By road
Belize City, ~115 km west along the George Price Highway
North America · Belize
San Ignacio, Belize
Maya ruins and caves in the Cayo hills · Belize City, ~115 km west along the George Price Highway
Getting there
By air
Philip Goldson, Belize City (BZE), ~115 km, about two hours by road
Best time to visit
December to May for drier trails and caves
Don't miss
Xunantunich
Cahal Pech
Actun Tunichil Muknal
Caracol
Macal River
Green Iguana Conservation Project
Barton Creek Cave
Things to do
Caving at Actun Tunichil Muknal
The ruins of Xunantunich and Cahal Pech
Canoeing the Macal River
A day trip to Caracol
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: R Barraez D´Lucca · CC BY 2.0
What to pack
Closed-toe shoes that can get wet, a headlamp, insect repellent, cash for guides
A quieter corner
The Saturday farmers' market, when villagers from the Mopan and Macal valleys fill the riverside
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit San Ignacio?
December to May for drier trails and caves. What to pack: Closed-toe shoes that can get wet, a headlamp, insect repellent, cash for guides.
How do I get to San Ignacio?
Fly into Philip Goldson, Belize City (BZE), ~115 km, about two hours by road.
What is there to do in San Ignacio?
Caving at Actun Tunichil Muknal, the ruins of Xunantunich and Cahal Pech, canoeing the Macal River, a day trip to Caracol. A quieter find: The Saturday farmers' market, when villagers from the Mopan and Macal valleys fill the riverside.
What should I eat in San Ignacio?
Rice and beans, stewed chicken, tamales, Mennonite cheese and bread, fresh juices at the market.
About San Ignacio
- Hills
- Riverside
Where it is
San Ignacio is a town in the Cayo District of western Belize, on the Macal River near the Guatemalan border, in the foothills of the Maya Mountains.
History
Maya cities such as Xunantunich and Cahal Pech ruled these valleys in the first millennium, and the town grew up in the nineteenth century around logging and chicle gathering. Its caves, ruins and rivers have made it the inland centre of Belizean tourism, with Mennonite farms and Maya villages in the surrounding hills.
People
Mestizo, Maya, Creole and Mennonite communities trade in the market town; guides who grew up exploring the caves lead most trips, and Spanish is heard as much as English.
Known for
- Actun Tunichil Muknal cave
- Xunantunich
- Day trips to Caracol
- The Saturday market
Did you know?
Actun Tunichil Muknal holds Maya ceremonial remains, including a calcified skeleton, reached by swimming and wading through the cave.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.