The beaches
Sand and palms.
Dave ten Broek from Calgary, Canada — CC BY 2.0 · Nagyman — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Nagyman — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Jim McIntosh — CC0
A long, narrow sandy peninsula in southern Belize, with the Caribbean on one side and a calm mangrove lagoon on the other. At its southern tip lies the small village of Placencia, an old fishing village that has become one of the loveliest places to stay on the coast. The village is best known for «the Sidewalk», a narrow concrete path between wooden houses, gardens and small cafés that was once its main street. All along the peninsula are beaches of soft golden sand shaded by palms, far quieter than the northern islands. Boats leave the village dock for small reef islands to snorkel, including Laughing Bird Caye, and for Glover's Reef, while lagoon trips look for manatees. Between March and June whale sharks visit the reef near the full moon. Seafood is fresh; ask about ingredients if a dish has meat. Use licensed operators; sea trips are cancelled in rough weather, and the hurricane season runs from June to November.
Sand and palms.
Wooden houses.
Snorkelling.
Stann Creek District on Belize's southern coast
By small plane from Belize City to the village airstrip in about half an hour, or by road in about three and a half hours.