12 Fun & Exciting Things to Do in San Ignacio, Belize
Close to the border with Guatemala, set deep in the wild tangle of jungle that is the interior of Belize, you’ll find the small town of San Ignacio. It’s a town that stole my heart almost right away.
As a major jumping off point for exploring Belize’s Cayo District and jungle surroundings, San Ignacio is rather small and best suited as a base for day trips. Still, it has several interesting things to do in town, including its very own Mayan ruins.
| ⌛ Planning your trip to Belize at the last minute? Here are my quick picks on what to do & where to stay! 🏞️ Top San Ignacio Experiences: 1. ATM Cave Tour (only 125 spots total per day, so book early!) 2. Caracol Ruins & Rio-On Pools (largest Mayan ruins in Belize – amazing) 3. Cave Tubing & Optional Zipline (stay cool & lazily float through incredibly cave systems) 🏨 Best San Ignacio Hotels: 1. Table Rock Lodge (conservation-focused eco lodge and where I stayed, review here!) 2. The Lodge at Chaa Creek (best luxury eco-lodge in Belize!) 3. Cahal Pech Village Resort (budget friendly eco-resort in town) ✈️ Flying in? Book an airport transfer here — they’ll help you get settled into San Ignacio easily. Alternately, rent a car at the airport to have your own set of wheels. |
I’ve been fortunate enough to visit Belize three times, so I’ve written a lot about Belize on this blog. People always ask me if it’s worth it to head to San Ignacio, since it’s a little bit out of the way compared to sticking to the coast. And everytime I’m asked, I always say yes (loudly!)
Mixing it up by going for adventure and culture in San Ignacio is a great way to round out the beachy part of a Belize itinerary that also features either San Pedro or Caye Caulker (or both!).
13 Best Things to Do in San Ignacio, Belize
Marvel at the wonder of Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM Cave).
Of all the San Ignacio activities you could possibly choose from, this is my absolute favorite. In my mind, a trip to Belize without visiting ATM Cave just isn’t a Belize trip at all.
The Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (called the ATM Cave for short, likely to save mispronunciation headaches) is an incredible cave system that you can only traverse with a licensed guide in a small group, with a maximum cap of 125 visitors per day. This helps preserve it as previous visitors were less careful and damaged parts of the cave.
However! Taking an ATM Cave tour is not a walk in the park; it requires a moderate amount of physical activity but also willpower: it involves using a headlamp as your only light source, swimming through the cave (there is rope you can grab, and lifejackets are provided), squeezing through some narrow parts of the cave system, and climbing up into the main cave atrium.
While I loved visiting the ATM Cave so much, if you have severe claustrophobia, this is absolutely not the San Ignacio excursion for you! The cave is dark and narrow in some places and involves a lot of squeezing through small spots in the dark.
Despite some moments of anxiety in some of the narrower stretches, I found the ATM Cave absolutely worth it! Read my full review of the experience here.
Inside the cave, you’ll find pottery fragments as well as what’s left of skulls and skeletons. These are actually left there on purpose: the remains of human sacrifices left behind by the ancient Maya people. They believed the cave to be part of the Mayan underworld, a sacred place where people could connect to the gods of death.
Archaeologists have disagreed, but the main consensus is that these sacrifices were likely done to appease their gods as their civilization faced existential challenges — probably drought.
Whatever the reasons, it’s certainly an adventurous and interesting — if only a bit macabre — thing to do in San Ignacio region!
Note: This is the exact ATM Cave Tour I took, with the same company I used on my tour. But it’s new on the Get Your Guide platform, so it doesn’t have many reviews yet. I can recommend it wholeheartedly, but if you prefer a tour that has more reviews, you can also check out this full-day tour of ATM Cave here!
Check out the largest ruins in Belize at Caracol.
Another fantastic place to visit near San Ignacio on a day trip is the Caracol Ruins archaeological site. These are the largest Mayan ruins in Belize, and they are relatively under-visited compared to many other ruins in Central America.
The ruins of Caracol are beautiful and impressive, and one of the coolest things is that you can climb the pyramids there, unlike many pyramids in Mexico which have closed off the climbing to tourists.
From the top of the largest pyramid in the Caracol complex, you can even look over the border into Guatemala, looking towards Tikal, another famous Mayan ruins complex.
A trip to Caracol is easily paired with some incredible nature experiences as well. On the guided tour I took to Caracol, we also got to visit the Rio Frio Cave and checked out either the Rio-On Pools (alternative is Big Rock Falls depending on water conditions), all in the same day trip.
