The popular Brides Magazine from Conde Nast has revealed that Belize has become the world’s fastest-growing honeymoon destination. 

The magazine, which has a readership of over 6.5 million, surveyed more than 60,000 travel agents to find the most popular honeymoon resorts around the world. The Central American destination was revealed to be the fastest growing option for newlyweds, thanks largely to the efforts of the country’s tourism board and their ‘Belize in Love’ campaign.

The campaign, which has been running for almost two years, was created by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) to promote the country as a great option for an unspoilt romantic holiday. “Promoting our romantic getaways has been one of our top marketing priorities for the last two years, so we’re pleased that our country has received such a distinguished recognition,” said Seleni Matus, director of tourism at BTB.

“This nomination is truly a testament to the success of our Belize in Love campaign and hard work and support from our private sector partners, who go above and beyond to ensure couples have the romantic escape that they’ve always dreamt of,” added Ms Matus.

BTB describe the country as one of the world’s “last unspoilt places”, and cite it as a great way of experiencing the best the Caribbean has to offer. Belize boasts spectacular tropical beaches, as well as the second largest barrier reef in the world, perfect for diving enthusiasts. Beautiful forests and jungle areas complete the picture, making Belize an unusual and popular option for newlyweds or holidaymakers seeking a new adventure.

Direct flights to the country are only available from the US, but cheap flights to Belize from the UK are available via connections from both Continental and American Airlines.

Photo credit:http://www.holidayhypermarket.co.uk/

Our recent trip to Belize wouldn’t have been complete without a visit to the jungles, nature, and Mayan ruins of the Cayo District.

We reserved a one week stay at the Mahogany Hall Resort on the recommendation of several Trip Advisor readers.

Suffice it to say, the resort lived up to every endearing comment’s expectation.

From our harried (read turbulent!) boat ride off of tiny Tobacco Caye to a taxi ride through the lush countryside to San Ignacio, we were ready for some relaxation and pampering to end our three week vacation in Central America.

We were warmly greeted by Michelle at the office and were soon offered a welcome beverage while checking in. Even our cab driver was offered a soda before his drive back home to Dangriga.

The property is listed as a boutique resort and is a relatively new player in the Cayo District, having opened its doors in early 2010.

The building is beautifully crafted with mahogany wood doors and accents throughout, and has a commanding location above the Mopan River.

Sharing that same view is a beautiful infinity pool with a rock waterfall.

At the end of each day, we slept soundly in a very welcoming comfy bed, complete with a Cloud 9 mattress.

The resort contains a handful of rooms and a few suites. We stayed in both types of accommodation during our visit. I highly recommend the suite for a stay of several days.

Every meal was lovingly prepared by chef Chris, who takes great pride in preparing Caribbean dishes with the freshest ingredients available. On several occasions, he went over the menu with my husband and I to make sure we’d enjoy the culinary experience.

Mahogany Hall is family-owned and operated. Every one of the staff went out of their way to ensure a pleasant stay by providing advice on the area, day tours, and making us feel at home.

The wildlife in the area is amazing. Hammocks and deck chairs make for an inviting place to unwind, read a book, or simply listen to the river and watch both tropical and migratory birds fly by.

This was a fantastic way to end our journey through Belize. The resort will be featured in the next edition of the Lonely Planet Guide to Belize.

Many thanks to Michelle, Mary, Richard, Chris, Jonathan, and Noel for a wonderful experience! Visit the website for more information.