2 Best Sights in Placencia Peninsula, The Southern Coast

Whether the peninsula’s 16 miles (26 km) of sand (the longest in Belize) constitute one beach or multiple is open to debate. All residents do agree that their golden strand stretching from Maya Beach to Seine Bight to Placencia Village is the mainland's best—and most outsiders do, too. Some sections hum with activity, especially those in the village itself; others, you’ll have all to yourself. The Barrier Reef lies a distant 20 miles (32 km) away, making snorkeling immediately offshore not ideal. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunrise; solitude; swimming; walking.

For a pose and a post on social media, Placencia’s colorful beach sign near the entrance to the village makes a great spot to snap a photo. Local artists have decorated the block letters with illustrations of fishing, diving, and regional flora and fauna—the community’s tourism mainstays.