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Placencia, Belize: Always Feels Like A Real Beach Getaway

Nov 7, 2013|Southern Belize

I had landed in the town of Placencia. After my 3 day Raggamuffin sailing adventure (see Part One and Two – one of the very best things I’ve done in Belize), I was ready to relax, lay around and do absolutely nothing. (You’d be surprised how tiring sailing on a catamaran can be!) Placencia is practically tailor made for this purpose. If Caye Caulker’s motto is “Go Slow”, then Placencia might be “Stop”. I like it very much.

Here is an example of how quiet it is in Placencia. Here is the Village Council building. And the Transport Department, in case you need to renew your driver’s license.

Around 9am. Tee hee.

And here’s a map in case you are unfamilar with its locale…

The grey road represents…well…the road. But the black line is the more interesting thoroughfare. “The sidewalk”.

But back to me! My fellow passengers and I unloaded our things and, I think, doubled Placencia’s sleepy slow-season tourist population. I spent 2 nights and a day shuffling around town like a beach bum…eating, sleeping and chatting with some of the locals.

Since my first trip in August of this year (6 years in Belize and that was my first trip!), Placencia continues to charm the pants off me.

And I hope I am not repeating too many pictures. But what was cute in August continues to be cute 3 months later. Here is a look around Placencia.

Many businesses were closed during my last visit but this time all shops, restaurants and bars were open for biz. Except one that remains the very top of my list! Rumfish y Vino. Reese Witherspoon and family ate there not so long ago. For the love of god, I must get in!

They are actually open for the season (check out their fab menu), but were doing some roofing work while I was there.

Next time! But I found plenty of other places to eat.

Like De’Tatch.

Where I had a delicious super stuffed fry jack breakfast. The type of meal that can take you through most of the day.

I need to taste this fry jack unadulterated on my next trip. Estel’s By the Sea in San Pedro? You may have a contender for the best fry jack in Belize.

The restaurant is a large palapa right on the beach.

Excellent view from my table.

De’Tatch is actually right next door to the simple hotel I stayed in.

Lovely staff at the front desk helped me choose a beach front room with a balcony for my first night…it was the in room coffee maker that got me. I had lots of Ragga-blogging to do the next morning. The room was about $50USD.

And I didn’t even go onto my balcony but to take one picture! I could have been living the dream…

The next morning I stepped down to the standard room which looked very similar inside…

Clean, two fans that kept me plenty cool (I was under my blanket by morning), a fridge, plenty of towels…and the best part? $22US a night and a great location.

I’d definitely stay here again.

It is right down the sidewalk from the two liveliest bars in town that are oddly right next to each other on the beach. The Tipsy Tuna and the Barefoot Bar. Both are super colorful beach bars…

Here’s the Tipsy Tuna. I stopped in early morning as they were just opening. Cute…very cute.

Both have large colorful chalked signs outside. The competition seems to keep the specials coming.

Ahhhhh yes. An afternoon could easily be spent out here… And then Barefoot. I actually ate dinner my first night there. The place has so many colorful signs…I’m drawn to it like a barracuda to sparkly jewelry. (I clearly need to do some work in the metaphor department.)

For those who haven’t heard of it, an “elephant foot” of rum is 1.75 LITERS! This is a serious way to get knocked on your ass for less than $25US. The picture correctly depicts a comatose elephant.

Or…if you are not a rum fan, check out the Frisbee challenge.

Seems relatively do-able until the waiter tells you that the Frisbee can hold FIVE BELIKINS. Ugh. The fastest time in history is 32 seconds! Very impressive/gross. Anyone have a favorite?

Right next to my hotel there is another that, from the sidewalk, doesn’t present itself at its best. But on the beach? It’s very appealing. Julia’s Cabanas/Guesthouse.