How far is Placencia to drive from BZE? Is it a rough drive?

Trying to see if doing Placencia for 2 days before hitting AC would be in the cards for a 10 day trip.

Any thoughts? >

I've only been on the bus, and it was LOOOONG. (And rode bikes all the way up the peninsula from Placencia to Maya Beach.) There was a lot of road construction, which may now be finished. The scenery is beautiful, though, and you really get a chance to see the countryside, at your own pace. On the bus, there was lot of delay upon changing buses in Dangriga, and local stops along the way. The roads, south of Dangriga, are often rough and/or unpaved. During wet weather, it's a sea of mud in the unpaved spots. But you should try to hear from someone who's actually driven all the way for a more accurate idea. Have fun no matter what!!

We just did this last week. The Hummingbird HWY is a beautiful drive not to be missed. the last 20 Miles are a little brutal but well worth it. You can stop at the Zoo, Blue hole, caves, etc. or just wet your whistle at many fine stops along the way.
Have Fun
Chris

Chris - how long did this take you? If we arrived at BZE mid day - would we make Placencia before it woud be unbareable to drive?

I figure the drive must be an adventure in itself and there woudl be tons to see and take in. Have been inland before but never to Placencia and thought we could do that this trip before heading to AC.

Thanks for the info!

Drove to Placincia just last week.. The road is good all the way. The southern highway is now paved so the only rough stuff is the last 20 miles or so to Placincia.We did it in 3 hours easy. But there is plenty to see and do along the way that you could take 2 days if you wanted to.Go by way of the Hummingbird, The coastal road is a rough dusty mess.

aqtpie2
How late are getting in? you should consider the luggage & customs thing. You might want to spend one night in BC and get a fresh start in the morning thats a drive you don't want to rush.
And yes it took us about 3 hours also.

The world has changed. Its been several years since we last went to Placencia, we now seem to favor Ambergris. The road was a KILLER then. My back was killing me by the time we got there, and I have never had a back problem!!!! I haven't been there since the last hurricane, so don't know. If you do stay in Belize City, Fort Street Guest House is nice, though a bit noisy. Colton House is just beautiful. Much more peaceful. Or, you could take off, get some miles under your wheels, and just break midway. If you can find it at the airport, find Emory King's most recent "Driver's Guide to Beautiful Belize". It'll let you know where the next break can be. The guy is an expat, very knowledgeable on his adopted country. In fact all of his books on Belize are worth a read. Its probably a good idea to get off the road before sunset, about 6:00 p.m. Have fun!

Thanks for all the info! I will process and see if this is the route we will take or not.

Sounds like an interesting drive with many sights to take in and experience.

Thanks All!

You should be able to make it from BC to Dangriga in an afternoon now that the Southern HWay is paved. We spent a night at the Pelican Resort there a couple years ago that was enjoyable. The drive to Plancencia is easy in a day from there. Better check to see if Pelican is still open before you go though. :p

Exactly 3-1/2 hours, Placencia Point to Belize City. It's a breeze once you hit the Southern Highway, except for a few speed bumps around the villages along the way. Oh, and the one-lane bridges take a little maneuvering.

I was complaining to a friend in Placincia about the 4 hours it took to get there from BC.(This was before the southern highway was paved)."You can make it in 2 hours you know" was the reply... I said "You gotta be kidding me" "You can make it in your Land Cruiser in 2 hours?" "Not in my car!!!" he said "But you have a rental"

haha Deano!

Pelican Pouch on Southwater Caye looks so very relaxing. Is it a good place? I have been reading about Tobacco Caye, but Southwater Caye sounds great!

Pelican Beach does sound so relaxing. Might just have to take a second or third look at that.

Hmm 3 hours. Thinking if we get in around 1:30 we will hit Placencia around dark. But now with Pelican Beach... well all these options!

Thanks all!

Dear aqtpie, My wife and I loved the trip, yes the last 20 miles suck (and we were there when it rained like hell) but what a blast to see the countryside and people up close. We are returning in June and have already reserved a car for another road trip. ML

ML - Car rental - how much and where do you rent from/reccommend?

I am thinking Dangria may be a better bet for us. Still in the planning stages though. I have friends that just adore Placencia and keep telling me about it. Heading down Sept this year instead of November and trying to sneak in a new place for us before we head out to AC.

You don't want to spend much time in Dangriga. It offers little for the visitor, other than as a jumping off place for the southern cayes and during Garifuna Settlement time.

The family of Tony Rath has a hotel in Dangriga, a place to stay but a little expensive and basic for what you get, but Pelican Beach, which the Raths also own (I can't remember which of the family owns what) on South Water Caye is more appealing.

--Lan Sluder
http://www.belizefirst.com

If you arrive mid afternoon you can make Placincia easy by sundown..It really is an easy drive..There are plenty of rental companys. I have used National, Crystal and Louis over the years..Always got me there and back.. The Toy Jeep we rented last week was $70.00us per day + fuel..So its sort of expensive but well worth it to see the countryside at your own pace. Lan has Dangriga right ..Not too much there in the way of accomodations. Just hop on down to Placincia and have a cold one on the beach, you will soon forget the last bumpy 20 miles.

If you get tired en route, you can always stop off at Singing Sands Inn. We stopped there a few years ago, and it was quite nice. We stopped at a little restaurant further on the way to Placencia that morning and had baracuda for breakfast. It was darn good!

Dear aqtpie2,
I think we searched the prices on about all of the car rental places and found Trifty to be the cheapest. The car we had was nothing special but heck I'm not buying it I'm only renting. As for stopping at the Singing Sands before you get to Placencia, it's hardly worth it, you are only about 6 miles away at that point, and to tell you the truth we stayed there two days and had a most unpleasent expeience. Have fun ML

Singing Sands is now for sale. Asking US$800K something.

--Lan Sluder

I am really leaning toward renting a truck, driving to Dangria, staying overnight - doing some tour the following day - maybe to their island, then heading back to Muncipal to go to AC.

Was looking for a quick side trip before heading to AC. Thinking Placencia wouldn't be a quick side trip (though maybe). I think I would want to stay. If there isn't much to do in Dangria - maybe just catching things on the way there and back and hitting one little tour might be fun...

Thanks for all the views and opinions on this!

aqtpie2,

Have you thought about Hopkins Village its more charming than Dangriga and about the same distance from BC
Chris

I definitely agree. Hopkins is a much better choice -- safer, friendlier, better beaches and better hotels and restaurants.

--Lan Sluder

Actually we haven't thought of that - and I am not sure why. We have ALL of Lan's books and can't believe we over looked Hopkins. Will have to take a gander at that tonight. THANKS!!!! This is why I love this board - such good ideas get uncovered!

Hi Ya! Just a thought rereading this. If you are going to AC, why do more water in Placencia? you might think of heading towards San Ignacio. Lots to see that way.

Marie: This trip back to Belize for us will be mostly on AC. We have done Ians Caves Branch before and were going to head there again but they are closed in Sept this year, so we have to make other plans. We thought we'd see the south. I think we are settling on the Hopkins area now. Driving down for 2 nights and just exploring the other things to do and do some things that I never got to do before (Hit the Zoo on the way back).

Everyones help has been great with this - THANKS

Well, there you go, that will work for you. I always suggest to newbies to head West instead of South because water is water, and the jungle is different. One day, if you get a chance, take the trip to Caracol. Fascinating place, but be sure to get a big vehicle. Those are some rough roads, unless things have changed a lot over the last two years. Obviously they have to Placencia.