Placencia, Belize

Perched on the tip of the peninsula, shaded by palm trees and cooled by the sea breeze, PLACENCIA is a welcome stop after the bus ride from Belize City or Dangriga. It also has some of the country's most beautiful beaches, and these, together with the abundant, inexpensive accommodation, make it a great place to relax. The villagers enjoy the easy life as much as visitors – as you'll find out during Lobster-Fest, celebrated over a fun-filled weekend in late June, shortly after the opening of the lobster season. You could also try to visit during the Sidewalk Arts Festival, held around Valentine's Day, when you can meet some of the artists and musicians of Belize's vibrant arts scene. If Placencia has one drawback, it might be that its remote location and distance from the reef put many of its tours out of the reach of budget travellers; more options are always becoming available, however.