The 16 Best Things To Do in San Ignacio Belize (Travel Guide & Itinerary)

A trip to Belize is not complete without a visit to the town of San Ignacio.

Located in the Cayo District of the country, San Ignacio is the second largest city of Belize and is home to some of the best attractions out there.

Whether you want to visit some Mayan ruins, explore caves, take some day trips, or just roam around the town center, there are just so many things to do in San Ignacio during a visit.

Read on to learn more about this one of kind place and how to spend your time there.

* Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through the links provided, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting the work I put into TripTins!

2) Mayan Ruins

If you are looking to visit some impressive Mayan ruins during your time out in Belize, then San Ignacio is the place to be. Most of these sites were flourishing in the early years (anywhere from 1,000 BC to 900 AD), before collapsing before the first millennium.

When going about a visit to San Ignacio, you can choose from a few different major sites. Some of these are located near the town center while others will require day trip tours further out.

Cahal Pech

The main Maya site that is within walking distance of the town is Cahal Pech. This is actually one of the oldest sites in the region with evidence that it was active as early as 1,200 BC.

Today, visitors have the chance to explore the ins and outs of these ruins and all that they entail. Throughout the site you will find several plazas, temples, ball courts, residences, and other structures.

The site is completely surrounded by the lush greenery of the jungle, so you will get a combination of nature & history all in one.

Xunantunich

Moving away from the town center is Xunantunich, located just about 10 minutes away by taxi (or bus) from San Ignacio.

Xunantunich is a much larger site than Cahal Pech, and it also offers some grander structures and temples within its complex.

Now, to get to Xunantunich, you will first be let off on one side of the Mopan River. Once at the river, there is a hand cranked ferry that will take you across.

From the opposite riverside it is then a 20 minute walk along until you reach the site itself (there are also drivers who will take you up for a small fee).

Caracol

Another super impressive Mayan sites that flourished in the early years is Caracol. Now, instead of being near the town center, Caracol is going to require a day trip outside of San Ignacio.

No worries though, as there are plenty of great tour options to take your there. While it is a 2-hour drive away, many tours will also add the Rio On Pools and Rio Frio Cave along the way too (more on those soon).

This means that you will get a full day of activities including a Mayan site, cave exploration, and some swimming.

Caracol was known to be the largest Mayan cities in Belize, with over 180,000 people living there at the time. Throughout the complex, there will be just so much to explore and enjoy along the way as you see where these people once lived.

Tikal

Now, while the previous three Mayan sites are located in Belize, Tikal is in nearby Guatemala.

Since it is just a 2 hour drive, taking a day trip to explore Tikal is considered one of the best things to do in San Ignacio. To do so, your best bet is to sign up for a full day tour that will include transport, expert guides, lunch, tickets, and more.

This is one of those spots where having a guide by your side will just be so helpful as you learn the ins and outs of what Tikal is all about.

Since it was the main city center of the Mayan period, you can imagine how much history can be found all throughout.

The complex is truly massive and there is just so much to explore. There are six main temples (many of which can be climbed), in addition to plazas, structures, and an abundance of wildlife.

3) Fun Things To Do

Now, while the historical ruins will give you one side of San Ignacio, there is also another side to enjoy as well. Throughout the Cayo District region, there are many fun activities to take part of. Check out some of the fan favorites below.

Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave

Without a doubt, the most talked about attraction near San Ignacio is the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave. The cave is also a Mayan site, that was used for ceremonial and sacrificial purposes.

Today, guided tours take visitors into the depths of the cave as you swim, wade, crawl, and maneuver yourself through this one of kind place.

Consistently named as one of the top caves to visit in the world, ATM combines the Mayan history with the cave itself, resulting in one unforgettable day.

Tours leave from San Ignacio in the early morning, making the one hour drive to the Tapir Nature Reserve. Once there, it is time for a 45 minute hike through the jungle as you cross three rivers and get to the cave entrance.

