Exploring Firsts in Placencia Belize

I watched her expression as she dipped a toe in the ocean for the first time in her life. As an aunt, I may not get to see their first steps or hear their first words, but this was one first that I was there for – and I soaked in every delicious moment of it.

Placencia isn’t exactly off the tourist trail, but it’s the ‘less touristed’ trail for sure. As everyone headed to Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, Allie and I went south to Placencia, a peninsula where they have 16 miles of sandy beach to relax on. As we turned onto the road to the peninsula, Allie’s eyes were focused on the horizon, as this would be the first time she would see the ocean. Strangely, we were both excited about it.

Staying Beachside in Belize

Upon arriving at Chabil Mar resort located directly on the beach, Allie was ecstatic…well, as ecstatic as Allie will ever get with me. “I don’t know why my parents go to Mexico when they could come here,” she exclaimed. As we walked around the two pool areas, outdoor bars, and the beach chairs lined up on the white sand, I think we were both pretty excited to be out of the humid buggy jungle and onto the beach. This was the nicest place Allie had probably stayed in her life so far, and it was really rewarding to see her expression of excitement.

The first thing we did was put on our swimming suits and wade into the warm turquoise water. As I watched her, I was transported back to the first time in my life I swam in, and subsequently gulped, salt water in the Gulf of Mexico. The first taste of salty seawater is something we will never forget. It’s exciting and sort of gross at the same time. I felt like 17 again for a while as we swam out to the shelter on the pier and jumped off into the waves. We came back ashore, toweled off, and celebrated this ‘first’ with Happy Hour drinks.

Adult Experiences

One of the things I love to do with my nieces is expose them to ‘adult life’ on the Niece Project trips – so that means drinks if they want them. Even though they are 17 or 18 years old, most countries allow teenagers to drink with adults. We ordered beachy drinks and proceeded to Snapchat and Instagram, our new Chabil Mar digs all over the internet, as we lay in our beach chairs. Allie felt mature; I felt young. Now, this was the life.

We took one day to simply be beach bums and work on our tans. We lounged on the beach, and Allie taught me how to eat sunflower seeds, something I had never mastered before. I taught her how to paddle board and tried to teach her not to rip herself apart on every picture of herself that she looked at. It hurts me to think how critical young women are of themselves when they have no reason to be. Yet most of the time, I think my lecturing in the teenage self-esteem department fell on deaf ears.

Besides soaking up the sun, stand-up paddle boarding, and napping in hammocks around Chabil Mar, there were plenty of other things to do in and around Placencia. After a day of sitting still on the beach, it didn’t take us long to get back out exploring.

Placencia town is a sleepy, laid-back beach town where the biggest excitement is the repair made to the main road running through the town. A sidewalk runs near the beach that is meant to be a little boardwalk with souvenir shops, colorful bars, and apartments. We hopped on the bikes provided by Chabil Mar Resort and rode into town to explore, shop, and get pedicures. Plus, since we had a kitchen in our condo, we made a plan to have our breakfasts in the condo and then eat out in town during the evening.

Where to Eat in Placencia

This is an area where a lot of expats live, and thanks to that, there are many great restaurants in Placencia town.

We asked locals where to eat, and soon, we had a big list of places to try. Omar’s Creole Grub was recommended heavily as great local seafood without frills. It was just a simple little open-air dining area, completely casual, with a different feel from some of the more touristy places in the town. You simply pick a seafood from their board of fresh catches and choose a sauce – no menu necessary.

Look for local eateries

I asked for their freshest fish (caught that afternoon) and chose the Creole sauce. After ordering, I saw a guy emerge from the kitchen, hop on a bike, and peddle off. Within 5 minutes, he was back with a bag from the grocery store and the needed ingredients for our dinner. I love small towns and just-in-time cooking.

It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but go up the stairs and experience the adorable shabby chic Mojo’s Café. It reminded me of restaurants in Saigon, the kind that looks questionable from the outside, and then you go in and find a hidden paradise that feels so secret that only people in the know are privileged to see.

Also, on the advice of locals and expats, we tried and loved Dolce Vita Italian restaurant (with its Italian expat chef and homemade pasta!). And finally, don’t forget to try a seaweed shake in Placencia – don’t cringe – they are delicious!

Getting to Know Each Other Better

Each dinner, I would discover more new things about Allie. It was sort of like reading a sentence one day at a time, and then at the end, you realize you had a chapter. We gushed about our love of sad, depressing movies that we didn’t know we had in common. “I always think it’s better when people die at the end,” she said, as I nodded enthusiastically in total agreement. We talked about the funerals of our grandparents and the things that make us cry.

I adored these conversations, as I was able to delve a little deeper into Allie and her into me. It was hard to figure out my limits when we talked – I never knew when I was going to hit that line of annoyance where she turns off and is done talking with adults. “I don’t know! I’m so done with this conversation,” she would say with a whine and then turn away. But after a week of traveling with her, I did learn that it was the evenings when Allie came alive and was ready to engage, much like her aunt.

Like the snorkeling and turquoise waters of Silk Cayes, our time in Placencia town was perfect.

It was our Aunt & Niece time to explore not only the area but also each other’s personalities. As Allie stared out the plane window while we were taxing for takeoff, she wistfully said, “When we arrived, I remember thinking that the trees looked so different and foreign, and now they seem normal.” This was the first time I had heard her talk about her impressions of Belize and her first big international trip. I liked hearing little nuggets like this. I asked her if she would ever come back to Belize, and she replied with a smile, “Yes, to the resort.”

We took off on our flight back to the US, bringing this Niece Project 4.0 to an end. When we arrived home, within about 15 minutes, her best friend, Maddie, was over at her house, and her life was back to normal. Even though I got very little information regarding her thoughts on the whole trip or thoughts on anything for that matter – she was already organizing a picture viewing of the trip tonight with her family. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words.

How to Recreate My Travel to Placencia Belize:

Placencia Belize Hotel

Chabil Mar is a great option for staying near Placencia Beach, offering condo lodging that can be both all-inclusive and a la carte. It has a private beach, easy access into Placencia town with free bikes and a shuttle that runs regularly. It is one of the best hotels in Placencia, Belize.

Where to Eat in Placencia

Omar’s Creole Grub
Dolce Vita Italian restaurant

Things to Do

Snorkeling or Diving with Splash Diving Center

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Niece Project