Your Complete Guide to Traveling San Ignacio
Nestled in the heart of Belize, San Ignacio is a gateway to adventure and cultural immersion. There are so many wonderful things to do in San Ignacio that will have you yearning for a return trip. This charming town serves as a haven for explorers seeking an authentic and off-the-beaten-path experience. From lush rainforests and ancient Mayan ruins to vibrant markets and hidden underground caves, San Ignacio offers tons of things just waiting to be discovered. While its pristine beaches attract the masses, Belize’s jungles certainly deserve their own special attention. Similar to Caye Caulker, San Ignacio is a popular backpacking destination, and its proximity to the Guatemalan border makes this the perfect stop for anyone traveling through Central America.
If you’re also heading to Caye Caulker, read about the best things to do there!
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15 Wonderful Things to Do in San Ignacio, Belize
1. Explore the Eerie ATM Cave
Explore the mysterious Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave, an archaeological marvel that takes you on an underground journey through ancient Mayan sacrificial sites. You’ll hike about 45 minutes through the jungle to get to the mouth of the cave, then swim and wade through the water, admire ancient Mayan artifacts, and even see the crystalized skeleton of one of the victims of these human sacrifices! Unfortunately, we didn’t get to do this while we were in San Ignacio because it had been flooded due to recent rain, but we met lots of people that said this is the best thing to do in San Ignacio, so we’ll definitely be back for it! You can book your ATM Cave tour here!
2. Explore the Ancient Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins
Climb through time at the Cahal Pech archaeological site, perched atop a hill overlooking San Ignacio. Wander among the well-preserved plazas and royal residences of this ancient Mayan city, gaining insights into the rich history and architecture of the civilization that once thrived here. We had the site all to ourselves around 9 am in December, which was a nice early Christmas Present for us!
The Cahal Pech Ruins are open daily from 6:30 am to 5 pm and costs 5 USD to visit.
3. Take a Mayan Chocolate-Making Class
The people at AJAW Chocolate Limited are awesome! They’ll take you back in time through the history of chocolate, tasting the variation of delicious Cacao for the given time period until you arrive at present day.
AJAW chocolate classes run every hour on the hour with no reservation required, but you should get there 10-15 minutes early. The cost per person is $14 USD.
4. Explore Mountain Pine Ridge Forest and Mayan Ruins
Embark on an adventure in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, exploring the enchanting Rio On Pools and Rio Frio Caves. The crystalline formations within Rio Frio’s subterranean wonders and Rio On Pools are often combined with a trip to Caracol Mayan Site. Caracol is one of the largest Mayan metropolises, and one of its structures, Caana, remains the tallest building in Belize to this day. These ruins are huge and you’ll barely see another person here! Check out the tour here!
5. Play With and Learn About Iguanas
The Green Iguana Conservation Center is an amazing organization started in 1996 which rehabilitates and breeds iguanas as well as educates locals and tourists on the necessary conservation efforts. You’ll learn so many interesting facts about these lovely creatures and what you can do to protect them. Located at the San Ignacio Resort, you’ll pay $11.25 USD for a guided tour that leaves every hour on the hour, and no reservation is required.
Did You Know? Iguanas are endangered primarily because people hunt pregnant females to serve their eggs as an Easter delicacy. Also, due to climate change and the temperature dependent nature of iguana eggs (males result from warmer weather), there is an imbalance of males to females, making the problem for the species worse.
Warning: We learned that dodgy restaurants may try to serve you iguana meat branded as “Bamboo Chicken”, so if you see this, stay away!
6. Visit Xunantunich
Ascend to the summit of El Castillo at Xunantunich, reveling in panoramic views of the Belizean countryside. These impressive Mayan ruins showcase intricate carvings and provide a glimpse into the cultural and historical significance of this ancient site. You can even ride horses through the beautiful jungle, observing wildlife and fauna along the way, and ending up at these marvelous ancient ruins.
