Full Guide for Fun & Rest in Placencia Belize

After 3 days Sailing the Belize Cayes, my friends and I headed to Placencia. Originally, I wanted to return to Belize City, but Placencia was more relaxing, had a nicer place to stay, and offered cheaper rates.

When to go

Belize is a tropical country with great weather year-round. The dry season is from November to April. I have been in April, August, and October. While there is slightly more rain in the middle of the year, it’s sporadic and ever-changing. One minute it’s pouring, the next the sun is beaming. I wouldn’t let this stop you from visiting. Also, remember that there are fewer tourists outside of peak season.

Getting there

You can get to Placencia by taking a 45-minute plane ride from Belize City for about $150 or a 3-hour shuttle bus for $60-80. I prefer the cheaper option because the flight is not much more convenient. You must still spend time waiting at the airport and pay for a cab once you arrive.

Currency

$1 USD = $2 Belize dollars. You can exchange money at the airport, but you don’t have to. Almost everyone accepts American USD in cash and gives back change in Belize dollars. Small services and vendors (i.e. cabs) only take cash, while bigger establishments (i.e. restaurants) accept most credit cards.

Where to Stay

There are many AirBnb and hotel options online. We stayed in Seabird Luxury Dwellings. It was further out of the town center so we needed to get cabs regularly. However, it was beautiful, clean, quiet, and very private. Highly recommend this place for a bigger group.

Getting around

Placencia Road is the only major road in town. There are bike, car, and golf cart rentals in town. You can also get a local taxi driver’s number. I negotiated a fixed rate with mine $X for X amount of rides.

Where to Eat

Only recommending places we went to:

Omar’s Creole Grub – Fresh, mouth-watering seafood

Muna Rooftop – Beautiful restaurant with exceptional food. More expensive than other places in town, but worth it for one fancy meal.

Tutti Frutti – Great creamy gelato

Fun Activities

We spent a full afternoon at Placencia Beach Club. It was a perfect place to relax as there’s a bar, restaurant, pool, beach, and games all within steps of each other. They even give you a towel with your day pass. We got free day passes included with our stay at Seabird Luxury Dwellings.

Day Trips

Boat tours to local Belize Cayes to snorkel, rest, and wander. We did a 3 day sailing trip with Dream Yacht Charter so we skipped this.

Other popular tours include exploring local Mayan ruins, cave tubing, and visiting local waterfalls.