Carolee Chanona

At any time of year, Central America astounds with its gorgeous beaches, exciting hikes, ancient ruins and – above all else – extraordinary natural beauty.
As you mull a getaway to this region of small countries and huge pleasures, two of its most welcoming destinations will surely rise to the top of your list: Belize and Costa Rica.
Yet since we don’t feel qualified to recommend one over the other, we decided to outsource the question to two expert writers, who make the case for each here.
E...

I find it challenging to look back on my three months in Belize and not get jealous of my past self. After my incredible conversation with local writer Carolee Chanona, who spends all her free time looking for the most amazing adventures in her home country, I’ve been tapping into my sense memory of kayaking with manatees, snorkeling along the reef and hiking in the jungle.

Science tells us carbon sinks determine the quality of our very existence. And yet, the average Belizean might struggle to identify one. That will have to change if Belizeans want to keep telling a victorious story about our Belize Barrier Reef.
Carbon held in the ocean, coastal wetlands, seagrass beds, and their sediments surpass the planet’s forests in the rate of sequestration; blue carbon. Leveraging blue carbon will require ambitious conservation-forward policies to maintain and restore ...

The official visitor destination guide of the Belize Tourism Industry Association 2016/2017. Article spread "Birding Wonderland" focused on avi-tourism in Belize and why it's the perfect introduction to tropical bird-watching.

Slow. Simply defined as reducing the speed or pace of a process. In today’s fast paced reality it’s a word that—just by sheer utterance—feels seductive. Slow is “permission” to stop and savor, yet we can apply that to a quick weekend getaway or even the guilty pleasure of drive-through fast food.
And vacations are no exception.
If you’ve ever experienced travel burnout, which might feel like you need more vacation days to recover from your trip, then you weren’t traveling slow enough. Ironic,...

Here’s your Instagram Guide to the Cayo District – Western Belize
Belize as a whole is photogenic, with astounding beauty in the form of wildlife, culture and attractions. Many can testify to the feeling of being dropped straight into a paradisiacal postcard once they arrive. Because of this, it’s easy to come across sights perfect for an Instagram background anywhere in the country.
The Belize location tag on the photo-sharing app may be teeming with beach shots (no surprise there), but ther...

Written By: Carolee Chanona
Side-skirting downtown Belize City, the zinc roofing of Conchshell Bay’s open-air fish market glistens gold with a setting sun. Fishers are here with their catch of the day from inshore and offshore expeditions: deepwater snappers, hand-speared hogfish, daunting barracudas, rosy strawberry groupers, plentiful mackerels. Walk too close, and you’ve got rogue scales—airborne from the back of a trusty, dull butter knife—as proof of your visit.
When the fishing crews co...

Written by: Carolee Chanona
The grandeur of instinct.
Unfettered by the world around it—of smart phones, curious onlookers, and even excited ripples of footsteps in the soft sand—instinct alone led this critically endangered turtle ashore to Gales Point Manatee. Here, dedicated efforts to preserve hawksbill turtles has been almost a two decade-long plight, thanks to Hawksbill Hope.
“Did you eat? I’m picking you up in 5 minutes. We need to leave now if we want to be there when she’s back.”
The...

Endowed with three of the Western Hemisphere’s four total atolls and the second largest continuous coral reef in the world, diving offshore Belize is a brilliant stand-alone phenomenon. After being dubbed “the most remarkable reef in the West Indies” by Charles Darwin himself in 1842, Belize does not shy away from its claim to fame. With roughly 100 coral species, 500 species of fish, and much more to be discovered in its 370 square miles; intrigue yourself for hours on end with the Belize Ba...