Placencia is a hidden gem among destinations in Belize. While many tourists find themselves in San Ignacio or on the island of Caye Caulker, Placencia has a unique laid back vibe. It’s a place where locals, expats, and visitors intermingle harmoniously. Not to mention you can spend your days reclining in a beach chair, strolling through town, and immersing yourself in local culture… all in one day.
It’s a perfect destination for families with young kids and there are a variety of things to do with kids in Placencia, Belize.
In town, you can sample local produce, cool off with some gelato, jump off the pier, grab a coffee and a smoothie, or peruse the shops. And of course, hang out on the beach! For families looking to learn a little, you can visit Mayan temples, experience Garifuna culture, take a chocolate making class, or even learn some cultural drumming! For the adventurous kids, you can go ziplining, kayaking, or visit a waterfall.
Things to Do in Placencia, Belize - In Town
Eat Gelato at Tutti Frutti
What better way to cool off after the beach (or retreat to on a rainy day) than with some gelato? At Tutti Frutti, you’ll find a variety of unique fruity flavors like soursop, strawberry, and lemon, along with more “desserty” flavors like chocolate and pistachio. And they always have a rotating selection of 3-4 nondairy flavors that won’t disappoint!
Locals and tourists alike flock to Tutti Frutti for a sweet treat that doesn’t break the bank. By the end of our stay in Placencia, we were daily customers.
Sample Local Produce
Along the main road in Placencia, you’ll find a couple of small fruit and veggie stands that are reasonably priced and carry local, seasonal produce. Not to mention, the families working there are incredibly helpful and friendly.
Whether you’re after some plantains for smoothies, papaya for breakfast, or sweet potatoes for dinners, you’ll find it here. They often have local honey and treats like plantain chips to snack on as well.
Down by Tutti Frutti, you’ll also find a tortilla shop, with freshly made corn tortillas available for purchase every day. If you’ve never had fresh corn tortillas, you’re definitely missing out! But get there earlier in the day, as they sometimes sell out.
Swim With Dolphins and Manatees
Placencia is at the end of a peninsula, so there is an “ocean side” and a “calm side”(the tip), and the “lagoon side”. The ocean side and the tip of the peninsula both have amazing beaches. The tip is calm and protected, while the ocean side has bigger waves. Each with their pros and cons.
One of the pros of the calm side is that you’ll often see dolphins and manatees seeking protection from the ocean alongside the anchored sailboats. The manatees keep their distance, but the dolphins aren’t afraid to come closer to shore and the pier as they make their way in and out from the ocean.
Jump Off the Pier
The calm waters by the end of the peninsula may not be as exciting for the adventure seekers in your family. Luckily, tourists and locals alike are often found leaping from the pier… when the coast is clear from the water taxis, of course. The clear waters make it ideal for making sure the jump is safe and there are no jellyfish waiting to sting.
Have a Cocktail (or Meal) on the Beach
At the end of the peninsula, you’ll find The Shak with delicious cocktails and relaxed dishes. Sip on your daiquiri at the beachside picnic tables while the kids play in the water. Or if you’re lucky, the barside swing seats will be available during your visit!
All along the ocean side, you’ll find bars and restaurants (like the Tipsy Tuna) with service available at beachside lounge chairs. Sip on your cocktails, cool off in the ocean, and build a sand castle all from the same spot! Don’t worry, nonalcoholic beverages like fresh coconut water are available as well.
Make Friends at the Beach
Placencia is one of the few places we’ve visited that doesn’t have an “us and them” feel to the relationships between locals, expats, and tourists. Belizeans and visitors alike are happy to strike up a real, meaningful conversation with you and are genuinely interested in connecting.
It was easy for us to find friends for our daughter, and to chat with other families on the beach. More so than other places we’ve visited. It’s part of what makes Placencia so magical for us.
Tipsy Strip
Don’t be put off by the name. During the daytime, the Tipsy Strip is definitely family friendly. What is the Tipsy Strip in Placencia? It’s a really long boardwalk that follows the length of the beach. It’s an alternative to walking on the street, and along the way you’ll find bars (of course), restaurants, tourist shops, and artist galleries.
It makes for a fun meander into or out of town. And if you get hot, you can always hop over to the ocean to cool off. And if you’re wondering if you can walk the beach in Placencia, you can! You can walk for miles along the beach on Placencia’s oceanside without ever having to head inland.
Shop Along Placencia Road
Placencia Road is the road that runs along the peninsula. But that doesn’t mean it’s a busy highway. Cars, golf carts, and bicycles casually share the road. And there’s a sidewalk available for pedestrians.
Along the road, you’ll find everything from tourist shops, to organic groceries, chocolate shops, local artisans like woven baskets and dolls, artist galleries, and jewelry shops.