Rio on Pools

If headed on a Caracol day trip, odds are the Rio On Pools will be included as well. The pools are located within the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, and offer the perfect spot to cool off after a day of exploring.

There are a wide variety of natural pools here that have different depths and shapes. Small waterfalls and the flowing waters, make this the perfect place to just sit back & relax.

Barton Creek Cave

For those that want to add some water activities to their trip to San Ignacio, then the Barton Creek Cave will be for you.

While most canoe trips you may be familiar with head out on rivers or lakes, this one will head into the Barton Creek Cave.

Medicinal Jungle Trail

Throughout the San Ignacio region you may come across offerings of Medicinal Jungle Trails.

These trails offer the chance to learn all about the surrounding plants. While they may just seem like normal plants to some, many of these may have medicinal and healing properties.

During a walk, you will learn more about these plants & what they can provide.

Chaa Creek offers a great, affordable hour long tour for those interested in taking part

4) Things to Do with Kids

For those that want to experience some of the more animal & nature specific sites around San Ignacio, there are several great options to choose from. Most of these are also great options for those with kids.

Green Iguana Conservation Project

Located right near the town center in the San Ignacio Resort Hotel (my top overall pick), is the Green Iguana Conservation Project.

Each day, there are tours on the hour from 8:00AM to 4:00PM, for $11.25 USD per person.

During a guided tour, you will be taken into an area where many green iguanas live. There you will learn all about the conservation efforts of the project and get to have a better understanding of what they do.

It is a fascinating little tour to take part of and is the perfect addition for those with kids interested in animals.

Belize Raptor Center

Another place in San Ignacio that looks after animals is the Belize Raptor Center. Located just 10 minutes from town, the center is dedicated to the conservation and education of raptor birds.

They help rehabilitate injured birds, with the goal of releasing them back into the wild once they are ready.

You can learn more about the center and what they are all about by visiting their website.

Green Hills Butterfly Ranch

About a 30 minute drive from San Ignacio is the Green Hills Butterfly Ranch. As Belize’s largest butterfly ranch, you will come across 20+ different species of butterfly that roam around the enclosure.

It is not just about the butterflies though, as the overall property makes up 250 acres of landscape. There is an abundance of other wildlife that has been spotted on the ranch, including over 300 bird species, and even animals such as jaguars.

Plenty of beautiful flora is also spread all around, as you get to learn all about the nature that Belize has to offer.

Belize Botanic Gardens

Last up in this section is the Belize Botanic Gardens, located 20 minutes from town center.

Throughout its 45 acres, you will come across a whole variety of flora and fauna that call the gardens home.

Several trails offer the chance to explore the ins and outs of the area as you get to see highlights such as the fruit orchard, rainforest trail, palms, cycad circle, and plenty more.

5) Exploring the Town

You of course cannot leave San Ignacio without exploring the town itself. The main area of town is not too large, giving you easy access to walk all around.

It is full of restaurants, shops, tour shops, parks, plazas, and more as you get a better idea of what San Ignacio is all about.

San Ignacio Market

One of the highlights in town is the San Ignacio Market. During my time in town, I was going in and out of the market daily. It is located right on the shore of the Macal River and is packed with all types of vendors.

Whether you want to have a sit down meal or just grab some fruit or snacks, the market will have a little bit of everything for everyone.

While the market is open every day of the week, on Saturdays is when it comes to life even more.

No matter what type of local Belizean food item you are looking for, the market is the place to be.

7) How Many Days Should You Spend in San Ignacio?

Now, given all of these various things to do in San Ignacio, you may be asking yourself how many days should you spend there.

In my opinion, having around 3 days is an ideal amount of time to spend in San Ignacio. This will give you the chance to both explore some of the nearby highlights and also take some day trips to places further outside of town.

In the case where you want to do even more on the list, then 5 days is probably the most amount of time you will need to feel very content with your stay.

