There are summer vacations, and then there are Caribbean summers spent in Belize — lively, sunkissed, and spent on a beach that simply can’t be captured by an Instagram story. If you’re hoping to experience a new destination with picturesque escapes and ample options when it comes to both new memories and exciting excursions, then you’re looking for Belize’s skinny, southerly peninsula of Placencia. And this summer, you can explore new terrain with the insight of southern hospitality with the upcoming Lobster Festival in Placencia Village, all from the base of the all-inclusive LaruBeya Resort.
The Seafood Festival That Signals Summer in Belize: LobsterFest
Photo by @belizemytravels
Lobster Fest 2022
Fulfilling every foodie’s craving for a seafood fête and fresh-caught Spiny Lobster at the season’s opening, the 3-day 2023 Placencia Lobster Fest takes place this July 14, 15, and 16. Full of mini-events and live music, tented vendors line the sidewalk with fragrantly-charred grills and deep, silver pots full of coconutty Belizean rice and beans. Beers are served cold to an influx of guests during a traditionally slow tourism season, while kids play on the beach. Hungry for more? You can dive into beach games for all ages; think a race to reel the first kayak in (with a person inside), a cast net competition to catch a shilling coin in the sand, and impeccably aiming to land your fly-fishing fly in the center of a circle drawn in the sand.
A Base On The Peninsula: LaruBeya Resort
Not to mention, resort and hotel rates are discounted in the summer, but they fill up fast between locals, the Belizean diaspora from abroad, and the off-season travelers. That means don’t wait—book now. LaruBeya Resort, a traditionally all-inclusive resort, actually offers a room-only rate and a 5-day package for the week of the festival too. During the low season (May 30 – Dec. 18), a standard one-bedroom oceanview starts at just $167 USD nightly, while its three-bedroom rings in for $500 a night. A hop-and-a-skip away from the action, LaruBeya is the perfect place to do anything or simply nothing.
Photo by Laru Beya Resort
PS: even if the booking page shows no availability between July 12-16, 2023, contact LaruBeya directly for confirmation, or for local specials.
Lush Jungle Breaks
Staying on the Placencia Peninsula in a place like LaruBeya Resort has its perks for exploring Belize too, beyond just experiencing the summery Lobster Fest. After arriving in Belize City at the Philip Goldson International Airport, it’s a little under a 3-hour drive to the Placencia Peninsula — the final destination after paved roads cut through verdant river valleys and citrus groves of the Stann Creek district. On the days you’re looking for a break from the beach, nearby eco-adventure hubs like the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and Mayflower Bocawina National Park. You can go for a waterfall hike, a night walk inside the world’s first jaguar reserve, a leisurely river tube, and more. Or, tap into Belize’s archeological side as the once-heartland of the Maya civilization with its remnant, vine-covered Maya Sites, like the nearby Nim Li Punit or Lubaantún in the Toledo District.
Although f you’re into snorkeling or scuba-certified, the Belize Barrier Reef-protected waves of islands like Silk Caye and South Water Caye are a must-dive from Placencia, too.
All images via LaruBeya Resort unless stated otherwise.
