If you’re planning a trip to Belize, you’ve surely heard of San Ignacio more times than you can count. It’s considered a hub for tourists, with lots of restaurants, bars, and shops all over town. It has numerous tourist attractions that suit adventure-seeking individuals, couples, and families.
San Ignacio is a tourist hotspot that is part of the Cayo District, Belize, which is known as the country’s cultural and economic center. It is also one of the most ethnically diverse towns in Belize, with a mix of Creoles, Mestizos, Mayans, Indians, and Mennonites composing its population.
Excited to find out what’s in store for you in San Ignacio? Read on to discover its history, location, things to do and places to visit, unique foods, and the best time to visit.
History of San Ignacio
The town of San Ignacio in West Belize used to be called El Cayo, which means “Island” in Spanish. It received this name from the Spanish because, back then, the town was separated from the rest of the Cayo District by a body of water. A creek that flowed between Mopan and Macal Rivers surrounded El Cayo, giving it the appearance of an island. Over the years, however, the surrounding creek dried up.
Around the late 1800s, a Roman Catholic priest named Andrew Bavastro set up a chapel in what was just a settlement at the time. There, he placed a statue of St. Ignatius de Loyola, who was the patron saint of the priest’s Jesuit order. Father Bavastro, along with the few inhabitants of the area, decided to call the settlement San Ignacio, after the patron saint.
On October 19, 1904, El Cayo was officially declared a town by the Belize government, which was then called British Honduras. But since the town was no longer surrounded by water, losing its island-like appearance, people eventually reverted to calling it San Ignacio, although many still call it El Cayo or Cayo.
The town flourished during the British colonization due to its production of mahogany and chicle tapping.
Where It Is Located
The town of San Ignacio is located in Western Belize, just across from Santa Elena, another major town in the Cayo District. San Ignacio is the largest town in the Cayo District and the second largest in the entire country.
Today, it is known as a hub for tourists because of the numerous tourist spots in the area; there are also several tourist attractions that are easy to access from the town.
How To Get to San Ignacio
There are no international airports in San Ignacio. However, there is a domestic airport in the town—the San Ignacio Town Airstrip. If you are coming to Belize, you will likely land at Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (PGIA) near Belize City. To go to San Ignacio from here, you have three options:
- Book a flight from PGIA to San Ignacio Town Airstrip.
- Drive a car from PGIA to San Ignacio via George Price Highway.
- Rent a shuttle or transport service from PGIA to San Ignacio.
The drive from Belize City to San Ignacio takes about an hour and a half; using any online or offline map, the way is pretty straightforward and easy. Still, the fastest way to go is by plane from PGIA to San Ignacio Town Airstrip.
Things To Do in San Ignacio
Now for the exciting part: exploring all of the things to do and places to visit in San Ignacio, Belize! If you’re a tourist, you probably have been wondering why there’s so much excitement surrounding San Ignacio. Well, read on and find out for yourself why this town is considered the country’s tourist hub.
Go on an Adventure at the ATM Cave
Belize has lots of exciting natural tourist destinations. The country is chock-full of jungles, forest reserves, pristine beaches, and so much more!
One of Belize’s most popular tourist destinations is the Actun Tunichil Muknal (or ATM) Cave, located in Cayo District. This destination is very accessible from San Ignacio. If you’re one to be drawn to extreme adventures, the ATM Cave is definitely for you.
The cave used to be a sacred Mayan site, where the first Mayan settlers worshiped their gods and made human sacrifices in times of great distress, like widespread famine. Inside, you will find ancient Mayan relics, as well as skeletons of believed human sacrifices.
The way to the cave and even exploring inside, though, is not for everyone. You need to be a confident swimmer and experienced hiker to get there. Sound like the perfect adventure? Then go ahead and book a licensed tour guide and schedule your visit!
Buy Fresh Produce at the Farmers’ Market
If you want to truly experience Belize and its diverse culture, you should not miss the farmers’ market in downtown San Ignacio, where fresh produce—from vegetables to fruits to meats—is brought in every Saturday morning.
