Placencia, The Ultimate Beach Destination in Belize

Placencia, Best Beach Destination to visit in Belize 

With more than 400 offshore islands and 200 miles of Caribbean coastline, it can be difficult agreeing on which beach in Belize is the most beautiful.

Much of the country is pristine and untouched, brimming with wildlife and gorgeous flowering plants, so finding the ultimate beach destination in Belize isn’t easy. Add in the fact that the islands have their own inescapable charm, many of the beaches front gorgeous mangrove-lined lagoons, and stretches of white sand are common, making crowning one beach the best an extremely difficult task.

But after carefully reviewing all of its features, benefits, and location, the beaches that reign supreme in Belize are found on the Placencia Peninsula.

The Island You Can Walk To

In Belize, islands are known as “cayes” (pronounced “keys”), and Placencia is often called “The caye you can walk to.” Except for a narrow strip of land measuring just half a mile wide, the Placencia Peninsula is separated from the rest of the mainland in the southeastern part of the country.

Placencia was given its name by the Spaniards, who called this lovely 16-mile long strip of land “Punta Placencia” or “Pleasant Point,” an apt name. Less than a mile wide, the western edge of Placencia is a pristine, mangrove-lined lagoon teeming with fish, birds, and wildlife. On the eastern shore, Placencia fronts the beautiful Caribbean Sea.

Only around 1,500 people live full-time in Placencia, so the peninsula has retained much of its idyllic charm. Most locals are employed in traditional occupations of fishing or farming. There are two villages in Placencia, Seine Beight, a community primarily inhabited by the Garifuna people, and Placencia Village at the southern tip.

Placencia Village serves as the unofficial capital of the peninsula and is the holder of the Guinness Book of World Records title for the smallest main street on the planet, a 4,000 foot-long pedestrian-only sidewalk renowned for its lovely shops, boutique coffee houses, and colorful street murals.

Placencia Village also serves as the gateway to the Belize Barrier Reef.

Adventures Abound

Placencia is a great place to stroll along the beach or enjoy a swim, but it’s also famous for being the access point to the islands of the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with many protected national parks and marine reserves. The reef abounds with spectacular places to scuba dive, snorkel, fish, and sail.

Placencia’s beaches are formed of pure white sand and offer enough space that you can easily find a secluded spot to relax and unwind or simply admire the stunning views.

Chabil Mar

 

Chabil Mar is an award-winning resort located on the Caribbean coast of the Placencia Peninsula in southern Belize. Chabil Mar features elegantly appointed villas, a gourmet restaurant, a lush tropical garden, and a seafront pier ideal for enjoying meals under the stars.

The resort is conveniently located just a few miles from the Belize Barrier Reef and offer guests Belize vacation packages that include scuba diving and snorkeling on the reef. Chabil Mar also organizes diving and snorkeling tours during the springtime to see migrating whale sharks that visit Belize each year near Gladden Spit on the reef.

Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information on Belize, and don’t hesitate to send us an email, or call US/CAN Toll Free: 1-866-417-2377, Local: (011-501) 523-3606, if you have questions or need help in planning a Belize vacation.

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Your Guide to Arriving at Belize’s International Airport

Your Guide to Arriving at Belize's International Airport

International flights to Belize arrive at the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) located in Ladyville, about 10 miles from Belize City. The airport is easy to navigate as it has only one terminal and one runway. This guide will give you all the information you need to make your trip through the airport a breeze. The airport’s phone number is +(501) 225-2045.

Airlines flying to Belize

The following airlines fly into the Philip Goldson International Airport:
– Air Canada Rouge
– American Airlines
– Delta Airlines
– Southwest Airlines
– United Airlines
– WestJet
– Maya Island Air
– Tropic Air
– Copa Airlines
-JetBlue
-Sun Country
– TACA – Avianca El Salvador
– TAG – Transportes Aereos Guatemaltecos

Travel within Belize is possible via Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, as well as via bus and water taxi services.

Tourists over age 11 are required to pay a departure tax of $59.25 when leaving the country.

Arrival at BZE

As the airplane prepares for landing, enjoy gorgeous views of the coast and mangroves. If you fill out your paperwork before landing, you will save time. Brace yourself when you see the Belize river as the landing will be hard and fast.

Since there are no jetways, you’ll deplane onto the tarmac. Sometimes being in the back of the aircraft works to your advantage, both front and back doors may be used.

The ground crew will guide you to the terminal. Make sure to have your passport and travel documents ready for Immigration. There is a Belize Tourism Board office at the end of the hall where you can find free maps, brochures, and travel guides.

Immigration

You must have a valid passport. Visitors from North America don’t need a visa and should use one of the left lines.

Baggage Claim and Customs

Your longest wait will probably be at Baggage Claim, as two carousels serve all flights. If you don’t see your bag, you can check out the duty-free shops while you wait.

