Road Trips 6 min readOct 5, 2026by Tropical Car Rental
Airport to Placencia: The Perfect Belize Road Trip
Three hours of jungle, citrus groves and Caribbean coastline. Our favourite stops between BZE and the peninsula.
Most visitors fly into Placencia on a puddle-jumper. Drive instead and you will see more of Belize in one afternoon than many people see in a week.
Stop 1: Belize Zoo (45 min from the airport)
The best little zoo in the world, as it calls itself, is right on the George Price Highway. Jaguars, tapirs and toucans in natural enclosures. Allow 90 minutes.
Stop 2: St. Herman's Blue Hole (1 hr 30)
Twenty minutes past Belmopan on the Hummingbird Highway. A cool, inland cenote surrounded by jungle, perfect for a swim break. There is a cave walk too if you have time.
Stop 3: Hummingbird Highway viewpoints
The road winds through orange groves and limestone hills. Pull over wherever it is safe and take in the Maya Mountains. The Dodge Journey is paved-roads only, which is fine here; the whole route is sealed.
Stop 4: Hopkins (2 hr 30)
A short detour to the Garifuna village of Hopkins for lunch on the beach. Try the hudut, a fish and coconut stew served with mashed plantain.
Arrival: Placencia (3 hr)
The peninsula road is now fully paved all the way to the village. Park at your resort and walk the famous sidewalk. Your rental car means you can visit Maya Beach, Seine Bight and Monkey River on your own schedule all week.
Tip: choose an SUV with good luggage space for this trip. The Ford Expedition and Chevy Suburban carry seven people with bags.
