Everything You Need to Know About
Visiting Placencia, Belize
Belize is such a great place to vacation, especially if you live in the US and Canada. It’s like visiting the Caribbean before it got overpopulated and touristy. Placencia is the perfect amount of local beach life with a dash of the Caribbean in Central America. It’s easy to get around town, easy to jump around to other islands, the locals speak English, the US dollar has great value, and the temperatures are always warm! I love it so much, I moved here permanently! Plus, the flights to Belize are cheap!
Where Is Placencia?
Placencia is a small peninsula measuring about 1 mile across and 16 miles north and south attached to the southeastern corner of Stann Creek District in southeastern Belize. Due to its unique geography, the Placencia Peninsula offers visitors two very different terrains. On the landward side, the peninsula is bordered by several mangrove-lined lagoons, known for their rich abundance of fishing opportunities. The seaward side fronts the Caribbean and offers spectacular vistas and easy access to the nearby Belize Barrier Reef. The beaches of Placencia Peninsula are renowned for their pristine beauty.
Grab a bike, golf cart, or scooter and head to the end of Placencia where the pier is – Placencia Pointe. You can park there and take “the sidewalk.” There are loads of restaurants and shops to pop in. The “sidewalk” is renowned as being the narrowest main street in the world and is noted in the Guinness World Book of Records. At any point, you can duck off the sidewalk and hang out on the beach.
Where to Eat in Placencia
There is no shortage of locally-owned restaurants, street food booths and mobile vendors to choose from, all offering their own unique style of food and drinks – all delicious and incredibly affordable. The street food is to die for and perfectly safe. Find out more about the local food here.
Below is a list of some restaurants to try, but this is by no means an extensive list – there are so many more to choose from:
De Tatch – lovely beach setting
Rum Fish y Vino – cozy lively atmosphere
La Dolce Vita – romantic real Italian food
Yoli’s Bar & Grill – nice setting on the end of the dock with views of the many yachts anchored close by and the all-important breeze.
Barefoot Beach Bar & Tipsy Tuna – A must for every visitor. Beachside bars known to party!
Maya Beach Bistro – friendly service
Strange Brew Bar & Grill – friendly service, pub food, live music
Things to Know
Supermarkets
Top Value
Ming’s
A & C
Everyday
The Pharmacy is across the road from Top Value
Weather
In Placencia, the summers are long, hot and humid and the winters are short, warm and mostly clear. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 72°F to 88°F (22 C to 31 C) and is rarely below 68°F (20 C) or above 91°F (32 C). The humidity level is high between 50% – 100%, the most humid being between May and October tapering off between November and April.
The green season runs approximately from May to November, with heavier rains usually found in September and October. The best time of year to visit Placencia for hot-weather activities is from mid December to mid April.
Banks – Both have an ATM machine
Atlantic Bank
Belize Bank
Golf Cart Rental
For 2 – 4 guests – $35 USD for minimum 4 hour rental.
For 4 – 6 guests – $55 SD for minimum 4 hour rental.
Bicycles
Rates start at $7.50 USD for 4 hours
For an extensive list of all rentals, click here.
Things to Do
Here’s a list of things to do in the Stann Creek District which includes Placencia, Hopkins, and the capital Dangriga. The Stann Creek District contains diverse tourist experiences: the beautiful white sandy beaches of Placencia (and inviting offshore cayes), rugged Maya Mountains, the lush jungles of the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve, and both the Garifuna art, music, cuisine and culture and, in certain areas, Maya Culture. The Stann Creek district is also a major banana, citrus and other fruit-producing region.
- Take a day trip to offshore islands – Ivan’s Island, Silk Caye and Laughing Bird National Park
- Snorkle the Silk Caye and Southerwater Caye Marine Reserve
- Explore Hopkins Village and Placencia Village by bike
- Shop along the Placencia Sidewalk
- Go birding on the Sittee River
- Visit Belize’s historical reserve, Serpon Sugar Mill near the village of Sittee River
- Spot wildlife on the Monkey River Boat ride
- Visit Gulisi Garifuna Museum
- Jungle Hike, Zip-line and waterfall Rappel at Mayflower Bocawina National Park
- Hike Victoria Peak
- Go on a day adventure to Davis Falls
- Dive with Whale Sharks (between March-June)
- Come for Lobsterfest (July)
How you wind up feeling about Placencia really depends on what you’re looking for. If it’s laid-back ambience, varied accommodations and some of the best restaurants in Southern Belize, this beachfront paradise may well prove to be your favourite vacation spot. Come on down for a few days of sandy beaches, sunny skies and great seafood before heading off to less trodden paths.
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