Laid back fishing village turned eco-destination of choice, Belize’s palm-lined peninsula is renowned for its miles of sugar-white beaches. But Placencia isn’t just about rest and relaxation. Discover some of the region’s rarest wildlife beneath the waves or in the depths of the jungle. Throw in ancient Mayan ruins, a colourful Garifuna culture and a blissed out ‘no-shoes’ vibe, and you have your very own slice of Belizean heaven.
WATER
Sandwiched between the Caribbean Sea to the east, and a lagoon to the west, Placencia is an epicentre of Belizean aquatic adventures. Scuba-divers will want to take to the depths to explore the famous Great Blue Hole. Spot manatees and crocodiles in the lagoon, and spend lazy days kayaking, paddle boarding or simply floating in the turquoise shallows. If you’re here in spring, don’t miss the chance to swim alongside migrating whale sharks.
ACTIVITIES
Back on land, Placencia’s jungles and wildlife keep pulses racing. Whizz down the longest zipline in Belize, or grab a river tube and cruise the waterways soaking up the sounds of the forest. The world’s only jaguar preserve is just a short journey from Placencia – head there at dusk as the jungle comes alive for the chance to spot one of the rarest and most elusive of big cats.
CULTURE
Beyond its beaches, Placencia has a rich cultural legacy. For a glimpse of its ancient past, the atmospheric archaeological sites of Nim Li Punit, ‘place of fallen stones’, and Lubaantun are a boat-ride away across the lagoon. While tours of locally owned cacao farms and bespoke cooking classes give a flavour of how Belizeans today have adapted to changing times.
The Garifuna people of Belize still live along the Placencia coastline. They’ve influenced Belizean music with their distinctive drumming, and its food with their cassava-based cuisine.