Want to enjoy the laid-back natural ambiance and scenic beauty of a seaside village? Placencia, Belize, is the perfect location to visit. It’s the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of your busy life in the city.
Placencia is a serene beach village off the southern coast of Belize. There are numerous things to do in this area, including touring Monkey River, visiting the majestic Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, exploring Bocawina National Park, and enjoying local food.
Placencia is truly an experience you’ll never forget. In this article, you’ll learn about Placencia, its jaw-dropping ambiance, things to do, when to visit, how to get there, and more. Let’s dig in!
About Placencia, Belize
Placencia is a fishing shoreline settlement drenched with natural beauty. It sits at the steep edges of the 16-mile-long (26 kilometers) Placencia Peninsula in Southern Belize, Stann Creek District.
Placencia is a corruption of the Spanish word “Punta Placentia.” The name was given to the peninsula by the Spaniards in 1800. It means Point Pleasant in English. The official Belize language here is English, and the locals welcome tourists warmly.
Many people regard the village as an island, but it’s not. It’s one of the three communities of the Placencia Peninsula, a 16-mile (26 kilometers) stretch of beautiful beaches. The other two are Maya Beach and Seine Bight.
Once a sleepy coastal village, Placencia today has been transformed into a beautiful holiday destination, full of luxury resorts, bustling Beach bars, and exotic restaurants. These features mean that both international and local tourists make their way to the peninsula all year round.
Despite its recent transformation, the village retains its initial laid-back charm and all elements of nature that make it irresistible. The most popular mode of transportation here is still golf carts, and the local population is so small (below 2,000) that everyone knows when a tourist steps in.
Placencia is more than simply a destination of beach stretches, lavish restaurants, and fine resorts. It’s a location that also offers you the model jungle experience of a lifetime.
Resting 20 miles (32 kilometers) off the Belize Barrier reef, this peninsula serves the perfect blend of jungle and beach experience, whether you’re a full-time tourist or a bored workaholic.
How To Get to Placencia Peninsula
There’s no international airport here, so you’ll have to fly to an airport near Belize City. The best option is the Philip Goldson International Airport. From here, you can either take a domestic flight, taxi, rent a car or board a local bus to Placencia.
If you’re going to Placencia using the local bus in Belize city, it will take six hours to get there for approximately $15. A domestic flight is the fastest option at 30 minutes maximum and costs about $120.
If you rent a car or use a shuttle, the journey is three hours faster than traveling by bus. However, it will cost you between $150-$300 for the taxi shuttle and approximately $125 per day for a car rental service.
On arrival, you can get around the village with golf carts, taxis, bikes, cars, and your feet. The streets are very narrow, and bikes are the best fit if you want to avoid walking.
Where To Stay
There are several accommodation options in Placencia to choose from. If you have a big budget, your options begin with hotels and luxury resorts. These options afford you prime luxury, scintillating views of the Caribbean Sea, and the best hospitality on the peninsula. Many of them come with on-site dive centers, and the perks are attractive.
Some of these hotels and resorts include:
- Mariposa beach resort
- Chabil Mar hotel
- Caribbean Beach Cabanas
- Nautical Inn
- Ocean Beach Breeze Resort
- Belizean Nirvana
- Robert’s Grove Beach Resort
However, you can also opt for budget-friendly options in neighboring private islands like the Coral Caye run by Francis Ford Coppola’s Turtle Inn.
Other cost-effective options include:
- The Miramar Apartments
- Harry’s Cozy Cabanas
- Any of the high-end family vacation villas
Best Time To Visit Placencia
You can plan your trip to Placencia at any time of the year and still enjoy the beach-jungle experience. Discounts run all year round on hotel prices and fun activities. However, revelers and tourists love to visit from December to June.
During these periods, the peninsula becomes the melting pot of marine festivities like snorkeling, diving, swimming, surfing, and more. June is also the month of the Placencia Lobster Festival, which is the village’s most prestigious festival.
The Belize weather from December to April is the country’s dry season, making it perfect for vacationers, honeymoons, and families planning weekend getaways. There will be no rains to disrupt your fun – instead, the sunny blue skies are yours to enjoy.
However, you should also be prepared to squeeze out extra cash from your purse for hotel bills. Prices are higher at this time due to high demand from visitors.
If you’re a lover of arts, February is the best time to visit Placencia. You will witness the annual arts festival that converges artists from all over Belize in one spot as they display their works on the 4-foot (1.22 meter) wide Placencia sidewalk.
Things To Do in Placencia
When planning a trip to Placencia, gear up for fun. It will be a refreshing experience that will leave you feeling ecstatic, broaden your horizon, and, most of all, make you happier.
You won’t run out of things to do in Placencia, especially if you are short on time. That said, here are a few options to get you started creating your itinerary:
Take a Tour of Monkey River
You can’t afford to visit Placencia and miss this tour. Monkey River is a village situated on the fringes of Toledo, and a tour of this village allows you to soak in its rich cultural heritage and history.
You’ll experience the majestic flow of the Monkey River on a boat while birds, nature, and wildlife greet you on the side.
You will also explore the luxurious vegetation of this small Creole fishing village and get up close to crocodiles, howlers, and iguanas. You can end the day with the icing on the cake – a manatee-watching tour close to Harvest Caye.
Explore the Stunning Beaches
The Placencia Peninsula plays host to multiple picturesque Belize beaches. At every turn you take, you are met with beaches which you can explore, sunbathe, play in, hold picnics, swim, and fish. Alternatively, you can always sit back, relax, and sip a cocktail as you watch the world go by.
