Placencia

Travel Guide

Placencia Beach which includes general coastal views and a beach
Maya Beach showing tropical scenes
Placencia Beach featuring a marina and general coastal views
Placencia Beach featuring a river or creek and a house
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 colorful 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 colors 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 colorful 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 kilometers) 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

So beautiful! Edge of the island, Sunset Point. Placencia, Belize.

Placencia Village

While visiting Placencia Village, you might make a stop by sights like Placencia Beach and Jaguar Bowling Lanes.

Placencia Village
Maya Beach

Maya Beach

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Maya Beach and surrounding area, you can visit Maya Beach and Inky's Mini Golf.

Maya Beach
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Caribbean Way

You might consider checking out Maya Beach while you're exploring Caribbean Way and the larger Placencia area.

Caribbean Way
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Cocoplum

While visiting Cocoplum, you might make a stop by sights like Maya Beach and Inky's Mini Golf.

Cocoplum
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Plantation

When in Plantation, you can plan a visit to Maya Beach and Inky's Mini Golf, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Plantation
Holy goodness! This place serves THE BEST Indian food. The chef is from Mumbai, worked at a 5🌟hotel in Dubai, as well as India. 
For the record my boyfriend hates curry and has never eaten Indian food but loved this place. The Naan is just the best thing ever. The staff is great, and they even have a tuk tuk that will pick you up from your hotel and drive you back and forth.

Surfside

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

Surfside
Maya Beach Hotel

Maya Beach Hotel

3 out of 5
Maya Beach, Stann Creek District, Placencia, Stan Creek
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! (229 reviews)
Loved the staff here so much! The property was beautiful and very well kept. Plenty beach chairs, hammocks, bikes, paddle boards and kayaks for the guests. Everyone feels like family and old friends by the end of your stay. Definitely will be back here.

Reviewed on Oct 16, 2025

Maya Beach Hotel
Umaya Resort & Adventures

Umaya Resort & Adventures

4 out of 5
Maya Beach, Stann Creek, Placencia
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! (951 reviews)
The staff are fantastic!!!

Reviewed on Oct 14, 2025

Umaya Resort & Adventures
Mariposa Belize Beach Resort

Mariposa Belize Beach Resort

3 out of 5
Placencia Village, 200 Meters South Placincia Airstrip, Placencia, Stann Creek District
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! (164 reviews)
We stayed in one of the forest cabins,all good,it was clean comfortable and well equipped with everything you need.The staff were very professional and polite that made our time here enjoyable.

Reviewed on Oct 13, 2025

Mariposa Belize Beach Resort
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 ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (228 reviews)
The hostess Shelly was amazing! She waited for us to get there. The express bus is not so express!!!! Everyday she greeted us good morning and always before she left she stopped by to see if we needed anything. She is very pleasant, easy to talk with and knows her facility. If we had any questions ...

Reviewed on Sep 14, 2025

Julia´s Cabanas
Little Harvest Caye - Your Own Private Island

Little Harvest Caye - Your Own Private Island

Placencia
Book a stay at this beach villa in Placencia. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and private pools. Popular attractions Placencia Beach and Placencia Pier are ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (106 reviews)
Family down time
Was perfect trip, everything needed was there. Food was excellent and service was wonderful.

Reviewed on May 7, 2025

Little Harvest Caye - Your Own Private Island
 Beachfront Private Pool Home  -  A "Gold Standard Facility"

Beachfront Private Pool Home - A "Gold Standard Facility"

Placencia
Book a stay at this beach vacation home in Placencia. Enjoy free WiFi, private pools, and a beach locale. Popular attraction Maya Beach is located nearby.
9.8/10 Exceptional! (98 reviews)
Great relaxation
We enjoyed sitting by the pool or on the beach with chairs for every desire. Clean house and we enjoyed just being all by ourselves.

Reviewed on Jul 8, 2025

Beachfront Private Pool Home - A "Gold Standard Facility"
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
134
5 - Excellent 57%
4 - Good
86
4 - Good 37%
3 - Okay
12
3 - Okay 5%
2 - Disappointing
3
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

We loved Placencia and will return in the future. We stayed for 8 days, however we would recommend splitting your vacation between the beach and the interior.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

If you like seafood you MUST go to Omar's in Placencia Village. Outstanding! Best ever!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

This was the first I traveled that made me seriously consider staying. It is slightly more expensive than other areas in Central America but in my opinion it is worth the cost.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Only problem is the shuttle runs certain times, I feel they should add more rides.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Placencia is a lovely chill beach town with plenty of good local food. The place is full of friendly, helpful locals, and retired expats. Although there was seaweed and some trash ashore, most hotel properties cleaned their part of the beach daily.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Fun, quiet, friendly, funky beach town!