Belize

7 Exciting Things to Do in San Ignacio, Belize

Last Updated on 15/05/2024 by kami

San Ignacio was the first place I visited in Belize. Located right across the border with Guatemala, it has a different vibe than its neighboring country. I felt at ease right away and enjoyed the place from the very beginning.

As it turned out, there were plenty of amazing things to do in San Ignacio as well as near the town, and I used my time there to the fullest. San Ignacio was such a surprisingly pleasant destination, and I’m so glad I decided to stop there (as most travelers who cross the border from Guatemala head to more popular places to visit in Belize right away).

If you are trying to decide if you should visit San Ignacio, Belize, my answer is yes. And if you are wondering what to do in San Ignacio, Belize, I put together this guide to tell you all about San Ignacio attractions. Read on and plan your trip to Belize.

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Where is San Ignacio, Belize

San Ignacio, a city of around 25 thousand inhabitants, is located in the western part of Belize, next to the border with Guatemala. Belmopan, the capital of the country, is a bit over 40 km away, and Belize City is 115 km east of San Ignacio.

Is San Ignacio, Belize worth visiting?

Definitely! Not only is the city itself a nice, laid-back place to visit, but it’s also a great hub to explore some of the best Belize attractions, including impressive Mayan ruins or wonders of nature. San Ignacio has something to offer to everyone.

How to get to San Ignacio

Visiting San Ignacio is relatively easy as the city is well-connected with other places in Belize as well as with Flores and Tikal in Guatemala. You can either take the bus (you can find schedules here) or use the shuttle, which is a popular option among tourists. That’s what I did, too (arriving from Flores and continuing my journey to Belize City and further to Caye Caulker), and it was super easy and convenient.

How long to stay in San Ignacio

You should plan at least two days to visit San Ignacio so you can enjoy the city, relax a bit, and also visit some of the nearby attractions, especially Mayan sites.

How to get around San Ignacio

You can easily walk around the center of the city as most of San Ignacio attractions are located not far from each other and the place is safe to explore on foot. The only place I recommend taking a taxi to is Cahal Pech, which is located on a steep hill, and getting there can be challenging, especially in the hot weather.

Where to stay in San Ignacio

There are some decent accommodation options to choose from; if you arrive/depart by the shuttle, you will most likely be picked up/dropped off from the place you stay in. Here are some recommended places to stay in San Ignacio:

Things to do in San Ignacio

And finally, without any further ado, here are the best things to do in San Ignacio, Belize.

Visit Cahal Pech

A moderate walk away from the center of the city, you will find the archeological site of Cahal Pech – one of the biggest San Ignacio attractions. Sources say that Cahal Pech dates back to 1200 BC, making the place one of the oldest Maya sites in Belize. The area that used to serve as home to the wealthy Maya family is strategically located on top of the hill, surrounded by the Macal River.

Cahal Pech archeological site consists of 34 structures surrounding the central acropolis, with the tallest tempel being 25 meters high. There are eight plazas, two ballcourts, and numerous other remnants of ancient times. Cahal Pech was a bustling and thriving place until it was abandoned for unknown reasons in the 9th century AD.

When I visited the place early in the morning (around eight, to avoid the heat), it was blissfully empty; I was the only person on site. It was pure magic to wander around all the ancient remnants and imagine how the place used to look back in its golden times. Visiting Cahal Pech was one of the highlights of my trip to San Ignacio, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Getting there can be challenging as the uphill walk is slightly demanding, but the site is worth all the effort. The entrance fee to Cahal Pech is 10BZ$. The place opens early in the morning, and that’s when I recommend going.

Wander around the center

San Ignacio has a very pleasant, colorful center, perfect for a stroll around. You won’t find many monuments there, but a few pedestrian streets are nice to wander, check out local shops, or sit in one of the cafes or restaurants.

The most popular place in the center is Burns Avenue, the main street of San Ignacio – that’s where you will find most of the interesting shops. If you happen to visit San Ignacio on Saturday, be sure to check the local market, which is especially bustling with life on that day.

If you are looking for a place to eat or drink, San Ignacio has plenty of options. My personal favorites were Ko-Ox Han Nah, Crave House of Flavour, and Bambu Tea + Coffee.

