The Ellysian Boutique Hotel

Belize

Rooms

Floors

Pools

Restaurants

Location

beachfront

key features

Kid-Friendly Grounds

Welcoming Staff

Calm beach

Spacious Rooms

Excellent Location

A truly comfortable stay in a character-full village with a staff that will make you feel like you’re at a luxury hotel and an ideal home base for exploring the less touristy southern Belize peninsula’s natural beauty and culture.

$350 for a 1-Bedroom Beach Suite

Why we like it for families

THE LOCATION: The Ellysian shines for its location in the heart of Placencia Village, right on the Placencia Sidewalk (the main pedestrian street that is the center of the village) but also right on a swimmable beach – the best of both worlds. This small hotel is not a beach resort where you will simply park yourself by the pool for multiple days in Belize with kids; it’s a homebase for families wanting a balance between a luxury hotel with amenities and a walkable stay to really enjoy the village experience.
THE VIBE: Each time you return to the Ellysian after exploring Placencia with kids or snorkeling the surrounding reefs, you will feel like you stumbled upon a hidden gem or a private villa to call your own. The attention to detail in the décor of the restaurant, for example, starts each day off right. It’s calm and relaxed, with quiet rooms, even while being in the center of activity. There’s something about this little hotel that will make you sad to leave at the end of your stay, a feeling that means you found a good one.
THE STAFF: This attentive and kind staff really know how to make you feel like you’re at a high end luxury resort. They go above and beyond to ensure you have an amazing experience-from the moment they pick you up from the airport or greet you at the front desk, you know that you’ll be taken care of. The staff will learn your kids’ names, and make them grilled cheese by the pool in a heartbeat when they need to refuel. It’s things like this that make all the difference.
THE ROOMS AND BEDS: There’s plenty of space for families to spread out in this small boutique hotel and the beds are worth a special mention. Many travelers have trouble sleeping on vacation, but these suites for families offer comfortable beds that you’ll remember long after you leave, and good air conditioning too!
THE FOOTPRINT: There’s something to be said for a smaller and manageable pool area and beach footprint when traveling with kids – one where you can keep your eyes on them at all times and it’s a breeze to run back to your room to grab something you need. It makes it easier to feel at home. Though small, the setup of the Ellysian calls you to slow down and relax, and you’ll be in no rush to leave. At the Ellysian, the kids can do their own thing on the beach while you relax by the infinity edge pool (which also has a great shallow shelf for little kids) and the pool bar and room are each only steps away. It’s all at your fingertips at the Ellysian.

Location and Activities

The Ellysian is a small boutique hotel that welcomes families to the heart of Placencia, a gorgeous emerald peninsula in southern Belize. This region has the best beaches in Belize – 16 miles of sandy shore – and a cool local village that is super walkable. It’s a great alternative to the Cayes in the north, which tend to have more tourists.

The Ellysian is situated in the heart of the village right on the famous Placencia Sidewalk, but also offers direct beach access – a rarity in some parts of southern Belize.

To reach The Ellysian, you’ll fly into Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City and then take a short 30-minute hopper flight on Tropic Air down to Placencia. The Ellysian boutique hotel is just 10 minutes from the Placencia Airstrip, and they provide complimentary airport transfers. It’s the nicest hotel in the village proper, making it an ideal option for families prioritizing the ability to stroll to restaurants and experience the village.

While The Ellysian is not a large resort where you’ll spend your entire stay, it serves as a wonderful home base for activities in the area. It offers a sense of finding a hidden gem, with spacious accommodations, great staff, very comfortable sleeping spaces, and a prime location from which to explore the peninsula’s attractions. It’s the perfect balance of amenities and local immersion.

