Belize’s Leading Destination Management Company (DMC)
Award to Appreciation
2025
Splash DMC is Belize’s premier Destination Management Company, delivering bespoke travel planning, luxury experiences, and seamless event management across the country. With over 25 years in Belize’s tourism industry, we specialize in creating immersive journeys; from barrier reef adventures and jungle expeditions to cultural tours, wellness retreats, and corporate events. Our team combines local expertise, award-winning service, and trusted partnerships to design experiences that are personalized, authentic, and unforgettable.
Founded in 2000 as a PADI 5-Star Dive Center, Splash expanded into a full-service DMC in 2010, growing beyond the reef to showcase the very best of Belize. Today, we coordinate custom itineraries, luxury accommodations, private transfers, curated tours, group travel, incentives, and destination events with unmatched precision and care. Our deep roots in tourism and community partnerships give us exclusive access to Belize’s top resorts, local guides, conservation experiences, and hidden gems.
Our excellence has been recognized nationwide, earning distinctions such as Belize Tour Operator of the Year and the Hospitality Award for outstanding service and guest satisfaction. Whether you are planning a dive vacation, cultural immersion, family getaway, corporate retreat, or special event, Splash DMC ensures every detail is handled seamlessly from start to finish.
Placencia.
Placencia’s history begins in the late 1800s with Placencia Mestizo settlers, soon followed by Creole fishing families who built their lives around the peninsula’s abundant coastal waters. The name “Placencia” comes from the Spanish Punta Placencia meaning “Point of Pleasantness” first documented by Spanish travelers in the 17th century. For decades, the village remained remote and reachable only by boat, preserving its identity as a quiet, traditional fishing community well into the 20th century.
One of Placencia’s most iconic features is its 1.3-mile pedestrian sidewalk, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the narrowest main street in the world. Originally a simple sand path linking village homes, it is now a charming walkway lined with local shops, cafés, and beachside businesses.
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With the opening of the Southern Highway in the 1990s, Placencia emerged as one of Belize’s most desirable tourism destinations. Despite its growth, the peninsula has preserved its fishing heritage, village culture, and laid-back coastal charm; qualities that continue to shape Placencia’s identity today and make it a favorite for travelers seeking authentic Belize experiences.
How To Get
To Placencia
The easiest and fastest way to reach Placencia is by taking a short 35–40 minute domestic flight from Belize City (BZE) to Placencia Airport (PLJ). This is the preferred option for most travelers, offering stunning aerial views of the Belize Barrier Reef and avoiding the longer overland journey.
Placencia can also be reached by private shuttle or rental car, with a scenic 2.5–3 hour drive from Belize City along the well-paved Hummingbird Highway or the newly improved Coastal Highway. Both routes provide beautiful views of mountains, jungles, and small villages, making the journey part of the adventure.
What To Do in Placencia
In Placencia, adventure stretches in every direction; turquoise Caribbean waters to the east and lush tropical jungles to the west. From vibrant reef fish and colorful coral gardens to waterfalls, wildlife, and ancient Maya sites, Placencia offers endless things to do, all just a short boat ride or scenic drive away.
Snorkeling
Placencia is one of the top gateways to snorkeling in Belize, with world-class sites like Silk Caye and Laughing Bird Caye just a short boat ride away. Here, snorkelers encounter colorful reefs, tropical fish, turtles, rays, and pristine marine ecosystems found only in southern Belize.
Scuba Diving
Placencia is one of Belize’s top scuba diving hubs, providing easy access to the southern Belize Barrier Reef and iconic sites such as Silk Caye, South Water Caye, Grand Channel, and Glover’s Reef Atoll. Divers can expect spectacular coral formations, thriving marine life, and crystal-clear conditions year-round.
Fishing
Placencia is one of Belize’s premier fishing hubs, with direct access to inner-reef flats and offshore deep-sea waters. Anglers can target Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Marlin, and more; making Placencia a dream destination for sport fishing in the Caribbean.
Island Hopping
Placencia is one of Belize’s top island-hopping hubs, with fast access to stunning cayes like Moho Caye, Bullock Island, Ray Caye, and King Lewey. Travelers can effortlessly explore turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, and vibrant marine life across several islands in one day.
Monkey River
Placencia is the best base for the popular Monkey River Tour, offering easy access to mangrove-lined waterways filled with howler monkeys, manatees, crocodiles, and vibrant birdlife. The tour also includes a visit to Monkey River Village, giving travelers an authentic look at Belizean culture and community life.
Cockscomb Basin
Located only a short drive from Placencia, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary offers jungle hiking, waterfall swimming, birdwatching, and the rare opportunity to explore the world’s only jaguar preserve. It’s one of the most popular nature tours for Placencia visitors seeking wildlife and adventure.
Bocawina Rainforest
Located close to Placencia, the Bocawina Rainforest offers thrilling adventures including canopy zip-lining, jungle hiking, birdwatching, and waterfall rappelling. This eco-adventure park is perfect for travelers looking to combine nature, excitement, and breathtaking scenery in Belize.
Horseback Riding
Just a short drive from Placencia, Outback Trails offers one of Belize’s top horseback riding experiences, with routes that take you through jungle trails, river crossings, and wide-open farmland. It’s a must-do adventure for travelers seeking authentic Belize countryside exploration.
Nim Li Punit and Lubaantun
Just a short drive from Placencia, the Maya ruins of Nim Li Punit and Lubaantun invite visitors to discover ancient plazas, intricately carved stelae, and well-preserved stone temples surrounded by tropical jungle. These archaeological treasures make Placencia one of the best bases for exploring southern Belize’s Maya heritage.
Where to Stay in Placencia
Placencia isn’t a one-size-fits-all destination; it’s a peninsula with personality, where soft sands, lagoon sunsets, the buzz of the village sidewalk, and the calm of luxury hideaways all coexist. At the southern tip, Placencia Villageis vibrant and walkable, filled with cafés, gelato shops, beach bars, boutique hotels, local markets, and the iconic Guinness-recognized Sidewalk. It attracts solo travelers, divers, food lovers, and anyone who wants to walk everywhere and experience the authentic pulse of the community.
As you head north, Placencia transforms into a world of barefoot luxury, where upscale resorts, private villas, wellness retreats, and quiet beaches create a serene escape. This area is ideal for couples, honeymooners, families, remote workers, and travelers seeking privacy, elevated design, and a slower pace. Along this vibrant peninsula, every traveler finds their perfect version of home in Belize.
Where To Eat in Placencia
Breakfast
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The Shak **
De Tatch
Cozy Corner
Wendy's Creole Restaurant **
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Coffee
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Chillpoint **
Beaches and Cream
Above Grounds
Brewed Awakenings
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Desserts
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Tutti Frutti Gelato **
Maya Beach Bistro (Desserts) **
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Bars
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Barefoot Beach Bar **
Tipsy Tuna
Tides **
One Love Club
The Little Wine House **
Toucan Tiki Bar
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Lunch
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Barefoot Beach Bar **
Wendy's Creole Restaurant **
Cozy Corner
Green Parrot **
La Pizzeria at Turtle Inn **
Ricks Cafe
Koi Sushi **
Blue Lagoon
​The Beach Restaurant at Blue Reef Resort
Doyle's Smoke Yard **
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Dinner
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Rumfish and Vino **
Maya Beach Bistro **
Muna
Singing Sands
Green Parrot
La Pizzeria at Turtle Inn **
Koi Sushi **
Omar's Seafood Restaurant **
1981 at Naia **
Blue Lagoon
The Beach Restaurant at Blue Reef Resort
La Dolce Vita
Doyle's Smoke Yard **
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Top Events in Placencia
Placencia is home to some of Belize’s most vibrant annual events, with each celebration bringing the peninsula to life in its own unique way. The year begins with the colorful Placencia Sidewalk Art Festival, where local artists transform the iconic pedestrian walkway into an open-air gallery. During Semana Santa (Easter), Placencia fills with families, traditional foods, and lively beach gatherings. Summer kicks off with the iconic Placencia Lobsterfest, followed by the community-driven Lionfish Derby and the Itzana Wahoo Classic, both promoting ocean conservation through sustainable fishing. September’s Independence Daybrings spirited parades and cultural pride, while November’s Garifuna Settlement Day fills the village with rhythmic drumming, dance, and powerful cultural celebrations. In December, the scenic End of the World Marathon attracts runners from across the globe, and the year closes with vibrant New Year’s Eve festivities along the beach. Together, these events create a dynamic year-round calendar that blends culture, conservation, art, food, and pure Caribbean fun; making Placencia one of Belize’s most exciting destinations to visit in any season.
Splash DMC offers effortless Belize travel planning through curated itineraries and exclusive experiences created by local experts for a truly unforgettable vacation.
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