Barnacle Bill's Beach Bungalows - a Little Piece of Paradise

• Best Place in Maya Beach

  Best Place in Maya Beach

  • Guest Bluejay
  • Date of stay 02/14/13
  • Review Submitted 02/28/13
  The place looks even better in person than it does in the pictures, and it looks great in the pictures. It is comfortable, private, relaxing, and just what we were looking for. It is not the Marriott, but that is not what we came for. The facilities are nicely furnished, and the service from the owners is friendly without being intrusive. The location is convenient for trips to Mayan ruins, exploring the Toledo and Stann Creek districts, and taking adventure trips from the peninsula. After two wonderful weeks of checking out the area, we knew that Maya Beach was the best spot on Placencia Peninsula, and Barnacle Bill's was the best spot in Maya Beach. We highly recommend a snorklel trip with Splash to Silk Caye, and a trip to Lubaantun. The Bistro, Mango's and Singing Sands are all nearby and are good places to eat. We chose our destination well and would return to this piece of paradise any time. If you want to vacation in a well-maintained, cute and clean cottage 40 steps across the white sand to the water, this is the place for you.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thank you for such a great response. Hope to see you again!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• We had a little slice of heaven, for eight short days.

  We had a little slice of heaven, for eight short days.

  • Guest Mike and Mary from Charlotte NC
  • Date of stay 03/24/12
  • Review Submitted 04/08/12
  We spent eight days at Barnacle Bill's Beach Bungalos and it went by way too fast. The location was much better than I expected. The way the property is set up feels so secluded but it is close by to anything we needed. I never felt like a tourist or the least bit crowded. Bill and Adriane are available and great for a chat yet not the least bit intrusive. We took a few days to relax and unwind and then told Bill we wanted to go fishing, snorkeling and out to Xunantunich. Bill advised us and then made all the arrangements for us. Those are memories that we will never forget. Our bungalo was perfect and exactly what the photos displayed. I went with the best intentions, to cook some of our meals but the nearby restuarants we so reasonable it didn't make sense. The 'Hungry Gecko' was by far our favorite and it was only across the street. Great food, great prices and felt more like home. Justin kept us entertained, Diane showed me how to make tortillas, Doris shared recipes and cooked our barracuda when we brought it to her after fishing. Singing Sands was pricier and more pretensious, Mango's food was great and resonable. In Placencia we also tried 'Wendy's, Barefoot Bar and J-Dees for breakfast and got a great meal at all of them. I was able to spend a couple afternoons out snorkeling right off the beach with the cheap gear I bought at Walmart. It was perfect, got some great pictures and so easy to access. We are hoping to go back next year so I would definately recommend it to anyone looking for thier own 'Little slice of Heaven'. However, next time I will know better to NOT over pack. The place is so laid back and comfortable that I didn't need half of what I brought. Just bring shorts, a few shirts some flip-flops and you are good to go. See y'all next year!

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thanks yall. Look forward to seeing you again next year.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 7/7

• Beautiful Belize Beckons at Barnacle Bill's Beach Bungalows

  Beautiful Belize Beckons at Barnacle Bill's Beach Bungalows

  • Guest Bob Gerhardt
  • Date of stay 04/17/11
  • Review Submitted 06/07/11
  It had been a long winter when we boarded a plane from Canada to Belize in mid-April, and we gladly welcomed the sunny warmth upon our arrival. After picking up our rental vehicle, we had a short drive, and spent an enjoyable first night near the Belize Zoo (the night tour of the zoo is recommended). The following day, we enjoyed the scenic (though locally smoky, due to seasonal brush fires) drive down the Western, Hummingbird and Southern highways to Placenicia peninsula. We arrived at the Beach Bungalows before mid afternoon. Though early, Bill and Adriane, our hosts, were most helpful in getting us settled in. We had taken up on their offer to have the fridge stocked with some items before our arrival, and having cold beverages waiting was most welcome. We also took up the offer to sample Bill's fine cooking the first night, and highly recommend his enchiladas. We found the accomodations much to our liking - simple, but well appointed, with large louvered screened windows making the most of the trade winds. The two bungalows on the property are about 60 ft from the shore, and as always, I found the crashing surf quite relaxing. The beach itself is stereotypically tropical and beautiful, the sand the color and texture of light brown sugar, studded with coconut palms, palmettos and sea grape. We spent much of our first afternoon (and good portions of those following) enjoying the view from the shore, coconut rum cocktail in hand, lounging in the adirondacks underneath one of the two palapas(and over Scurvy). It was relaxing to watch the pelicans, cormorants, gulls, egrets and vultures as they made there daily passes. We found the Barnacle Bill's to be an excellent base, with several fine restaurants within walking distance, including Mango's (excellent beach view and food), the Maya Beach Hotel, the Hungry Gecko, and the Singing Sands, and a grocery for most needs. Other restaurants are a 10 to 15 minute drive away in Seine Bight and Placencia. The excellent Cockscomb Jaguar preserve and ecological reserve was only a 25 minute drive away, with excellent hikes and helpful staff. Good Maya sites we visited such as Nim Li Punit and Lubaantun were a 45 min drive south. We also highly recommend Splash Dive Center, and two terrific snorkelling trips to the Silky Cayes and Ranguana near the reef. Bill and Adriane were always helpful with suggestions when asked, but never intrusive. We felt fortunate to share their piece of paradise for 13 days.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 14/14

• • Guest Denise Mitchem
  • Date of stay 01/10/10
  • Review Submitted 01/10/10
  We just left Barnacle Bill's Dec. 29th, we stayed for 11 days. We will be going back as soon as we can. This is a eco-freindly property. The landscaping has been kept in its natural habitat. There are lots of beautiful birds, and tropical plant life. You can snorkle right out on the beach, lots of coral, fish and the biggest star fish I have ever seen! They have kayaks on the property that you can take out to False Caye. We saw dolphins swimming right out in front of our beach! The setting and beach are the best on Maya Beach...we compared it to other properties while there. Lots of privacy. The owners, Bill & Adriane Taylor are more than helpful in suggesting the best sights to see while you are there. They will stock your fridge with grocery's before you get there and even made our flight arrangements for Maya Air from Belize City. We could have driven, but it's a 3 1/2 hr. drive. And thier dog Scurvy is a great pal, and good watch dog! I highly recommend Barnacle Bill's Beach Bungalows. The experience was beyound our expectations! It was the best vacation ever!!!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 27/27

Nov-May:$115/night; Jun-Oct:$100/night; for double occupancy, plus 9% hotel tax
$25 for additional guest
7 night min over XMAS and New Year's Eve; 5 night min rest of year
1 night non-refundable deposit per week of stay required
Full payment required 45 days prior to arrival. No refunds will be granted after
45 days if reservation is cancelled.. If you are concerned about cancellations, we
recommend purchasing travel insurance.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.