If you want to visit this site yourself by public transportation, that is certainly possible! To get here, you can hop on the bus to Benque (the border town just west of San Ignacio) and ride for about 30 minutes to the ferry stop. From there, take the hand cranked ferry over the river and walk a mile to the ruins! You should be able to wave down a bus heading back east when you’re ready to return to San Ignacio.
7. Go Cave Tubing
One of the coolest things you can do near San Ignacio is go cave tubing through the Nohoch Che’en Caves. For an adrenaline filled day, check out this tour where you go cave tubing and zip lining!
If you’d prefer to combine this experience with a visit to Xunantunich, this full day tour is the best for you! This experience seems super cool, but once again we weren’t able to do it because of the flooding.
8. Shop at San Ignacio Market
Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of San Ignacio Market, a bustling hub where locals and visitors converge. Indulge in the colorful array of fresh fruits, cheap street food, and local artisanal crafts. Artisans from nearby towns flock here on Saturdays to sell their goods that are often heavily influenced by their ancestral Mayan roots.
9. Visit the Tikal Ruins in Guatemala
Embark on a cross-border adventure to Guatemala and discover the ancient city of Tikal. Explore towering Mayan pyramids and intricate temples surrounded by lush jungle, experiencing the grandeur of one of the most iconic archaeological sites in Central America.
We highly recommend taking a few days to stay in Flores, Guatemala and visit Tikal from there, but this full day trip from San Ignacio is a good option if you don’t have the time. Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay a $20 exit fee to leave Belize, even if you are returning the same day.
Read our posts about visiting Tikal and staying in Flores, Guatemala!
10. Find Peace at Belize Botanic Garden
Unwind amidst the beauty of the Belize Botanic Garden, where a diverse collection of native and exotic plants awaits. Take a leisurely stroll through themed gardens, discovering the rich botanical heritage of the region.
11. Canoe the Barton Creek Cave
Navigate the subterranean passageways of Barton Creek Cave by canoe, a serene yet awe-inspiring experience. Marvel at the limestone formations and ancient artifacts within the cave, surrounded by the peaceful sounds of water echoing through the chambers. Your guide will educate you on the region’s geology, ecology, and vast Mayan history. Check out the tour here!
12. Visit Nearby Towns
Expand your exploration by venturing to nearby towns like Bullet Tree Falls, where a laid-back atmosphere and local charm create a perfect backdrop for discovering the unique culture and traditions of Belize. If you go to Bullet Tree Falls, make sure to check out Walter Castillo’s Art Workshop!
13. Jam Out at the Belize Soul Project
This was originally created as a space for local and international artists to have a space in San Ignacio for creative art expression. On Wednesdays and Fridays starting at 8 pm, there’s a bar and live music in an art gallery to entertain anyone interested! This is located under Old House Hostel.
14. Visit the Belize Raptor Center
Witness the majesty of Belize’s birds of prey at the Belize Raptor Center. Through educational programs and up-close encounters, this center is dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of these magnificent birds, providing a unique and enriching experience for travelers of all ages!
15. Boat through the Jungle
Spend a wonderful day boating through Belize’s jungle and stopping to check out a number of beautiful waterfalls. This full day trip is full of swimming, short hikes near the waterfalls, and a wonderful lunch cooked on board the pontoon boat!
Where To Eat In San Ignacio?
- Guava Limb: For some delicious international and local fusion cuisine
- Mincho’s Fast Food: For Salbutes (corn cakes with meat, veggies, and cheese) and breakfast burritos
- Pupuseria Damaris: For delicious pupusas, empanadas, and other street food
- Restaurante Tipico Salvadoreño: For some of the best pupusas I’ve ever had
- Pop’s Restaurant: for fryjacks (fried dough stuffed with meat, cheese, eggs, and beans)
- Cenaida’s Belizean Food: For some authentic, delicious Belizean Food
- Erva’s Restaurant: For typical Belizean food with interesting twists
- Kay’s Fresh Meat Pies: For a quick and savory snack!
