On the very edge of Belize’s Placencia Peninsula, in the heart of Placencia village, rests a new luxury beachfront paradise known as The Ellysian Boutique Hotel. With picturesque, beachfront, ocean views and its back patios reaching out to Placencia Village, this unique hotel presents the charm of Belize and the splendor of a modern stay.

Each of the 13 rooms, offers mesmerizing calmness and evokes peace, luxury, life-altering experiences and heavenly dreams. Whether a base camp for your explorations or the center of your Wedding or Spa getaway The Ellysian Boutique Hotel is waiting.

Explore Placencia Village out our door through its’ many sidewalks and pathways. No taxi or golf carts are needed here for limitless possibilities. Only a single street runs through the Village so wander as you will and indulge in all the local flavours of Belize.

For bigger getaways take advantage of adventures and tours from your Ellysian starting point. Couples, groups, and families can explore ancient Mayan cities, crawl through the Mayan underworlds, harvest cocoa and make chocolate with indigenous farmers. Or learn to beat a drum with the Garinagu, explore the jungle, the Jaguar reserve, or ocean cruises for dinning or fishing. Your adventure starts here.

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Local Entertainment at Ellysian Boutique Hotel

Rooms

Itineraries

$3,051

EXPLORE

Beautiful Belize

9 Day Itinerary

Discover Mayan ruins
Canoe down the Rio Macal
Visit the village of Placencia
Relax on the beach

Activities:: Fishing, Rainforest Exploration, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Wilderness Lodge Exploration, Wildlife Viewing, Ziplining
Activity Level:: Easy Active

Tour Details

Excursion Options

Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Reserve & Chocolate Making
Belize boast the world’s first Jaguar Reserve with over 128,000 acres of lush tropical rain forest to explore. Within this reserve sits the abundant flora & fauna of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

This sanctuary is home to all five of Belize’s cats: Jaguar, Puma, Margay, Jaguarundi, and Ocelot. Your guide will then take you on several established trails, each with its own unique characteristics which has a spectacular view of the entire basin. As you walk, the guide will interpret the flora and fauna that makes this park such an amazing place. After your hike, tube-float down the South Stann Creek River for a unique close-up look at the jungle and then take a short hike to the waterfall for a cool dip.

The preserve is believed to have the world’s highest density of Jaguar as well as several other cat species. As jaguars and other cats are nocturnal, it is unlikely that you will see them, but you can spot fresh tracks. With over 290 recorded species of birds this park is ideal for birders. You will return to the ranger station and rest a little before your hike to a beautiful waterfall: a great place to take a cooling swim.

Another highlight of your day will be visiting a traditional Mayan family operation led by Julio Sacqui, a master chocolate maker who offers a two-hour farm to-factory tour which includs a trip to the cacao plantation. The full process is explained right through to the finished bar of dark chocolate.

Don’t forget to bring: bug repellent, hat, swimsuit, towel, hiking shoes, camera, binoculars, rain jacket, bird identification book and money for souvenirs.

Duration: Full Day Tour
Departure: 8:00 am

Island Hopping
Enjoy a boat cruise in search of the shy and elusive West Indian manatee- our gentle giants. We will slowly cruise Placencia Lagoon by motor boat looking for neat trails of sea grass, the telltale signs that manatee have been munching their way along the bottom of the lagoon.

Then we will quietly head to where the Manatee congregate at the mouth of a freshwater creek. If you are lucky you might also spot a Morelet crocodile or the Bottle-nosed and Atlantic spotted dolphins that frequent the lagoon.

Departs: 2:00 – 4:30pm

Monkey River Tour
A visit to Monkey River is truly a unique experience. At 8:00 am, your guide will pick you up by boat, and take you on a journey through the lagoons’ red mangrove fringe forest, manatee habitats and bird ecosystems. Most of this trip is in protected waters and will be a relatively smooth 35 minute boat ride as the native guide points out numerous iguanas, turtles and birds.

An hour into the trip, disembark to venture into the jungle and “see the howlers close up.” Imagine being guided through the bush by someone who spent their childhood there! Learn about the different plants and trees as he cuts a new trail and wanders (sometimes through water) further from the river. The sound of a troupe of howler monkeys as they burst out in a raucous chorus tingles the hair on the back of your neck! It’s hard to believe an animal that weighs 35 pounds can sound as big as an elephant.

Return to the mouth and Monkey River Village for a genuine Creole lunch. Then a guided tour through the small village before boarding the boat for the trip back to the resort. Monkey River Tour is one of the “don’t miss” tours in Belize!

Don’t forget to bring: bug repellent, hiking boots or tennis shoe, hat, long pants, camera, binoculars and money for souvenirs

Duration: Approximately 6-7 hours
Departure: 8:00 am or as requested

Sunset Cruise
Take in the stunning natural views of the Placencia lagoon as you experience the beauty of a golden Belizean sunset over the distant Maya Mountains. You will relish these views while sipping wine and feasting on delectable hors-d’oeuvres. This calm boat ride can ignite a romantic mood and can even become more unforgettable if the occasional, dolphins and manatees decide to pay you a visit.

Departs: 4.00 – 6.30 pm

Placencia Inner Reef Snorkeling
Explore the secrets of the Caribbean Sea as you snorkel in Laughing Bird Caye – the most popular inner reef, snorkel destination on the Southern barrier reef. This location is ideal for families, couples and friends who wish to create unforgettable memories together. As a World Heritage Site and a Marine National Park, Laughing Bird Caye is home to some of the country’s best coral habitats and hundreds of fish species.

Popular creatures of the area include spotted drum fish, huge lobsters, cleaner shrimp, arrow crabs, groupers, snapper, barracuda, the occasional southern rays and a myriad of other fish to marvel.

Snorkeling Facts
Full Day Leaves Marina at 9:00 am, returns at 4:00 pm
Half Day Leaves Marina 9:00 am, returns at 12:00 noon
Approximately 30 to 40 min. boat ride
Lunch is included

Whale Shark Snorkeling
Belize’s Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve located near Placencia in Southern Belize, is a spawning aggregation site for many different tropical fish species including the huge Cubera Snapper, Mutton and Dog snappers, which produce tons of spawn. During the full moon weeks of April, May, and June, the spawning attracts the biggest fish of the sea, the whale sharks!

These fantastic peaceful giants magically glide through our waters, giving snorkelers the unmatched opportunity to share the ocean with them in close quarters. Growing up to lengths of 60 feet/18mt. Snorkelers get a rare opportunity to swim along with this magnificent creature for a once in a life time experience. Snorkelers must be 12+ years

Snorkeling Fact
April-June on full moon cycle (inquire for specific dates)
Departure and return time varies
Approximately 40 to 90 min. boat ride
Lunch is included

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!

Meyer Smolen

Ellysian Boutique Hotel

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Beautiful Belize

Excursion Options

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We Love to Talk Travel

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