Once you have your bags, go through customs. If you have nothing to declare, there is a line for you that will move faster. Otherwise, customs inspectors will examine your luggage.

Overall, the entire process of deplaning can take as long as an hour, so make sure to allocate at least that amount of time if you have to catch a connecting flight or other transportation.

Your Guide to Arriving at Belize International Airport

Best Place to Stay in Placencia

The best place to stay if you are traveling to Placencia? Chabil Mar Villas. Set right on the beach, with access to a pristine private beach and dock, the resort provides luxury and comfort in a gorgeous natural setting.

Celebrate Manatee Appreciation Day: Discover Belize’s Gentle Giants & Support Responsible Tourism

Imagine a creature resembling an enormous aquatic loaf of bread, its wrinkled skin the color of weathered driftwood, as it grazes peacefully in the warm coastal waters of Belize. This is the world of the West Indian manatee, a fascinating yet endangered creature that finds sanctuary in Belize’s pristine environment. Manatee Appreciation Day, celebrated annually on the last Wednesday of March, serves as a vital reminder to cherish these remarkable animals. More importantly, it urges us to reflect on the active role we must all play in their protection.

Belize: A Sanctuary for the West Indian Manatee

manatee conservation

Belize, a Central American gem nestled between Mexico and Guatemala, is internationally renowned for its commitment to conservation. Lush rainforests, vibrant coral reefs, and pristine coastal lagoons create a haven for diverse wildlife, including the beloved West Indian manatee. These gentle giants, with their paddle-like flippers and curious whiskered faces, have captured the hearts of locals and visitors alike. The Placencia Lagoon, located on the southeastern coast, stands out as one of the premier spots in Belize to encounter these magnificent beings. This protected lagoon provides a tranquil environment with abundant seagrass beds—a manatee’s favorite food—offering both safety and sustenance.

If you seek an unforgettable and ethical manatee experience, Chabil Mar, a luxurious and eco-conscious resort on the Placencia Peninsula, is your ideal base. Our dedication to sustainable tourism aligns perfectly with the preservation of Belize’s precious natural resources. Our expert staff members, deeply knowledgeable about the local ecosystem, can connect you with tour operators who embody the principles of responsible wildlife viewing. These operators prioritize passive observation, maintaining a respectful distance from the manatees and never engaging in behaviors that could cause them stress. They also weave educational elements into every tour, fostering a deeper understanding of these gentle giants and the environmental challenges they face.

Protecting the Gentle Giants: Threats and Solutions

responsible tourism Belize

Understanding the importance of ethical tourism is crucial for the well-being of Belize’s manatees. While their large size might suggest resilience, these creatures are surprisingly vulnerable. Their slow movements and need to surface regularly for air make them susceptible to boat collisions, a leading cause of manatee injury and mortality. By choosing responsible tour operators, you support practices that minimize disturbance to manatees, allowing them to thrive in their natural habitat.

Despite their protected status, Belize’s manatees face a multitude of threats. Habitat loss due to coastal development fragments their populations and degrades their food sources. The dangers of boat collisions, particularly in areas with heavy vessel traffic, remain a significant concern. Entanglement in fishing gear and marine debris poses an additional risk, potentially leading to injury, restricted movement, or even drowning. To safeguard the future of these gentle giants, a concerted effort from individuals, organizations, and the government is required.

Here’s where you come in. Your actions, both during your Belize adventure and beyond, can make a tangible difference in manatee conservation. When boating in known manatee zones, it’s imperative to slow down, obey posted speed limits, and wear polarized sunglasses for better visibility in the water. These simple measures significantly reduce the risk of accidental collisions. Additionally, reducing your plastic waste through conscious choices and responsible trash disposal is essential for the health of all marine life. By minimizing the amount of plastic that ends up in our oceans, we help protect manatees from the dangers of entanglement.

The Power of Responsible Travel

Placencia Lagoon

Your commitment to manatee conservation can extend far beyond the shores of Belize. Consider supporting organizations dedicated to manatee protection and rehabilitation. Through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading awareness on social media, you become part of a global movement safeguarding these unique creatures.

Let an encounter with a manatee in the Placencia Lagoon ignite a spark within you, a lifelong commitment to marine conservation. By choosing Chabil Mar for your Belize adventure, you directly contribute to the preservation of Belize’s extraordinary wildlife. Your stay becomes an act of responsible travel, aligned with the values of sustainability and respect for the natural world. Book today and embark on a journey that not only creates cherished memories but also empowers you to protect Belize’s gentle giants for generations to come.

For more information about Belize, feel free to chat with our Concierge at concierge@chabilmarvillas.com or contact our Reservations Manager at reservations@chabilmarvillas.com. Or perhaps you would like to call toll-free from the US or Canada: 1-866-417-2377 or WhatsApp us at +501-633-7547.

