San Ignacio Things to Do and Travel Guide (+ Map)
TL;DR
Our San Ignacio travel guide helps you with insider tips, practical advice, and the best adventures, ruins, and nature experiences that make inland Belize truly unforgettable.
Planning a trip to Belize and looking for adventure beyond the beaches? San Ignacio is the country’s inland hub for adrenaline, culture, and nature, but figuring out which ruins to visit, how to get there, and which tours are worth it can be overwhelming. We’ve explored the town and surrounding areas ourselves – caving in sacred caves, climbing ancient Maya temples, and wandering around the nature – so we know what’s truly unmissable. This guide is packed with insider tips, practical info, and budget-friendly advice for travellers who want to experience the best of San Ignacio without the stress.
San Ignacio Travel Guide
San Ignacio Belize Map
Is San Ignacio Worth Visiting?
Yes – San Ignacio is Belize’s adventure capital! You can go caving, tubing (in a cave), canoeing (in a cave), chase waterfalls, and so much more.
If the adrenaline rush is not your thing, there are many great Mayan ruins in the area.
If history is also not your thing, San Ignacio is a great place to see the flora and fauna of Belize.
San Ignacio delivers a side of Belize you won’t find on the islands. So while the beaches and cayes are beautiful and worth visiting, don’t make the mistake of skipping inland Belize – San Ignacio adds depth, culture, and adventure that perfectly balance an island getaway.
Where to Stay in San Ignacio
Bella's Backpackers Cayo is a great budget-friendly choice in San Ignacio. It’s centrally located. The vibe is social, but you can also book a private room. They have a kitchen to save money on food and a cosy common area with hammocks.
Here are more affordable accommodations around Belize (only places we stayed ourselves):
How to Get to San Ignacio
San Ignacio is well connected to Belize City (with the only international airport in the country, as well as ferries to Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye), as well as Flores in Guatemala.
The most budget-friendly option is the local bus. You can find the schedules here.
There are also tourist shuttles, which cost a bit more but are more convenient – especially when crossing the border to Flores.
How to Get Around San Ignacio
San Ignacio is very walkable. We did not feel the need to use a single other form of transport during our stay.
Things to Do in San Ignacio
1. Walk Around Town
The centre of San Ignacio is not big, but it’s pleasant to walk around. Burns Avenue is the heart of the town. It’s a pedestrian street lined with restaurants, cafes, and shops.
The local market is located between Burns Avenue and Macal River. In the corner of the market, you can find the obligatory San Ignacio sign.
Two bridges, the Hawkesworth Bridge and the Earl Haylock Bridge, cross the Macal River. You can cross one, walk along the riverside, and cross back into town on the other. Some people also decide to swim in the river, but we didn’t find it particularly tempting.
2. Canoeing on the Macal River
Canoeing on the Macal River is one of the most relaxing – and underrated – things to do in San Ignacio. The river runs through town but feels worlds away, with jungle-lined banks, abundant birdlife, iguanas, and the chance to spot monkeys. You can also stop for a refreshing swim along the way.
How to canoe on the Macal River: Tony’s Canoe Rental is a self-guided option run by a local across from the market (usually 8 am-4 pm). For 35 BZD (as of writing this blog post), you can paddle as long as you like in a canoe that fits 2–3 people.
3. Green Iguana Conservation Project
Visiting the Green Iguana Conservation Project is another budget-friendly activity in San Ignacio. The centre plays an important role in protecting and conserving iguanas across the country.
Visitors join a short guided tour led by knowledgeable staff who explain the species, their threats, and the project’s conservation and breeding efforts. You can meet iguanas that can’t be released due to injury or domestication, as well as see babies hatched through the breeding program before they’re released back into the wild.
How to visit the Green Iguana Conservation Project: It’s located at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel (walkable from town, but uphill). Tours run every hour on the hour and cost 22 BZD (as of writing this blog post).
4. Cahal Pech Archaeological Reserve
Cahal Pech is the most convenient and budget-friendly Mayan ruin in San Ignacio. While not as grand as Caracol or Xunantunich, it’s easily accessible and can be explored independently without a guide. Enjoy the shaded paths and a quieter experience, with chances to spot wildlife like agoutis and birds, and hear howler monkeys nearby.
With over 30 well-preserved structures, the site offers a great sense of what the city once looked like.
How to visit Cahal Pech: The walk from town takes around 30 minutes (including one steep hill). A visit costs 20 BZD (as of writing this blog post).
5. Belize Botanical Gardens
Belize Botanic Garden is a 45-acre botanical sanctuary in the Cayo District of western Belize, set in a lush valley along the Macal River and framed by the foothills of the Maya Mountains.
Its mission is to conserve Belize’s rich plant diversity while serving as a resource for the community, government, business, and scientific research – and as a beautiful, educational space for everyone to explore and enjoy.
You can either wander freely or book a guided tour.
How to visit Belize Botanical Gardens: The gardens are located around a 20-minute drive from San Ignacio. Shuttles leave at 9:30 am and 1:00 pm. A visit costs 20 BZD (as of writing this blog post).
6. Xunantunich
Xunantunich is an impressive Maya site near the Guatemalan border. Dating back to AD 700-1000, Xunantunich features plazas, temples, a small museum, and El Castillo, a 40 m (131 ft) pyramid you can climb for sweeping jungle views all the way to Guatemala. Keep an eye open for wildlife like birds, monkeys, and iguanas.
