Joy Tours in Placencia, Belize

Joy Tours in Placencia, Belize is undoubtedly one of the preeminent Belize tour agencies and Scuba dive shops. Whether you're looking to hike Mayan ruins like Xunantunich and Lubaantun, fish in the Placencia lagoons, or observe the hauntingly beautiful whale shark, Joy Tours has the unmatched expertise to ensure your Belize travels are joyful.

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I've toured with many Central America tour companies, and Joy Tours in Placencia, Belize is one of my favorites. Joy Tours recently won the award for Best Tour Company of the Year by the Belize Tourist Board, and they fully deserve the honor.

Gladden Spit, a couple hours out from Placencia, is one of the best places in the world to spot a whale shark in May through June. The mysterious, massive, polka-dotted creatures spawn off the coast of Southern Belize, and Joy Tours' master divers know exactly how to coax them to the surface. (Hint: it involves blowing bubbles!)

I was lucky enough to join Joy Tours on a private dive in Placencia. Unfortunately, even though I visited in April, the ocean was a little too choppy to go on a whale shark dive. But Joy Tours selected a pretty sweet replacement: the protected Caribbean waters near Laughingbird Caye. Besides having one of the greatest names I've ever heard, Laughingbird Caye offers great diving, as well as an idyllic spot to stop for lunch (stew chicken and papaya juice -- yum!).