Placencia is a long narrow peninsula on the Caribbean Sea coast of the Stann Creek District in Belize. In the late 20th century it became a significant tourism destination. The eastern side of the Placencia Peninsula is generally a long expanse of white sand beach; the western side is bounded by a long narrow north-south trending bay of the Caribbean Sea. The largest community on the peninsula is the Village of Placencia, situated at the extreme southern tip of the peninsula. The village is home to 458 permanent residents according to the 2000 census.