Placencia Belize

ABOVE: Visitors admiring their catch at Placencia's annual Lobseter Fest.

The Placencia Peninsula - an 11 mile strip of land sandwiched between the Caribbean Sea and the Placencia Lagoon, has beautiful white sandy beaches and - because of its distance from the reef - it also has "real' (though not very high) surf. The water is clean and clear; the trade winds gentle and cooling. There are few sights more calming to the spirit than a Belizean sunset on a deserted Placencia Peninsula beach. A visitor on her firat visit to Belize had this to say about Placencian:

"All the fears of going to Belize were unfounded. I had friends tell me I was crazy for going to an obscure Central American country That they had never heard of! They envisioned Rebel infested jungles and Drug Lords at every turn. And the thought of me being susceptible to snakes, crocodiles, scorpions and a various array of insects sent them into a incoherent and somewhat amusing frenzy. I am so glad I did not heed there unwarranted objections.
What I found in Placencia was simply, Paradise. A warm and caring people and an unsurpassed tropical haven. I have travelled to several tropical destinations and I have never found such beauty. I chose Placencia because of its proximity to the Reefs and The Rainforrest and my limited amount of time, only 6 days. I was not disappointed. I have never been to a place as lovely as Placencia. The people of the village are a caring, gracious and insightful people. They care for each other and their beautiful surroundings."

Hurricane Iris in October 2001 destroyed the village's famous "Main Street"-a 20 inch wide sidewalk that meandered through town and up the beach. Rebuilding this sidewalk has been prioritized as a major project for the village council and relevant government groups, although the focus post-Hurricane Iris was necessarily on rebuilding homes and resorts. Six months after Hurricane Iris, Placencia had rebuilt enough to successfully hold its famous annual Lobster Fest in mid-2002.

The beaches along the Placencia Peninsula are dotted with small resorts that can easily arrange dive and snorkel trips to the reef, which is about 17 miles away. They can also arrange day trips to many small, idyllic cayes, such as Laughing Bird Caye, a mini-atoll that offers protected snorkeling and swimming, a white sand beach and many cooling palm trees (it even has hammocks!) Laughing Bird Caye is also a favorite camping site for reek kayakers who base their expeditions in Placencia. A hotel can also arrange deep sea or reef fishing trips, or day sailing on a 36-foot catamaran.

Some of the beachfront resorts in Placencia are Luba Hati (House of the Moon), and, Singing Sands Inn, Kitty's Place, Rum Point Inn, Ranguana Lodge and Maya Beach Hotel. The Sea Horse Dive Shop offers PADI and NAUI certified dive masters. Newer hotels include Barracuda and Jaguar Inn, Serenity Resort, Green Parrot Beach Houses and Restaurant and Westwind Hotel.

Placencia is now one of the country's main tourist destinations, and it is also well visited by Belizeans from across the country on local holidays. Small guest houses and budget accommodations are also available, including Paradise Vacation Resort, Sun Rider Guest House and the Sea Spray Hotel. Placencia also has delicious restaurants, some of which are set up in the patios of private homes along the path between the beach and the lagoon. You can get a delicious plate heaped with stewed chicken, rice and beans for about US$4. There are also several small gift shops, a post office and some night life. Nearby Mango Creek/Independence Village also has a disco and weekend activity, as well as a big football field which is home to one of Belize's top football clubs.

The Placencia Lagoon is an important breeding area for saltwater crocodiles, marine turtles and the rare and endangered manatees; there are also numerous species of birds.

A trip to nearby Seine Bight, a traditional Garifuna village a few miles north of Placencia, provides a chance to sample Garifuna cooking and music (including traditional drumming and modern Punta Rock) at the Kulcha Shack Café. Try the Nautical Inn, a charming resort on the beach, or The Inn at Robert's Grove or the Hotel Seine Bight, which features one and two story beachfront cabanas and a gourmet restaurant and bar, or the Blue Crab Beach Resort, which features cabanas, rooms and campgrounds.

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