The Best Hotels to Book in Placencia, Belize

Simple studio shacks, two- and three-bedroom villas with private pools, a luxurious, glass-fronted five-bedroom beach house with its own palm-tree garden… the Naïa has options to suit budget travelers, big families on a comfortable beach break and everyone in between. All accommodation is right on the sand, and the resort offers a range of light adventure activities in the rainforest and on the reef.

Sitting right in the center of the village off bar-lined Sidewalk Street, Ocean Breeze is a small hotel in Placencia with two big beachside villas in Matisse blue and Mykonos white. Balcony terraces open right onto the sand, plus there are aquamarine sea views from the bedrooms (through floor-to-ceiling windows). Fully equipped kitchens mean that if you’re tired of the restaurant options on your doorstep, you can cook your own dinner. Don’t leave without spending an afternoon lounging in the pool with its swim-up bar.

Blending harmoniously with its surroundings – in contrast to many of the condo-hotels in Placencia – Coppola‘s Turtle Inn is quintessentially Belizean. The casitas – in whitewash and tall-gabled palm-thatch – look like indigenous Mayan houses (albeit with Balinese textiles for decor). Each one sits under coconut palms within a shady tropical garden, just a short stroll from the sand. Expect Caribbean barefoot-chic vibes at the bamboo restaurant and bar (which serves the best food and wine in Placencia).

The rooms to go for at Mariposa are the raw wood treehouses. They’re quieter and more intimate than the bigger suites in the main building. While not actually in the trees, they sit over the sand on tall stilts, perfectly positioned to catch the sea breeze on the airy front decks. The beach and the resort’s large pool are a few seconds’ walk away, plus there’s yoga at dawn, and complimentary bikes will take you into the heart of Placencia village in less than 15 minutes.

You pay a premium price, but Placencia village locations don’t get much better than the Ellysian. Wall-high balcony windows in the bright and breezy all-white rooms (which range from just-for-two intimate to family-sized) open onto turquoise waterfront views and one of the area’s best beaches from this Placencia hotel. The village restaurants and bars are literally just round the corner – which means no hot walks or bike rides into town for a menu change or spot of nightlife.

Big and brash – in maroon and custard-yellow – the Belizean Nirvana won’t win any design awards, but it’s right on the sand in the center of Placencia village (with bars and restaurants a stroll from the lobby). Interiors at this hotel in Placencia are lush with rich, polished tropical hardwoods, and there’s a huge hammock-strung rooftop breakfast area and bar – with gorgeous sea views. Prices include a generous American breakfast that will see you through the whole day, including use of the available kayaks and bicycles.

Studios and suites set in a Mediterranean-blue shutterboard beach house come with generous breakfast table balconies and bright, modern interiors. Choose from a studio, one-, two- or three-bedroom option, depending on your group size. It’s in a great location in the center of the village while also sitting over the broadest stretch of beach. Take advantage of the top package deals including airport transfer, lunch and tours.

It couldn’t be more Belizean – a brightly-painted shutterboard cottage on a caye washed by calm, shallow sea and surrounded by coral gardens. Turtles hatch on the beach, the skies are so clear you can see the Milky Way to the horizon, and all is idyllic. Well, almost. While Zen-peaceful in the early morning and evenings, the island can get busy with day-trippers in high season, and it’s a boat ride to a different choice of restaurant.

If you’re looking for the comfort and convenience of your own holiday home, book Chabil Mar hotel in Placencia. They offer condo-style villas with sizes ranging from space-for-two to big enough for a large family. Each one is fitted with a complete kitchen (you can buy freshly caught fish from vendors on the beach) along with dining and living rooms. Balcony terraces overlook the sea and the resort’s two big, shared swimming pools. There’s a decent on-the-beach restaurant, and Placencia village is a 20-minute walk along the sand.

While many Placencia hotels feel mock-Miami, this low-key, low-rise boutique blends well with its palm-tree surrounds. Thatch cabins (decked out with handcrafted tropical hardwood furniture and painted in fashionable pastel shades) are set right on the beach in a little garden. There’s a small pool and a bamboo-fronted cocktail bar. The atmosphere is discreet and intimate, barefoot chic.