Placencia, Belize has fine cuisine, quaint boutiques, snorkeling and boating activities, along with the same world class beaches found in the mainstream Belize tourist destinations.. However, in Placencia, residents enjoy the relaxing mood of a less commercialized, less traveled and nearly undiscovered Caribbean haven. It offers the best of tropical island living, right on the Central American mainland. See the following article from International Living for more on this.
Imagine waking up to sunlight streaming through your window and walking out onto the deck of a beach house to see crisp white linens strung up to dry between palm trees. Feel the ocean breeze, fresh and light on your face. Smell the delicious breakfast aromas coming from nearby restaurants and guest houses that mix with the balmy, salty air.
This is a common way to start your day in Placencia, Belize, so it’s hard to believe that this Caribbean peninsula has not become an overdeveloped tourist destination. Instead it remains a restful beach town.
Sometimes referred to as “the caye you can drive to,” Placencia offers all of the beauty and activity of Belize’s islands with a quieter atmosphere and a notably superior beach. The white-sand beach is one of the most beautiful I have seen in Belize. It stretches the length of the peninsula and is dotted with palm trees popping up along the way to offer natural umbrellas to lie beneath for an afternoon nap.
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Bright pink hibiscus and bougainvillea flowers decorate the fronts of shops and houses along “The Sidewalk,” the main path through town, which has been called the World’s Narrowest Main Street. Along the way you can find clothing boutiques, gift shops, and internet cafes.
Sand paths branch off and connect you to guesthouses, bakeries and restaurants where you can get delicious Caribbean cuisine. Locally made pastries and warm, rich banana bread are perfect for a sweet, light breakfast or snack. Homemade juices, including a ginger-lime combination, are a spicy compliment to the Caribbean style chicken or fresh fish and coconut rice and beans that are standard fare in Placencia.
The expat and tourist population is a more mature crowd; retirees, couples enjoying a relaxing vacation, some families and a handful of college students. Expats leisurely ride their bicycles to the grocery store to buy fresh produce and basic necessities, chatting with shopkeepers and friends along the way. Tourists relax in the shade with a book, stroll along poking into shops, or pick up a friendly game of beach volleyball.
While sleepier than the cayes, Placencia still has plenty to do at night. You’ll easily find a beachside bar with karaoke, pool tables, and televisions to watch your favorite sports teams. Live music and laughter float down the beach and through the town as everyone looks to liven up a relaxing day or unwind from an active afternoon of hiking, boating or snorkeling.
The perfect combination of a relaxing town with plenty of outdoor adventure (and phenomenal food) makes Placencia the ideal place for anyone looking for a picturesque beach getaway.
This article has been republished from International Living.
