The Blackbird Blog

Belong to the Blue Hole Club of Belize

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you haven’t made it to the Blue Hole during your trip to Belize, you haven’t really made it. The Blue Hole is a staple among places to visit in the area, where just 50 miles away from land's end lies Belize’s famous Great Blue Hole, a UNESCO site might we add. But this site is unlike anything else—on your way out to the blue hole, you’ll skim across crystal clear teal and green waters until it all dissipates and you're looking into a bottomless pit of deep blue ocean. This natural wonder deserves an entire day of exploration on its own—you can spend hours here—diving, swimming, and most importantly, marveling. There are many different tours you can take based on the type of adventurer you are—for the more mild explorer, a snorkel cruise might be for you, while for the more extreme, maybe try a sky diving trip over the great blue. It doesn’t matter how you see the Blue Hole, the most important part is that you see it! 

Can You Belize We Celebrate Thanksgiving Too?

It may come as a surprise, but did you know that Thanksgiving in Belize is as big of a holiday as it is in Canada and the United States. Just like our northern neighbors, we love a good stuffed bird with different accompaniments such as rice and peas and potato salad. Although it seems like an unlikely place to celebrate your usual Thanksgiving festivities, spending your holiday in Belize may be just what the doctor ordered. 

Spend your morning of thanks walking the shores of the sandy coastline thinking about all the goodness that 2019 has brought to you. Once you've said your morning gratitudes, enjoy a light breakfast surrounded by all of your loved ones. It is truly a special treat to have everyone in one place with nothing on the agenda but to spend time together relaxing. Swim at the pool, go snorkeling, or just catch some rays before it’s time for your annual Thanksgiving Dinner celebrations. Ending all in time for the most important part of the day—your post-dinner hammock nap. 

Celebrate an Entire Month of Independence in Belize

September is truly the month of Belizean Pride! If you are planning a visit to Blackbird Caye in the next few days, it is safe to say you hit the celebratory jackpot. Belizeans will be celebrating all month long because September 21st marks their thirty-eighth year of becoming an independent nation. Now if that sounds young to you, it's because it is. Belize only gained their independence from Great Britain in 1981, the most ironic part about Belize gaining their independence in September is that it is the same month that Great Britain won a Naval Battle over the Spanish to gain Belize as part of their colony in 1798. So although the actual Independence Day on the 21st, Belizeans will begin celebrating on the 10th with music, vibrant clothes, sparkles, feathers, dancing and a whole lot of fun! No matter what day of the week or where you are staying in Belize it is sure to be a party. 

Colors, Corals, and More: Dive The Aquarium

It may not be as popular as the Great Blue Hole or Half Moon Caye Wall, but no Belizean vacation is complete without a visit to The Aquarium. We promise—it’s nothing like the ones back home.

Sitting 13 miles east of Turneffe Atoll, this chunk of Long Caye is prized for its biodiversity. Brain corals, gorgonians, and sea plumes dot the shallow end of a tabletop reef; parrotfish, Creole Wrasse, and sergeant majors lead the way toward a steep dropoff.

It only gets better from there: A sheer wall, crusted with coral, stretches towards the depths. Groupers and barracudas cruise by, adding to the liveliness of this unique ecosystem. Needless to say, there’s a lot to see; and with visibility reaching 80 feet, you’ll have your chance to see it all. All that’s left to do is prep your dive gear.