How to visit Xunantunich:
- Independently: Any bus heading to Benque Viejo del Carmen will drop you at San José Succotz, where a free, hand-cranked ferry crosses the Mopan River to the ruins. Once across, it’s a short uphill walk to the site. A visit costs 25 BZD (as of writing this blog post).
- With a guided tour. You can either opt for a half-day tour or a full-day tour including cave tubing.
7. Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave
Our favourite thing to do in Belize was visiting Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave, one of the most sacred caves in the world. The cave is an important Mayan site, believed to be a portal to the underworld. Inside, you’ll see the skeleton of the Crystal Maiden and remains of other sacrifices, along with stunning calcified formations.
The tour is quite intense with up to 3 hours of walking, swimming, climbing, and squeezing through tight spaces.
How to visit the ATM Cave: The only way to visit is with a licensed tour guide. We have written a full review of our ATM Cave tour:
8. Mountain Pine Ridge – Rio Frio Caves, Rio On Pools & Big Rock Falls
The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, with its pine forests and granite landscapes, is a striking contrast to the surrounding tropical rainforest.
Highlights include:
- Rio Frio Cave: A large limestone cave with a vast 20 m (65 ft) opening and a small river running through it.
- Rio On Pools: Natural swimming holes and mini waterfalls perfect for a soak or picnic. Don’t miss the natural water slides!
- Big Rock Falls: A stunning waterfall with deep pools, ideal for swimming or cliff jumping.
How to visit the Mountain Pine Ridge: You can either rent a car (ideally a 4x4) or go on a tour. The drive is about 45 minutes from San Ignacio, and the reserve is free to enter. We chose a tour that combines the Rio On Pools and Rio Frio Cave with a visit to Caracol. Here’s our full review:
9. Caracol Maya Ruins
Caracol is Belize’s largest and most important ancient Maya city, covering nearly 200 square kilometres (77 square miles) – larger than modern Belize City – and once home to a population more than twice today’s city. It used to be a major political and cultural hub, rivalling Tikal in size and influence.
Explore monumental architecture, plazas, altars, and stelae, and climb Caana (Sky Temple), Belize’s tallest man-made structure at 41 m (135 ft), for breathtaking jungle views into Guatemala. Howler monkeys, coatis, and birds add a lively touch to this unforgettable historical adventure.
How to visit Caracol Maya Ruins: Again, you can either rent a car (ideally a 4x4) or go on a tour.
10. Tikal, Guatemala
A day trip to Tikal in Guatemala is one of the most popular things to do from San Ignacio, thanks to its close proximity to the border. It’s one of the most impressive Maya cities we’ve visited, and for good reason. The site is massive, with towering pyramids and sprawling plazas that give a real sense of the city’s former grandeur. Walking through the ruins feels like stepping back in time, while the surrounding jungle adds a dramatic, almost cinematic backdrop.
Wildlife is abundant – monkeys, coatis, and colourful birds are frequently spotted, making the visit feel alive. Tikal’s combination of architectural sights, rich history, and natural beauty makes it a must-see for anyone in the region, offering an unforgettable glimpse into the power and sophistication of the ancient Maya civilisation.
How to visit Tikal: A guided tour is the only way to see Tikal from San Ignacio in one day:
Here’s a list of Tikal tours that start in Flores, Guatemala, in case you plan to cross the border for a longer time:
11. More Adventures in San Ignacio
There are so many adventures around San Ignacio that it’s hard to do them all. Here’s a collection of highlights:
Here’s an overview of the coolest tours in San Ignacio:
Where to Eat in San Ignacio
To keep our budget down, we chose an accommodation with a kitchen and mostly cooked our own food.
We had some nice street food at San Ignacio market.
We also had a lovely local meal at Mom's Backyard.
For dessert, check out Western Dairies!
How Many Days in San Ignacio Do You Need
There’s so much to do in and around San Ignacio that we think two full days are the bare minimum to visit at least some of the Mayan ruins and go on some of the adventures.
San Ignacio Itinerary
Day 1 – Adventure Activity (e.g. ATM Cave)
Dedicate at least one day in San Ignacio to an adventure activity. Our undisputed favourite is caving in the ATM Cave, followed by cave tubing.
Day 2 – Mayan Ruins (e.g. Caracol)
Visit at least one of the Mayan ruins around San Ignacio. We suggest
- Cahal Pech, if you’re on a budget.
- Caracol, Belize’s largest and most important Maya city.
- Tikal as a day trip if you don’t plan on going to Guatemala for longer.
San Ignacio Tips
ATMs in San Ignacio
Currently, you can find ATMs from Atlantic Bank and Belize Bank in the centre of town.
Supermarkets in San Ignacio
To be honest, we were not the biggest fans of Belizean supermarkets. ABC Supermarket is a good option close to the centre with a nice variety of goods.
If you have a rental car (which we didn’t), New Flags in Santa Elena has great reviews.
Internet in San Ignacio
We had great internet both in our accommodation and with our eSIM card.
Is San Ignacio Safe
San Ignacio is considered to be safe for travellers. The central areas felt safe to walk around during the day. There are limited nightlife options, and we didn’t seek them out, so we can’t comment on safety after dark.
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