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If you’ve never heard from Belize, get excited to learn about your new favorite travel destination. Miles of coast touch the bright blue Caribbean Sea and open outward to hundreds of islands and hundreds of miles of barrier reef habitat. But head inland and you’ll find natural landmarks like the Cayo District and the Maya Mountains that are equally as magical. But even among this variety, Placencia stands apart. This peninsula straddles land and sea, and that means that your options can be borderline overwhelming. If you only have a weekend in Placencia, here are the best things to do.

See the Sea

As a fishing town along some of the most pristine beaches in Belize, most visitors are here at least in part for the Caribbean Sea. But you might be surprised at the sheer variety of things you can do. Whether you’re looking to fish off of a local pier or venture into deeper waters, there’s always fresh and seasonally diverse prey to find. Or you can get closer to the beautiful marine life that calls the Belize Barrier Reef home with a scuba or snorkeling expedition.

Venture Into the Jungle

You don’t need to be a daring adventurer or a reckless tomb raider to feel like you’re standing among the ancients. Maya cities  Lubaantun and Xunantunich are comfortably within reach of the peninsula, while the imposing ATM Cave will make you realize why the ancient Mayas once treated it as a temple and a direct pathway to the underworld. For the more nature-oriented, you’ll find no shortage of natural parks to explore. Check out Cockscomb Basin or Monkey River if you really want to see the diverse wildlife and stunning views that the jungles have to offer.

Get to Know the Locals

The village of Placencia is home to less than a thousand people, and it has the vibes of a quaint and sleepy town even with increased tourist interest. That makes it easy to find yourself immersed in the local culture. With beaches right in town and a variety of restaurants and bars to choose from, you could be perfectly content spending most of your time in and around town. And with the Garifuna settlement of Seine Bight and the even quieter town of Maya Beach only a few miles away, there’s a surprising amount to explore.

Nothing At All

But the fact is, exploration doesn’t even need to be on the menu. Resorts like Chabil Mar offer a guest-exclusive approach to travel. With 400 feet of beach, a pier, and numerous amenities right on-site, you can spend your entire time luxuriating on the property and barely even have to see another living soul.

Visit 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.

The Placencia Peninsula is such a narrow strip of land along the Caribbean Sea that many Belizeans refer to it as the “island you can walk to” — and with a length of only 16 miles from north to south, it’s actually smaller than Belize’s largest island of Ambergris Caye. But while it might be small, it’s also diversely photogenic. Here are the photos you need to capture for Instagram during your visit.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

The 400 square kilometers that constitute this wildlife sanctuary were originally set aside to serve as the world’s first jaguar sanctuary. It’s unlikely these elusive jungle cats will photobomb your Insta, but the crisscrossing trails that cut through the park offer plenty of scenic views. Be sure to have your picture taken at Tiger Fern Falls, the largest waterfall in the park.

Laughing Bird Caye

A community of uniquely laughing gulls earned this island its name. And while you can’t convey that cackle in a photo, you can share some of the most beautiful views of the Belize Barrier Reef. Every acre and a half of land here is beautiful, but be sure to strap into a snorkel or scuba gear to see what’s going on beneath the surface of the sea.

Monkey River Village

The journey inland from Placencia Village to Monkey River has plenty of photograph-worthy sights in its own right, but the lazy journey down this watercourse is the best way to catch glimpses of the local wildlife. The titular howler monkeys aren’t afraid to make themselves known to travelers down the river, but it’s also home to a variety of birds, iguanas, and ocelots.

Nim Li Punit

Journey just a little further west from Placencia and you’ll find the abandoned jungle city of Nim Li Punit. Despite having fallen from prominence over 1000 years ago, it’s a surprisingly extant picture of what life was like centuries ago. A good photograph can bridge the continuity of time seamlessly.

Main Street

Placencia Village’s main street is the smallest in the world — a tiny sidewalk that doesn’t even allow vehicles on it. But that sort of humble living is what typifies the community of Placencia. If you really want to capture the people and the personality of coastal Belize, there’s no better places to point your camera.

