Sorry Snow, We’re in Belize - How we spent 1 Month in Placencia
Just two snow birds flying to belize for the cold winter
Hi there! My name is Carol and let me tell you about my Belizean Adventure
Back home in Ontario, February means snowbanks taller than me, icy sidewalks, and my husband grumbling about the driveway for the tenth time in a week. My hands are always cold no matter how many layers I wear, and the only birds I see are fat little chickadees trying to survive another storm.
So this year, we finally said enough is enough. We packed our bags, kissed winter goodbye, and flew south to Belize. Not just for a week or two, but for an entire month. And let me tell you, it was the best decision we have ever made.
We found our home at Kalimera Beach Hotel in Maya Beach, a quiet stretch of the peninsula that feels worlds away from noisy bars or hectic town life, but still close enough to restaurants and little shops when we wanted them.
The moment we walked in, I thought, someone really put care into this place. The rooms are thoughtful and calming, with natural stone showers, hardwood, and big glass doors that open to the sound of the sea. Nothing felt flashy or overdone, just beautifully designed and comfortable in a way that made us settle in right away.
It was exactly what we needed for a long stay.
Why Belize Worked for Us
We have tried other winter getaways before. Mexico, for example, has some beautiful areas, but it can be tricky to communicate in the places that still feel authentic, and the touristy spots just do not have the same soul anymore. Belize turned out to be something completely different. English is the first language here, which made everything effortless.
We could chat with our guides, strike up conversations in little shops, and order food without pulling out a phrasebook or pointing at menus. It instantly felt easier and more welcoming.
Of course, you hear Belizean Creole everywhere too. It is English-based, so once you settle into the rhythm of it, you start to catch on.
To me it sounded like listening to a Bob Marley or Sean Paul song, fast and musical with words that feel familiar but playful. At first we only understood bits and pieces, but locals were quick to laugh with us and teach us expressions.
By the end of our stay, I was tossing around a few phrases myself. I can proudly say I learned my fair share of Creole… can I call myself bilingual now? Probably not, but it made for a lot of fun, and whenever we looked truly puzzled, people just switched back to clear English without missing a beat.
Finding a New Rhythm
It only took us a couple of days to settle in. The staff had fresh coffee ready by 6:30 every morning, so we would grab a cup and sit on the veranda to watch the sunrise.
Some mornings we had breakfast prepared by Aracely or Gloria (the fry jacks are still all I think about), and other mornings we used the little kitchen in our room to make something ourselves. Having that choice was wonderful for a longer stay.
When the sea was flat, we would take out the kayaks or paddle boards. Gliding across that glassy water with the sun just coming up was magical. Sometimes we spotted rays beneath us, bright orange starfish on the bottom, or even dolphins and manatees right out front.
Not every day was about exploring. Some of our happiest afternoons were the lazy ones. We stretched out by the pool, ordered rum punches from the Beach Bar, and let the breeze keep us cool. My husband quickly became a hammock devotee, and I discovered that naps in Belize deserve their own category.
Evenings were often simple too. We curled up in our room, streamed Netflix or a movie, and just enjoyed being together in a way that feels impossible at home with all the distractions.
Adventures We Never Expected
With a whole month to play with, we never felt rushed. Some days we went looking for adventure, and others it found us.
One morning we set off on the Monkey River tour. The boat ride alone was worth it, with dolphins playing in our wake, but the real thrill was hearing the howler monkeys echo through the jungle. They sound like lions, even though they are only the size of house cats. On the way back we spotted manatees lifting their noses above the water as if to remind us whose home this really is.
Another day took us inland to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. The hike was lush and green, and by the time we reached the waterfalls, we jumped in like kids. There is nothing quite like swimming in a jungle pool after a hot hike.
We also tried a chocolate-making class at a cacao farm. Grinding beans by hand was sweaty work, but the smell was heavenly. When we finally tasted the chocolate we had made ourselves, I am not ashamed to say I licked my fingers clean.
And then there were the Cayes. We spent a full day island hopping and it felt like something out of a travel magazine. Moho Caye was the picture of paradise, with soft white sand and calm water so clear it seemed impossible. King Lewey’s Island was a different kind of fun, colorful and lively, the sort of place where you sip a cold drink and listen to music drifting across the sea.
And then there was Laughing bird, the one that stole our hearts. The reef was buzzing with life, turtles and rays gliding past us as if we were part of their world. At lunch the guides grilled fish on the beach, and afterward we tossed scraps to the nurse sharks circling in the shallows. Watching those big, gentle shapes glide by while seabirds wheeled overhead felt like stepping into a dream.
The beauty of having a month was that we never had to squeeze it all in. For every day of exploring, there was another spent by the pool at Kalimera, reading, napping, and remembering that adventure can be loud and thrilling, but it can also be quiet and slow. Both felt just as good.
Living Like Snowbirds
By the second week, Kalimera felt less like a hotel and more like home. The staff greeted us by name, and they were always ready to help, whether it was booking a tour, arranging transport, or pointing us to a good place for dinner. We never once had to worry about logistics.
What we loved most was that it was nothing like a big resort. There was no endless buffet food to get tired of and no tourist entertainment that feels the same everywhere you go. We are not all-inclusive people, so finding a real place with character and heart was exactly what we wanted. Kalimera gave us that.
We also discovered how much of a community there is in Maya Beach. There are locals of course, but also plenty of Canadians and Americans who spend part of the year here. If you feel like being social, it is easy. Just ten steps from Kalimera there is a little sports bar where we ended up watching the Super Bowl. We met a bunch of like-minded people, swapped stories, and cheered. It was nice having the option to dip into that community when we wanted to, and then come back to the peace and quiet of Kalimera.
At the same time, we settled into our own rhythm. I had my favorite hammock, and my husband claimed the same lounge chair by the pool every day. We got used to the little sandpipers darting along the shore and even started to recognize the same fishermen passing by in the mornings. That sense of familiarity was something we had never experienced on shorter trips.
One afternoon, we met another couple who were also staying long-term. We laughed together about how this was the retirement dream we had always pictured. Sitting there with rum punches in hand, watching the sun melt into the horizon, I thought to myself, this is the stuff postcards are made of.
Final Thoughts
Being snowbirds in Belize is not just about escaping the cold. It is about finding a new rhythm, one where you can fill your days with adventure or do nothing at all and feel equally happy.
Placencia gave us both, and Kalimera tied it together with kind staff, and the comfort of knowing we were safe and well taken care of.
On our last morning I sat on the veranda with my coffee, watched the sun rise over the Beach, and between you and me, I didn't miss the snow, not one bit.
