Placencia Village
Beach, restaurants, boatsThe village at the tip of the peninsula.
Village guide
Things to do in Placencia
A long, sandy peninsula in southern Belize: some of the best beaches in the country, whale sharks in spring, snorkelling at Laughing Bird Caye, howler monkeys on the Monkey River and jaguar country in Cockscomb Basin.
3
Hostels in the city
9.1
Average, from 152 reviews
25 km
Peninsula of beaches
Mar–Jun
Whale shark season
Beaches and whale sharks in the south
Placencia sits at the tip of a narrow peninsula about 25 kilometres long, with the Caribbean Sea on one side and a lagoon on the other. It has some of the best beaches on the Belize mainland, and a quieter, more relaxed feel than the cayes. The village has guesthouses, small restaurants and beach bars, and a narrow concrete footpath, the Sidewalk, runs through it.
The reef and the cayes are close. Laughing Bird Caye National Park and the Silk Cayes are great for snorkelling, and from around March to June, whale sharks gather to feed at Gladden Spit, mainly around the full moon. Inland, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the first jaguar reserve in the world, has trails and waterfalls, and boat trips up the Monkey River pass howler monkeys, crocodiles and birds.
Give Placencia three to five days, and combine it with Hopkins to the north.
Where to base yourself
Placencia Village for the beach, restaurants and boats, Maya Beach and Seine Bight further up the peninsula for quiet.
Seine Bight
Garífuna villageA small Garífuna village up the peninsula.
Maya Beach
Quiet beachQuieter beaches and guesthouses further north.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 3 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Placencia
Snorkel at Laughing Bird Caye National Park or the Silk Cayes, on full-day boat trips with lunch on a tiny island. From around March to June, certified divers can dive with whale sharks at Gladden Spit, mainly in the days around the full moon.
Take a boat trip up the Monkey River to see howler monkeys, iguanas and crocodiles, and visit Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, about an hour away, for jungle trails, waterfalls and tubing. Jaguars live there, though sightings are rare.
Walk the beach and the Sidewalk, kayak or paddleboard in the lagoon looking for manatees, and spend lazy days on the beaches of Placencia and Maya Beach.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The beaches of the peninsula are free, from Placencia Village to Maya Beach, and so is walking the Sidewalk.
Watching the sunset over the lagoon costs nothing, and swimming from the beach is free.
Boat trips and the national parks are paid.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Placencia has a good choice of restaurants for a village, with fresh fish, conch and lobster in season, Creole and Garífuna dishes, and international food. Cheaper meals of rice and beans or fry jacks are found at small local places.
Lobster Fest celebrates the start of the season in late June. Try ice cream and smoothies along the Sidewalk.
Belikin is the local beer.
Nightlife
Going out
Nightlife is relaxed: beach bars with happy hours, live music some nights and the odd party in season.
Most evenings are about sunset drinks and dinner.
The village is small and walkable.
Getting around
Getting around
Short flights from Belize City land at Placencia's airstrip, the quickest way to get here. By road, buses run from Belize City and Dangriga, often with a change, and take several hours. The Hokey Pokey water taxi crosses the lagoon to Mango Creek and Independence, on the main highway, for buses.
In the village, people walk and cycle. Taxis and golf carts cover the peninsula.
Boats leave Placencia for the cayes, and occasionally for Honduras.
Costs
What Placencia costs
Placencia is mid-priced for Belize. Guesthouses and the few hostels start at around €25 to €45 a night, and restaurant mains cost €12 to €25.
Boat trips to the cayes cost about €65 to €105, and whale shark dives more.
The Belize dollar is fixed at two to one with the US dollar, and US dollars are accepted almost everywhere, though change often comes in Belize dollars.
Safety
Safety and scams
Placencia is generally safe. Take normal care with belongings, and do not walk alone on unlit stretches at night.
Choose boat operators on safety and licensing, and follow whale shark rules: keep your distance and never touch them.
Sandflies and mosquitoes are common, so bring repellent. Hurricane season runs from June to November. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Whale sharks and Lobster Fest.
March to June
Whale shark season
Gladden Spit
Whale sharks feed around the full moons.
Late June
Placencia Lobster Fest
Placencia
Celebrating the start of lobster season.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Placencia, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
December to April is the dry season. Whale sharks visit from around March to June, mainly around the full moon. Lobster Fest is in late June. September and October are the wettest months.
Jan
Dry, busiest
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry, whale sharks begin
Apr
Hot, whale sharks
May
Whale sharks, rains begin
Jun
Lobster Fest, whale sharks end
Jul
Hot and humid
Aug
Wet
Sep
Peak hurricane risk
Oct
Wet
Nov
Rains easing
Dec
Dry season returns
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Whale sharks appear around the full moons from March to June.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Placencia prices.
Treat these as a guide. Boat trips cost extra.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Placencia questions
The ones we get asked most.
When can you see whale sharks in Placencia?
From around March to June, mainly in the days around the full moon, at Gladden Spit.
How do I get to Placencia?
By short flight from Belize City, or by bus, often changing in Dangriga or crossing on the Hokey Pokey water taxi.
Does Placencia have good beaches?
Yes, some of the best on the Belize mainland.
Can you see jaguars at Cockscomb Basin?
It is a jaguar reserve, but sightings are rare. The trails and waterfalls are the draw.
Is Placencia expensive?
Mid-priced for Belize, cheaper than San Pedro.
Placencia or Hopkins?
Placencia has better beaches and more restaurants. Hopkins is quieter, with Garífuna culture. They combine well.
When is the best time to visit?
December to June, with whale sharks from March.
Also trending this week
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare hostels across Belize: live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.