Garifuna Culture, Food & Music: Discover Placencia’s Vibrant Heritage

Placencia’s beauty stretches far beyond its beaches ... it thrives in its people, its music, and its traditions. Along this golden peninsula, the Garifuna culture adds a heartbeat of rhythm and soul that makes southern Belize unlike anywhere else.

The Story of the Garifuna

The Garifuna people are descendants of West African, Arawak, and Carib ancestors who arrived on Belize’s shores in the early 1800s. Their resilience, language, and deep spiritual connection to community continue to shape the country’s cultural identity today. Garifuna Settlement Day, celebrated every November 19, honors this legacy with colorful parades, live drumming, dance, and traditional food. Placencia joins in with vibrant festivities that fill the air with music, joy, and unity.

Honour the Legacy ... Garifuna Settlement Day (November 19)

Every year on November 19, Belize celebrates Garifuna Settlement Day, marking the arrival of the Garifuna people on its southern shores. The day begins with the Yurumein re-enactment, where canoes glide toward shore carrying cassava sticks, plantain suckers, and palm fronds to symbolize the Garifuna journey from St. Vincent. Throughout the morning, drums beat across villages like Seine Bight and Hopkins as parades, dancing, and singing fill the streets. Traditional foods such as hudut and cassava bread are shared at family gatherings, while community drumming and storytelling continue late into the night. Officially recognized as a national holiday, Garifuna Settlement Day is one of Belize’s most vibrant cultural events ... a living reminder of resilience, unity, and the enduring spirit of the Garifuna people.

Feel the Rhythm ... Drumming & Dance

The steady pulse of Garifuna drumming lies at the heart of their storytelling. Visit Seine Bight Village, just north of Placencia, where local drummers perform Punta, Paranda, and Hungu Hungu rhythms that echo through the night. Join a drumming workshop or simply let the sound draw you in as locals share how each rhythm connects to history, emotion, and spirit. It’s not just music ... it’s a shared heartbeat that unites generations.

Taste the Tradition ... Garifuna Cuisine

Food is another way the Garifuna spirit comes alive. Sample hudut ... fresh fish simmered in rich coconut broth, served with mashed plantains ... or cassava bread, made the traditional way from scratch. Many local restaurants in Placencia and Seine Bight offer these dishes alongside Belizean favorites like stew chicken and rice and beans. Ask around the village, and you might discover a family-run spot serving authentic home-cooked meals filled with warmth and flavor.

Celebrate the Culture ... Year-Round & During Restaurant Week

Placencia Restaurant Week, taking place November 2–9, 2025, is the perfect time to taste Belize’s diverse culinary landscape. Visit PlacenciaRestaurantWeek.com to explore participating restaurants and their menus. During this eight-day event, local chefs craft prix-fixe menus that spotlight Belizean and Garifuna flavors ... from creamy coconut stews and cassava-inspired creations to spicy seafood and tropical desserts. It’s more than dining; it’s a celebration of community, creativity, and connection.

Beyond Restaurant Week, Placencia keeps the Garifuna spirit alive with live music nights, cultural performances, and festivals throughout the year. Whether you visit during the high season or the summer months, you’ll find Garifuna drumming groups performing at beachfront restaurants, cultural tours sharing ancestral stories, and workshops where visitors can learn to cook or drum like locals.

Experience It ... Don’t Just Watch

Flowers Vacation Rentals encourages guests to experience Placencia as more than a destination ... it’s a living culture. Take an afternoon to explore Seine Bight Village, meet artisans, try your hand at drumming, or join a community celebration. Here, every beat, every meal, and every smile tells the story of Belize’s heart and soul.