Find street art

One of the best surprises about visiting San Ignacio was the decent street art scene in the town. There were a few very fine murals in the center, and I bet there are even more cool pieces I haven’t found. When wandering around San Ignacio, be sure to look around; you might be surprised by the great street art you can see there.

Cross the bridge

One of the most impressive places to see in San Ignacio is the Hawksworth Bridge over the Macal River, connecting the center of the town with Santa Elena on the other side. The bridge dates back to 1949 and was imported from Middlesbrough (England); the name of the structure commemorates the then-governor.

Even if there’s only one lane on the bridge, this is the only suspension bridge in Belize that cars can use. There is also the part for pedestrians from where you can admire a lovely view of the Macal River with its lush surroundings, as well as San Ignacio.

Visit Xunantunich

The main reason why I’ve decided to visit San Ignacio was Xunantunich – the nearby Mayan archeological site, the most visited place of that kind in Belize. And I was not disappointed.

The site was inhabited already in the 11th century BC, but its importance peaked in the 9th century, in the Late Classic period. That’s when around 200.000 people inhabited the Belize Valley.

Today, the Xunantunich archeological site is much smaller but still very impressive. There are six plazas with 26 temples and palaces surrounding them. The most important one is El Castillo, which is still today the second-tallest structure in Belize (after the temple at Caracol, another Mayan site).

You can climb all the way to the top, from where you can admire spectacular views of Xunantunich and the surrounding jungle, including Guatemala, which is only 1 km away. In the upper parts of El Castillo, you can also admire beautiful carvings from the Mayan times – this was the highlight of Xunantunich for me.

Getting to Xunantunich is pretty exciting, too, as you need to cross the Mopan River, and the only way to do it is by the hand-cranked ferry. You can use public transport from San Ignacio to get here or opt for a tour.

I chose the tour as there were so many cool things to do in San Ignazio and not enough time, and the tour was the easiest option. I can definitely recommend visiting Xunantunich with a guide; not only can you get to the site hassle-free, but you can learn so much when exploring the place.

Here are some of the recommended tours to Xunantunich:

Visit Caracol

A bit further from San Ignacio, around 80 km away, you can visit another impressive Mayan site – Caracol. This is, in fact, the largest Mayan site in Belize; back in the day, around 140.000 people were living here.

The area of Caracol was inhabited from about 1200 BC to 950 AD, but its peak was mainly in the last three centuries. The site was discovered in 1938, and since then, the excavation and exploration have been taking place here. You can visit there three plazzas, with impressive surrounding buildings, and see over 30.000 structures there, including some amazing stelas and altars.

The best way to visit Caracol from San Ignacio is with a tour; here are the recommended and highly-rated ones:

Explore ATM cave

Actun Tunichil Muknal cave (known also as the “ATM cave”) is located only 25 km away from San Ignacio and is one of the most exciting places to visit in Belize. This is not only a natural site but also a place of great historical importance.

Back in the pre-Classic period of Mayan culture, this was the ceremonial site where Mayans performed their rituals. The cave was discovered in 1992. Most of the remnants and artifacts found there (such as skeletons or pottery) were left untouched so visitors could see them.

Visiting ATM Cave is a big adventure. To reach the entrance, you must first hike for some 45 minutes through the lush Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. Once there, you will have to get wet to explore the cave, as there will be a bit of swimming and wading in the water included. Exploring the place will surely be an unforgettable experience.

Only a few companies are licensed to offer tours in the ATM cave; visiting the site on your own is impossible. Here are the recommended tours you can take:

Final thoughts on visiting San Ignacio

As you can see above, San Ignacio has plenty to offer and can be a great introduction to Belize, especially if you are arriving from nearby Guatemala. The place is a perfect mix of history, adventure, and relaxation. I really enjoyed the city and all its attractions, and I definitely can recommend putting San Ignacio on your Central America itinerary.

Travel Resources

You can find the best accommodation options at Booking. They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Belize

Never travel without travel insurance, you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Belize here.

I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Get Your Guide – click here.

Make sure to have the offline map always installed on your phone, they can save you so many troubles. I always use the free app Maps.Me.

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