Belize Frequently Asked Questions

You can get to Placencia by road which will approximately 3 hours. The most preferred option is through a local flight which will take 35-minutes from the Belize International Airport. Read our Getting Here section for more information.

Placencia is a safe village; however, like everywhere else, you should exercise caution. We advise you to not wear flashy jewelry and carry large amounts of cash.

We encourage travelers to explore the village by bicycle, golf carts, or even on foot to experience the unique food, music, and culture of our country. Kindly ask Front Desk for directions and let them know when you are heading out.

Nobody likes to have a good time more than the natives of Belize, who celebrate several festivals annually with plenty of live entertainment including dancing and drumming.

A standout festival hosted annually in Placencia is the Lobster Festival. Created to mark the official opening of the lobster season, the Lobster Festival is a 3-day celebration usually occurring in June and July. This celebration is filled with open market booths selling a variety of fresh lobster delicacies and crafts. Live entertainment and friendly competitions ensue throughout the night.

Other popular festivals include St. George’s Caye Day, Carnival, Independence Day, the Battle of the Drums, the La Ruta Maya River Challenge, Garifuna Settlement Day, and the ever-popular Toledo Cacao Festival where visitors can sample hundreds of different types of chocolate

Nestled at the tip of a sixteen mile peninsula, Placencia is surrounded by water with the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Placencia Lagoon on the other. A little gem of tropical paradise, visitors are treated to pristine white beaches along the sparkling waters of the Caribbean Sea, unique culture in the vibrant and colorful village, and easy access to the many of Belize’s natural wonders.

Placencia is an ideal staging ground for trips to the Belize Barrier Reef located just a few miles offshore. The coral reef is a first-class destination for fishing, snorkeling, and diving. Major attractions include excursions to the Belize Blue Hole, an almost perfectly circular depression of water encircled by a thriving reef. Measuring more than 90 metres deep, experienced divers will relish in this chance to explore the silent beauty of underwater caves. Other standout marine activities include diving trips to see the annual migration of whale sharks, the gentle giants of the deep that rise to the surface to feed on fish spawn during certain times of the year in Belize.

For those yearning to explore mainland Belize, Placencia is located in close proximity to many nature and adventure tours. Travelers can explore mysterious Mayan ruins, hike through pristine rainforest parks, see crocodiles, parrots, monkeys and jaguars in a protected nature reserve, or partake in adrenaline pumping adventures like cave tubing and zip lining through the jungle canopy.

All International flights to Belize land at the only International Airport in Belize, the Phillip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE). You will need to book your international flight to Belize City directly through the airline or through an agent of your choice. For information on airlines flying into Belize or additional information about entry requirements, please see our Getting Here page.

As mentioned above, due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, arrival and departure procedures are changing, consequently the info provided on this page is not the most up to date info. Please refer to our COVID-19 page for more current details.

A valid passport for no less than three months after your intended period of stay for citizens of the following countries: U.S., Britain, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Venezuela, CARICOM member states, nationals of European Community countries. Children under 18 years of age traveling with one parent require a notarized letter of authority from the other parent indicating travel consent. Travelers are permitted to stay in Belize for 30 days. Extensions for longer stays can be processed through the Immigration Office in Belize City for a fee, check with that office for the most recent fee. Kindly note, this info is subject to change, please refer to the Belize Tourism Site.

Belize requires citizens from the following countries to have an entry visa: China, Cuba, Honduras, Haiti, South Africa, Taiwan, India, Libya and more. We do not keep an exhaustive list, for more up to date info see check this website.

Please be aware that all visitors to the country of Belize are subject to a departure tax to be paid at the airport upon departing. The fee is USD$35.50 per person (subject to change and can be paid in US currency only or VISA/MasterCard). Some airlines do include the tax in your ticket price, but we suggest you check with your airline for further details and information.

The exchange rate can be confusing in many areas of the world, but this is not the case in Belize. There is a locked currency exchange rate of $2 Belize dollars for every $1 U.S. dollar. U.S. currency is accepted in most locations, so there generally is not a need to exchange physical currency. Keep in mind that tours and hotel accommodations are listed in U.S. currency rates while local shops and restaurants are usually listed in Belize currency rates. Traveler’s checks are accepted, and there are numerous ATM machines located across the country for you to access cash from. Like Laru Beya Resort, most companies in Belize will not be held responsible for any currency rate of exchange variances applied by banks or for any international processing fees that may be charged by your credit card company.

English is the official language of Belize, although a number of dialects are spoken among the country’s 350,000 citizens, including the main dialect spoken countrywide, Kriol . This is the result of Belize’s rich and multicultural heritage. However, you won’t have any problems conversing with locals and getting around as mostly everyone speaks English.

Belize uses 110-volt alternating electric current, the same standard as the US. If you are coming from the US, converters are not necessary.

