If you're thinking about traveling to Placencia, Belize you may be wondering how the heck you'll even get there once you land in Belize! Luckily, you have options. You and your family can get to Placencia, Belize via small propeller planes, by renting a car, or maybe even on a water taxi!
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How to Get From Belize City to Placencia
If you’re flying into Belize, you will arrive at the international airport in Belize City. To be honest, there isn’t much to do in Belize City. Sure, you can check out the market area that’s set up for the cruise ships. And you could pass a couple of days in Belize City or take a few day trips. But driving in the city is hectic, it isn’t a very walkable city, and there isn't much to do with kids.
You’ll likely be using Belize City as a quick stop on the way to your final destination… like Placencia. From Belize City to Placencia, your best options with a family are to either fly or drive yourself. Yes, there are buses. But it’s usually an option that I don’t feel like tackling with kiddos in tow. But if you’re looking for some information on how to best navigate the buses in Belize, check out this article.
Flying from Belize City to Placencia
If you choose to fly from Belize City to Placencia, you’ll be taking a small puddle jumper propeller plane. The main domestic airlines are Tropic Air and Maya Island Air. I found these flights pretty fun. And the views are spectacular. But if you’re a nervous flier, you may want to stick to land transportation.
What to Expect On Domestic Flights in Belize
The seats on these prop planes remind me of school bus benches with seatbelts. The maximum capacity for the flights is fourteen passengers, but our flights were never full. There is nowhere to put your carryon, and it must sit on your lap. And much like a bus system, your plane will make stops along the way to drop people off and pick up new passengers.
Also, in my experience, don’t pay attention to how many stops the airline says you’ll be taking when you book your ticket. You’ll end up taking as many stops as necessary for the number of customers who have booked tickets for the day.
Overall, we found the flights really enjoyable and easy. We experienced other tourists questioning whether or not their bags were going to make it, the safety of the flight, etc. The flight crew make these journeys all day, every day. Trust their system. And if you’re concerned about the safety of the little planes, driving is always an option!
Cost Expectations For Getting to Placencia
The prices of the flights can add up, depending on how many people you have in your family. Roundtrip could cost around $100-$150 per person. In our experience, we were able to rent a car for $36/day (plus the cost of gas). But that means that for a week, the car would cost $252 + gas, while flying a family of 4 could cost anywhere from $400 to $600 depending on flight costs at the time of your trip.
During our trip, we did need to change flight dates. We had booked the “Everyday” lowest price option from TropicAir, which states that your flights are modifiable with a fee. When we called, though, it was all very easy and the change fee was just to make up the difference in flight costs from our original dates. So the change cost us less than $20.
Driving from Belize City to Placencia
During our trip in November 2022, despite what Google Maps told us, the Coastal Highway was still a big construction zone. The way to go was via Belmopan and then along the Hummingbird Highway until you head south again along the Southern Highway. According to Google Maps, that takes your driving time from 2hr45min (via the no-yet-complete Coastal Highway) to 3hrs22min. So just make sure you plan accordingly.
Once you are out of Belize City, driving in Belize is easy! They do love their speedbumps, though, so watch for crosswalks and speed bump signs at all times.
Road Trip Stops From Belize City to Placencia
Don’t forget to make a few stops! We enjoyed stopping at Blue Hole National Park. The Blue Hole wasn’t super impressive, and the mosquitos were rampant and hungry. But Herman’s Cave (also in Blue Hole national Park) was really enjoyable. It was a short walk. You could easily self navigate. And it didn’t take too much time to make it far back enough to completely eliminate all light. So bring a flashlight!
If you’re a hot sauce lover, stopping at Marie Sharp's in Hope Creek is a must! You can do a tasting there, where you can sample all of their hot sauce, plus some of their jams, sauces, and fruit wines. Our five year old daughter even found some hot sauce she enjoyed and bought!
You can also do a tour of the factory, but you’ll need some more time and to be wearing long pants and closed-toed shoes… not my usual OOTD in Belizean heat.
If you have the time, you’ll also pass through Maya Centre, the turning off point for Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the Jaguar Reserve Nature Center, and Maya King Waterfalls. But these can all also easily be done as day trips from Placencia.
We used Crystal Auto Car Rental at the airport after reading some positive reviews of them online. We weren’t disappointed! The car was in good condition, their process was easy, and there were no unhappy surprises.
Do you need a car in Placencia, Belize?
Placencia is a small town that is easily walkable, and you definitely don’t need a car to be comfortable there. Having a car certainly has its benefits, though, especially depending on where you’re staying. We stayed right in town, near the Post Office, but we did often drive to supplement groceries at the larger supermarket (Top Value was our host’s recommendation) after we had gathered produce from the stands in town. It would have been easily walkable, but kids, heat, and carrying groceries (plus kids) makes for a whole different story.
Many people rent golf carts or bicycles in Placencia, which would have been perfect for getting around town as well. But that doesn’t give you the flexibility of self-catering day trips to check out the surrounding areas. That being said, tours are readily available in the area and you shouldn’t struggle with getting around.
So do you need a car in Placencia? Not at all. But it could add an extra layer of convenience and flexibility - always a plus when you have kids’ naps and moods to consider.
Taking Water Taxis From Independence to Placencia
If you’re coming from the south, taking a water taxi to Placencia is always an option in addition to flying and driving. Since Placencia is at the end of a peninsula, it saves you having to drive up and around the lagoon. And saves you money from flights.
Water taxis depart from Independence and arrive in Placencia in about 15 minutes. They’re very affordable, and the fare is pretty cheap compared to flying and driving. They are small boats, though. So if you travel with a lot of luggage, the Hokey Pokey Water Taxi may not be the right option for you.
No matter how you get there, Placencia Belize is definitely worth visiting. It has a laid back vibe, where tourists, locals, and expats intermingle harmoniously. And if you’re wondering what there actually is to do in Placencia, you can check out this article.