Placencia is our favorite beach town in Belize because it combines a mix of local culture and tourism savvy, small fishing town vibes with luxury hotels, and beautiful beaches with phenomenal fishing opportunities. This 16-mile long Placencia Peninsula features white sand Caribbean beaches on one side and pristine protected mangroves on the other. Down the middle of the peninsula you’ll find some of the nicest hotels in Belize, a fun mix of local restaurants and bars, and best of all some of the country’s top fly fishing guides. Whether it’s an off day from fishing or for the non-anglers in your group, here is a list of the best Placencia Fishing Trips & Day Tours.
Fly Fishing from Placencia
Experience why Placencia is home some of the best fly fishing in Belize. There is a swatch of shallow water flats that runs for nearly thirty miles from Dangriga down to Placencia that has bee nicknamed “Permit Alley” thanks to the incredible permit population found here. Few places in the world will offer you the ability to sight cast to tailing permit as southern Belize. With your local English speaking guide you’ll head out in your 23′ panga for a day of poling or wading across the flats. Permit aren’t the only game in town, bonefish are everywhere and there are tarpon in the lagoons and the patrolling the cayes so you’ll have a realistic shot at the Inshore Grand Slam every time you hit the water.
Includes: Fly fishing tackle, gas, local English speaking flats guide, lunch and drinks
What to bring: Comfortable clothes, hat, sunglasses, sun lotion, camera, bug spray, cash for tips. If you plan on wade fishing you’ll need to bring flats boots or wading shoes. Our guides can provide fly tackle, but we recommend you bring your own.
** Anglers will need to buy a fishing license to fish in Belize, which can be done online here.**
Reef Fishing from Placencia
The great fishing in Placencia isn’t limited to fly anglers or the flats. The Mesoamerica Reef, and the open ocean beyond it, are just 17 miles away so reef fishing and offshore fishing are fantastic as well. Fishing the inner reef, cayes, and flats will give you opportunity to catch snapper, grouper, mackerel, jacks and big barracuda. If you venture outside the reef for offshore fishing you can expect to find mahi-mahi, wahoo, tuna, and the occasional marlin or sailfish. There are a variety of boats to choose from for this type of fishing, and these fishing trips can be combined with snorkeling and beach BBQs.
Includes: Conventional & spinning tackle, bait, gas, English speaking captain, lunch & drinks (beer/water/soda)
What to bring: Comfortable clothes or swimsuit, hat, sunglasses, sun lotion, camera, sandals, sun lotion, cash for tips.
Bocawina Zip-Line & Waterfall Rappelling
Adventure travelers heading to Belize can combine two of our best adrenaline-filled tours in one day. Head to the Mayflower Bocawina National Park and combine waterfall rappelling and zip-lining in the heart of jungle. Experience the thrill of flying through the rainforest on 9 different cables, including the longest zip-line in Belize (2,300 ft)! After the zip-lining adventure you will proceed to the famous Antelope Falls where you will be able to enjoy the best waterfall rappelling in Belize. Depending on how adventurous are you can climb to the top of the 1,000 ft Antelope Falls, rappel down the Big Drop Falls or if you are bringing the little ones the Bocawina Falls. The area also has two unexcavated Mayan mounds and many archaeological sites. This is the most adventure packed tour on our list of the best Placencia fishing & day tours.
Includes: Transportation, park fees, lunch at a local restaurant or packed depending on location, fresh juices and water
What to bring: Clothes to get wet in, change of clothes, secure shoes, cash for tips.
Cave Tubing & Swimming at the Inland Blue Hole
This adventure starts with a cultural hike through the rainforest at Jaguar Paw, where your guide will point out various medicinal plants and roots used by the ancient Mayan civilization. After a short walk you will proceed to the river where your guide will have tubes ready and will educate you on the significance of caves to the ancient Maya underworld. The gentle currents will let you appreciate the cave system which includes crystalline formations, stalactites and stalagmites.