Trust me, Caracol is really exposed and open and that means you’ll really relish a dunk in the water after spending the morning and early afternoon visiting the ruins!
Visit the Mayan ruins of Cahal Pech.
The ancient Maya site of Cahal Pech is about 10 square miles and includes nearly three dozen buildings, the largest of all being about 80 feet tall.
Plus, it’s believed by archaeologists to be one of the oldest Mayan settlements in Belize, and that the people who settled Cahal Pech likely came from Guatemala, perhaps around the Tikal area.
A guided tour that includes transfers is not necessary here, as Cahal Pech is within walking distance of the main town (if you are staying in town, that is). But if you prefer the expertise of a local guide, you can hire one when you arrive.
Check out Belize’s “other blue hole” at St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park.
Belize is known for its Great Blue Hole out in the Caribbean sea… but did you know it also has an inland blue hole, in St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park? And yes, you can go for a swim in it too.
This site is typically combined with Crystal Cave, a cave system only accessible by foot, giving it a remote and magical feeling. No drive-up mega-buses here!
The tour involves navigating through the cave to discover all the beautiful geographic features of the cave, as well as historical artifacts from Mayan ceremonies that number some thousands of years old — including pottery and other evidence of human settlement.
There’s also a room in the cave system that they’ve nicknamed “Wonderland” as it is completely covered in sparkling crystals.
Check out the Green Iguana Conservation Project.
Located in the San Ignacio Resort Hotel, this conservation project is one of the most popular things to do in San Ignacio when it comes to eco activities.
This program has been running since 1996, and it focuses on ensuring the ongoing survival of the green iguana, a threatened species vital to Belize’s jungle and river ecosystems.
While visiting, you’ll learn about their conservation efforts and the life cycle of the iguana, from egg to hatching to releasing. And of course, you’ll get the chance to meet the local iguanas, should you want to! (And who wouldn’t — look at those faces!)
Take a day trip over the border into Guatemala to visit Tikal.
If you’re looking for a side trip from San Ignacio that will also get you a new stamp in your passport, be sure to save a day on your trip for a full-day excursion to Tikal from San Ignacio!
This is one day trip for which I strongly suggest a tour. Navigating a border crossing by car is an experience many travelers have not have had before, and if there are language barriers it can be intimidating.
Personally, I did the border crossing solo when traveling from Belize to Guatemala (I was visiting Flores, Lake Atitlan, Semuc Champey, Antigua, and other places in Guatemala), but I am an experienced solo traveler fluent in Spanish.
I’ve also spent several months in Central America and feel super comfortable traveling around. If you don’t have that sort of experience, booking a Tikal tour from San Ignacio is a much better idea.
The trip to Tikal takes about 2-2.5 hours by car, with some time for the border crossing, which your guide will help you navigate.
Tikal is located in a beautiful national park (as well as having UNESCO and even Star Wars filming bona fides). Beyond the ruins, you’ll also see all sorts of tropical wildlife, especially monkeys and iguanas.
This guided tour of Tikal includes all the main sightseeing of the ruins complex. With over 3,000 structures in the Tikal area (yes, for real!), having a guide to help you narrow down the actual key things to see is really helpful.
Your guide will help you know what to prioritize, so you’ll get to see temples, ball courts, plazas, palaces, and pyramids — the largest of which is over 200 feet tall.
Admire the Belize Botanic Gardens.
Also located in San Ignacio town, the Belize Botanic Gardens is a must-visit for plant lovers.
It features 45 acres of beautiful native plants (as well as some exotic imports) on the banks of the beautiful Macal River. It’s a gorgeous place to go for a walk and it’s only a short distance from downtown San Ignacio, so it’s a good filler activity between other more structured items on your San Ignacio itinerary.
Besides admiring the beautiful flowers like hibiscuses and orchids, you can also enjoy some birdwatching and enjoy the peaceful Macal river side area.
Visit the San Ignacio Market.
The lively riverside San Ignacio Market is open daily from 5 AM to 6 PM and it’s a big fixture of daily life for locals.
In the otherwise rather sleepy town of San Ignacio, it’s one of the more bustling places. Come here to buy fresh fruit and try local street food (please don’t leave Belize without trying fry jacks!)
Check out a butterfly farm.
There are several butterfly farms in Belize aimed at preserving the habitats of the local butterfly species.
There is the Blue Morpho Butterfly Farm located at the Chaa Creek Resort, which you can visit even if you’re not a guest there.
There is also the Tropical Wings Ecocenter Butterfly Farm which is located about six miles away from San Ignacio’s center, so you’ll need to take a taxi or arrange transport there if you don’t have a car.
