Placencia

Travel Guide

Placencia Beach featuring general coastal views and a sandy beach
Maya Beach showing tropical scenes
Placencia Beach featuring a marina and general coastal views
Placencia Beach featuring a house and a river or creek
Placencia Beach as well as an individual male
Go diving at one of the cays in this charming beach town and take a boat tour of the national park.

Find golden beaches, warm Caribbean seawater and exotic birds in the picturesque town of Placencia. Its highlight is the Laughing Bird Caye National Park, where snorkeling and scuba diving are popular ways of seeing colourful marine life. Bring your swimming goggles or mask to this lively part of the world to witness extraordinary features of nature.

Visit the Laughing Bird Caye National Park to see outstanding natural beauty. Take a tour with one of the area operators. This generally includes a boat ride to the national park as well as lunch. 

Learn about one of the main local harvests at the Bunches of Fun Banana Farm Tours. Guided tours make the trip through the banana farm really enjoyable and funny.Learn about the fascinating process of growing bananas it will change the way you think about the fruit. Try the local specialty of fried green bananas.

Visit Lola’s Art Gallery to get an insight into the creative minds of Placencia. That creativity continues to the bright colours used to paint the wooden structures of bars and restaurants. Nearby you will also find a gym and a nightclub. 

This area essentially has two seasons: wet and humid from June to November and dry and hot the rest of the time. The mood is generally fun and friendly, as can be seen from the comical names and colourful décor of the bars and restaurants. The name of the town comes from the Spanish for “pleasing,” which sums up how the Spanish colonists felt when they arrived.

Find the small town on the southern part of the peninsula. It is a 20-minute drive south along Placencia Road from Maya Beach, which is 8 miles (13 kilometres) away. The town has its own airport for small connections. For far-flung destinations, go to Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport.

Placencia is primarily known among snorkelers for its cays. Visit its cute cafés, shops and galleries for a touch of Caribbean flair added to the attraction.

Where to stay in Placencia

Maya Beach

Maya Beach

Maya Beach might not have many top sights, but Maya Beach and Placencia Peninsula are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Maya Beach
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Caribbean Way

Plan a visit to nearby attractions like Maya Beach while you're exploring Caribbean Way and the larger area.

Caribbean Way
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Cocoplum

5/5(1 area review)

While visiting Cocoplum, you might make a stop by sights like Placencia Peninsula and Maya Beach.

Cocoplum
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Plantation

When in Plantation, you can plan a visit to Maya Beach and Placencia Peninsula, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Plantation
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Surfside

Though Surfside may not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Placencia Peninsula and Maya Beach.

Surfside
Mariposa Belize Beach Resort
Mariposa Belize Beach Resort
3 out of 5
Placencia Village, 200 Meters South Placincia Airstrip, Placencia, Stann Creek District
The price is S$439 per night from 23 Feb to 24 Feb
S$439
includes taxes & fees
23 Feb - 24 Feb
Stay at this 3-star beach hotel in Placencia. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (152 reviews)
"Staff was very friendly and helpful. They helped with setting up tours and finding anything you needed. Our room was clean and very nice with great view of the ocean. Resort was quiet and relaxing."

Reviewed on 14 Feb,2025

Mariposa Belize Beach Resort
Maya Beach Hotel
Maya Beach Hotel
3 out of 5
Maya Beach, Stann Creek District, Placencia, Stan Creek
The price is S$286 per night from 26 Feb to 27 Feb
S$286
includes taxes & fees
26 Feb - 27 Feb
Stay at this 3-star beach hotel in Placencia. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and private pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (198 reviews)
"Right on the beach and the service was great!"

Reviewed on 15 Feb,2025

Maya Beach Hotel
Umaya Resort & Adventures
Umaya Resort & Adventures
4 out of 5
Maya Beach, Stann Creek, Placencia
The price is S$278 per night from 23 Feb to 24 Feb
S$278
includes taxes & fees
23 Feb - 24 Feb
Stay at this 4-star beach resort in Placencia. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (891 reviews)
Umaya good for the money
"Umaya Resort is a great place to stay in Placencia. It is about 20 minute drive to the town. The resort is clean. It does need some updating and better care to details. For the price, it is a very good choice."

Reviewed on 18 Feb,2025

Umaya Resort & Adventures
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Julia´s Cabanas
Julia´s Cabanas
3 out of 5
CENTER OF PLACENCIA VILLAGE, Leslie Lane, Placencia
Stay at this 3-star beach cabin in Placencia. Enjoy free WiFi, a beach locale, and dry cleaning or laundry services. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (193 reviews)
"All of the staff here are friendly and helpful as could be. The AC in the room worked great (and was quite necessary with the heat) and the fan on the terrace was a nice feature as well. Some people don't like the noise from the Barefoot Bar next door, but with the AC on at night we could barely ..."

Reviewed on 13 Feb,2025

Julia´s Cabanas
Easy Living Apartments
Easy Living Apartments
3 out of 5
Placencia Sidewalk, Placencia, Stann Creek District
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Placencia. Enjoy free WiFi, dry cleaning or laundry services, and furnished balconies. Popular attractions Jaguar Bowling Lanes ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (9 reviews)
"We were two business guys and it was a pleasure to have separate bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and patio. Very comfortable and so much better than a hotel or resort room."

Reviewed on 14 Feb,2025

Easy Living Apartments
Little Harvest Caye- Private Island
Little Harvest Caye- Private Island
4 out of 5
1.1 Miles off the coast of Placencia, Placencia
Stay at this 4-star beach villa in Placencia. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and private pools. Popular attractions Placencia Beach and Jaguar Bowling Lanes ...
Little Harvest Caye- Private Island
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Placencia

4.5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
1
5 - Excellent 50%
4 - Good
1
4 - Good 50%
3 - Okay
0
3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

We spent all our time in Belize in the Placencia area and were not disappointed as it is very beautiful and there is plenty to do. Placencia Village itself is a sweet laid back small town with plenty of cafes and an artsy vibe.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Quite town. get away to rest and relax.