Staff Blog: [Day 1 of the Placencia Trip]

Hello everyone, I recently traveled to Placencia, a town in southern Belize, and I’ll be documenting my trip in four parts.

What is Placencia?

Placencia is a coastal town in southern Belize with a population of around 3,500 people, located about 150 km from Belize City. It boasts the longest white sand beach in Belize, stretching 18 km. In recent years, development as a tourist destination has progressed, with resort hotels lining the beach along the Placencia Peninsula. It is becoming popular as a resort area, following San Pedro and Caye Caulker. However, Placencia has traditionally been a fishing village, and many residents still work in the fishing industry today. In contrast to the resort development, you can catch a glimpse of the simple lifestyle of the local people.

Day 1

Heading to Placencia by Bus

I took the 7:45 AM bus from Belize City, embarking on a roughly five-and-a-half-hour journey. Initially, there was no music playing, but partway through the trip, loud Latin music started blasting, making me want to dance (though I didn’t, of course). What I found interesting was that you could say “Right here” and the bus would drop you off anywhere, and if you were standing by the road, the bus would pick you up. This flexibility often meant the bus didn’t arrive on time, but it underscored how important the bus is for many people. On the way, we stopped at the bus terminals in the capital, Belmopan, and Dangriga. The restrooms weren’t free; you had to pay 1 Belize dollar to use them.

Arrival in Placencia/Lunch

The first word out of my mouth was “Hot!” Being further south, it felt hotter than Belize City where I usually live. On the way to finding a hotel, I passed colorful signs and buildings that gave me an instant sense that this was a warm and fun town. Having not eaten anything since leaving home at 7 AM, I was very hungry. The first meal I had in Placencia was nachos! I ate at Tipsy Tuna, a restaurant with very pop and stylish decor. Not only the food but the overall atmosphere was captivating. I ordered a soda, and they brought me a Coke, which I found interesting.

Exploring the Town

After lunch, I got some rum raisin ice cream from a nearby ice cream shop. Belize is also famous for its rum, and since it was so hot, it felt more like drinking than eating the ice cream, but it was delicious. Then, I explored the Placencia Sidewalk, which is registered in the Guinness World Records. The beautiful townscape left a strong impression on me. Another notable thing was the warmth of the people in Placencia. Unlike in Japan, where it’s uncommon for strangers to greet each other, people here always smiled and said “Hi” or “How are you doing?” to me. Every time someone greeted me, it felt like my heart’s temperature rose by 5 degrees.

Dinner

For dinner, I ate at a restaurant called Harbor View BBQ on the second floor of a building with a great view. The ceviche I had there was the best I’ve ever tasted. I also wanted to have coconut curry, which wasn’t on the menu, but when I asked the waiter, he offered to make it specially for me. Again, I felt the warmth of the people.

In Belize, many families keep dogs outside as guard dogs, but on the way back to the hotel, I saw three dogs sleeping soundly, not even flinching as I walked by. They looked so comfortable sleeping on the sand, and their lack of guard duty was cute and forgivable.

That night was a full moon (May’s Flower Moon). The moon appeared very clear and bright. With no mountains or tall buildings obstructing the view, it was exceptionally beautiful.

Lastly,

Belizeans are generally kind and warm-hearted, but this trip to Placencia reaffirmed that for me as people were very friendly and welcoming. In Japan, it’s common to see people with headphones on, staring at their phones while on the train or walking, rarely making eye contact or greeting others. This made me feel a bit sad. Next time, I’ll share stories from day two, including my stroll through Placencia and my encounter with a man with a guitar. Stay tuned!