Placencia Beach Club Pool
Placencia Beach Club is an option for your family if you’re looking for more of a pool day. Their day pass is currently $5 USD per person, and you’ll have access to their pool, their beach, and you can purchase food from their restaurant as well.
Some days are adults only, so make sure you check their website before you go. But for a bit of a pampering environment that won’t break the bank, this could be a fun option for the whole family.
Get Energized With Some Quality Coffee
The coffee available in Placencia is seriously impressive. There are a few coffee shops to choose from, but by far our favorite is Above Grounds Coffee House. Their espresso drinks meet our coffee snob palettes, the beans are organic, there are fresh juices and smoothies for the kids, and their front balcony overlooks Placencia road - making for some perfect coffee-sipping people watching. Plus the women that work there are beyond friendly and welcoming.
Nearly next door is Brewed Awakenings, which is pretty popular with tourists. But those coffees cater more to the Starbucks crowd. If you’re in the mood for a sweet iced latte or a 16oz mocha, then it’ll be the place for you.
Things to Do in Placencia, Belize - Cultural Experiences
Experience Garifuna Culture
On Placencia peninsula, less than 10km north of Placencia village, you’ll find Seine Bight. Seine Bight is one of the homes of Garifuna culture in Belize. The Garifuna have a unique culture due to the fact that they were never enslaved like other black cultures in the Americas.
Much of their traditional language, beliefs, diets, music, and dance have been preserved and are very much still a part of everyday life. You can learn more about their culture and history here. There are a number of opportunities in Seine Bight to learn Garifuna drumming and eat traditional Garifuna cuisine.
Chocolate Making Class
If you have chocolate lovers in your family (let’s be honest - who doesn’t?), why not learn about how it’s made? Visit a cacao farm, learn how to harvest cacao beans, how to roast those beans, and turn them into chocolate!
There are a number of tours in the area to choose from, as cacao farms are plentiful in the area. Some tours will be paired with other local activities like waterfalls and cultural experiences.
Mayan Temple Sites
To get to Mayan temple sites, you’ll need to be up for a bit of a drive from Placencia. The closest ruins would be Nim Li Punit at just under 2 hours away. But if you want to learn about Mayan culture, history, and architecture where it actually all happened, finding a tour from Placencia shouldn’t be difficult.
Things to Do in Placencia, Belize - Adventurous Activities
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is home to 128,000 acres of protected rainforest and home to a variety of native plants and animals - including jaguars! But don’t worry, jaguars tend to come out more at night and are quite shy. You can definitely hike many of the trails and explore on your own. But you’ll certainly see and learn more if you go with a tour guide.
There are a number of tours from Placencia that provide your family with a variety of activity options when visiting Cockscomb Basin. You may find some wildlife at the Jaguar Rescue Center, explore a waterfall, go tubing down a river, or learn about local flora and fauna. There are even some night hiking options if you want to see the rainforest from a different perspective and have the best chances of spotting a jaguar!
Laughing Bird Caye
Laughing Bird Caye is less than an hour’s boat ride from Placencia and maybe the perfect spot near Placencia for exploring the Belize Barrier Reef. Whether your family has snorkelers or scuba divers, a day trip to Laughing Bird Caye could be worth it.
For those that prefer to stay a little drier, you can also rent kayaks to explore the crystal clear waters or have a picnic on the beach. It’s a national park and there are no overnight stays allowed, so the nature has been well preserved.
Monkey River
Monkey River is accessible from Placencia either by car or by boat. And the name kind of describes it. Monkey River is a river that is home to a variety of wildlife - including howler monkeys! Your tour guide may also spot toucans, crocodiles, and manatees along the way.
Maya King Waterfall
A trip to Maya King Waterfall is often paired with other tour activities. And with good reason. Less than an hour from Placencia, it’s the perfect spot to cool off after a hike through Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary or to relax after some adventurous ziplining.
Take a shower under the falls, relax on the rocks, or go for a dip in the cool pool at the base of the falls. To make it even more adventurous, you can add on some river tubing to your waterfalls tour. Of course, if you have your own transportation, this is an easy one to check out yourself. No tour needed!
Go Ziplining
Ziplining can also often be combined with other activities when you’re booking with a tour company. And even if you’re not taking a tour, Mayan Sky Canopy Tour is less than an hour from Placencia. So if flying high across the rainforest from a bird’s eye view sounds like a fun afternoon, ziplining from Placencia could be fun activity for you and your family!
As you can see, there are things to do in Placencia, Belize for the entire family. No matter what the ages. No matter the desired levels of adventure and activity. There’s something to do for everyone!
If you’re looking for other quiet beach towns in Central America, you may want to check out Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica. You can find more information here: