There’s more to the Belize Barrier Reef than the Great Blue Hole. From stunning seascapes to isolated islands, Blackbird Caye’s staff picks take a deep dive into the beauty enveloping our Turneffe Atoll resort — all that’s left is to do is explore.
Celebrate Carnaval in Ambergris Cay
Celebrate Carnaval in Ambergris Cay
Ask any Belizean the best time to visit the town of San Pedro, and undoubtedly they will tell you it is the month of February.Not only is the weather to die for and the crowds less invasive, but we are also rearing up for Fiesta de Carnaval.
Celebrate Carnaval in Ambergris Cay
Ask any Belizean the best time to visit the town of San Pedro, and undoubtedly they will tell you it is the month of February. Not only is the weather to die for and the crowds less invasive, but we are also rearing up for Fiesta de Carnaval. If you’ve never heard of Carnaval lets us explain.
Belize is primarily Roman Catholic, which means that celebrating Easter and Lent is extremely important, but before Lent begins, the country celebrates with the Fiesta de Carnaval as a way to indulge in eating, drinking, dancing and overall partying before the forty-day ritual begins. The Carnaval is celebrated all around South America, but we celebrate ours here in Ambergris Cay on February 23rd. If you plan on attending, you should be ready to dance and celebrate with local Belizean's and tons of visitors from out of town. Help us bring in the next forty days the right way during your stay in Belize!
Belong to the Blue Hole Club of Belize
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.
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!
Deck the Halls at Blackbird Caye Resort
Deck the Halls at Blackbird Caye Resort
It’s no secret that December in Belize is a delightful time to visit—which is why we wanted to give you the breakdown of all the fun things to do this month. If you find yourself washed up on our sandy shores, it's crucial that you book a winter snorkeling excursion.
Deck the Halls at Blackbird Caye Resort
It’s no secret that December in Belize is a delightful time to visit—which is why we wanted to give you the breakdown of all the fun things to do this month. If you find yourself washed up on our sandy shores, it's crucial that you book a winter snorkeling excursion. The Belize Barrier Reef is crawling with gorgeous tropical fish this time of year, and the water happens to be just right for swimming. Another winter highlight is the Ambergris Caye Boat Parade—this fun spin on a traditional holiday parade is great to watch with the entire family. Sit back, relax, and see all of these gorgeous boats that have been transformed into the best holiday sea show you will ever watch. Christmas and New Years are two busy days in Belize and happen to be agreat time to get completely immersed in the Belizean culture. Celebrate alongside locals and tourists for a week full of holiday spirit you won’t soon forget!
Can You Belize We Celebrate Thanksgiving Too?
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.
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.
Conch on During Harvest Season
Conch on During Harvest Season
October 1st is a greatly anticipated date around the ocean in Belize. It’s officially conch harvesting season! Pack your flippers and your mask, because Skipper, we are going on a delicious adventure!
October 1st is a greatly anticipated date around the ocean in Belize. It’s officially conch harvesting season! Pack your flippers and your mask, because Skipper, we are going on a delicious adventure! Conch is a mollusk that is typically found in the Caribbean waters. This particular sea creature lives in a gorgeous pink shell and has soft, white meat. The shell is often used as a decorative piece around the home, sometimes used in building materials, and can even be found in jewelry. But the best part about the conch is the meat. Because of its mild flavor and chewy texture, Conch is prepared in many different ways and appeals to many different palettes. Have it fried, grilled, in soup, or even ceviche it—conch truly takes on the flavors of the Caribbean.
Here in Belize, the season for harvesting conch has gotten shorter and shorter because of over-fishing. But sustainability and responsible ocean practices are important to us and have made us monitor the season a little more closely. If conch hunting piques your interest, be sure to stay in the know on our local practices so that you can thoroughly enjoy the experience of conch harvesting while still be responsible and mindful of our beautiful, bountiful ocean.
Celebrate an Entire Month of Independence in Belize
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.
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.
The Options Are Un-Belize-Able
The Options Are Un-Belize-Able
We like to take our vacations with a little dose of education. Welcome to Blackbird Caye Resort, where you can relax in a hammock or learn something completely new at your own leisure.
We like to take our vacations with a little dose of education. Welcome to Blackbird Caye Resort, where you can relax in a hammock or learn something completely new at your own leisure. Here in Belize, we are blessed to be placed in such a perfect position geographically—Mother Nature has graced us with both the sea and the jungle. While on your stay with us in Central America, we have all the resources to teach you how to scuba dive for the very first time or simply give you a refresher course; but also guide you on the nature above surface-level too, by birding or taking excursions inland to see the natural habitat above sea-level. Let your fins thrive or spread your wings to fly. No matter which direction you go, the Black Bird Resort will be here to lift you up and even teach you a thing or two about the place we call home.
Colors, Corals, and More: Dive The Aquarium
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.
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.