This is not only a great place to have a taste of some of Belize’s delicacies, but it’s also a great way to meet people of different ethnic origins. If you’re not the shy type, you can easily strike up a conversation with the locals too, because most of them speak English (it being the Belize’s official language).
If you have time to spare, you can also take a tour of the mural paintings nearby.
Tour the Moutain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
Nicknamed “Pine Ridge,” this reserve was established in 1944 to protect the pine forest, especially because it was quite distinct from the forests and jungles that can be found throughout the country.
Well-preserved and pristine, the forest is a breathtaking natural landscape. You can go there even without a guide! If you want to bring your kids along, you definitely can. The forest reserve is great for individual trips, group adventures, and family outings.
Here are some of the activities that you can do at Pine Ridge:
- Explore the Rio Frio Cave
- Go bird watching
- Dip in Rio On Pools, a natural pool inside the reserve
- Have a family picnic
- Swim in the Thousand Foot Falls, the highest waterfall in Central America
See Ancient Mayan Ruins
It’s not a true Belize vacation if it doesn’t involve ancient Mayan ruins! For the history buffs who want to travel back in time and see for themselves the remarkable traces of the great Mayan civilization, you can tour several Mayan ruins that are all accessible from San Ignacio:
- Xunantunich
- Lamanai
- Tikal National Park
- Altun Ha
- Caracol
Honestly, there are so many of them that the only thing to stop you from seeing them all is your schedule. Let’s take a look at each of these locations in more detail.
Xunantunich
One of the most well-known Mayan ruins is Xunantunich, located in Cayo District. This is an impressive structure that holds 25 temples and palaces within its walls. The unique wall design and architecture of Xunantunich make it a crowd favorite, especially when you bear in mind that the structure was built way back in the Classic Era.
Xunantunich is actually a complex of temples and palaces, although most people remember it most for “The Castle” or “El Castillo.” This is a tall, almost pyramid-shaped temple that stands at 130 feet. It is one of the tallest man-made structures in the world and serves as evidence of just how advanced the ancient Mayan civilization was.
Lamanai
Lamanai literally translates to “submerged crocodile” in English. It is an interesting Mayan site not because of its impressive structure (though it definitely is impressive) but because some of its temples and structures are not fully uncovered. Tourists who go to this ancient Mayan city will have a chance to see history happening before their eyes and observe the ongoing excavations.
Lamanai is also the third tallest Mayan structure in Belize. Although most of it is still underground, what juts out from the jungle ground is quite spectacular. Among the sights to see here are three incredible temples or pyramids.
Tikal National Park
Tikal National Park or Parque Nacional Tikal is not located in Belize City but in the Peten province in Guatemala. Luckily, this major Mayan archaeological site is very easy to access from San Ignacio. You don’t need to get on a plane; you need only take a bus or drive a car from San Ignacio and cross the border through to El Peten.
If you’re into Mayan sites, you certainly wouldn’t want to miss Tikal. It is the largest Mayan site in Central America and used to be the Mayan capital during the height of the indigenous civilization.
Altun Ha
Just over an hour’s drive from San Ignacio is Altun Ha, located in Belize District. This Mayan site features temples and tombs in what used to be the trading and agricultural center of ancient Mayan civilization.
Altun Ha literally means “rockstone pond” and is most famous for the man-made lagoon, which has remained intact for thousands of years. It’s also home to what is fondly referred to as the crown jewel of Belize: the Jade Head of K’nich Ahau, the believed god of the sun. This small but precious ancient artifact was found in Altun Ha in 1968.
Caracol
Located near the Guatemalan border is another major Mayan site: Caracol, a prehistoric Mayan city that used to house double the population size of Belize today. You can reach it from San Ignacio by riding a bus or driving a car across the border.
This massive ancient city is popular for its tall temples, where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Guatemalan forest. Another interesting fact about Caracol is it used to be a wartime powerhouse, with inhabitants roughened up by frequent battles with their neighboring regions.
