San Ignacio is an amazing hub to base yourself in if you want to experience many of Belize’s inland gems. The city isn’t huge, so there isn’t a ton to do within the city itself. But we enjoyed a few laid-back days here and honestly wish we had more time to explore more of the surrounding area. Here are six great things to do in San Ignacio!
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1. Wander the San Ignacio Market
We’d say San Ignacio Market is a must-visit if you’re staying in town. Whether you’re looking for souvenirs, a bite to eat, clothing, artwork, fresh produce, etc., you can find it here. We found the market to have an interesting blend of cultures between the Mennonites, indigenous, and vendors of other cultural backgrounds. People come from many communities nearby to buy and sell goods here.
We spent much of a morning at the market, finding some souvenirs, trying different snacks and fruits, and grabbing an early lunch. It was a pretty bustling place around lunch time! Some places accept card, but not all of them – make sure you have some cash just in case!
Hours: Daily from 5a.m. until 6p.m. Not all vendors are open for that entire duration. The busiest day is Saturday.
2. Explore Mayan Ruins at Cahal Pech
There are tons of Mayan ruins in this region of Central America. Whether you’re interested in ancient history or just want to climb some temples and enjoy the jungle scenery, we definitely recommend taking time to visit some of the archaeological complexes here.
Cahal Pech is a great option to visit because the ruins are located right in San Ignacio. So instead of having to take a tour, drive a rental car, or take a taxi or public transport, you can just walk right up the hill to access them! Furthermore, the complex is fairly compact, so it only requires a couple hours to get through the little museum and explore the grounds. We really enjoyed wandering the narrow walkways, ancient rooms, and peaceful courtyards here. For more details on visiting Cahal Pech, read our other post!
Cost: $20 BZD per adult
Hours: 6a.m. – 6p.m. April through September, 6:30a.m. – 5p.m. October through May.
3. Visit the Green Iguana Conservation Project
Belize has lots of incredible wildlife to see, but the green iguana is a species that has faced endangerment due to overhunting and habitat loss. Since 1996, the Green Iguana Conservation Project has been dedicated to the conservation of these reptiles through rehabilitation efforts and boosting the wild population.
Visitors can learn about the iguanas, their importance to the ecosystem here, and the work the organization does with these animals. Tours take place daily from 8am to 4pm on the hour. You can book a tour online here.
Cost: $22.50 BZD
Hours: Daily from 8a.m. – 5p.m.
4. Join a Chocolate Experience
Dive into the world of chocolate at Ajaw. Here you can learn about the significance of cacao in ancient Maya culture, taste some varieties, and learn about the cultivation of cacao and process of turning that into delicious chocolate.
The experiences at Ajaw include quick tastings, a tour of the farm, and a cacao bean to bowl class. They also have a shop if you’re just looking to pick up some Belizean chocolate. Reach out to book here.
Cost: $20 USD for the bean to bowl class, $60 USD for the farm tour
Hours: Monday through Saturday 8a.m. – 5p.m. Only open by reservation at least 48 hours in advance on Sundays.
5. Explore the City on Foot
San Ignacio isn’t a huge city, making it easy to explore on foot. Take a leisurely couple hours to explore the heart of the city, wandering into shops and admiring the murals around the city center.
If you want to venture further, head across the Macal River via the historic Hawkesworth Bridge to see the nearby town of Santa Elena. It’s definitely more residential over this way, but we strolled this quiet area to see sunset from the banks of the river and to find dinner one night. Lots of families were posted up along the river, swimming and having picnics.
6. Take a Day Trip
As we mentioned at the beginning of this post, San Ignacio makes a great hub for exploring the many nearby attractions. From Mayan ruins to experiencing Belize’s natural beauty, there are multiple great day trips to take from the city.
While staying in San Ignacio, we took a tour to go tubing through the Nohoch Che’hen cave branch. This was the perfect adventure for the heat wave we were experiencing – the dark caves and cool water were very welcomed! We had also just visited Tikal National Park while staying in Guatemala, but you can also do this as a day trip from San Ignacio if desired.
Here are some great day trip activities from San Ignacio:
ATM Cave:
Actun Tunichil Muknal is a cave where many artifacts from ancient Maya rituals were discovered, including pottery, tools, weapons, and even human remains. This activity involves swimming, climbing over rocks, and navigating narrow spaces and therefore may not be suited for everyone. Visitors can only access the cave with a guide.
You can also find tours on Viator and on individual operator sites like Cave Tubing Belize and Belize Caving. Some operator offices can also be found in San Ignacio if you want to book upon arrival.
Crystal Cave:
Crystal Cave, aka Cow Mountain Cave, is another site that was significant to Maya rituals. The cave’s name comes from the unique formations within it that shimmer under light. Many artifacts were also found in this cave system. While this cave is drier than the ATM Cave, the obstacles to navigate are considered to be a bit more technical/challenging.
Tours to Crystal cave can also be booked on Viator and individual operator sites like Belize Caving or at their offices in San Ignacio.
Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve
Mountain Pine Ridge is a nature reserve just south of San Ignacio containing pretty pine forests, gorgeous waterfalls and river pools, and more cool caves. This is a great day trip if you just want to get out and relax in nature. There isn’t public transport in the area, so the best way to explore the area is to rent a car, hire a driver for the day, or take a tour.
Find tours on Get Your Guide, Viator, or individual operator sites like Belize Caving Expeditions or Cayo Inland Expeditions.
If going on your own, the reserve is free to visit; however, certain sites within the park require a small entrance fee. Check with tour operators to see what fees are included.
Tikal
Tikal is one of the most iconic Mayan archaeological complexes. It’s full of towering temples and other ancient structures tucked in the remote jungles of northern Guatemala. While we’d recommend visiting Tikal from the Guatemalan side so you don’t have to cross the border twice in a day and so you can have the opportunity to experience the sunrise or sunset tours, taking a tour from San Ignacio is a popular option. You can also drive your own vehicle if you want to experience Tikal at your own pace.
Find tour options from San Ignacio on Get Your Guide, Viator, or through individual operators like Cave Tubing Belize.
Xunantunich
If you’re interested in visiting multiple Mayan sites in the region, Xunantunich is a great one to see in addition to Tikal, Cahal Pech, and others. It’s also a great alternative if you’re not wanting to deal with crossing the border to visit Tikal National Park. Xunantunich contains tall temples, pretty views over the forest, and unique carvings and other structures.
You can visit this site on your own by driving or taking a taxi or public transport. Like the other activities on this list, there are also tours available to book on Get Your Guide, Viator, and through individual operator sites like Cave Tubing Belize.
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