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Discover Umaya Resort Belize, formerly known as Belize Ocean Club, a deluxe resort nestled on a 78-mile peninsula on Maya Beach in southern Belize. Choose rooms with a serene lagoon and distant Maya mountain views or gaze upon the azure Caribbean Sea. Indulge in farm-to-table delights at Laguna Restaurante, offering Maya and Garifuna Belizean traditions. Dive into unforgettable experiences and unique adventures exploring the Belize barrier reef, nearby jungles, and Maya sites.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
This is an excellent resort nestled in the heart of the Placencia peninsula in Belize. It has one restaurant and an oven fired pizza bar near the beach. The resort spans from the beach to the lagoon so you get both sunrises and sunsets. The unit we rented had 2 beds/baths and the beds were excellent. It also had a kitchenette which made snacks and quick meals (or takeout) easy to eat. The pool and beach are fabulous, and there is a swim up bar at the beachside pool. They offer paddle boards and kayaks the water in this area is very smooth and ultra clear. The place is very family friendly, the staff is excellent and responded promptly to any request we made, and the grounds are picturesque and manicured.
The restaurant was good but the menu was limited. Given we stayed for 10 days, we spent time exploring and ate many meals at other places on the area. The location made this very easy to do, as there are other beachside resorts with food options within walking distance.
While we had a rental car, they offer bikes which could be used to travel to other local spots. However, without a car, Placencia and some of the other resorts would require a shuttle as they are 20-30 min drive. We also stocked up on provisions several time at a local grocery store, which is walkable or bikeable if desired.
This communtity and facility are quiet and relaxing. The is NO nightlife as almost everything closes at 9pm. We did several adventures during our stay, including snorkeling, fishing, and hiking the jungle.
If looking for more adventure, I would recommend breaking a longer stay between Placencia and somewhere else, either San Pedro or the jungles near San Ignacio. We ended up staying one night near The Sleeping Giant (at Jaguar Creek) so we could more easily explore the ruins and some deeper jungle hikes. This was a last minute decision but worked out well. Two nights in the jungle is probably enough unless you are seeking more quiet. The accommodations in the jungle resorts are more rustic and secluded, but again the Staff and facilities are in in great shape.
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Date of stay: December 2023
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â It was nice having a car while here since the resort is small and we liked to explore the area. ...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elisha Flores, Marketing at Umaya Resort & Adventures
Responded Mar 13, 2024
Hi There, Thank you for sharing your detailed review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay at our resort and found the amenities, including the pool, beach, and water activities, to be fabulous. We're glad that you found our staff to be excellent and responsive, and that you appreciated the picturesque grounds. We take note of your feedback regarding the restaurant menu and will consider ways to enhance it in the future. It's great to know that our location allowed you to explore other dining options in the area easily. Your recommendations for exploring other parts of Belize are valuable, and we're glad you had the opportunity to enjoy various adventures during your stay. We hope to welcome you back for another relaxing and enjoyable experience in the future! Sincerely, The Team at Umaya
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Where else can you stay with Caribbean ocean on one side of the property and lagoon with island and Mountain View’s on the other? This property looks like something out of the show “White Lotus”, seriously! The grounds, foliage, romantic lights, EXCELLENT restaurants (there are two of them), swim up pool bar… the list goes on and on.
Our lagoon side stay was peaceful and we enjoyed the glorious sunsets. We were happy we ended up on the lagoon side because it’s quieter. The rooms are more like big condos/apartments. We were pleasantly surprised by the spaciousness! It’s hard to believe you can get a large 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom with such glorious views for such reasonable pricing! Our family had more than enough space.
There’s so much to do in Belize and even in close by Placencia village, and you should go out and do things, but it’s hard to leave this awesome property.
Our 7 year old son nearly lost his mind fishing off the ocean pier (he made a friend that caught a snapper with a hand line!), and then running across to the lagoon side to try to catch snook.
This place is paradise. We will be back!