- KO-OX HAN-NAH (Let’s go eat): For delicious Belizean and Indian food!
Best Time to Visit San Ignacio
The best time to visit San Ignacio is in the dry season, which is January to May. We often encourage people to visit during the shoulder seasons to avoid large crowds, but if it rains for a few days consistently, the caves, other river activities, and the drive to Caracol won’t be safe or possible. If you are more interested in other activities, then by all means, enjoy the lower prices and smaller crowds during the wet and shoulder seasons!
Where to Stay in San Ignacio
The easiest spot in terms of transportation is to stay in downtown San Ignacio, where you’ll also have easy access to must-visit spots like AJAW Chocolates and the Iguana Sanctuary. However, San Ignacio also has some beautiful hotels located just a bit outside the downtown where you can stay right in the jungle. If you have the time, we recommend doing half your time downtown and half at a hotel outside of town.
San Ignacio Accommodations
How to Get to San Ignacio
The bus from the Belize City Bus Station costs $5 USD and takes around 2.5 hours. There are many buses that will take you to San Ignacio, either as the final destination or just dropping you off on the way. We personally had no issues with this, although reports of petty theft on these buses are common. This website for the bus schedules was fairly accurate. You can also book this shuttle for a more comfortable experience.
To read all about using buses in Belize and for how to get to Guatemala from Belize, read our Belize public transportation guide!
How to Get around San Ignacio
The best way to get around San Ignacio is on foot, as it is fairly small. If you are staying at an ecolodge on the outskirts of town, your accommodations will likely provide a shuttle into downtown San Ignacio. All organized tours to ATM cave, Caracol, and the Tikal ruins will provide transportation to these places. You can get a taxi to surrounding towns if you’d like to visit them, but make sure to negotiate down the price as drivers will often first try to charge you twice what they are willing to accept. You can also rent a car at Cayo Auto Rentals, which would give you more flexibility.
What to Do in San Ignacio when it’s Raining
We did get a lot of rain when we went in December which was uncommon and simply the result of a cold front. While rain is normally inconvenient, in San Ignacio this also means the caves flood and you can’t visit them at all. However, we were still able to visit the Green Iguana Conservation Center, take a chocolate making class, tour Cahal Pech, shop the San Ignacio market, and sample the amazing cuisine in San Ignacio. We also went to the Cayo Welcome Center, which we probably wouldn’t have done if it wasn’t raining. Inside we saw a cool art gallery, and learned about the construction of the welcome center which has a cool surprise that I won’t ruin!
How Many Days do you Need in San Ignacio?
Four to five days is enough to visit all the wonderful things to do in San Ignacio. To see the town itself, you really only need one day to do everything, if you’re fine with an action-packed day. Most people use San Ignacio as a home base for all the nature activities in the area. Lots of people end up loving San Ignacio so much they stay a few extra days.
Is San Ignacio Worth Visiting?
San Ignacio is absolutely worth visiting. It has an authentic charm that we really enjoyed. There’s so many great things to do, both in the town and in the surrounding area. Plus, if you don’t visit you won’t get to meet Gomez (pictured below)!
Wonderful Things to Do in San Ignacio & More!
We hope you have an amazing time on your journey to San Ignacio. From the gorgeous nature to the extremely rich history to the charm of the local traditions, you are sure to fall in love with this city and its surroundings. There are so many wonderful things to do in San Ignacio, although this is also a tranquil destination you can use to escape the hustle and bustle of every day life. Whether you’re a backpacker staying at a downtown hostel, or a family staying in one of the many beautiful eco-lodges, San Ignacio is a place everyone can enjoy. So, pack your bags and immerse yourself in the wide-range of experience this town has to offer, from the vibrant marketplace to the serene natural landscapes, San Ignacio is a cultural paradise that beckons, and welcomes travelers like you from all around the world!
Keep Exploring Belize….
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