The second portion of the tour will have you visit St. Herman’s National Park, otherwise known as the Inland Blue Hole. Here you’ll take a refreshing swim in the sapphire blue waters of the iconic pool, a cenote surrounded by lush Belizean rainforest.
Includes: Transportation, park fees, lunch, fresh juices and water for the journey.
What to bring: Clothes to get wet in, swim suit, change of clothes, secure sandals or shoes that can get wet, camera, cash for tips.
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Although it’s the smallest country in Central America, Belize is nicknamed “Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret” not just for the incredible marine life found along the Mesoamerican Reef, but also the diverse flora and fauna found inland. By far the best wildlife tour on our list of the best Placencia fishing & day tours, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for being the first jaguar preserve in the world. Free of poachers and loggers, this protected section of rainforest is home to one of the most dense jaguar populations in the entire world. Covering over 128,000 acres, this is also one of Belize’s largest protected areas and is also known for its spectacular waterfalls, mountain views, nature trails & river tubing. This is a perfect adventure for hikers and families that want to enjoy and unforgettable experience. Once you are done with your hike, you will be able to enjoy a delicious picnic lunch alongside the waterfalls.
Includes: Transportation, park fees, lunch, fresh juices and water for the journey
What to bring: Clothes to get wet in, swimsuit for tubing, secure shoes for hiking, camera, bug spray, cash for tips.
Snorkeling in Placencia
You can enjoy some of the best snorkeling in the entire world in Belize. The warm, crystal clear water is full of abundant marine life and some of the healthiest coral life on Earth. From Placencia you will have the chance to visit the pristine marine reserves like the Laughing Bird Caye and Silk Caye. In addition to vibrant coral life and colorful reef fish, you will most likely encounter sea turtles feeding on turtle grass and friendly nurse sharks.
Includes: Professional English speaking guides, snorkeling equipment, snacks, drinks included.
What to bring: Swimsuit, comfortable clothes, hat, camera, sun lotion, cash for tips.
Diving in Placencia
For you divers out there, Placencia may have already been on your radar. The Gladden Split is known as one of the best spots in the world to view and swim with whale sharks, and it sits just 19 miles out from Placencia. These gentle giants come into the area every year between March and June to feed behind the spawning snapper, and this natural break in the reef is where they congregate every spring. In addition to whale sharks, you can dive three different marine national parks from Placencia. The top dive operator in Placencia will typically do one trip a week out to the Glover’s Reef Atoll or Lighthouse Reef Atoll, which is home to the famous Blue Hole.
Includes: Profesional dive boat, PADI certified dive master, rental SCUBA equipment, snacks, drinks included.
What to bring: Swimsuit hat, camera, sun lotion, any of your own personal dive gear, dive certification, cash for tips.
Mayan Ruins in Belize
Many of the best Mayan sites in Belize are located inland in Western Belize, but they are all reachable in a day trip from Placencia. Xunantunich and Altun Ha are smaller sites that can easily be combined with a tour like cave tubing or the St. Herman’s National Park since they will be en route. To see Belize’s largest Mayan site, Caracol, you’ll need a full day and will require several hours of driving. Belize is home to over 600 Mayan sites, so there are several that are closer to Placencia as well. Located between Placencia and Punta Gorda to the south you’ll find Nim Li Punit, which is home to three plazas, a small ball court, and several carved stelae.
Includes: Transportation, licensed professional tour guide, entrance fees, lunch, drinks
What to bring: Comfortable shoes or sandals for walking, hat, sun lotion, camera, bug spray, cash for tips.
Other Top Day Tours from Placencia
The above is just a short list of some of our favorite things to do while vacationing in Placencia, but there are many others. Simply put, you are going to need more than a week in Placencia to see and do it all! Other highlights of the area that certainly deserve honorable mentions on our list of the best Placencia Fishing Trips & Day Tours are:
- Monkey River Boat Tour
- Chocolate Making Tour
- Garifuna Cooking & Drumming Cultural Immersion Tour
- Spice Farm & Botanical Garden
- Walk the famous Placencia Sidewalk as you shop, drink, and eat the day away!
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