If you are currently subscribed to a telephone service provider, then all you need to do is to inform your provider to activate roaming service on your device. Stress to them that you will need both voice and texting service. Upon your arrival in Belize your device will then automatically connect to our local network. Be sure to check with your mobile provider for international roaming and fees you may have to pay.

If you are not subscribed to a telephone service provider, then an unlocked GSM (Global System Mobile Communication) 1900 MHz cellular phone is required. You will then need to purchase a SIM card here in Belize. Also note that although we do not have any phones in our villas, we do have wifi which enables you to access to internet.

Driving in Belize is safe in the more populated areas where the roads are paved. Consider renting a four-wheel-drive vehicle if you plan to explore the countryside. Driving from Belize City to Hopkins is quite safe; 90% of the roads are paved and a vast majority of the drive is on the scenic Hummingbird Highway.

Vaccinations or medical clearances are not required. It is recommended that you bring your own prescription drugs and anti-malaria tablets for extended jungle stays. Please note that Placencia is not prone to Malaria infections. Also, bring bug spray if you are sensitive to insect bites.

As in all tropical climates, mosquitoes and sand flies are prevalent. Please be sure to bring:

• Deet-based Repellant
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Benadryl Tablets
• Baby oil for additional protection against sand flies

We recognize your potential concerns regarding check-in time upon landing. Over the years, we’ve consistently scheduled guests an hour after arrival without any problems. Drawing on our two decades of experience, we have established solid relationship with the local airlines. In the event you miss your local flight, they will make it a priority to transfer you to the next available one. Your peace of mind is our top priority. If you’d like, we can also arrange a later flight for you—simply inform us of your preference to ensure your comfort.

In Belize, we believe that any time of the year is a perfect time to visit our tropical paradise, but we understand that many visitors have only a limited number of vacation days to enjoy their time here. As a tropical country, Belize doesn’t experience winter like other countries do. Instead, there is a dry season and a wet season. From December to April is the dry season, which coincides with the “high season”, when many tourists from America and Canada come to Belize to escape the cold and snow. During this period, the weather is a bit cooler, with a steady and refreshing breeze on most days. Starting in the middle of May, and ranging until about the end of November, the “low season” is when fewer visitors come to the country, resulting in lower rates on hotels and attractions. Although this is the “rainy season”, the rain is intermixed with plenty of sun, and most rain showers usually last just a couple of hours at the most and temperatures remain warm and summery.

The climate of Belize is subtropical, with an average annual temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Belize’s water temperature averages between 79 and 83 degrees. The weather is similar to southern Florida with slightly warmer winters and summers. The dry season is December through May and the sea is calmest in August and September.

Our hurricane/rainy season is from June 1 to November 30. However, just because this is Belize’s “rainy” season does not mean it will be raining all day, everyday throughout these months.

Weather is something we can’t really predict and as such, we can’t really guarantee that there will be no rainfall during your stay with us. We like to think that the mind is a powerful tool—if you believe that you will have an unBELIZEable vacation, you most-likely will!

Belize Weather for June
This is another warm month, with June temperatures in Belize averaging 86°F (30°C) to 82°F (28°C). However, fresh easterly breezes off the Caribbean Sea and more frequent short afternoon showers moderate the temperatures and make June a generally pleasant month.

Belize Weather for July
July temperatures in Belize range from an average high of 86°F (30°C) to lows of 79°F (26°C) with an overall monthly average of 82°F (28°C). The weather is much the same as June with increasing rainfall, especially in the mornings, and the easterly breezes providing relief from the heat. Thunderstorms may begin appearing at night.

Belize Weather for August
During August temperatures in Belize begin to change as drier winds from the west replace the easterly sea breezes. August marks the “Little Dry,” as it is known in Belize with a decrease in rainfall and rise in temperature, which range from 86°F (30°C) highs to average lows of 78°F (26°C). Overall, average temperature for August is still a pleasant 82°F (28°C).

Belize Weather for September
September temperatures in Belize average around 81°F (27°C), with highs of 86°F (30°C) and lows of 77°F (25°C). There is increasing rainfall, especially in early mornings and at night, but most days are sunny with warm temperatures.

Belize Weather for October
Northerly breezes bring heavier rainfall and October temperatures in Belize cool down to a monthly average of 79°F (26°C). Daytime highs of around 84°F (29°C) and lows of 75°F (24°C) are common, as are occasional “northers,” storms often centered inland around the Maya Mountains.

Belize Weather for November
November temperatures in Belize are some of the lowest and most variable of the year, but the monthly average is still an enjoyable 76°F (24°C) with common daytime highs of 82°F (28°C) and evening lows of 73°F (23°C). While this marks the winter season for northernmost countries and states, visitors to Belize find November to be quite warm and sunny.