Active Pursuits

You just can't help slowing down and relaxing in Placencia. Sit back, sip a seaweed shake, and forget your cares. Nobody ever seems to get up early (except maybe the fishermen), and most people spend their days camped in the sand reading books and eating seafood. The beach, although narrow in places, is arguably the best in Belize. You can walk for miles and see hardly a soul. Still, if you need more activity and adventure, there are a host of options.

Snorkeling & Scuba Diving

There's often decent snorkeling right off the beach, especially if you head north a mile or so. The water's clear and you'll see plenty of fish and bottom life in the sea grass and along the sand bottom.

One of the more popular snorkel excursions is to the nearby Laughing Bird Caye (tel. 523-3565; www.laughingbird.org). Located just a few miles offshore from Placencia, Laughing Bird Caye is a national park. It's a tiny little island measuring roughly 35x350 feet (11x105m). There's good snorkeling and swimming offshore, and a beautiful little beach. A host of tour operators take folks here, and then serve a picnic lunch on the beach.

However, if you're serious about diving or snorkeling, you'll want to get out to the barrier reef and its dozens of little offshore cayes. It's between 10 and 25 miles (16-40km) out to the reef here, making it a relatively quick and easy boat ride. Diving here is as spectacular as at other more popular dive destinations in Belize, and you'll often have far fewer fellow divers around.

The offshore Gladden Spit site is a world-renowned spot to dive with massive whale sharks. Whale shark sightings are fairly common here from March to May, and to a lesser extent during the months of August through October and December and January.

Most of the larger resorts have their own dive operations and these tend to be some of the better operations on the peninsula. There are also a handful of independent operators in the village servicing folks at the rest of the hotels. If you're not staying at a hotel with a dedicated dive operation, check in with the folks at Seahorse Dive Shop (tel. 523-3166; www.belizescuba.com).

A snorkeling trip should cost between BZ$60 and BZ$120 (US$30-US$60), depending on the distance traveled and whether or not lunch is included. Rates for scuba diving run between BZ$110 and BZ$300 (US$55-US$150) for a two-tank dive, also depending upon the length of the journey to the dive site and whether or not lunch is included. Equipment rental should cost from BZ$12 to BZ$30 (US$6-US$15) for a snorkeler, and BZ$30 to BZ$50 (US$15-US$25) for a scuba diver.

BYO -- While most hotels and all of the dive shops in town have snorkeling and diving gear for rent, you might consider bringing your own. If nothing else, bring your own mask and snorkel. Fins are a lesser concern, as most operators should have fins to fit your feet. However, faces vary vastly, and a tight fighting mask is essential to an enjoyable snorkel experience. If you plan on going out snorkeling or diving more than a few times, the investment will more than pay for itself.

Fishing

Fishing around here is some of the best in Belize. There's excellent bonefishing in flats in this area. Anglers can also go for tarpon, permit, and snook, or head offshore for bigger game, including grouper, yellowfin tuna, king mackerel, wahoo, mahimahi, and the occasional sail or marlin. Experienced guides can help you track any of the above fish, and many are taking their guests out fly-fishing for them as well. Most of the big lodges and resorts here offer fishing packages and excursions. Well-equipped sport-fishing outings run between BZ$1,200 and BZ$2,400 (US$600-US$1,200) per day, depending on the size of the boat, number of anglers, and distance traveled. However, you can hire a smaller open-air skiff perfectly suited for fly-casting for bonefish, permit, or tarpon for between BZ$400 and BZ$800 (US$200-US$400) per day.

The folks at Kingfisher Adventures (tel. 523-3323; www.tarponcayelodge.com) are some of the more reputable fishing guides, specializing in fishing for permit and tarpon. They even have a small fishing lodge on the remote Tarpon Caye. You can also try Trip ?N Travel (tel. 523-3614), which works in conjunction with Southern Guides, another longstanding local operation with well-regarded guides.

Kayaking

Several hotels and tour operators in town rent out sea kayaks. The waters just off the beach are usually calm and perfect for kayaking. However, the lagoon is probably a better choice, offering up more interesting mangrove terrain and excellent bird-watching opportunities.

Rates for kayak rental run around BZ$10 to BZ$20 (US$5-US$10) per hour, or BZ$60 to BZ$80 (US$30-US$40) for a full day. A guided tour of the mangroves or a combined snorkeling and kayak tour offshore should cost between BZ$80 and BZ$140 (US$40-US$70) per person.

Sailing

The crystal-clear waters, calm seas, and isolated islands surrounding Placencia make this an excellent place to go out for a sail. Your options range from crewed yachts and bareboat charters for multiday adventures to day cruises and sunset sails.

The Moorings (tel. 888/952-8401 in the U.S. and Canada, or 523-3351; www.moorings.com) and TMM (tel. 800/633-0155 in the U.S., or 523-3586; www.sailtmm.com) are two large-scale charter companies with operations in Placencia. Options include monohulls, catamarans, and trimarans of varying sizes. Given the shallow draft, increased interior space, and reduced drag, a multihull is your best bet. All of the boats are well equipped and seaworthy. Rates for a weeklong charter run between BZ$3,600 and BZ$16,000 (US$1,800-US$8,000), depending on the size of the boat, and whether or not you charter it bareboat or with a crew.

A day cruise, including lunch, drinks, and snorkeling gear, should cost between BZ$200 and BZ$300 (US$100-US$150) per person. Most hotels and tour operators around town can hook you up with a day sail or sunset cruise, or you can simply head to the docks, or check in with the folks at Next Wave Sailing (tel. 523-3391).

Spas & Bodywork

If you're looking for a little pampering while in Placencia, there are several options. Most of the big resorts, like Turtle Inn and The Inn at Robert's Grove, have their own spas and spa services, which you may be able to book even if you're not a guest there. Alternatively, there are a couple of day spas right in the village. The Secret Garden Day Spa (tel. 523-3420) is located behind Wallen's Market near the center of the village, while Soulshine Resort & Spa (tel. 523-3347; www.soulshine.com) is out on the southwestern tip of the peninsula. An hour-long massage should cost you between BZ$90 and BZ$140 (US$45-US$70).

If you want to have an acupuncture treatment or stretch out some, head to the Acupuncture & Yoga Center (tel. 523-3172), which is also near Wallen's Market. These folks offer traditional acupuncture, as well as various massage treatments and regular yoga classes.