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elisha Flores, Marketing at Umaya Resort & Adventures
Responded Feb 11, 2025
Hey Jessica, Thank you so much for your amazing review. It’s great that the spacious accommodations worked so well for your family and that your son had such a memorable time fishing. We’re so glad you enjoyed the peaceful lagoon side and took full advantage of all the property has to offer. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another unforgettable stay in paradise. Sincerely, The Team at Umaya
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Placencia has a long but narrow beach. There is no greater gastronomic offer or things to do other than go on snorkeling or diving excursions. Very few people in the month of May. We stayed at the Umaya Resort & Adventures hotel and they gave us a very spacious room (there were two) with a living room and kitchen. The pool is very nice and it has a good beach. The stay at the hotel was very good (although the pizza place and bar next to the pool closes early (6 pm).
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed for 5 nights and wished we had a refundable booking to go elsewhere.
When we arrived, it was clear the room was turned over quickly and just the linens changed despite them needing an extra hour after their 3pm check-in. We found dirt and grim everywhere including old blood on the bathroom floor and black mold in the shower. Thankfully we brought disinfectant wipes. We let front desk know but it took two full days to hear back from management who provided a fruit plate as a resolution rather than a cleaning. We had to follow up several times and negotiate to get a real cleaning (3 days into our 5 day stay). The regular housekeeping service just made the bed and rehung up the dirty towels we used to clean. The fridge didnt work our entire stay and my partner cut his hand on broken glass shards left on the restaurant table. Pretty awful experience. Going back and forth with management for basics was not how we wanted to spend our vacation. We ended up getting a $150 credit and some breakfasts compensated but that was hard battle and management was awful to deal with - certainly did not make up for the experience and hassle. We understand things happen and sometimes fall through the cracks but it should not have taken 3 days and much follow up to get a cleaning. At the pool we overheard other guests with similar experiences. Placencia is lovely but I would not stay here and recommend you look elsewhere - it is just not worth the trouble.
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Date of stay: January 2024
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have come To Placencia several times in the past few years. We decided at the last minute to come and so only has a few places to choose from. We ended up at Umaya Beach. Room 201 beach side need updating. The sink leaks in the primary bedroom, the bed is rock hard and the pillows gave up at least a few years ago. Because it is so far from Placencia and no golf carts were available, waiting for either the 2x per day shuttle or getting a taxi can definitely add to your day and deter additional outings. The food is average, the pool is ok. People are friendly. Just wouldn’t be somewhere I would recommend people come for the Placencia experience.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elisha Flores, Marketing at Umaya Resort & Adventures
Responded Jan 2, 2024
Hi There, Thank you for your review. We sincerely apologize that your experience with us did not meet your expectations. We highly value your feedback and will investigate the concerns you have raised. Once again, we appreciate your time and feedback. Sincerely, The Team at Umaya
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The room was fine a little dirty but okay. However, we had ordered a new jug of water at the front desk which never arrived, we asked again for it to be delivered but no one felt responsible. We tried calling the front desk but they didn’t pick up on the room phone or on mobile phone. In the end we called the phone number at the bottom of the website where a customer service agent finally organized for us to receive a new jug of water. Why wasn’t the water replaced during cleaning? I’m not sure. The breakfast buffet was very limited and the dinner was also just average. This place is beautiful but I would not recommend choosing Umaya to stay here. Their facilities seem lacking and the front desk staff are not ready to respond to customer requests.
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Date of stay: March 2025
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Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
These are nice, well equipped units with lounge area, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. We did experience a few problems with the plumbing but they were quick to come and assist. Units are air conditioned and have free water to drink. The resort has 2 sections, one lagoon facing and one beach facing but you are able to use the facilities on either side. On the beach side there is a lovely pool with swim up bar and pizzeria. There are hammocks, loungers and a dock. On the lagoon side there are loungers and a nice restaurant.
