Why Honeymoon in Placencia
The peninsula has the beaches many people picture when they think of the Caribbean, with soft sand and calm water. That is less common in Belize than you might expect, since the barrier reef keeps big waves away but also leaves many shores grassy.
Placencia's location is its other strength. The southern barrier reef and its cayes are close by, so snorkel trips are short. The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected jaguar reserve, is within an hour by road. The Maya Mountains rise behind the coast for waterfalls and jungle hikes.
The resorts here are small and personal. Many sit on private beachfront with their own docks. You can kayak in the lagoon in the morning, snorkel in the afternoon and have dinner in the village without long transfers. It feels like a place where people actually live.
When to Go
The dry season from roughly December through April is the best time to visit. Days are sunny, humidity is lower and seas are usually calm for boat trips. It is also the busiest period, especially around the holidays and spring break.
March through June brings the whale shark season at Gladden Spit, when the sharks gather to feed on the spawn of snappers around the full moon. Tours run on a limited number of days each month, so plan your dates around the lunar calendar.
June through November is the rainy season and also the Atlantic hurricane season, with the highest risk from August through October. Rates drop and some businesses close in September and October.
The Placencia Lobster Fest takes place in late June, at the start of the lobster season, with food stalls and music on the beach.
Where to Stay
Placencia Village at the southern tip is the most walkable area, with restaurants, bars and the Sidewalk on your doorstep. Maya Beach to the north is quieter and better for couples who want seclusion. Seine Bight sits in between.
Turtle Inn, owned by filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, sits just north of the village with Balinese-inspired thatched villas, beach access and an Italian-leaning restaurant. Naia Resort and Spa, on the peninsula, has spacious beach houses and a well-regarded spa. Chabil Mar, a small resort near the village, has private villas and a reputation for attentive service.
On the lagoon side, a few properties offer sunset views over the water toward the mountains.
For more privacy, look at private island lodges on the cayes offshore. They are reached by boat and usually offer packages including meals and excursions.
Romantic Things to Do
Take a boat to Laughing Bird Caye National Park, a protected caye inside the barrier reef that is part of the Belize Barrier Reef World Heritage Site. Snorkel off the beach and eat lunch under the palms. The Silk Cayes nearby are another favorite day trip.
If you visit in spring, book a whale shark trip to Gladden Spit. Encounters are not guaranteed, but the experience is remarkable when it happens. You snorkel in deep open water, often with a swell, so it suits confident swimmers.
Inland, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary has jungle trails and waterfalls. You will probably not see a jaguar, but the forest is alive with birds and monkeys.
A boat trip up the Monkey River to the south offers howler monkeys, crocodiles, manatees and birdlife.
In the evening, walk the Sidewalk and stop for a rum punch at a beach bar with your toes in the sand.
Getting There and Around
Fly into Belize City (BZE). Nonstop flights run from several US hubs, including Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Miami, with additional seasonal routes. Flight times from those hubs are about two to three hours.
From Belize City, the easiest option is a domestic flight to Placencia (PLJ) on one of the two local airlines. Flights take about 35 to 50 minutes and may stop at Dangriga. The airstrip is a short taxi ride from most resorts.
By road, the drive takes about three to three and a half hours via the Hummingbird Highway, one of the most scenic roads in Belize, then the Southern Highway. Some travelers combine this with a stop in the Cayo District.
Once there, you can walk around the village, use taxis or rent a golf cart or bicycle. A car is useful only if you plan several inland trips.
Food and Drink
Seafood dominates the menu. Spiny lobster is in season from mid-June through mid-February and appears grilled, in curries and in ceviche. Conch is also popular when in season, often as conch fritters or ceviche.
Try rice and beans with stew chicken (the everyday Creole dish) plus fry jacks, fried dough served at breakfast with eggs and beans. In Seine Bight, ask about hudut, a Garifuna dish of fish cooked in coconut broth with mashed plantain.
The village has a range of restaurants for its size, from beach shacks to more polished dining rooms. Several resorts serve excellent dinners. Some are open to non-guests.
Belikin is the national beer. Local rum is inexpensive and goes into a lot of punches. Fresh juices from local fruit, such as watermelon, lime and soursop, are refreshing in the heat.
Honeymoon Tips
Belize uses the Belize dollar, which is pegged at two to one with the US dollar. US dollars are widely accepted, but you may get change in Belize dollars. Check whether prices are quoted in BZD or USD.
English is the official language, which makes planning and conversation easy.
Bring insect repellent. Sandflies can be fierce on calm evenings, especially on the lagoon side.
If you want to swim with whale sharks, book early. Tour operators limit the number of boats each day.
Placencia is generally safe and easygoing, but crime is higher in parts of Belize City, so fly over it rather than lingering. Mosquitoes can carry dengue here. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for Belize.
Some years, sargassum seaweed washes up between spring and late summer. Resorts clear it, but ask about recent conditions.
Pair Placencia with a few nights in the Cayo District for jungle and Maya ruins. That makes a well-rounded honeymoon.