The Maya People of Belize

Many people think that the culture which built all of the pyramids, palaces, and colossal stone cities in Belize and other areas of Central America are long gone. But there are more than six million Maya people living in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras, and they have preserved much of their heritage.

Today, the largest concentration of Maya people are in Mexico’s southern Yucatan Peninsula and southern Belize. Indeed, there are three different distinct groups of Maya in Belize known by their dialect, called the Yucatec, Kekchi, and Mopan. The Yucatec Maya emigrated from Mexico in the 19th century while the Mopan and Kekchi are the original inhabitants of Belize. And while most Maya in the region speak Spanish, most of the Maya in Belize are fluent in Spanish and English as well as their native tongue.

It’s often presumed that the collapse of the Maya civilization occurred as the result of the Spanish invading and conquering Central America. In reality, something occurred around the year 900 AD, long before the arrival of any Europeans in the area, and the Maya civilization self-destructed, the majority of cities becoming abandoned and left to the jungle. No one is quite sure why this occurred, but the latest research speculates that a combination of climate change and civil war was to blame.

The ancient Maya civilization was never ruled by one king or emperor. Instead, it was a loose confederation of independent kingdoms that were often at war with one another. The Maya civilization was, however, quite tight-knit, bound by a vast trade network, common language, and common religious beliefs. Many legends still abound about the Maya because their ancient hieroglyphic writing was undecipherable until recently. Today, archeologists are slowly piecing together a much more comprehensive history of the ancient Maya including titanic battles between legendary rulers in places like Xunantunich, Caracol, and Tikal (the latter is located just across the border in Guatemala).

And while the early Europeans did their best to “civilize” the Maya and eradicate their ancient culture, many Maya were living in remote, rural areas and thus escaped the wrath of the Spanish. As such, the Maya have preserved ancient dances like the Dance of the Deer, traditional foods like chocolate and corn, and textile skills.

If you’re interested in visiting ancient Maya sites or learning more about Maya culture, one of the best places to stay is Chabil Mar. Located in southern Belize, Chabil Mar is an award-winning luxury resort that offers cultural tours to learn more about the people, music, food, and cultures in Belize.

The Marvelous Maya Mysteries of Caracol Ruins: Exploring Belize’s Enigmatic Past

The Maya Ruins of Caracol

Caracol is one of the most interesting and well-preserved ancient Maya sites in Belize. Previously known as Uxwitza (“Three Water Hill”) to the ancient Maya, the current name of the site was coined in 1938 when the local British head archeologist dubbed it Caracol (Spanish for “Snail Shell”) on account of the curving access road that leads to the site.

Far bigger than even Belize City, Caracol once housed up to 180,000 people at the height of the city’s power. Caracol dominated the ancient Maya geopolitical world, variously allying or fighting against other city-states, including Naranjo and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tikal that is currently located just across the border in neighboring Guatemala.

The most famous building in Caracol is the Canaa (“Sky Palace). An enormous period that contains four palaces and three temples, Canaa is still the tallest building in the country at 141 feet (43 meters) high. Other important buildings and items discovered in Caracol include 24 religious altars, three large ball court, five big plazas, 24 carved stelae, reservoirs, causeways, and a very advanced astronomical observatory. A total of 35,000 lesser buildings have also been identified in Caracol along with more than 100 tombs.

Due to its enormous footprint (some 75 square miles), much of Caracol is still awaiting further excavation. A 2009 aerial survey was used to create a 3D map of how the city stands, including large sections of causeway and agricultural terraces that still lie buried in the jungle. The remote location of Caracol in the foothills of the Maya Mountains in southwest Belize also add to the difficulty of performing large-scale archeological work.

Caracol rose to the height of its power during the Maya classic period but the city seems to have been abandoned around the year 1050 for unknown reasons relating to the wide scale collapse of Maya civilization in the area. Once reclaimed by the jungle, the city was accidentally rediscovered in 1938 by a local logger named Rosa Mai who was in the area searching for mahogany trees.

Today, Caracol is located approximately 25 miles south of San Ignacio in the western Cayo District of Belize. The site of Caracol is within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve and is surrounded by both primary and secondary tropical rain forest. The abundance of carved stelae, altars, markers in ball courts, walls, and capstones have allowed archaeologists to accurately document the history of the city, including a monumental military victory of Tikal in the year 562 AD.

Chabil Mar in Placencia Belize & Caracol Mayan Ruins

Chabil Mar resort on the Placencia Peninsula is close to all of the most exciting mainland destinations in Belize. Guests of the resort can include a visit to Caracol Mayan Ruins as part of one of Chabil Mar’s fantastic Belize Reef & Jungle vacation packages.


Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information on Belize, and don’t hesitate to send us an email, or call US/CAN Toll Free: 1-866-417-2377, Local: (011-501) 523-3606, if you have questions or need help in planning a Belize vacation.

 

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