We ate at the restaurant each night as without transport there is very little else that is walkable. However they were very helpful in providing gluten free meals for me as I have coeliac disease and were prepared to alter the menu slightly to cater for my dietary requirements. They offer free transfers from the Placencia airport which was very welcome. They also offer a free shuttle into the village of Placencia (about 25 min drive) 3 times a week and have free use of bikes. Staff were always very helpful and friendly and I would recommend the hotel.
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elisha Flores, Marketing at Umaya Resort & Adventures
Responded Dec 11, 2023
Hi There, We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed experience during your recent stay with us. We sincerely appreciate your kind words and look forward to the opportunity to serve you again in the near future. Sincerely, The Team at Umaya
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The facility as extremely clean The staff very helpful and accommodating The views were very tranquil and zen Liquor prices were a bit high but it is what it is. Lots of activities close by the property. The ruins are about a 20 minute commute.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elisha Flores, Marketing at Umaya Resort & Adventures
Responded Jan 22, 2024
Hey There, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We really appreciate your feedback and can't wait to welcome you back. Sincerely, The Team at Umaya Resort
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Umaya resort is beautiful but you will need to consider a lot of things before booking. The Placencia peninsula is very long and this resort is a good twenty to twenty five minutes drive from Placencia village. If you have a rental car it wouldn't be too bad but otherwise you can only get to town when the hotel shuttle goes. There are no stores nearby to get any supplies. The resort is also in two sections with the main road dividing it. If you are staying on the beach/ ocean side the restaurant is on the other side. Too far for my husband to walk. We are seniors and would not recommend this resort to anyone that has difficulty with walking or steps. The steps in front of the resort where you check in and where the restaurant is are steep and have no railing or anything to hold on to. On the beach side there was a beach bar and an expensive pizza cafe. They close at 7:30 pm and are not open every night. The staff were nice and did give us a ride over to the restaurant side a couple of times and we did take the shuttle into town one day. It leaves at 10am and picks you up at 2 pm. This resort wasn't for us but for younger folks that don't mind being a long way from town it's probably good. The tour guide was excellent and so very helpful. The beach is very nice, well maintained and raked every day. Beautiful to watch the sunrise and sunset.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was one of the worst experiences we have had with a hotel.
None of the toilets in building 6 work due to plumbing issues, they wouldn’t flush. There was even an instance where one completely overflowed and the whole bathroom floor was filled with dirty toilet water and the hotel staff made it EXTREMELY difficult for us to change rooms, even went as far to say “we really can’t do anything about it”.
We went for New Years and were told there was going to be a party. Apart from that we didn’t get anymore information, we ended up buying 8 tickets worth $25 each and were made to stand around as they didn’t have chairs for us, we had to look for them and moved them ourselves which was extremely uncomfortable. We were pretty much ignored the time we were in our makeshift sitting area (didn’t offer us a single thing). We ended up leaving after 30 minutes and asking for a refund which they refused.
Overall it was a bad experience, the location and the room weren’t bad (apart from all the toilets in building 6) but the service was the thing that left us with a bad taste in our mouth.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Elisha Flores, Marketing at Umaya Resort & Adventures
Responded Jan 8, 2025
Hi There, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We apologize for any inconvenience regarding the plumbing issues during your stay. We want to clarify that our team exchanged your room within an hour of your complaint and offered you a refund which you accepted. Regarding the New Year's party, servers were waiting tables as normal until 9:30 PM, this was when dinner was finished. After that the dining staff did not serve tables to take orders anymore, they just cleaned up. People went to the bar to order their drinks, this was communicated to you, as well as the seating times for meals. We're sorry you still felt the need to leave such a review despite our team's efforts to address your concerns and we hope that we can welcome you back for a better experience in the future. Sincerely, The Team at Umaya
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There are more places to choose from in the Placencia area.
PRICE RANGE
C$234 - C$338 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Belize Ocean Club
LOCATION
BelizeStann CreekPlacencia
NUMBER OF ROOMS
56
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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