Immerse yourself in the tropical paradise that is Belize, exploring remnants of the Maya – ancient cities and exhilarating caves – while becoming one with the rainforest and its inhabitants. More than a vacation, Belize is a state of being; a place where your senses come alive and you find yourself not just living, but savoring every moment.

Co-created with the region’s last Mayan Shaman and deeply inspired by the sacred natural surroundings of the Belizean land, rituals and traditions, this Holistic Healing Retreat will encourage you to explore how you can live in harmony as well as find balance within yourselves and with all life in your midst. Offering both Sunrise and Sunset sessions either on Ka’ana’s on-site Yoga Pavilion or on scenic settings, such as the Ball Court in the ancient Maya City of Xunantunich and the Banks of the Mopan River, the rich content woven through this comprehensive retreat will be embodied through the practice of yoga. The physical exploration of yoga poses (asana) in a flow-based approach will build over the natural arc of the retreat and will serve to clear excess stagnation and stress, creating the space for abundance, vitality and a deep sense of peace.

An early morning departure from Belize’s Twin Town of San Ignacio to Flores, El Petén’s Capital City, will have you at Tikal where you can explore one of the most impressive Maya Pyramids. The Temple Of The Jaguar is sure to be the highlight of your trip as its stone walls, standing at forty-seven metres, rise above the rainforest canopy and allow you a panoramic view of the surrounding expanse of growth. The haunting sounds of Howler Monkeys and sightings of other exotic wildlife will only add to this unparalleled experience. Contact us to customize your tour of Guatemala’s City of Echoes!

With summer around the corner, it’s easy to dream of distant destinations with sunnier climes. Escape to the tropical paradise that is Belize – Central America’s second smallest country and only English-speaking of the seven.

Featured in AquaViews Online Scuba Magazine’s article, Top 10 Summer Scuba Diving Destinations, Belize’s famous natural attractions – the Barrier Reef and the Blue Hole – lure people to its Cayes year after year. With azure warm waters lapping at its white-sand coastlines set on a backdrop of  lush foliage, visitors are treated to stunning  views as well as countless land and water activities.

As a country with great ecological diversity and a famous destination for travelers, visitors are advised to venture beyond its beaches or islands to explore its natural heritage as Belize has a magical interior that shouldn’t be overlooked. With so much to do and see, a good start to your vacation planning is to get ideas of activities and destinations that appeal to you.

1. A true melting pot, Belize’s cultures and traditions compel you to travel inland to witness the many ethnicities which make up its population. Moreover, Belizean people are diverse, friendly and welcoming by nature; interact with them to experience aspects of their customs such as cuisine, dance and music.
2. As an ideal tropical paradise, experience both sides to the “Belizean Coin” – a splash of the Caribbean Sea and a taste of the Central American heat! A “Sand & Stone” vacation, offered by partner resorts, allows you to spend half your days on an island with the remainder inland.
3. Belize’s highlands mean lots of phenomenal cascades. In fact, the 1000 Foot Falls is the tallest in Central America. Refresh yourself in other impressive waterfalls such as Big Rock Falls, Five Sisters Falls and Rio On Pools – all in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve.
4. Belize’s High Season begins with Winter in North America. Most of the time it’s challenging to find hotel accommodations so book your travel in advance. You can also book your vacation during the Low Season when prices are much lower and hotel accommodations are easy to find.
5. With one of the most extensive and fantastic cave systems, Belize’s Cayo District is riddled with underground passages. Be sure to set aside a day for the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave – sure to be the highlight of your vacation!
6. Dotted with ancient cities and ruins, visit Xunantunich – one of the most popular archaeological sites in the region; the panoramic view from “El Castillo”, the main structure, is definitely worth the trip!
7. Filled with national parks to explore and wildlife sanctuaries to peruse, you’re guaranteed to see exotic as well as native creatures.
8. Follow the annual La Ruta Maya River Challenge if you’re visiting during the first weekend in the month of March. It’s an exciting four-day cross-country canoe race which starts on the Macal River in the Twin Town of San Ignacio and ends on the Belize River in Belize’s Old Capital.
9. Many Belize hotels offer all-inclusive packages, often customizing them to suit your needs and enhance your stay! An inland luxury hotel or jungle resort for example, may have quiet, natural surroundings, nearby attractions as well as personal spas which offer seclusion from too many people.
10. Wander off the Beaten Path! However, be sure to tread carefully through natural sites to ensure Belize remains a jewel for locals and visitors alike.

Travel writing is a job that most people only dream about. Immerse yourself in the tropical paradise that is Belize, cooking with our Culinary Team of Artisans, exploring ancient Mayan caves as well as cities, and relaxing at an upscale resort – all while learning how to turn those unique experiences into travel articles!

After experiencing the wonderful natural attractions, guided by adventure specialists, that Belize as a destination has to offer, devote time at Ka’ana learning the nuts-and-bolts of travel writing. Become skilled at approaching editors, locating outlets for stories, uncovering grand ideas, writing salable articles and, of course, traveling the world for free! Thoughtful critiques of your work will assist you to whet your writing abilities and take you one step closer to being published. You’ll also have free time to interact with other writers over gourmet meals as well as to write under the shade of Belize’s lush rainforest.

