced the visibility of the waters in Belize sometimes up to 100 feet you will be so spoilt that you will want to come back to Belize for all your diving trips. We are sure Scuba Diving and Snorkeling the warm Caribbean waters of Belize trumps being chilled by the winter weather.

Fishing in Belize
 Another popular activity in Belize is Fishing. No matter what type of fishing you enjoy, Belize will be sure to top your list as one of the best destinations for saltwater spincasting, light tackle, fly fishing, flats fishing or deep sea fishing. Just be sure to use one of the local and certified fishing guides to show you where the best spots in Belize are. Some of the most popular fishes during the month of December are: Barracuda, Bonefish, Jacks, King Mackerel, Permit, Tarpon, Tuna, Wahoo, Sailfish, Marlin.

Some other water activities include sailing, sea-kayaking, wind-surfing, para-sailing among many others.

Belize has a lush tropical rainforest theming with a vast array of flora and fauna and a flurry activities away from the harsh winter storms. Belize is proud to be one of the few countries that has 80% of its forests under protection for reserves. This setting surely makes it an ideal location for a wonderful Belize Jungle Adventure. Many come here to look at nature either bird watching or canoeing along the winding rivers, most notably the Belize River which has played an important part in Belize's history. You will surely be in awe looking at the forest canopy and the wildlife within them.  Others come to be be a part of nature making trails and enjoying every inch of it. If you are truly looking to immerse yourself in nature you can take a trip to go to the Caves Branch Archeological Reseve to go Zip lining though the jungle canopy or cave tubing the meandering river through natural cave formations or if you are looking for a revved up time you can check into the rainforest ATV tours.
 
Zip Lining in Belize

Cave Tubing in Belize

ATV Jungle Tour
If you are looking to learn about the animals of Belize or why it is so important to protect the habitats that sustains them you can visit The Belize Zoo. The Belize Zoo is located at mile 29 on the Western Highway and sits on approximately 29 acres with approximately 125 animal exhibits.



The most visually striking area of Belize happens to be the hilly region around the Maya Moutains which runs from the Cayo District all the way south to the Toledo District of Belize. The hills offer an excellent opportunity for those looking either for a beginner to expert mountain biking experience or a wondeful jungle horse back ride or a slow trail ride through nature's best kept secret. You can slow things down a bit and  begin your journey through time and learn about the ancient Maya Civilizations as you enter the Belize Caves System with magnificent caverns and chambers or visit the ancient Maya Ruins. Some of the most popular and intriguing site are: Altun Ha, Cahal Pech, Caracol, Cerros, El Pilar, Lamanai, Lubaantun, Nim Li Punit, Santa Rita, Uxbenka, and Xunantunich among others. 
Belize Maya Mountains

Xunantunich Maya Ruin in Cayo District of Belize
Belize is a land of pristine beauty and it's natural waterfalls are world famous. The most famous in Belize is Hidden Valley Falls also referred to as "Thousand Foot Falls" which falls from a height of 1,600 ft making it the highest waterfall in Central America. There is a lookout point that is a couple hundred yards away where you can marvel at this wonderful creation and hear the thunderous roar of mother nature. There is a trail that goes to the base where one can immerse themselves in the pools below. You can also visit some of the other great waterfall locations like Big Rock Falls, Five Sister Falls and Rio Blanco Falls. A favorite swimming spot for many tourists and locals alike is the Rio On Pools on the road to Caracol in the Cayo District. You can also visit the Blue Morpho Butterfly Farm in the Cayo District. There are also a few others you can visit around the nation of Belize.

Hidden Valley Falls - Mountain Pine Ridge

Five Sister Falls - Mountain Pine Ridge

Rio On Pools - Mountain Pine Ridge
Golfing in Belize is just catching on. With beautiful weather and a vast array of landscapes you would think there would be more courses. Maybe we should invite Jack Nicklause, Tiger Woods, Jiyai Shin, Sergio Garcia, Christi Kerr, Lee Trevino, Ai Miyazato, Geoff Ogilvy, Lorena Ocoa, Rory Sabbatini, Suzann Petterson, Matt Kucher, and Sean O'Hair among other top golfers to come to Belize to develop more top rated golf courses around the country. At the moment you have 2 golf courses to choose from the first situated on the mainland at mile 50 just past the capital City of Belmopan and Guanacaste National Park. Roaring River Golf Course is a 9 hole executive-style golf course. A par 64 course that measures a total distance of 3,892 yards. The course has double tees that measure 1,933 yards on the frontline and 1,959 yards on the backline. The fairways are lined with indigenous trees and natural jungle growth offers small jungle trails with iguanas and various species of tropical birds when not golfing. If you are a serious golfer or just looking for a round of golf with your friends complete with clubhouse and refreshments then this is the course you want to visit.
Roaring River Golf Course
If you are looking to golf on an island surrounded by the spectacular waters of the Caribbean with views of the Barrier Reef then you might want to visit Caye Chapel Golf Resort. Located just 12 miles off the coast of Belize City and a couple hours away from the US, this resort has been seeing its share of famous golfers to include Tiger Woods. This golf resort is the only one of its kind in Belize and can boast the only Par 72, 18 Hole Championship Golf Course with four Par 5 Holes measuring a total of more than 7,000 yards. Caye Chapel Golf Resort offers a deep water marina that can accomodate 140 foot yachts and a private airstrip for even the most discerning of guests. A 25,000 square foot Clubhouse with 5,000 square feet of verandahs perched from heights of over 60 feet, located between the back and front nine of the spectacular golf couse, with restaurant, bar, fitness center and conference facility is surely an added bonus to this already luxuriuous golf resort. Golf at Caye Chapel Golf Resort is golf at its finest without tee-times, round timing or round limits. There are certain dates that the island is closed to the public due to large weddings, corporate events and celebrity visits.

Caye Chapel Golf Course
Are you now convinced that BELIZE is the place to be during those cold winter months?
Are you looking for a Second Home or a Retirement Home in Belize?
Make sure to contact Platinum International Real Estate and Invesments for all your Belize Real Estate Needs.

International: 011-501-664-1630
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