The Placencia peninsula is fast becoming the "Key West" of the western Caribbean which is the home of numerous resorts, hotels and guesthouses and an impressive number of ocean going catamarans. It is an old fishing village with the nicest beach of Belize mainland with high-rise buildings prohibited. The local cabanas along the side walk boarding the beach create a colorful patchwork of shops and restaurants. The climate is subtropical averaging 75 till 81°F. Its mixed population of white settled residents, Mayas, Meztisos and Garifunas is friendly and inviting. The proximity of the barrier reef makes it a diver’s and fisherman’s paradise. Sailors can charter catamarans to explore the hundreds of atols on the reef. Placencia is strategically located for land tours as well, which bring you to Maya ruins, national parks where nature is overwhelming and caves which you can explore with canoes or tire tubes. Everything is on walking distance in the village, so you are close to internet cafés, shops, supermarkets, restaurants and bars with live bands on different evenings of the week, with some of them accessible on bear feet from the beach. A disco north of the air strip operates on Saturdays.