The Placencia Peninsula continues to gain international recognition as one of the top tourism destinations in Belize. Here’s why we believe it’s the best Belize has to offer – and why you’ll want to stay in Placencia (and visit the other popular travel spots).

 

The Placencia Peninsula: Some visitors call the Placencia Peninsula the “island you can drive to.” This 16-mile stretch of paradise, half-a-mile at its widest, makes it the perfect hub for a well-rounded Belize experience, even for the traveler with just a day to spare!

Imagine this: Wake up at 5 a.m.; take a road trip to a small traditional Maya village to watch scarlet macaws fly over a lush, rainforest canopy and a misty river where you can enjoy a refreshing swim later. Or, maybe you take a river cruise through a traditional Creole village and anchor for a jungle hike into a world of howler monkeys before enjoying a plate of delicious rice and beans. Before the day is over, you can have your pick of happy hour at a beach bar and even add a second swim for the day in a beautiful sea where the gentle waves lap on to tiny grains of quartz that sparkle in the sunlight.

That’s one of the many mainland and beach combos that can be done from a base on the Placencia Peninsula.

What are some other adventures that you can combine with your Placencia beach experience? Try ziplining high above the trees, going back in time at an ancient Maya temple site, partaking in traditional bean-to-bar chocolate making, and visiting glorious waterfalls and magnificent mountain peaks in Belize’s famed protected jungles. A day chock full of adventure on the mainland can easily end with a world-class dinner at a fine dining restaurant or at a family joint that would surely win the approval of your favorite Food Network star. Wrap it all up with a comfortable sleep in a beach front villa.

But there’s also that other mix of beach and even more, well, beach! Being just a short boat ride away from some of the country’s most stunning cayes, your day could easily start with an early morning swim workout or meditative float and continue with hopping off a boat to land your feet on to the pristine, white sands of a dreamy, tropical island. Choose to sun bathe near the coconut trees or snorkel or scuba off shore over a vibrant coral reef for wondrous encounters with beautiful marine life. Your multi-talented tour guide will probably dish out one of the tastiest lunches you’ve ever had on shore before bringing you safely back to the Peninsula.

Prefer to adventure with a rod and reel? Placencia is home to top-notch sport fishing guides who carry expert knowledge of the seas and every nook and cranny in the flats. We’re talking about fishing intel’ that has been passed on from several generations, and men who have no need for a GPS to find the best spots for that elusive permit or huge barracuda.

Perhaps you may want to relax on a sunset sailing cruise, stroll along the famous sidewalk in Placencia Village, kayak along the ecologically diverse Placencia Lagoon or party with the locals to Garifuna drumming or Creole brukdown rhythms at night…but one thing is for certain, planning an exciting itinerary during a stay on the Placencia Peninsula is a breeze.

Other destinations to consider:

If you crave more of the island experience and quicker trips to the second largest barrier reef in the world, visit Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker. Both cayes are located within a reasonable distance of Belize’s famous Blue Hole Natural Monument. (You can also book an aerial tour over the Blue Hole by helicopter or a Cessna aircraft.)  Choose San Pedro Town in Ambergris Caye for more entertainment, nightlife and dining options, and Caye Caulker, a backpacker’s paradise, for a more laidback vibe. Belize is also home to a long list of private island resorts that can cater to a more exclusive tropical experience for romance or a family getaway.

And if being around the trees and closer to the rivers is your ideal vacation, choose a stay at a jungle lodge in Cayo for access to the breathtaking waterfalls of the Mountain Pine Ridge; Toledo, for the best mountain views, or in the deep and lush interior of the Orange Walk district where wildlife is in abundance. Don’t pass up on Corozal, the northernmost district in Belize bordering Mexico. Here you can find unrivaled sunset views in the quaint fishing village of Sarteneja.

Looking for something similar to the Placencia Peninsula? Visit Hopkins, another mainland beach destination in southern Belize boasting a vibrant Garifuna culture that also provides convenient access to the wonders of the jungles within Belize’s Maya Mountains.

As much as we love the diversity and beauty of Belize, our heart is in Placencia.  Visit us and you’ll see why so many return year after year, like a siren’s call you can’t deny.