If a picture tells a thousand words, a trip to Placencia can transform your Instagram story into a novel. Be sure to spend your time in Placencia at Chabil Mar. Just keep in mind that the beautiful views, luxurious amenities, and attentive staff may make it hard to get out there and snap photos.

Visit 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.

Placencia is a name that seems to evoke peace and tranquility, and there’s definitely an air of that in this small fishing village along Belize’s southern coast. But there’s a reason why Placencia draws travelers from all over the world in numbers far outstripping most of Belize’s other mainland settlements.

Here’s why Placencia is the perfect Belize travel destination for you.

The narrow peninsula on which Placencia is placed is 16 miles long but only about half a mile wide at many points, meaning that a beach is always right around the corner no matter where you are in Placencia.

It’s one of the best places to see whale sharks in the Caribbean. Whale shark migration patterns see them passing by Placencia from March through June, and you can even swim with these gentle giants if you time it right.

Placencia is home to two of Belize’s most interesting ethnic groups. Creole people are common in Placencia, and the nearby settlement of Seine Bight is the best place to interact with the Garifuna people.

The beaches may be the main attraction, but Placencia is home to the narrowest main street in the world. This pedestrian sidewalk may only be four feet wide, but it’s filled with colorful murals and a ton of local color in the form of quirky boutique shops and restaurants.

It’s still mostly a fishing village. While there are a decent amount of tourists who come to Placencia, it still maintains the sensibilities of a legitimate small fishing community. If you want a break from crowds of North Americans, it’s a far cry from Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye.

It’s ideally positioned for exploring the Belize Barrier Reef. Placencia is just a few miles away, providing visitors to the fishing village with snorkeling and diving opportunities that allow you to catch a glimpse of everything from sea turtles and manatees to dolphins and sharks.

Monkey River is about 10 miles away from Placencia proper, but it’s well worth a visit for anyone who hasn’t been. The river got its name from the large population of black howler monkeys who live along the bank, but chances are that you’ll see all types of indigenous life.

There’s no vacation destination quite like Placencia, and there’s no better way to explore Placencia than in the luxuriant resort of Chabil Mar. With different Belize vacation packages for any sensibility, we’re the premium choice for Belize travel accommodations.

For the past three decades, Placencia has occupied a spot as one of the best destinations in Belize and the Caribbean altogether. But while the islands of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker have turned into bustling tourist sites, Placencia has remained relatively more low-key. While there are plenty of businesses catering to the tourism crowd, Placencia Village still has all the personality and quirks of a sleepy fishing village. That’s especially surprising considering the peninsula this town sits on.

A Unique Geographic Marvel

The Placencia Peninsula has the unique privilege of extending for a length of 16 miles while only being roughly half a mile wide at many points. You’re never too far away from a beach when you’re on the Placencia Peninsula, and the region is renowned for the quality as well as the quantity of its beaches. Among the standouts is the 400-foot “Barefoot Perfect” beach at Chabil Mar Villas, but it’s not the only one. Sometimes called “The Island You Can Walk To”, Placencia Peninsula gives you ready access to the stunning Belize Barrier Reef while still keeping you on solid ground.

A Region Rich in Culture

Belize has less than a million residents, but the country with the smallest population size in Central America is actually delightfully diverse. This is especially true on the Placencia Peninsula. While Placencia Village is the most popular destination for tourists, the peninsula is also home to the Garifuna settlement of Seine Bight and the quiet community of Maya Beach — a particular favorite of local expatriates. And while many of Belize’s residents are descended from either European conquerors or the traditional Maya people, the cultural stew here includes the descendants of Mennonites, Chinese and Indian laborers, and a rich Creole presence.

The Most Exclusive Way to Enjoy Placencia

If you truly want to experience everything that Placencia has to offer, you deserve to treat yourself to a vacation at Chabil Mar. As Placencia Village’s only guest-exclusive resort, you’ll have access to some of the most celebrated views, dining, and amenities in the area — and you’ll also have the freedom to explore both the Caribbean Sea and the Belizean interior the way you want. Whether you’re traveling alone, looking to connect with old friends, or planning a romantic getaway, there’s a villa that’s perfect for you at Chabil Mar.

For more information about Placencia Belize and Chabil Mar, 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.