There's sure enough some fantastic reef and flats fishing in the small Central American country of Belize. In past issues of Florida Sportsman, we've brought you stories from Ambergris Caye and Turneffe Atolle, both hotspots along Belize's northern Caribbean shore. In the October 2006 issue, now on newsstands, Contributing Editor David Conway offers an inside look at the town of Placencia, in the south of Belize. Here is a Web-exclusive trip planner--summarizing most everything you'd need to know to put together a fishing excursion to this fascinating area.

Visiting Placencia

About the Country
Belize is a former British colony, previously known as British Honduras. The primary language is English. The country has a great mix of peoples, including Creole, Mayan-Spanish, and Garafuna. The exchange rate is two Belize dollars to one American dollar, and at local prices, many goods and services for tourists are about half as expensive as they are in the U.S. You will need a passport.

Air Travel
American Airlines flight takes one hour, 50 minutes between Miami and Belize City. Maya Island Air (www.mayaislandair.com) flight takes about 50 minutes from Belize City to Placencia, stopping usually once on the way, in Dangriga. Tropical Air also serves locations in Belize.

Lodging
Chabil Mar Villas, a couple miles from Placencia village, may be the perfect place for anglers, and their families, to stay. The resort offers its guests luxury amenities--two pools, a full-service staff and kitchen–as well as the independence to operate on their own in well-appointed rooms complete with fully equipped kitchens for cooking and feeding themselves before and after days on the water. The manager, Bradley Rinehart, an angler himself, can help set up fishing charters, and has contacts to overnight fish camps in the remote Sapodilla Keys. Visit www.ChabilMarVillas.com or call (800) 523- 3606.

Luxury Resorts
Turtle Inn, www.turtleinn.com
Robert’s Grove, www.robertsgrove.com

Simple and Affordable
Easy Living Apartments, (501) 523-3524; www.easyliving.bz
Tradewinds Hotel, (501) 523-3122; trdewndpla@btl.net
Seaspray Hotel & Cabanas, (501) 523-3148; seaspray@btl.net
Dianni’s Guest House: (501) 523-3159; diannis@btl.net

Guides
Kevin Modera, kevinmodera_bze@yahoo.com, (501) 607-0974 or (501) 660-1561
Daniel Cabral, dcabral@btl.net, (501) 523-3336
Bruce Leslie, bruceleslie@btl.net, (501) 523-3370
Ivan Leslie Jr., (501) 503-2503
Some other local pros: Arthur Vernon, Anthony Eiley, Eloy Cuevas (fly fishing), Ian Cuevas, Eggbert Cabral, Ivan Leslie, Dermin Shivers
In nearby Dangriga, the Blue Horizon Lodge is considered one of the world’s best places to pursue permit on fly.
Great Dive Shop: Splash Dive Shop, (501) 523-3345 or (501) 661-8160; www.splashbelize.com

Restaurants
Omar’s Restaurant, (501) 523-3336. Omar is a friendly, knowledgeable, long-time sportsman, eager and willing to help visitors. He runs a simple, really good place to eat, with simple lodging available, too.
De Tatch Restaurant, (501) 503-3385
The Galley Restaurant and Bar, (501) 523-3133

Local Transportation
You can easily get around Placencia on bikes. Bike Rental: Dianni’s, (501) 523-3159.
But for trips up the peninsula to other nearby villages of Seine Bight & Maya Beach, you’ll need: Placencia Taxi, (501) 523-3321
About the Gladden Spit & Silk Cayes Marine Reserve: www.friendsofnaturebelize.org/gladden_spit.html.

For More Info
Placencia Tourism Board, (501) 523-3294 or (501) 523-4045
www.placencia.com
www.belizenet.com
www.belizeforum.com
www.travelbelize.com
www.placenciabreeze.com

--David Conway