On the other hand, the least amount of time I would visit for is just two days. With a couple of days to spare, you can visit some Mayan ruins and a day trip can be still be fit in.

8) San Ignacio Itinerary

To give you an idea of what a San Ignacio itinerary can look like, below is a layout of what three days can entail.

Day 1

On your first day in San Ignacio, you can spend some time exploring the more nearby attractions to the town center. I would recommend following a route that goes something like this:

• Stop #1: Xunantunich
• Stop #2: San Ignacio Market
• Stop #3: Green Iguana Conservation Project
• Stop #4: Cahal Pech

You will need to start early and end late, but this will be one fun filled day of activities from beginning to end.

Day 2

For your second day in San Ignacio, head out on the ATM Cave tour. This will be a full day excursion starting around 8:00AM and ending closer to 5:00PM.

You will get a little bit of everything throughout the tour and better understand why this is rated as the #1 place to visit.

Day 3

While there are several other day trip options out there, I would have to go with Tikal for day 3. Although it is a long day, crossing back & forth over the border, Tikal is a very special place.

There is just so much to be seen and be learned all along the way. Joining a guided tour will have you fascinated from beginning to end as you explore this ancient site.

Additional Days

If you do have additional days to spare, my next two recommendations would be taking part of the Caracol & Rio tour and/or the Barton Creek Cave tour.

These are both two adventurous and eye-opening experiences, and would be a perfect addition to a trip.

9) Is San Ignacio Worth Visiting?

If you are planning a trip to Belize, without a doubt San Ignacio is worth visiting. While some people may just want to spend their time closer to the water, San Ignacio offers the chance to see the other side of Belize.

Instead of the sea & beach, you will get to experience more of the history, culture, and nature of the country.

There are few other places out there that can offer so many diverse offerings just within a short drive from the city center. So, whether you want to see some of the most significant historical Mayan ruins, explore one of the top caves in the world, or just enjoy some nature, then San Ignacio is for you.

10) How to Get to San Ignacio

There are a couple main ways to get yourself from Belize City to San Ignacio – shared/private transport or bus.

By Shared/Private Transport

My recommendation would be to take a shared or private transport directly from the airport or Belize City to San Ignacio.

This will remove any logistical annoyances and have you going door to door in just about 2 hours.

There are several companies that will offer the service. I would recommend checking availability for this Belize transport company. They offer shared shuttles for around $20 USD per person and private shuttles starting around $140 for 2 people.

By Local Bus

The second option would be to hop on a local “chicken bus” from the nearby bus station.

These are essentially the public transportation busses that run throughout Belize. Most of them are converted school busses that get crowded, hot, and cramped during a journey.

Due to the spacing situation, you will most likely need to leave luggage in the back of the bus, or have it sitting on your lap if possible.

Schedules can be found by visiting the Belize bus website. You can look at the “Western Bus Schedule”. Expect to pay less than $10 for the one way journey, but be prepared for quite a ride.

11) Getting Around

When it comes to getting around San Ignacio, there will be a few main ways to go about it.

Taxi

If traveling within a 30 minute drive around San Ignacio, taxis will be the easiest and most convenient way to go. These taxis should be pretty affordable and you can also set one up to wait for you as you explore attractions along the way.

Tour

As you can see on the list above, many of the top sites are located 1+ hours away from the town center. Most of these spots are best visited as part of a guided tour (whether that be a group or private option).

I included some top recommendations throughout, but feel free to check out a few other San Ignacio tours for your time there.

These tours will take care of all logistics, expert guides, lunch, and more throughout a fun filled day.

Bus

There are a few places that can be visited by bus such as Xunantunich. These busses leave from the main town welcome center and cost just a few dollars for nearby rides.

Walk

Finally, expect to walk around town itself or if visiting some places within San Ignacio. During my time there, I walked to Cahal Pech, the Green Iguana Conservation Project, and all around the town center.

Sharing is caring!