Placencia, Belize, is on the rise. From infrastructure updates to a burgeoning wine scene and exciting new tour offers, our beachfront paradise is fast becoming one of the Caribbean's most coveted destinations. Here's a quick look at what's new in Placencia.
Infrastructure Updates
Several recent investments into the local infrastructure are paying off. What you'll first notice is that the main road into town has been totally repaved, and is now blissfully pothole free. Meanwhile, there's a campaign to build a sidewalk in the village to make the roads safer for pedestrians. Building has already started!
Also new to the peninsula: fiber optics, making internet options faster and more reliable than ever, so you can connect to friends and family, near and far, hassle-free. And with faster internet, it'll be a breeze to order your groceries from local delivery retailer Shoots Alive, which has just expanded its online order service nationally, including to Placencia. Purchase everything from fresh salad mixes with edible flowers to cacao nibs, aloe vera, and even noni—one of Belize's main superfoods.
Plus, new water pipes on the peninsula south of the airport have provided better water pressure, making your post-beach shower even dreamier!
It's Wine Time...And Other Developments in the Food World
Over the past two years, Placencia's wine scene has greatly expanded. Where you used to only be able to buy wine at the local grocery store, now there are multiple options to purchase high-quality wine in the village. There's The Wine House, next to Dolce Vita, which carries a large selection of global wines, plus gourmet meats and cheeses. We also love The Pyramid House, a new shop that took over an abandoned house built in the style of a Maya temple. Now, owner Gloria Bloem has turned it into a must-visit boutique, complete with a standout collection of wines found nowhere else on Placencia. "I wanted to provide an affordable option for excellent wine so others could enjoy the way I like to," she told The Placencia Breeze in April.
And if you don't want to wait to drink your wine until you get home, stop by the town's Little Wine Bar, near the Point. Open since June, it's the perfect spot for salami and cheese plates, and a refreshing glass of chilled white wine. Beyond wine bars, we're also loving Cha-Chis, a local hotspot for live music on the weekends that's barely a year old.
For a gourmet shopping experience that's ultra-local, be sure to stop by Belizean Flavors, too. It opened October 2017 and sells 100 percent Belizean products, from jams and marmalade to rich dark chocolate, spices like smoked chili pepper and cardamom, along with superfoods like moringa and noni.
A Whole New Tour
Beloved local outfitter Nautical Adventures is offering new excursions. Some of our favorites are the sunset boat cruise, a glass-bottom boat cruise, and a day sail catamaran charters. During this year's Lobsterfest, Itz'ana homeowners Trey Mills and Michelle Landry and Tracy Park and Marty Smith along with some family, friends and our Sales Team members, Kim and Shay made use of this new service, and had a blast!.
It's Not Just Placencia
Placencia may be getting its fair share of love—Vogue recently named it the "must-visit travel destination you've never heard of," and the New York Times included the town in its annual "52 Places" round-up for 2017—Belize as a whole is garnering international attention. As more of the world's top newspapers and lifestyle magazines cover our beautiful country, more people want to experience it for themselves. Just look at the plethora of major hotel brands opening up here: Marriott, Wyndham Grand, Hilton and Four Seasons are all making a major play here.
All of us at Itz'ana are thrilled our home has landed on the luxury traveler's map, and are honored to be a part of its rising cachet. We're so looking forward to welcoming you!
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