Years ago, we stopped in Belize on a Caribbean cruise, and to be honest, we weren’t overly impressed. Our excursion took us through Belize City and to a popular archaeological site. While the ruins were fascinating, the crowds and structured tours made it hard to really connect with the country’s natural beauty and local charm.
So, when we had the opportunity to return to Belize with our two boys, we knew we wanted to explore somewhere more authentic and off the beaten path. We spent three incredible days in Placencia and absolutely fell in love with this stunning coastal region.
Here’s how we spent 72 hours in Placencia, and why it completely changed how we see Belize!
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The Best Things to Do in Placencia, Belize
Table of Contents
- Check Into the Kalimera Beach Hotel
- Eat Lunch at Kalimera
- Spend the Afternoon Relaxing
- Dinner at a Local Restaurant
- Sunrise on the Beach
- Breakfast at Kalimera
- Enjoy the Watersports
- Dinner in Placencia Village
- Island Hopping + Snorkeling Tour
- Dinner at the Pelican Pub & Grill
Check Into the Kalimera Beach Hotel
If you’re looking to escape the crowds, Kalimera Beach Hotel is the place for you!
This charming boutique hotel sits directly on the shore of Maya Beach, a quiet little town on the narrow Placencia Peninsula.
With only eight rooms in the hotel and limited public beach access, you’ll practically have the beach to yourself. It feels like your own private slice of paradise!
Kalimera is an eco-friendly property that opened in late 2023, and everything still feels fresh and new.
We stayed in the Double Deluxe Room, which was perfect for our family of four. The rooms are spacious, beautifully decorated, and have the luxury of cold A/C!
Our favorite feature of the hotel is that each room is only steps from the pool and beach. Each morning, we would roll out of bed and watch the lapping waves from the hammocks or shaded lounge chairs.
Eat Lunch at Kalimera
After a red-eye flight and a 2.5-hour drive from the airport (or you can opt for a quick 30-minute puddle-jumper flight), we were starving when we finally arrived at Kalimera.
After checking in, we immediately ordered lunch from the small cafe at Kalimera Beach Hotel.
The shrimp tacos and Kali Mezze platter were incredible! The food was so fresh, flavorful, and served with an ocean view. It was the perfect welcome to Belize!
Spend the Afternoon Relaxing
After lunch, we spent the afternoon unwinding. We napped in hammocks, read on the beach, and swam in the pool.
The service here was exceptional. We were impressed by how friendly, personal, and genuine everyone was. The server from the beach bar knew us by name and was quick to bring us anything we needed at the pool or beach.
We ordered another delicious lunch on the beach, and he even brought us complimentary homemade banana muffins hot out of the oven!
We couldn’t resist ordering fresh mango smoothies by the pool, and they were unbelievable!
Dinner at a Local Restaurant
The cafe at Kalimera is only open for breakfast and lunch, but the hotel gave us recommendations for local restaurants within walking distance.
We walked under the stars to Maya Beach Bistro and enjoyed local dishes on their outdoor beachfront deck.
Sunrise on the Beach
Even if you aren’t a morning person, I recommend waking up for sunrise at least once on your trip. I promise it will be worth it!
I woke up just before the sun crept over the horizon and watched as the sky was slowly painted with brilliant shades of pink and orange.
The early morning water was smooth as glass, and one of my favorite moments of the entire trip was paddleboarding on the calm water at sunrise.
I had the entire beach to myself for a few hours. I bounced between the ocean and the swimming pool, and it was the best way to start the day!
Breakfast at Kalimera
While I was soaking up the sunrise, the boys enjoyed sleeping in, which is a dream vacation for any teen!
Once they woke up, we ordered breakfast from the cafe at Kalimera Beach Hotel. Breakfast is included with your stay, and once again, the food exceeded our expectations!
Everything was made fresh to order using locally sourced ingredients. We loved everything we ate, but we especially couldn’t get enough of the sweet fryjacks and fresh-pressed pineapple juice!
Enjoy the Watersports
Complimentary kayaks and paddleboards are available for guests to use. We had fun spending a few hours out on the water as a family.
Snorkel gear is also free for guests to use. The water is so warm and clear, and my youngest son had the best time snorkeling in the shallow water.
Complimentary bikes are also available if you want to ride around town to check out the local shops.