You can also watch the sun rise and set on the beaches, offering a scenic view you will remember long after you’ve left the beach.
The beaches also boast lush green palm trees dotting the shorelines, complementing the turquoise blue waters and providing shade for resting visitors. It’s great for taking pictures with family and friends to frame at home.
Known as the longest beach stretch in Belize, the beaches around Placencia are ideal for endless fun, eating, chit-chats, reunions, and more.
Watch Wild Jaguars at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Placencia is a haven for the wild jaguar and the best location in the world to observe these wild cats in their native habitat.
If you’re looking to go jaguar-watching, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is where you need to be. However, jaguars are the only attraction in this natural reserve. It’s also a beautiful place to hike through the scenic mountains and picture the magical waterfalls.
The sanctuary is also home to a large diversity of monkeys and birds, which you will see as you take a tour through this lush, verdant area. That said, you will need a local guide if you want to enjoy your exploration to the fullest. We also recommend coming prepared with a swimsuit, bug spray, enough water to drink, and enthusiasm for adventure.
Explore the Peninsula, Southern Barrier Reef, and the Cayes
The coasts of Placencia are home to numerous islands referred to as “Cayes.” The Southern Barrier Reef is the main attraction in the Cayes as you witness the Barrier Reefs in their splendor while you go snorkeling on its crisp, clear waters.
Swimming and diving are on the menu here. It’s a thrilling experience you’ll never forget, and it is one of the best places in the world to go swimming with whale sharks.
If you aren’t as adventurous as to go swimming with sharks, you can still enjoy the waters from the safety of a boat. Hire a boat to take you fishing or go kayaking between islands – the crystal blue waters offer a ton of options!
As to the rest of the peninsula, you also have Seine Bight and Maya Beach to explore – after all, Placencia isn’t the only community in the peninsula, simply the one that is most popular with Belizean tourists.
The streets are a part of the fun. The main street of Placencia is remarkably narrow and made it to the Guinness Book of World Records in 2013 as the narrowest sidewalk in the world, so you definitely don’t want to miss this iconic path.
Learn How To Make Chocolates
Traveling is learning, and learning the art of chocolate making ensures you’ll have access to your favorite sweet treat no matter where you are. Additionally, you can immerse yourself in the local Maya culture when you enroll in a chocolate-making class.
In this class, you will learn how to convert cocoa beans into a chocolate paste and finally transform it into bars of chocolate. You’ll be taught by local farmers, allowing you to mingle with locals in a unique way.
Enjoy the Local Food
You can’t isolate food from the culture of a people, and your trip will be incomplete without a taste of the local food. Placencia is home to numerous restaurants that promise delicious local meals paired with world-class taste and ambiance.
No matter whether you’re looking for quaint shacks on the beaches or formal sit-down restaurants for a date night, Placencia has it all.
One of the famous meals in Belize is Fry Jack. This is also the traditional breakfast in the country, so you’ll need to get to a restaurant early if you want to experience this treat. Wash it down with a glass of juice, and you’ll be ready for a day exploring all that Placencia has to offer.
When you return, you can treat yourself to delectable seafood, including cooked barracuda, hogfish, crab, lobster, and Maya bistro plate steaks.
Visit the Tipsy Strip
The Tipsy Strip is a popular spot for fun-lovers who throng Placencia from season to season. This spot is located right on the beach on the east side of the peninsula.
It’s named after the Tipsy Tuna Sports Bar close to it and plays host to a water sports facility, an art gallery, gift shops, spa treatments, restaurants, and bars.
Things get happening in the evening thanks to live music from a variety of performers. Towards the dead of the night, the party ascends to a wilder dimension, and fun-lovers go gaga.
Explore the Bocawina National Park
It’ll take an hour to get to this park from Placencia, but it’s worth mentioning since it’s a fascinating destination that will leave you gasping for breath – and will only get better if you’re an adventurous outdoor enthusiast.
This park boasts swing ropes that drop you into a cold water pool. The swing ropes also help you get past the jungle’s steep terrains. Alternatively, you can take a hike through the jungle, where you’ll be treated to the sight of three gorgeous waterfalls. Don’t forget to get your swimsuits if you want to swim, and bug spray since it’s a rainforest region.
Other things to do when you visit Placencia include:
- Tour the Nim Li Punit Ruins
- Enjoy the Gelato at Tuttifrutti Gelateria
- Visit the laughing bird caye
- Swing on the beach
- Visit the Xunantunich
What Are the Best Places to Visit in Spanish Lookout, Belize?
When exploring Spanish lookout community, be sure to visit Barton Creek Cave to marvel at its stunning limestone formations. Don’t miss out on a guided tour of the scenic Mennonite village and its farm fields. For a taste of local culture, visit the Spanish Lookout Museum to learn about the area’s history.
What are the similarities and differences between the best places to visit and things to do in Placencia and San Ignacio, Belize?
When considering the best places to visit in Placencia, Belize, the stunning beaches and vibrant local culture stand out. In San Ignacio, Belize, the best places to visit include ancient Mayan ruins and adventurous cave tours. Both destinations offer unique experiences, but with distinct atmospheres and activities to enjoy.
Final Thoughts
Placencia is an amazing place to be and a must for your bucket list if you plan to tour the Caribbean.
It’s an ideal destination for honeymoons, reunions, family bonding, vacations, exclusive weddings, and solitude. However, you should remember to gear up properly, especially if you’re planning an adventurous day out.
