Placencia
Coordinates: 16 ° 31 ′ N , 88 ° 22 ′ W
Placencia is a coastal town in the south of Belize with around 1500 inhabitants (2006 estimate). It lies at the tip of an approximately 25 km long narrow peninsula between the cays and is therefore also referred to by tourism advertising as "the only cay you can drive to" (the only island you can drive to). Numerous houses, hotels and restaurants have been badly damaged by the last hurricanes and so far (2006) only partially rebuilt. There is a sufficient tourist infrastructure, several small shops, a pharmacy, bars and some diving centers. The bay in front of Placencia is particularly well known among scuba divers for the opportunity to dive or snorkel with whale sharks . There are passenger ferry connections to the mainland and to Honduras ( Puerto Cortés ). The small airfield is approached several times a day from Belize City with propeller planes in scheduled service.