Geography
Placencia is a quaint village located in the Stann Creek District of Southern Belize on a 16 mile long peninsula. What once was a small fishing village now attracts tourists for beach vacations, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing and sailing. The west of Placencia is a mangrove lined lagoon and the east faces the Caribbean Sea. This peaceful peninsula lacks cruise ports so if you are looking to get away from the crowds Placencia could be the right place for you.
This article will discuss the logistics of traveling to Placencia: how to get there, how to travel on a budget, where to eat, activities and what to expect.
Getting There
Placencia doesn’t have an international airport, you will need to fly into Belize City then either take a 30 minute domestic flight (which costs about $165 per person round trip) to Placencia airport, rent a car, or reserve a 3 hour shuttle ($80 per person minimum of 3 people, round trip) or taxi. We chose the quickest mode of travel for our toddler, a small airplane, which was a beautiful flight over Belize. We had no issue arriving in Belize City and getting on our domestic flight to Placencia; however, the Belize city airport was extremely crowded (standing room only) when we were departing.
What We Wish We Knew
If you are a traveler like us, you research extensively before you choose your next travel destination. Somehow in all our research we missed or overlooked that Placencia has two major issues on their beaches one sargassum (seaweed) two garbage or plastics. Unfortunately, Placencia Beach is lined with garbage/plastics and seaweed. For explanation on why Placencia is undergoing this waste management issue please see the links below. Some hotels and beach clubs put forth efforts every morning to clean up their section of the beach. We also dedicated time to picking up garbage and used it as a lesson to teach our toddler about taking care of our lovely planet. We noticed other amazing locals who spent part of their mornings cleaning up parts of the beach. Unfortunately, more garbage washes in from the ocean.
If you are traveling with small children and expect to play in the water at the beach or love to seashell hunt like us Placencia can be a challenging location for this. The coast was often pretty windy making the waves slightly larger(Completely fine for an adult to swim in but not for a toddler to play near). Our family had to shift ideas for entertainment as the water on the beach often was covered in seaweed or garbage. So we enjoyed time at the pool, took walks on the beach and had our little one play in the sand near our hotel.
What We Loved
We loved the community in Placencia. Everyone we met was extremely friendly. The Placencia population has an interesting blend of born and raised locals and retired Americans and Canadians. We also met many visitors who return each year. So even though the beach was a disappointment for us, many people love Placencia and return year after year.
Placencia is a very walkable town. The “Sidewalk” is a palm tree lined path that runs through all the main tourist attractions (restaurants, bars, cafes and shops). If you are hoping to save money and plan to stay in Placencia a car rental is not necessary. Although you can rent a golf cart and see more of Placencia.
What To Explore
Moho Caye
Enjoy crystal clear waters and stunning beaches at Moho Caye. We took a snorkeling tour with 7 Days Adventure Land and Sea Tours. Henry, our guide, took us on a 45 minute boat ride to Moho Caye and guided a snorkeling tour spotting beautiful fish. We booked a half day trip because we were unsure how our little one would manage. We loved the beautiful beach at Moho Caye so much we asked Henry if we could extend our trip, which we appreciate that he was willing to do. Water, cocktails, and snacks (chips and fruit) were provided. After snorkeling Henry spotted a few sting rays and a nurse shark.
Note: Depending on how the wind and swells are each day the boat ride can be bumpy. Our boat ride to Moho was bumpy, returning it was smooth. We also brought our son’s life jacket as we weren’t sure if touring organizations would have our son’s small size.
Laughing Bird Caye National Park is about a 30 minute boat ride from Placencia. This Caye sits on top of a faro reef shelf formation which provides great snorkeling and the chance to see other marine life.
Monkey River Tour: Take a 4 hour adventure on a boat and hike through a sub -tropical rainforest allowing for great views of monkeys and birds. This could be a great adventure for families. Monkey River Eco Tours will pick up at a meeting point in Placencia. $90 per person.
Golf Cart Rentals:Explore Placencia in a golf cart. Rates for a 4 seater start at $35 a 6 seater $55.
Shop off the Sidewalk
The sidewalk has plenty of conveniently located shops from beach items you might have forgotten to jewelry, souvenirs, and beautiful wood carvings.
Where To Eat
Every Day Super Market
Making your own meals is a great way to save money on vacation. The Every Day Super Market is located on Placencia Road a block away from the Sidewalk. The grocery sold cereal, frozen meat, pasta, canned goods, beer, alcohol, diapers and hair care.
The Fruit Stand
Located right next to the Every Day Super Market. The fruit stand was a great place to get fresh fruit and vegetables. We usually spent $10 per stop stocking up on fresh fruit and avocados for the three of us.
