A Vacation in Placencia, Belize: A Beautiful and Relaxing Getaway
The view outside of our cottage
If you're looking for a beautiful and relaxing vacation spot, look no further than Placencia, Belize. I just spent six days in this charming town located on the Caribbean Sea, known for its white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. Here, there are plenty of activities such as swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and fishing. Or, you can simply relax in the sun and enjoy the incredible views (which is how I spent most of my time). Read on to learn more about my time in Placencia, and about why I think it's such a special place!
When my husband and I chose Belize as our 15th anniversary celebration destination, knew that Turtle Inn (one of the Coppola Family Hideaways) would be perfect for us. We wanted a place that was luxurious, but not too pretentious. Somewhere with good food and wine, but not stuffy or formal. And most importantly, a place where we could relax and enjoy each other's company in a beautiful setting. Turtle Inn fit the bill perfectly, and our stay there exceeded all of our expectations.
We stayed in an oceanfront cottage, where the ocean breezes kept temperatures comfortable (there aren't any air conditioners at Turtle Inn, but they have fans to keep you cool). The resort isn't too big, so it never feels crowded, and we ended up getting to know a number of the resorts other guests. We visited during Spring Break season, so there were some folks taking advantage of all of the family-friendly activities available. Somehow, the family-friendly aspects of Turtle Inn didn't take away from the romantic nature of the resort. I would have no problem sending honeymooners or families here.
My husband and I spent our first full day in Belize on a snorkel trip run by the resort. I don't always love swimming in the ocean, but I'm glad that I got to see the beautiful reefs and sea life off the coast of Placencia. We saw all sorts of colorful fish, as well as turtles, rays, and even some nurse sharks. My irrational panic over hanging out with toothless sharks kept me from staying in the water later in the day, but I was more than happy to capture some pictures of them from the boat.
For the rest of the week, we enjoyed relaxing by the pool, a sunset cruise, a wine tasting, and a Thai massage (or two). On top of that, beachside happy hour was a nightly ritual that we were more than happy to partake in, as the many rum cocktails on the menu were absolutely delightful.
The staff at Turtle Inn really helped to make our stay special. Everyone from the front desk to the waitstaff was incredibly friendly and accommodating, without being intrusive. I really felt like they went out of their way to make sure that we were enjoying our vacation.
Overall, our trip to Placencia, Belize was exactly what we were hoping for: luxurious, but not stuffy; romantic, but not overly so; and relaxing, but with plenty of activities to keep us busy. How one resort can manage to be so many things to so many different people, I don't know--but they do it exceptionally well. I would highly recommend Turtle Inn (or any of the Coppola Family Hideaways) to anyone looking for a special vacation spot.
Have you been to Belize? Let me know about your experience in the comments!
