Overview

Warm trade winds carry the scent of the Caribbean and rustle the coconut palms overhead. The water gently lapping at the shore sparkles an iridescent turquoise. Put your shoes away - you won't need them for a while. You have arrived. You are at Blackbird Caye Resort.

Blackbird is one of Belize's premier, best-established offshore dive and snorkel resorts, located on a delightful 167-acre island on Turneffe Atoll. It's personal, private and relaxing: only 18 air-conditioned cabanas, all with front porches facing the water. Perfect for kicking back with a Belikin beer after a long day of diving, snorkeling, kayaking or beachcombing.

Your vacation begins when you are met by resort staff at the Belize International Airport for a short ride to the resort’s dock. There you will board the fast, 50-foot vessel, Big Bird, for the spectacular 32-mile trip to Blackbird Caye Resort. Sip on complimentary sodas and Belizean beer as you weave through coconut palm-dotted mangrove islands, to the great Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest in the world. The short hour and a half trip is both exciting and scenic. When you arrive, toss the shoes, dig your toes in the sand, meet the resort’s friendly staff and learn about what you can do during your stay.

There is something at Blackbird Caye Resort for everyone: scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and more. You can be as busy as you like, or slow down and read a book, or put in some serious hammock time under a coconut tree. You'll wonder why you don't indulge in trips like this more often!

Location
Belize is located in Central America on the western edge of the Caribbean, immediately south of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Formerly called British Honduras, it is the only English-speaking country in Central America. Its British Colonial-era legacy is reflected in the exquisitely charming 19th Century architecture of Belize City and a solid, democratic society based on British common law. In fact, it is still a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, whose head of state is none other than Queen Elizabeth II of England.

About Belize
Belizeans are a true melting pot of cultures: Mayan Indians (the original inhabitants), Hispanic, Creole, Garifuna, European and more recently, Asian. Easy mixing of ethnic backgrounds is common and everyone refers to themselves as 'Belizean', regardless of ethnicity. It all makes for a very friendly, open people.

Getting There
Belize is a short 2- 2.5 hour flight from Houston, Dallas, or Miami. Slightly longer, but direct flights are available from Atlanta and Newark.