For many years Belize has been a favorite destination of mine, with its mountains and forests, beautiful beaches, and archeological sites of the ancient Maya.
But the country also includes Caribbean islands, such as Ambergris Caye. The area of Placencia, a peninsula at the extreme end of Belize, feels like an island. Not yet highly visited, both areas retain the authentic feeling of the indigenous people of the Caribbean islands with their lilting speech, their sparkling smiles, their upbeat music, and their relaxed approach to life.
It’s easy enough to make island vacation fantasies come true on Ambergris Caye and Placencia. Here you’ll encounter people in shorts riding bicycles to the small towns, folks sipping tropical drinks on the beachfront or around the pool, trips out to the reefs for snorkeling, scuba diving and swimming, fishing expeditions or other water sports.
If you envision a vacation when most of your wardrobe consists of sandals, shorts, and bathing suits, with a couple of shirts or skirts for the evening, you’ll find yourself right at home. It’s the kind of packing that is light enough to allow you just one check-on piece of luggage or, if you’ve learned to be modest in your choices of clothing, sometimes a carry-on will be enough.
Welcome to Victoria House
I’ve visited Victoria House on Ambergis Caye a number of times over the years. Each time I’m there, I’m struck with the same feeling. The staff genuinely seem to enjoy what they’re doing and pay attention to every guest.
Immediately upon arrival, you’re handed a cool drink and a gracious welcome as you’re shown to your room. Since I’ve been there on various occasions, I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying a number of accommodations, all of which have been delightful. The décor is different with each and each is equally noticeable in the attention to details.
During the day, any kind of water sport or ocean excursion can be arranged, or you can just relax around one of the pools or on the lounges on the beach. It doesn’t take more than a quick ride in one of their electric carts to get into San Pedro town in the center of the island. There you have many choices of great restaurants featuring fresh seafood in a relaxed and informal environment.
Back at Victoria House, a little more relaxing or maybe a nap in a hammock before getting ready for dinner, either indoors in air-conditioned comfort or outdoor dining under the stars. From the bathing suits, shorts or sundresses that you might have worn for breakfast, you’ll now be able to shift gears to evening attire which may or may not include shoes. The food, breakfast, lunch and dinner, is superb and beautifully presented. The volcanic chocolate cake for dessert is an experience not soon to be forgotten.
Janet Wollam and Brent Kirkman have been managing Victoria House for decades and oversee their superlative staff as well as every detail, from hand-made furniture of Belizean hardwoods to original local artwork. Bath amenities are luxurious. I also love to browse their gift shop and still treasure the beautiful, hand-carved tray of local hardwood that sits on our dining table, a small piece of sculptural beauty that reminds me always of one of my most favorite hotels.
Visiting Ambergris Caye
Getting to Ambergris Caye is just a short flight from Belize City which has flights going out to the island on a regular basis. We’ve used Tropic Air but there are other regional airlines available as well. From there you can return to Belize City and then take another short flight to Placencia. Or you can reverse it by flying from Belize City first to Placencia and back to catch a flight to Ambergris Caye. Either way works well.
When you get off the small plane in Placencia, you’ll find yourself close to the center of town and it’s just a stone’s throw away to another very special place, the small boutique resort of Chabil Mar Villas. Here, the accommodations have been furnished with the same beautiful tropical hardwoods and the vibrant art of Belize. From the time you’ve checked in and been welcomed with a cool drink and escorted through the paths leading to your particular accommodation, you’ll be entranced by the lush landscaping.
© Susanna Starr
Getting settled in our spacious and gracious suite of bedroom, living room and fully equipped kitchen, we walked outside to our deck with its ocean view. It was a few minutes to take in all the beauty and serenity before one of the staff arrived, as if by magic, to take our lunch order. Chabil Mar does not have a formal restaurant. Instead, a staff member will deliver your enticing meals to the place of your choice. It can be on your own private deck or it can be at one of the tables scattered around the pool or lounges on the beach. It can be at the outdoor, thatched-roofed bar or state-of-the-art outdoor cooking area (especially nice if you’ve arranged to grill your own catch of the day).
This is a special destination reflecting the ambiance that has carefully been created by Diane Bulman who has had many years of experience in resort management on Caribbean islands and has built the kind of resort based on fulfilling the expectations of the traveler who appreciates the feeling of quiet serenity in an informally, elegant beach setting. The gardens are lush, the flowers abundant, the food enticing, and the accommodations elegant.
Whether you’re the owner of a luxury yacht looking for a new, laid-back destination in the Caribbean, or someone looking for just a week’s stay where you can relax in privacy and informal luxury, Chabil Mar is probably what you’re looking for.
Placencia is still relatively unknown to tourism. Back in the old days, the way of getting there from Belize City was by land on a long, dusty and difficult road, the Hummingbird Highway.
Now, with Tropic Air and other small airlines, getting there is no longer a challenge. Once you’re there, you’ll be able to unpack your shorts, bathing suits and sandals, ride into town on your bicycle and wander around for a while before returning to Chabil Mar and the arduous decisions of what to eat, or drink or whether or not to lie out on your lounge and read or go into the ocean for a dip in the warm waters of the Caribbean. But, wait…..maybe you’d like to just swing in your hammock and fall asleep to sound of the swaying palm fronds so that you’ll be all refreshed for the night’s activities. Here in Chabil Mar, that’s mostly dining out under the stars or taking a moonlit stroll along the beach.
Not interested in high-rise hotels or jumping nightlife, but a lover of peace and quiet on tropical Caribbean beaches that provide the kind of luxury that emphasizes the enjoyment of the natural environment? Both Ambergris Caye and Placencia in beautiful Belize will welcome you to share in all of this and more.
Learn more about Ambergris Caye.
Learn about visiting nearby Honduras.
Last updated December 23, 2023
