How you feel about Placencia depends on why you’ve come to Belize: if it’s seaside pleasures and tourists you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. But if you were hoping to get off the beaten path, forget it: the path to Placencia is not merely beaten, it is professionally flogged.
The village of Placencia sits at the southernmost end of the Placencia peninsula in south Belize. According to Rough Guides, Placencia has “some of the country’s most beautiful beaches, and these, together with the abundant, inexpensive accommodation, make it a great place to relax.” Tours of Placencia take in Mayan archeological sites, mangrove-fringed lagoon, jungle rivers and wildlife-filled rainforest.
Placencia prides itself as having some of the best diving in Belize …. The Placencia area is rapidly becoming one of the hottest diving spots in the Caribbean region. Here dive sites are more pristine because they have felt less impact from boats and divers. As the Belize Barrier Reef progresses southward along the coast, the reef begins to separate further from the mainland. This…
To reach Placencia from Belize City you have several options: Drive to Placencia – rent a car from one of the rental agencies located in the parking lot of the Belize National Airport. Ask for directions and hit the road. The quickest way to get from Belize City to Placencia is via the Hummingbird and Souther Highways. These roads are paved and the signage is pretty consistent….
The culture of Placencia is a mixture of the many groups of people that have inhabited Belize throughout its history. The country considers itself part of both Central America and the Caribbean, so influences from both regions are strong here. Placencia, for many years, was a small fishing village isolated from the rest of the country. The population consisted of mostly Creoles (with both African…
Named after the troops of black howler monkeys that make their home in the jungle that line the banks of the Monkey River, the Monkey River drains the Bladen and Swasey watersheds of southern Belize. Undisturbed populations of crocodiles, iguanas, gibnuts, hawksbill turtles, brocket and white-tailed deer and armadillos also reside along the river corridor and observe you as you glide by. Paddlers generally kayak…
The Caribbean Sea caresses miles of secluded beach on the Placencia Peninsula. When the warm brown sugar-like sand gets between your toes, it feels like nature’s own spa treatment. Thirty years ago, Placencia was a quiet fishing village with a narrow meandering sidewalk that served as its main—and only—street. Today this burgeoning destination retains its traditional charm (and sidewalk) while offering first class amenities and…
By Kirsten Hubbard Placencia Village, known more simply as Placencia, sits at the very tip of the narrow Placencia Peninsula in southern Belize. As a result, it feels more like an island. It’s just a few minutes walk from the lagoon side to the open Caribbean. Less than 500 people are lucky enough to be considered permanent residents of Placencia, Belize’s tranquil community. The majority are…
Placencia is located on the coast of the Caribbean Sea in Central America, very close to the equator. The tropical weather is usually hot and humid, with humidity often reaching 90%. Sometimes, the problem is alleviated by sea breezes, but otherwise Placencia has higher humidity than many other parts of the country.
Over 40% of Belize’s land mass enjoys some form of legal protected areas area status and these diverse natural areas form the basis of Belize’s tourism offerings. This significant portion of the country under sustainable management is a testament to the diversity of plant and animal species and to the energy and enthusiasm of pioneers in Belize conservation.