I don’t know what it is about small towns on small islands, but I just love them. Maybe it’s because their isolated location just gives you a pleasant and sane feeling. Everything simply seems much more manageable as there’s this lack of choice.
Quite some backpackers that I met in Belize told me that the little town of Placencia oozed that particular nice ‘island feel’ as well, even without being one! Funny enough you can just reach Placencia without involving any boat ride, as the town is connected to the mainland via a long and narrow road (like Key West for example). Take a look at the map at the end of the article if you’re curious how that looks like from above.
The idea of Placencia being an island without being an island was big enough to trigger my mind. Plus the thought of a tropical day out alone was reason enough to explore the village on a blue Monday in Belize.
Blue Monday has a different meaning in Belize by the way ↑
Thus I set out to the long and narrow peninsula of Placencia, perhaps better describes in Belize as the caye (island) you can drive to!
From Hopkins it was something like a 60 minute drive to Placencia. The name of the town was given by the Spaniards, who actually named the whole peninsula Punta Placencia (Point Pleasant) in the 19th century.
Seems accurate.
The most interesting part of the drive from Hopkins (or any town really) towards Placencia is the 43 km or 27 mile strip heads off the southern highway. Via Maya Beach and Seine Bight you can drive all the way to the tip (also the dock) of the peninsula.
Cool enough this highway is sandwiched between a lagoon on the west and the Caribbean Sea on the east. That makes for some pretty views – and apparently 25 km or 16 miles of beaches on the sides!
I was happy to see that the town of Placencia itself – once a sleepy fishing village – wasn’t as big as I’d expected it to be.
At the same time one can see the potential. With the upcoming age of tourism I think it’s impossible for this village to stay the same.
Placencia is a popular hub among people from the USA who come to this piece of Belize to experience that ultimate beachfront hangout close to home.
Their retirement condominiums and resorts rise up everywhere, but mainly on the highway strip. Even Francis Ford Coppola owns a resort in here.
Nevertheless Placencia has so far maintained its sleepy charm. Less than 2000 people live in the village today.
The main street is a pedestrian-only wooden ‘pier’, that connects lively cafes, artsy galleries and a couple of hotels with one another. And those damn beautiful beaches of course.
Due to the small scale of the town you’re able to see it all in a short walk.
Many people are drawn to Placencia during the months of April, May and June to see the giant whale sharks that are migrating close to the coast. But there’s more wildlife out there. The lagoon on the other side of town is a big breeding area for saltwater crocodiles, turtles and the endangered manatees.
Unfortunately I didn’t see any of those, but if you rent a kayak you might have better luck in the lagoon.
June would make another cool month to visit the town too, but only if you like lobster! A local told me that the ‘lobsterfest’ traditionally is the village’s most famous festival and people flock out from everywhere to experience it.
So far so good in Placencia right? But there’s one ghastly disadvantage of beach life Placencia: those smelly strips of seaweed that pop up every now and then.
I heard people saying that it used to smell pretty bad in October this year. Unfortunately in general it’s difficult to know when you’ll encounter these mossy belts.
What I liked best about Placencia was perhaps its laid-back vibe, especially on the east side of town.
Most people were walking barefoot on the pier, there was a guy painting a new mural in the shade of a palm tree, flowers and shells were all around and the locals were bringing in the daily catch in the afternoon.
But best of all, as everywhere in Belize, nobody seemed to be rushed.
Let’s see if I can transmit those easygoing vibes via my pictures and if you have already been in Placencia, I hope it brings back fond memories!
Here’s where to find that ‘island’ you can drive to:
