Strolling Through Paradise–Exploring Placencia, Belize!

Placencia is a village on a peninsula in Belize that is near and dear to my heart. I have spent weeks in Placencia, and while the snorkeling and boating excursions are great, the charm of Placencia is in the village. This walking guide highlights some of the things to see and try in this wonderful village! (Please note that you don’t have to drink alcohol in the bars, but if you choose to, I highly recommend Belikin Stout with lime!)

Placencia Sidewalk

The Placencia Sidewalk runs through the village mostly parallel to the sea. It has been named the Narrowest Main Street by the Guinness Book of World Records! I think it’s also the friendliest–every local greets you as you pass by.

Browse the shops along the Tipsy Strip area of the sidewalk and chat with the owners.
Have the Belizean breakfast at Hibiscus Brew. If you see a local man, very thin, with long grey hair, his name is Massa–well, that’s his resurrected name. He’s fun to talk to. He told me he could see a demon on my shoulder and offered to remove it. I declined, but hey, you do you!
Eat at Tipsy Tuna at the counter looking at the sea. Or use their beach as your home base to play in the waves. You can hear traditional Garifuna drumming here on Wednesdays or at Barefoot Beach Bar on Tuesdays.
Eat breakfast or lunch at De Tatch and enjoy the magnificent view of the sea.
Walk all the way past the north end of the sidewalk and have an ice cream, coffee, or glass of wine at Chillpoint.

The Point and South Side

The sidewalk ends at the sea where you will find a pier, a calm, sandy beach, and some fun restaurants. Turn right and follow the sea to find more!

Swim in the calm waters next to the pier off Placencia Beach. Admire the huge starfish, but please don’t pick them up as they are living animals and you can easily harm them.
Sit it one of the swing seats at the bar at The Shak. Talk to locals, the staff, and other travelers. Watch the swimmers in the sea and look for dolphins. If you happen to see an older gentleman at the Shak in the afternoons who has a bit of trouble walking and has cloudy blue eyes, please converse with him. I think his nickname is the Skipper and he is an old fisherman. He was one of the first to see a Whale Shark ever in Belize and he is super-intelligent!
Add your opinion of “What’s the Point” to the graffiti at The Point. They often have live music and there are sometimes sidewalk musicians playing in the area. One is particular looks like a Rasta man. His name is Lyrical King and he is a character!
Buy baked goods from the Banana Bread lady. She makes and sells doughnuts in the morning and banana bread in the afternoon. You’ll see her walking around the village with a container on her head.
Watch the fisherman cleaning their catch next to the pier. Watch for the pelicans, rays, and nurse sharks who come for the scraps.
Stop by the Jolly Llama to see what’s going on. I highly recommend their music trivia!
Go to Yoli’s Over Da Water and say hi to Eric the bartender. Get to know lots of expats and sailors and become a regular! Play trivia on Saturday afternoons, return Sunday for a BBQ, and play poker on Wednesday afternoons.

Sunset Pointe Rd. & Lagoon Side

Placencia is on a very skinny peninsula with the sea on one side and a lagoon on the other. Some of my favorite places are located on the lagoon side. Just don’t jump in, there may be creatures you don’t want to swim with!

Get lunch at Anne’s Kitchen on Bile Up Street. Take it back to Yoli’s to eat since there’s not really seating.
Walk down Sunset Pointe road to the pick-up point for The Other Side across the lagoon. They will see you waiting and come over for you in the boat. You can eat, drink, hang out, and even swim there.
Walk all the way down Sunset Pointe road to watch the stunning sunset over the lagoon. On the way back, stop at Sunset Sweet Stop. I LOVE this place!! Get the Jalapeño Poppers and then come back here to thank me!
If there happens to be a game on at the sports field, stop to watch. Then have dinner at The Galley Restaurant right behind the field. The chef, Dawn, is lovely and has an interesting background and family.

Placencia Road

Placencia Road is the main thoroughfare for cars and buses. The bus station, grocery stores, and fresh food stands are located along this road.

Eat at every street food trailer or hut. The food is delicious and it’s all safe. Oh, and drink the tap water. Not only is it safe, it tastes really good too!
Browse all the veggie stands along the road. Look for tamarind juice, it’s really tart and refreshing.
Sample fresh mangos during mango season. The trees are so prolific that the owners people pick up buckets of them each day and put the buckets by the road with a “free” sign.
Have a coffee and breakfast pastry at Above Grounds Coffee in the morning and try a seaweed shake at Brewed Awakenings in the afternoon.
Check out the chocolate and other local goods at Taste Belize.
Browse the used books at the Literary Lizard.