Placencia, Belize
Placencia is a peninsula (and a village of the same name) located on the Caribbean coast of the Stann Creek District in Belize.
History
In the 17th century, Placencia was settled by the English Puritans, originally from Nova Scotia and latterly from the island of Providencia. This settlement died out during the Central American wars of independence in the 1820s.
The Placencia Peninsula was resettled in the late 1800s by several families. Placencia prospered and soon became a village, earning its livelihood from the sea.
The Spaniards that traveled the southern coast of Belize gave Placencia its name. At that time Placencia was called Placentia, with the point being called Punta Placentia, or Pleasant Point.
In the late 20th century it became a significant tourism destination, and is now referred to as Point Placencia, or simply Placencia.
Location and geographic setting
The eastern side of the Placencia Peninsula is a long expanse of white sand beach; the western side is bounded by a long narrow north-south trending bay of the Caribbean Sea. A significant settlement on the peninsula is the Garifuna village of Seine Bight. Placencia is served by Placencia Airport.
Demographics
The village is home to 458 permanent residents according to the 2000 census. The 2009 population estimate for Placencia Village is 750.
Attractions
- Placencia is primarily a fishing village but now offers some of the finest tourist amenities available in Belize. Available activities include kayaking, snorkeling, diving, saltwater fly fishing, whale shark watching during the full moons between April and July of each year, light tackle saltwater fishing, as well as numerous restaurants and local art galleries.
- Placencia Village, hosts the Placencia Lobster Fest, the Placencia Peninsula Arts Festival, Easter Week (similar to US Florida Spring Break).
- Placencia Lagoon, with manatees, dolphins, rays (the Lagoon is a nursery for some species of rays), mangrove forests, birding by canoe or kayak, fishing (juvenile tarpon, snook, barracuda), wetlands and sea grass beds.
- Mayan ruins of Nim Li Punit and Lubantuum are in the Toledo District, a day trip from the Placencia Peninsula.
- Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, which is also a day trip from Placencia.
- Maya Centre Village with 12 self-guided trails, 100,000 acre forest jaguar preserve, and nearly 300 bird species.
- Mayflower Archaeological Reserve, 3 post-classic Maya ruins: Mayflower, T’au Witz and Maintzunun) and waterfalls.