Where is Placencia?

Sixteen mile long Placencia Peninsula is home to 3 communities: Maya Beach, Seine Bight, and at the southern tip, Placencia Village, with a claim to the best beaches on the mainland. Considered to be the best main land beach location that offers water based activities as well as mainland adventure options. Placencia has a combination of small and mid-size hotels and resorts and a variety of other lodging options such as vacation rentals, condos, villas and beach houses and cabanas. If you are thinking about snorkeling the 2nd largest barrier reef or scuba diving the reef or better yet with Whale Sharks or sailing the horizon then come to Placencia you will find it all here and much more.

Getting to Placencia.

You can arrive in Placencia by air or by road. If you have the time, no matter which direction you travel from, driving is interesting and scenic. Two local airlines fly to Placencia several times a day from the International Airport and the Belize City Municipal, at Toucan Vacations we can assist you with all flight information including reserving flights at discounted rates. There are several car rental agencies in Belize that we can arrange for your drive through the scenic highways of Belize especially Hummingbird highway. Toucan Vacations can also assist you with group or individual charters and transfers from any location in Belize to Placencia. There is a new Placencia shuttle service running daily from Belize Airport/Belize City to Placencia. The final option to get to Placencia is by far the most adventurous by bus which takes about 5 hours from Belize City or San Ignacio and is quite the adventure which some may like and others definitely would not enjoy. If you need information on any of the options to get to Placencia feel free to contact one of our local experts for assistance.

Locations in Placencia

1. Placencia Village

Locals boast Placencia Village to be one of the oldest continually inhabited communities in Belize. Reportedly, it was founded by English buccaneers in the early 1600's. Before tourism arrived, Placencia was primarily a fishing village. Today many of the fishermen have given up their lines and spear guns for binoculars and dive gear, using their local knowledge to guide tourists.

Placencia is well known for it's very laid-back, no-shoes ambience where locals go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your visit.

A one mile concrete sidewalk serves as the main street for Placencia Village, around which wooden houses built on stilts rest underneath palms. Constructed over 30 years ago as a means of wheel-barrowing fish around without fighting the sand, Placencia's walkway now has the distinction of being the narrowest street in the world, according to the "Guinness Book of World Records." A number of village accommodations, restaurants/bars, and gift shops are located along the walkway.

2. Seine Bight Village, Placencia Peninsula

Seine Bight Village is a Garifuna village located about 4 miles north of Placencia Village on the Placencia Peninsula in the Stann Creek District of southern Belize.

Garifuna (or Garinagu - the Africanized term for Garifuna) culture and history is fascinating -- combining slavery, tyranny, intrigue, revolts, uprisings, plagues, pestilence and treachery. Notwithstanding their turbulent history, the Garifuna have managed to preserve their unique culture with their punta and Wanaragua dances, sacred drumming, Anancy folk tales, ancestral worship, Elder's Councils and other cultural practices.

In fact, the international jury of the World Heritage Center in Paris has proclaimed the "Garifuna Culture" to be "a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity." The proclamation recognizes Garifuna language, music, dance and spiritual values to be of outstanding universal value to all humanity.

Seine Bight Village is close to the perfect place to learn about Garifuna culture and history.  Seine Bight is small (population of approximately 800 people), so  visitors are easily able to meet and talk with Village residents and elders.  Plus, Seine Bight was fairly isolated until about 12 years ago when the Peninsula road was built - - allowing its unique Garifuna culture to survive and prosper.

3. Maya Beach, Placencia Peninsula

Maya Beach a beautiful expat community on the Placencia Peninsula in Belize is one of the ideal getaway areas in Belize. With 5 miles of lovely beach, swaying coconut trees, small and cozy lodging options this may be the ideal location for your next Vacation in Belize. If you like serenity and comfort your will chose Maya Beach. Restaurants, a few bars, few shops and nice group of people form this community on the 16 mile Placencia Peninsula. With the Caribbean Sea on one side and the lagoon on the other you get sunrises and sunsets that cannot be replaced right here. If you want to get away from it ALL, Maya Beach is the place for you.

Things to do and see in Placencia.

