Nearest towns include Zulueta (to the north), Remedios (to the northeast), Cabaiguán and Fomento (to the east), and Santa Clara and Camajuaní (to the west).

The springs of Zaza River, that runs from the outskirts of Placetas to the sea, are located near the town.

Its territory includes the villages of Báez, Benito Juárez, Carbó Serviá, Falcón, Falero, Guaracabulla, Hermanos Ameijeiras, Manzanares, Máximo, Miller, Nazareno, Oliver and Suazo.

Many Placetenos have emigrated to other countries and there are around 2300 people from Placetas residing in the United States, most of them in Miami.

This contributes to the high amount of comunitarios that travel to Placetas every month from the United States.

As of 1996, it had one library, a central post office, three middle-high schools (13 de Marzo, Rodolfo Leon Perlacia and Julio Antonio Mella), one police station and many recreational areas.