THE SIDEWALK STRIP

Aside from the long, beautiful beach, the main attraction in Placencia is the world-renowned main street “sidewalk,” cited in the Guinness Book of World Records as “the world’s most narrow street.” It’s 24 inches wide in spots and runs north–south through the sand for over a mile. Homes, hotels, open-air shops, and vendors line both sides.

Oh yeah, feel free to drink the tap water as you explore: Placencia’s agua is piped in from an artesian well across the lagoon in Independence, reportedly the result of an unsuccessful attempt to drill for oil.