Dinner in Placencia Village
That evening, the hotel arranged a taxi for us, and we drove about 25 minutes to Placencia Village. This colorful seaside town offers a vibrant mix of local restaurants and beachfront rum bars.
One of Placencia’s most famous attractions is the “Placencia Sidewalk”. This 4-foot-wide ‘street’ is lined with shops and restaurants and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Narrowest Main Street in the World.
It was fun to stroll along and pop into the different shops to look for souvenirs, and of course, ice cream.
For dinner, our taxi driver recommended Wendy’s Creole Restaurant.
The food was delicious, and I loved eating on the cozy front porch. However, the mosquitoes were in full force, so bring your bug spray!
Island Hopping + Snorkeling Tour
After another amazing breakfast at the hotel, we headed out on a full-day Island Hopping & Snorkeling Tour.
The tour operator was Go Sea Belize, but we conveniently booked it through the hotel.
It was a private tour with just our family, and we had the most amazing day! It helped that the weather was perfect with blue skies, no wind, and glassy water.
Our captain told us that the barrier reef helps keep the water from getting too choppy, so you don’t need to worry about getting seasick unless it is stormy and windy.
Gladden Spit & Silk Cayes Marine Reserve
It took about 50 minutes to drive to our first stop, the Gladden Spit & Silk Cayes Marine Reserve.
This tiny island sits about 22 miles off the shore of Palencia. Although it is small, the island is surrounded by abundant marine life.
As we pulled in closer to the island, we were greeted by a pod of dolphins. This little welcoming committee likes to greet each boat that enters the reserve. It was the cutest thing ever!
We spent about an hour snorkeling around the island with a licensed guide. We saw so many colorful fish and intricate coral, and learned all about this protected reserve.
My youngest is nervous in the ocean, but our guide made him feel so comfortable, and he was the last one out of the water when we were done!
After snorkeling, we enjoyed a delicious traditional Belizean lunch right on the beach.
Not only did we have the best view, but our table was surrounded by sea turtle nests. The rangers at the reserve tag and track all the mama turtles who travel as far as the US before coming back to this tiny island in the Caribbean to lay their eggs on the same beach where they were born. It is mind-blowing!
Turtle Alley
Turtle Alley is a short boat ride from Silk Caye and is known as a popular hangout for sea turtles, nurse sharks, and sting rays.
We didn’t see any rays, but were able to snorkel right alongside a massive sea turtle and float above a nurse shark. It was so surreal, and my boys couldn’t get enough!
Ray Caye
We stopped at two more islands as we made our way back to Placencia. The first was Ray Caye, a private island resort.
Our favorite part was the two-story dock with a jumping platform and a waterslide right into the ocean!
We spent most of our time on the slide and hanging out in the hammocks on the lower level.
After we had our fun, we ventured over to the beach bar, where we played board games and ordered fresh mango smoothies.
We couldn’t get enough of the mango smoothies on this trip!
There was just enough time to take a quick dip in the resort pool before it was time to leave.
Moho Caye
Our last stop was at Moho Caye. This private island is owned by Ray Caye Island Resort and is only open to their resort guests and contracted boat tours.
The small island is absolutely gorgeous! You’ll find swaying palm trees, pristine white sandy beaches, and crystal clear water. It is the epitome of paradise!
We spent about an hour relaxing in the shade and snorkeling.
We visited in September during the slow season, and we shared the entire island with only a handful of other people.
The entire day was fantastic, and I can’t recommend it enough! The tour might seem a little pricey, but it’s reasonable considering it’s a full-day private tour.
Our boat captain was awesome, and this is the best way to see some of the prettiest beaches and best snorkeling sites in Belize!
Dinner at the Pelican Pub & Grill
The full tour took about 7 hours, and we were happy but exhausted by the time we returned to Placencia.
We opted for an early dinner at the Pelican Pub & Grill located at the Green Parrot Resort right next to our hotel.
The open-air beach setting was perfect, the portions were generous, and the ocean swings in the water were a huge hit with our boys.
We ordered dessert to go and enjoyed a thick slice of chocolate cake and rich key lime pie while sitting on the beach back at our hotel. It was the perfect ending to our unforgettable time in Placencia!
The next morning, we headed to the Cayo District in the heart of the Belizean jungle. Stay tuned as I share about our jungle adventures soon!
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