Muna Rooftop Bar and Restaurant
Located on the rooftop of the Ellysian Muna hosts stunning views of Placencia. This spot has views to the east of the Caribbean Sea and the Placencia Lagoon to the West. I recommend having cocktails or dinner and watching the sunset. Muna serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Muna provides a variety of food from chicken, pork chops to seafood. Muna had delicious cocktails and food, the pricing was more of a splurge than a save. Meals range from $22-$60 for dinner with an additional 10% service fee.
Cozy Corner
There are many beachfront restaurants along Placencia beach. We enjoyed eating at the Cozy Corner for the convenience of letting our son play in the sand while we waited for food. If you are from the U.S. it’s helpful to adjust your expectations for quickness while dining out, not every culture moves at such a fast pace. However, this can be more challenging if you have small children. The Cozy Corner provided entertainment for our little one while we savored pre-dinner cocktails. This restaurant serves fajitas, burritos, and burgers. Prices range from $10-$20 per meal.
Beaches and Cream Coffee
Like most, we love our morning coffee. Beaches and Cream is located on the Sidewalk and serves brewed coffee, lattes, pastries and breakfast sandwiches. We enjoyed our morning routine of talking with the locals and long term visitors of Placencia over a delicious cup of coffee.
Hobbs Brew Barge
A great place to try local beer and listen to live music. Hobbs Brew Barge is not located on the Sidewalk, it’s near the Placencia airport. If you like IPA’s try the Wild Cat IPA.
Where to Stay
Ellysian Boutique Hotel
We traveled to Placencia in February 2025 and stayed at Ellysian Boutique Hotel. Our experience at the Elysian was wonderful. This beachfront hotel hosts 15 to 16 rooms, more than half facing the ocean. The staff makes a special effort to ensure you are having a good experience from writing handwritten notes each evening to the bartenders making special snacks for our son while we relax poolside. The Ellysian is conveniently located right off of the sidewalk, accessible to many restaurants and shops. The Ellysian cleaned their section of beach every morning, which was greatly appreciated.
Beachfront Rentals
There are plenty of wonderful beachfront rentals in Placencia. Walking the Placencia beach I was surprised by the number of adorable beach house/cabana rentals. This can be a great option for travelers/families who prefer to save money by cooking meals. Based upon VRBO and Airbnb rentals in this area average around $250 a night you can certainly find some for less and more.
How to Save Money and Enjoy your Trip
The U.S. dollar is accepted in Placencia you may be given change back in Belize dollars. Right now (3/2025) the exchange rate is $1US =$2 Belize. Smaller businesses won’t accept credit cards or may have an extra charge to your purchase. Bringing some cash is a good idea.
Compared to the Caribbean traveling to Placencia (food, tours, shopping) is relatively inexpensive. Speaking with other travelers we heard that Placencia is more expensive compared to other Central and South America countries.
Making your own meals or getting take out is a great way to save money while you travel. Savor your surroundings by having a picnic on the beach. We saved money on breakfast by bringing packets of oatmeal from home.
In addition to making your own meals, making your own cocktails can save you a considerable amount of money. We bought fresh juice at the Fruit Stand, rum and local beer from the grocery store and saved by making some of our drinks.
Skyscanner is a great way to find flights for a cheaper cost.
Bundling flight and hotel with Expedia is a wonderful way to book the entire travel itinerary and get a deal. We saved a bundle on this trip booking flight and hotel.
Attire and What to Pack
Placencia is a very laid back environment. Women and men mostly wear t-shirts/tank tops and shorts. My attire consisted of swimsuits/beachwear during the day and a dress or skirt and tank top in the evening. Similar to most island/tropical climates the further inland you travel the hotter it gets moving away from the coastal breeze. I was grateful for my cooler dresses in the daytime when we walked longer distances to explore the peninsula. I also recommend comfortable walking shoes if you aren’t planning on renting a car and plan to explore by foot.
Of course don’t forget reef safe sunscreen. Some of our favorites are Sun Bum (Baby Bum for littles) which has a great smell and Blue Lizard, the lid changes color based on the UV index.
Bug spray is definitely recommended. We saw very few bugs on our trip and because of this skipped a few nights of bug spray. We paid for this with a good amount of bug bites. Learn from our laissez-faire attitude, just because you can’t see the bugs doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
Bring your own reusable water bottle and straw. This cuts down on plastic waste and possibly saves you money from buying water bottles. Also, the water is safe to drink in Placencia.
Happy Travels!