What are the best things to do in San Ignacio, the heart and soul of the Cayo district in western Belize?
Founded in the 1800s and today home to around 20,000 inhabitants, San Ignacio is a small town in western Belize, close to the Guatemalan border, in the heart of the tropical jungle. In San Ignacio, you can visit sumptuous natural sites, Mayan sites and, above all, enjoy the local Belizean pace of life.
What to see and do in San Ignacio
Photo credit: Flickr – John Wilson
The San Ignacio region lies at the heart of the Mayan world, and there are many preserved remains and temples to discover during your trip. Among the best known is the Mayan city of Caracol, discovered in the 1930s and home to some superb Mayan pyramids. It is the largest Mayan site in Belize, and can be visited by the day.
If you prefer nature activities, San Ignacio is also an excellent destination, as it is known for its impressive caves. The ATM cave, or Actun Tunichil Muknal, can only be reached after a jungle walk of around 1 hour. You then enter a cave where you can swim and climb the walls to discover stalactite-filled cavities. Barton Creek Cave is another tourist site that impresses travellers with its enormous stalactites and stalagmites. Note that you need to be at least a little athletic to discover these sites!
Photo credit: Flickr – Bernard DUPONT
Throughout the San Ignacio region, you can also admire the local fauna on organized excursions: iguanas, toucans and coatis can all be seen in the forests surrounding San Ignacio! Nearby, the botanical garden is also a great place for the whole family to stroll without hiking!
How to get to San Ignacio
San Ignacio is a small, somewhat isolated town in the middle of the jungle. Nevertheless, there are several routes to San Ignacio: if you’re arriving directly from Belize City airport, shuttle buses to the Guatemalan border will easily stop you in San Ignacio, and it’s about a 2.5-hour drive. If you’re arriving from Guatemala, particularly from Tikal in the north, it’s a good 3-hour drive (including border crossing) to San Ignacio. There are daily departures from both destinations.
Where to stay in San Ignacio?
There aren’t many hotels in the area, but you’ll find around 20 in and around San Ignacio. You can compare hotel prices in San Ignacio on this hotel comparison website.
In terms of standards, you can book guesthouses for less than 20 euros a night, or beautiful lodges in the middle of the jungle, if you prefer a slightly higher standard. In fact, you’ll find both inexpensive youth hostel-style establishments and hotels costing over 100 euros a night. In any case, San Ignacio is one of the highlights of a trip to Belize, and not to be missed!
Main photo credit: Flickr – Liam Kearney