1. Snorkeling - Inner Cayes snorkeling, Belize adventure snorkeling, Reef snorkeling

2. Scuba Diving - Barrier Reef Diving, Glovers Reef Diving & Scuba Instruction

3. Whale Shark Diving & Snorkeling - Swim, Dive and Snorkel with Whale Sharks.

4. World Class Fishing - Fly Fishing, Sport & Recreational Fishing

5. Monkey River -  Wildlife and Manatee Watching River Tour.

6. Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve - Jungle Hike, Waterfall Swim & River Tubing

7. Sailing Charters - Catamaran Sailing, Rasta Sailing & Learn to Sail

8. Mayan Ruins - Xunantunich, Nim Li Punit & Lubaantun

9. Bird Watching - Enjoy various bird watching tours including Red Bank Scarlet Macaw.

10. Cave Tubing & Zip lining - Tubing through Mayan Caves & Zip lining through the Jungle.

11. Cave Exploration & Swimming - Blue Creek Cave & St. Herman's Cave (Blue Hole National Park)

12. Kayaking - Kayak the sea or pleasant lagoon

13. Mayflower Archaelogical Reserve - Waterfalls Hike and Ruins

14. Real Estate Shopping - Investing in Placencia Condos, Hotels, Land and Property

15. Biking - If you like biking you will enjoy biking through the villages and communities.

16. Golf Cart Rides- Rent a cart for an hour, half day or day and explore the peninsula.

17. Exploring - Rent a car and explore Stann Creek & Toledo Districts

Shops, Restaurants and Entertainment in Placencia

As a developing tourist destination Placencia boasts interesting small restaurant and shop options. Whether its beach restaurants such as De Tatch and Cozy Corner in the village or upscale choices such as the Turtle Inn restaurant, Robert's Grove seaside restaurant or the Bistro in Maya Beach you are sure to feel and taste the Caribbean flavor. Other notable restaurants are Wendy's Restaurant, La Dolce Vita Italian, Habaneros Mexican Grill and Purple Space Monkey for food and great entertainment. There are a host of small gift shops in the village along the sidewalk or on the main road.  Nightlife in Placencia

Where to stay in Placencia?

Lodging in Placencia Village

Placencia Village Resorts Turtle Inn Resort Chabil Mar Resort Sunset Pointe Los Porticos South Waters Resort

Placencia Village Hotels & Guest Houses Paradise Vacation Hotel La Chapelle Suites Serenade Hotel Westwind Hotel Cozy Corner Hotel Sea Spray Hotel Michelo Flats Dianni's Guest House Julia's Guest House Manatee Inn Evans Place

Placencia Village Apartments & Villas Miramar Apartments The North Beach Villas Three Iguanas Villas Easy Living Apartments Blue Lagoon Apartments The Arches

Placencia Village Condos Casa Del Sol Mirasol Point House

Placencia Village Vacation Rentals George Cowdrey's House Finca Villas White Sand Villa Captain Jak's Colibri House Toucan Lulu Decked Out House Blue Garden House Aqua Oasis One World Rentals Casa Placencia Carol's Cabanas Garden Cabanas Z Villa Maya Dream Beach House Palmetto Place Guest House

Placencia Village Beach Cabanas Ranguana Lodge Harry's Cozy Cabanas Las Amigas Cabanas The Village Inn Cabanas Heavan's Gate Beach Bungalow Tradewinds Cabanas Bull's Beach Cabanas

Lodging in Placencia Peninsula

Placencia Peninsula Resorts Bella Maya Resort Laru Beya Resort Calico Jack's Village Resort Miller's Landing Resort Nautical Inn Resort Lost Reef Resort Singing Sands Inn Casa at Last Couples only Resort

Placencia Peninsula Hotels The Placencia Hotel Robert's Grove Maya Breeze Inn Maya Beach Hotel

Placencia Peninsula Apartments & Villas Beach Front Suites Diving Pelican Suites Bahia Laguna Suites

Placencia Peninsula Condos

Placencia Peninsula Vacation Rentals Ocean's Edge Beach Houses Joyce and Franks Barnacle Bills Beach Bungalows Ah-Kinchil Beach House Casa Beya The Sea Grape Escape Aqua Villa House Big Dog's Villa

Placencia Peninsula Beach Cabanas Green Parrot Beach Houses Maya Playa Resort Blue Crab Beach resort The Maine Stay

Placencia Island Lodging Tarpon Caye French Louie Caye Robert's Caye Ranguana Caye Whipray Caye Lodge