About 100 miles south of Belize City lies the Placencia Peninsula, a spectacular 16 miles stretch of white sandy beach on the Caribbean coastline. Carefree, scenic and very laid-back, this popular destination is picture-postcard perfect. A diverse amount of exciting activities and tours are available from its pristine shores. In and around Placencia, every day is a new adventure with exciting things to do for everyone. Popular adventure tours includes diving, snorkeling, fishing, jungle, river safaris, manatee watching, sun-bathing, sailing, fishing, even the sacred animal of the Maya is nearby - the jaguar. 

The Placencia area is a classic example of Belize's exotic and unspoiled environment. If your visit to Belize is to experience some of its natural wonders and learn about the culture all in one location without having to travel extensively throughout the country, this would be the perfect place.

THE JAGUAR PRESERVE: The world's only Jaguar Preserve is only 1 hours drive from Placencia, also known as the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, it covers an area of approximately 150 square miles. Jaguars are nocturnal animals, however, sightings during the day do sometimes occur and night tours are available as well. Besides the Jaguar, Cockscomb Basin is also home to such other cats as the puma, ocelot and jaguarundi and many other animals including the Baird's tapir the national animal of Belize, also known as the "mountain cow." Also, more than 290 species of birds, flowering plants, forest and streams.

MONKEY RIVER: Travel up the Monkey River Reserve. Located 30 minutes by boat south of Placencia, monkey river is famous for the abundance of howler monkeys that live in the dense jungles along it's bank. Birds, iguanas, manatees and alligators are also common up the river.

DIVING & SNORKELING: Off the coast of Placencia are over four hundred square miles of virgin reef and over 50 cayes. Outside the reef there are unbelievable caves and wall diving stretching for miles and starting from only 45 feet, while inside the reef there are endless flats and pristine cayes each with its own unique ecology and coral formations. Popular cayes includes Laughing Bird Caye and the Silk Caye (triplets). One of the most exciting dive attractions in the Placencia area is the annual whale shark migration to the Gladden Spit during the full moon periods of March, April, May and June.

SPORTS FISHING: Placencia is known as "the permit capital of the world. Actually the area is also a haven for tarpon, snook, barracuda, king mackerel, grouper, snappers, tuna, blue marlins, jacks and more. Natural habitats includes everything from lagoons, rivers, cayes flats and the main barrier reef. Whether you are in for some fly fishing, light-tackle, heavy tackle (trolling) or drop line, there is something for everyone.