Cave Tubing has been described as “part lazy river, part jungle exploration” in AOL Travel News’ article, “Cave Tubing In Belize: What You Need To Know“, since travelers must hike through subtropical trails and wade across shallow jungle-lined rivers to  float along cool waters.

With a myriad of spectacular natural attractions, there are plenty of adventures – cave tubing being only one of them – to discover and explore Belize as a diverse destination!

Greenish Elaenia “Myiopagis Viridicata”

Are you interested in Bird Watching? If so, grab your binoculars because Belize is the ideal setting since its cayes (pronounced keys; meaning islands), coastal plains, savannahs, tropical forests, and wetlands offer a myriad of natural habitats to diverse birds.

White-Eyed Vireo “Vireo Griseus”

The Belize Audubon Society – the country’s foremost environmental organization since 1969 – visited Ka’ana at the beginning of this year. Dedicated to creating a balance between Belizeans and their surrounding, they reported over sixty (60) species of birds throughout  our property. Below is the checklist of birds recorded.

1.) Greenish Eleania          2.) White-Eyed Vireo

3.) White-Tipped Dove          4.) Wood Thrush

5.) Yellow-Olive Flycatcher          6.) Yellow-Bellied Eleania

7.) Scrub Euphonia          8.) Common Yellowthroat

9.) Chestnut-Sided Warbler          10.) Blue-Winged Warbler

11.) Lesser Greenlet          12.) Montezuma Oropendula

13.) Black Vulture          14.) Grey-Necked Wood Rail

15.) Yellow-Throated Vireo          16.) Black-Cowled Oriole

17.) Summer Tanager          18.) Rose-Throated Becard

19.) Yellow-Billed Cacique          20.) White-Collared Seedeater

21.) Groove-Billed Ani          22.) Blue-Black Grosbeak

23.) Black-Headed Saltator          24.) Great Kiskadee

25.) Social Flycatcher          26.) Blue-Grey Tanager

27.) Road-Side Hawk          28.) Yellow Warbler

29.) Northern Waterthrush          30.) Olive-Throated Parakeet

31.) Spot-Breasted Wren          32.) Orchard Oriole

33.) Baltimore Oriole          34.) Red-Billed Pigeon

35.) Clay-Colored Thrush          36.) Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird

37.) Great-Tailed Grackle          38.) Ruddy-Ground Dove

39.) Golden-Fronted Woodpecker          40.) Melodious Blackbird

41.) Masked Tityra          42.) Common-Tody Flycatcher

43.) White-Fronted Parrot          44.) Tropical Peewee

45.) Blue-Crowned Motmot          46.) Tropical Mockingbird

47.) Couch’s Kingbird          48.) Tropical Kingbird

49.) Yellow-Winged Tanager          50.) Yellow-Throated Euphonia

51.) Cattle Egret          52.) Lesser-Swallow-Tailed Swift

53.) Killdeer          54.) Common Pauraque

55.) Brown Jay          56.) Vermillion Flycatcher

57.) Bronzed Cowbird          58.) Thrush-Like Schiffornis

59.) Blue-Ground Dove          60.) Blue-Black Grassquit

61.) American Redstart          62.) Hooded Warbler

On March 2, 2011 Ka’ana Boutique Resort was featured on USA Today Travel – a web portal devoted to offer its online members and other internet users with tips on travel. The article, Spa Vacations In Belize, features Belize as an ideal  destination and setting for a spa retreat as the title implies. The overview mentions that this country “blends the best of both worlds” so travelers can experience both sides to the “Belizean Coin”.

It emphasizes Ka’ana’s use of natural ingredients, from its two-acre on-site organic garden, for the treatments performed at its personal spa. Finally, traditional Mayan Healing with the region’s last Mayan Shaman – Rosario Panti – is also noted within the write-up.

Located between the Caribbean Coast, Guatemala and Mexico, Belize is ideal for adventure, exploration and relaxation. Seamlessly combining the best of both worlds – rainforest and reef – visitors can experience the magic that makes it a favorite return destination!  When you’re not diving with nurse sharks in limpid blue bays where colourful fish swim above the coral reefs or lounging on palm-fringed white-sand beaches, discover the dense jungles inland, embrace and interact with the melting pot of cultures that this tropical paradise has to offer while exploring alluring caves as well as ancient cities. Even though Belize is famous as a dive destination there’s more to this small Central American country than what’s underwater!

http://www.sabotagetimes.com/travel/the-planets-top-snorkeling-spots/

On February 15, 2011 Ka’ana Boutique Resort was featured on AOL Travel News – a web portal committed to provide its online members and other internet users with news on travel. The article, “Five Eco Vacations Sure To Make Travelers Feel Good“, features Ka’ana as the ideal inland locale in the country of Belize for an intimate eco experience. It also highlights the resort’s furnishings crafted by local artisans, its sustainable practices such as  the Trade  Trees for Travel program; as well as its two-acre on-site organic garden which  provides La Ceiba Restaurant with 75% of its herbs and vegetables daily.

Ka’ana recognizes the importance of providing our guests with honest luxury, without compromising the sustainability of the region, and as such we’re mandated to enhance our guests’  eco experience.