Experience Nature Trails at the Blue Hole National Park
Not to be mistaken for the Great Belize Blue Hole (or the Great Blue Hole) is the picture-worthy sinkhole slash natural pool at Blue Hole National Park. It is a considerably smaller sinkhole in the middle of the national park.
Here, you can hike easy nature trails, go swimming, and explore two cave systems where ancient Mayan relics can also be found. If you are a bit claustrophobic, however, you might want to stay away from the caves—they have pretty tight spaces that can be tough to navigate through if you’re not experienced.
Explore the Barton Creek Cave
For those looking for a different cave experience, you might want to try exploring the Barton Creek Cave. It is a river cave that you can only enter and explore by riding in a canoe. The cave used to be a place of worship by ancient Mayans—they liked using caves because they believed that they were portals to the underworld.
Exploring the Barton Creek Cave is an exciting yet easy experience. Just make sure to watch out for the stalactites.
Visit the Green Iguana Conservation Project
It’s no surprise that Belize is home to rich terrestrial and marine wildlife. It’s thanks to government efforts and those of private organizations that Belize’s biodiversity continues to thrive.
If you want a unique wildlife experience, you can visit the Green Iguana Conservation Project in San Ignacio, which was established to protect endangered iguana species. Not only will you be given an opportunity to see conservation work for yourself, but you can also contribute to the project to help keep it going.
Unique Foods in San Ignacio
San Ignacio is home to a culturally and ethnically diverse group of people. This diversity can be most pleasantly experienced in the many unique foods that you can try while you’re in town. Here are a few Belizean dishes that you must try while in San Ignacio:
- Cow Foot Soup. Savory and filling, this dish is made of cow feet, root vegetables, okra, cilantro, and black pepper. These ingredients are slow-cooked to create a rich soup base.
- Black Dinner. Also called Relleno Negro or Chimole, this main dish is made of chicken and has a unique dark-colored soup, hence the name.
- Sere. With origins in Garifuna culture, this is a hearty fish-based dish with plantain, cassava, and coconut milk.
- Ducunu. Distinctly Mexican, ducunu is also called tamalitos. It’s made of mashed corn mixed with sugar, coconut milk, butter, and salt.
Places To Stay in San Ignacio
Not yet sure where you’re staying in San Ignacio? Fret not. There are plenty of places to choose from in the town. Whether you’re hoping for a luxury, rustic, or jungle vibe, there is a place here for you. We have rounded up some of the best accommodations in this part of Belize:
- Cassia Hill Resort. Located at Graceland Ranch, Hawksworth Bridge, San Ignacio. You can rent spacious villas with private balconies, and the resort includes amenities like a spa and swimming pool.
- The Lodge Chaa Creek. Located at Chaa Creek Road, San Ignacio. This is a luxury hotel at a private nature reserve, with access to activities like canoeing and hiking.
- San Ignacio Resort Hotel. Located at Buena Vista Street, San Ignacio. This is a four-star hotel that mixes the island vibe with urban elegance.
- Sweet Songs Jungle Lodge. Located at Chial Road, San Ignacio. Sweet Songs is right at the heart of Macal River Valley and has the perfect safari ambiance for those who want the whole nature experience.
Best Time To Visit San Ignacio
The best time to visit San Ignacio is from December to April, during the dry season. However, this is also the peak season for tourists. If you want to take advantage of off-season discounts (not to mention fewer tourists), you can also try visiting from May to October.
You might experience a few rain showers starting in October, although they typically don’t last very long.
What Are the Must-Visit Places in San Ignacio for Tourists?
When visiting San Ignacio, make sure to check out the best places in Placencia, Belize. Explore the stunning beaches, enjoy water activities like snorkeling or diving, and indulge in the local cuisine. Don’t miss out on the vibrant culture and friendly locals while visiting these must-visit locations.
Final Thoughts
There’s so much to see and experience in San Ignacio. Make the most of your trip, and plan your itinerary carefully so you don’t miss out on any of the exciting destinations that this paradise town has in store for you.