Tour of Amenities

Dining

Rooms

For Kids

Activities

Choose the Ellysian for your trip to Placencia with kids if you value being in the middle of Placencia village – not if you’re looking for a big family resort in Belize. Local houses and buildings with all their character (think, pink buildings and quirky touches) surround the hotel. If you just want lush foliage surrounding you, this isn’t your best bet.
That said, the Ellysian has everything you need for a great family trip to Placencia. The hotel sits right on the beach, with a small but picturesque infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean sea. The lounge chairs are super comfortable – just one of the ways The Ellysian pays attention to detail – there is plenty of seating for you and your family to lounge the day away on the sand if you’re beach bums at heart.
When you head back inside, you’ll find spacious one bedroom suites for families. The air conditioning is very cold and the beds are heavenly – you will wake up each day rested and ready for the day. The rooms have clean, modern decor and some have kitchenettes, which is another big plus for families in our book. They also each have extremely spacious terraces and balconies.
The one bedroom suites work great for families, but there are also option for getting neighboring rooms with older kids, including rooms that connect through an outdoor terrace. And if you’re a big group or luxury traveler, the 3 bedroom penthouse wows upon entry. We can help you figure out the best room accommodation for you.
There is no formal kids programming at this hotel, but you’ll find a bucket of beach toys by the pool, and the staff can help you arrange babysitting if you’d like a break or adult night out.
The Trap Pool Bar is at your fingertips for poolside drinks. And when it’s not open, the staff will still bring food down from the restaurant to the pool. Tip: If you have picky eaters, feed the kids grilled cheese by the pool and then bring them with you into town and get them dessert while you enjoy a more adventurous meal.
The Muna Rooftop Restaurant & Bar on the fifth floors of the Ellysian has spectacular views and décor and really terrific food – especially the local specialties for breakfast. Try it at least once and then check out village restaurants too. There is no elevator to the fifth floor, though, so you’ll need to hike up about 60 stairs to get there, which travelers with mobility issues should be aware of.
This hotel offers massage treatments on the fifth floor with world-class views.
If you’re the type who never forgoes their workout on vacation, you’re also in luck at the Ellysian. They offer yoga on the beach and private classes available for booking too.
Finally, the Ellysian has fantastic local tour partners to get out and about! They offer everything from snorkeling with kids at the world-class Belize reefs to visiting the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Reserve or cave tubing. You can find activities for all ages in Placencia, and the Ellysian will help you do it.

Best Rooms for Families

The hotel has three categories of rooms, ranging from Guest Rooms to an Exclusive Penthouse, but the ones below have the best room configurations for families.

Large Room for Families at The Ellysian Boutique Hotel

One Bedroom Beach Suite

Best for families of 3-4
Master bedroom with King or 2 Queens
Separate living room with twin sofa bed
Oversized bathroom accessible from living area or bedroom
Kitchenette
Spacious patio or terrace with village view
Available as neighboring rooms that connect through external patio

View on Hotel Website

Three Bedroom Penthouse

Best for families or groups of 4-6
Three bedrooms with king size beds
Two en-suite bathrooms
Three patios with stunning ocean views
What about the kitchen?

View on Hotel Website

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Traveler Reviews

The family needed a weekend escape and we went to the Ellysian. The room was spacious for me and my family of 6 – 4 children with the kitchenette and large living room. The pool was not packed and we could have a good time and interact with other people staying at the hotel. It is located right in town so the nearby stores and tourist business was easily accessed with a 5 to 10 minutes walk which we enjoyed. Shadine was so helpful and warm welcoming!

★★★★★ 5/5

Reviewed by Alexandria C., August 2023, via TripAdvisor

Mwah! Chef’s kiss for the Ellysian hotel and staff! . . . I could go on and on about all the things I love about the Ellysian and team but I will keep this focused on the things I considered when selecting our accommodations. The location of the hotel is bang on, about a 5-10 min from the Placencia airstrip and within walking distance to everything in the Village. . . . Ellysian does a great job of providing both in a small, personalized environment. I could tell this by my first interactions with the team months before our trip to work on planning, flights from BZE to Placencia, etc. Finally, important to us was a safe, secure, welcoming environment for our family. We traveled with two 20-year-old girls so we needed flexibility and independence for them along with our 16 year old son with Autism. The Ellysian team welcomed our entire crew with open arms, engaged and interacted with each of us and truly made our stay feel like we had landed in a home away from home type environment. Cheers to the entire Ellysian team and thank you for making our extended visit so special. We can’t wait to return!

★★★★★ 5/5

Reviewed by Cori B, January 2023, via TripAdvisor

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Other Hotels and Resources

Want to see more of what Belize has to offer? Dive into our complete Belize Collection for more family-friendly hotels in Belize and must-do activities.

If you’re still in the ‘Hmm, which island?’ phase, our ‘Find Your Caribbean Island‘ page is designed to help busy parents like you sift through the noise and pick the perfect family getaway.

The Ellysian Boutique Hotel

Rooms

Floors

Pools

Restaurants

Location

key features

Kid-Friendly Grounds

Welcoming Staff

Calm beach

Spacious Rooms

Excellent Location

Why we like it for families

Location and Activities

Tour of Amenities

Dining

Rooms

For Kids

Activities

Best Rooms for Families

Is this the one for you?

Let’s get you there.

Traveler Reviews

Other Hotels and Resources

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