Belize

Belize Reports 6.1 Percent Increase in Tourist Arrivals

Belize’s Matachica Resort Completes Series of Upgrades

Above: the Matachica Resort and Spa in Belize By the Caribbean Journal staff The Matachica Resort & Spa in Belize has completed a series of upgrades to the property. The Matachica has expanded its outdoor dining area and its bar-lounge …

Belize and United Kingdom Strengthen Military Ties

Above: the HMS Argyll (Photo: UK Gov) By the Caribbean Journal staff A delegation from the Belize Defence Force and the Belize Coast Guard recently concluded an official visit to the United Kingdom. The delegation included Brigadier General David Jones, …

Rum Journal: A New Rum From Belize

Above: Tiburon Rum (all photos by RJ) BELIZE is one of the region’s sugar production hubs. And yet, even for a land in love with the spirit as much as its neighbours in the Caribbean, Belizean rums are not well …

Belize Tourism Continues Strong 2013

Above: the El Secreto resort in Belize By the Caribbean Journal staff Belize’s tourism sector got off to a record start at the beginning of 2013, and the trend has continued. Belize recorded 215,234 tourist arrivals from January through August, …

New Belize Ocean Club Resort Names General Manager

Above: the Belize Ocean Club By the Caribbean Journal staff The Belize Ocean Club has named West Tucker as its general manager. Tucker comes to Belize from the Century South Beach hotel in Miami Beach. The resort is planning to …

Norwegian Cruise Line to Develop Cruise Destination in Belize

Above: a rendering of the project By the Caribbean Journal staff Norwegian Cruise Line has purchased around 75 acres in southern Belize for a planned cruise port destination, the company announced Wednesday. The land, which is called Harvest Caye, is …

Interview With Kim Barrow, First Lady of Belize

Above: Belize First Lady Kim Barrow By Alexander Britell After winning her battle with breast cancer, Belize First Lady Kim Barrow is on a mission to improve the welfare of women and young people in her country. Barrow, the wife …

Costa Rica Tops Belize, 1-0, in Gold Cup

Above: Belize’s footballers By the Caribbean Journal staff Belize followed up a blowout loss to the United States with a heartbreaking defeat against Costa Rica in Utah on Saturday. In a hard-fought game, Costa Rica’s only goal came on an …

Caribbean Lionfish Are “Here to Stay”

Above: a lionfish (Photo: Abel Valdivia) By the Caribbean Journal staff The Caribbean’s lionfish problem will not get better without vigilant management of the species, according to a new study from researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel …

Belize, Cuba Fall in Gold Cup

Above: Belize’s footballers (FP) By the Caribbean Journal staff Belize and Cuba each suffered defeats on Tuesday in their Gold Cup opening matches. Belize fell to the United States, 6-1, while Cuba lost to Costa Rica, 3-0. The United States’ …

Belize Prime Minister Visits London

Above: Belize PM Dean Barrow By the Caribbean Journal staff Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow arrived in London Sunday for an official visit to the United Kingdom. Barrow was met in London by a representative of Secretary of State William …

Caribbean Room With a View: A Rainforest Getaway in Belize

IT WAS FOLLOWING a trip to Belize that legendary film director Francis Ford Coppola decided to purchase the then-abandoned Blancaneaux Lodge in the rainforest of Belize. Nearly 20 years after opening the resort, the 20-room boutique property remains one of …

Belize Condemns Destruction of Mayan Archaeological Site

Above: another Mayan pyramid in Belize By the Caribbean Journal staff Belize’s government is condemning the recent destruction of the Noh Mul Mayan archaeological site during a mining project last week. Gaspar Vega, Belize’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of …

Taiwan Presents $5 Million Grant to Belize For Infrastructure Projects

Above: Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow and Taiwan Prime Minister David CK Wu By the Caribbean Journal staff Taiwan has granted $5 million to the government of Belize for infrastructure projects. The funding, which was officially presented by Taiwanese Ambassador …

Belize Tourism Off to Record Start in 2013

Above: El Secreto in Belize (Photo: El Secreto) By the Caribbean Journal staff Tourism in Belize is at an all-time high for the first quarter of 2013, according to a report from the Belize Tourism Board. Airport arrivals increased by …

Moody’s Upgrades Belize Credit Rating, Warns of “Debt Overhang”

Above: Parliament in Belmopan By the Caribbean Journal staff New York-based Moody’s has upgraded the credit rating on Belize’s government bonds, the firm announced Monday. The rating has been lifted to Caa2 from Ca, with a “stable” outlook. The move …

Belize Reports “Encouraging” Oil Discovery in Orange Walk District

Above: Parliament in Belmopan By the Caribbean Journal staff Maranco Energy Belize Limited, which is currently searching for oil in the Orange Walk District in the country’s northeastern region, has discovered an “encouraging oil show,” according to the government. The …

The Caribbean’s Top 10 Hotel Bars – 2013

Above: Yara Bar at the Amanyara Turks and Caicos (Photo: Aman Resorts) WE KNOW the Caribbean has the world’s best beach bars, but it’s also home to some exceptional hotel bars — some are well-known, and others are well-kept secrets. …