Explore the green oasis of Barton Creek Cave Reserve.
Another fascinating cave system near San Ignacio is the Barton Creek Cave Reserve, which you can explore by kayak tour. Like ATM Cave, there is ample evidence of use by the Maya people.
Barton Creek is interesting, because the town itself is home to a Mennonite (Amish) settlement! There are actually a large number of Mennonites in Belize, over 10,000 of them actually — most of whom live in Cayo District.
Once you arrive at Barton Creek Cave, you’ll be able to explore it by canoeing through it!
This is a great way to experience the caves in a peaceful way while learning about the history of this ancient Maya site — as well as Mayan traditions, rituals, and ceremonies — from a knowledgeable local guide.
It’s an interesting way to see the layers of Belize’s history of human settlement (as well as its geological layers, too!)
Check out the nearby ruins of Xunantunich.
The Mayan archaeological site of Xunantunich is located a short distance from San Ignacio Town, practically on the Guatemalan border.
Its name means “Maiden of the Rock” in the Mayan language, but this is a modern name; the original name is unknown.
Xunantunich was an ancient city, which takes up about one square mile. Its best-known feature is the 130-foot-tall pyramid called “El Castillo”. This is the second tallest Mayan structure in Belize, after the temple pyramid at Caracol.
If you want to book a guided tour, this tour is highly rated and you can customize it to meet your interests.
For example, you can add on either cave tubing, river tubing, or horseback riding for a full-day tour, or just visit Xunantunich for a half-day trip without any other add-on activities if you only have time (or budget) for a smaller excursion.
Book your Xunantunich tour with optional combos online here!
Spend the day cave tubing and/or ziplining.
Cave tubing in Belize is a popular outdoor activity to do from San Ignacio, and there is no shortage of tours offering it!
Cave tubing is really relaxing; you mostly just float through cave systems while an inner tube keeps you afloat, taking you where the river wants to. Though I should note, there is some hiking involved to reach the cave systems.
Also, you can also add ziplining to this tour if that’s something on your Belize bucket list.
This combo tour of cave tubing and ziplining is the perfect option for adrenaline seekers!
Getting Around San Ignacio
You can rent a car for Belize if you want to do these day trips on your own. Alternately, you can opt to take guided tours that include transportation and do day trips led by expert guides.
Personally, I’ve never rented a car in Belize, since I’m either on the islands or choose to take guided tours, as I like the insight you get from a licensed tour guide. I learn more about the history and the culture this way, as your professional guide has to have a fairly encyclopedic knowledge of the history to be a guide in Belize!
It’s also a lot less stressful, especially for me as I often travel solo, since they handle pick up, drop off, and often a meal as well.
I tend to book my tours in Belize via Get Your Guide whenever possible, because they offer the best cancellation policy if my plans change (free cancellation within 24 hours of the tour!).
However, if you are traveling as a family or in a large group, you might find that renting a car is better suited for your needs.
If you are renting a car, I suggest picking up your car at Belize City International Airport for the best price.
I use and love Discover Cars whenever I’m traveling outside of the United States.
Discover Cars searches through over 500 different car rental providers in order to find the best price for your rental. Check what’s available from Belize City Airport here!
Where to Stay in San Ignacio
I’ve written a full guide to the best eco-resorts and jungle lodges in San Ignacio, but here are my quick picks!
BUDGET | Cahal Pech Village Resort
It’s a testament to how green Belize is that you barely have to leave the city of San Ignacio to feel like you’re in your own personal jungle paradise!
There are lush trees planted everywhere and an infinity-style pool overlooking the river valley below. The Mayan ruins of Cahal Pech are located right nearby the eco-resort, a couple of blocks away!
MID-RANGE | San Ignacio Resort Hotel
San Ignacio Resort Hotel is an award-winning resort located within a 17-acre private estate, right in the heart of San Ignacio town proper — perfect if you don’t have a car rental during your time in Belize.
For those just looking to relax, there is also a gorgeous pool with plenty of loungers to relax around, a luxe spa, and a tennis court.
This resort also supports the Green Iguana Conservation Project and has won awards for its participation in helping support Belize’s wildlife.
LUXURY | The Lodge at Chaa Creek
If you are after a once-in-a-lifetime stay in an eco-lodge in Belize… look no further. The Lodge at Chaa Creek is a next-tier incredible resort that’s known for its beautiful natural surroundings.
The rooms are incredibly airy and spacious, with high-ceilinged thatch roofing and thoughtful details like beautiful textiles and local flowers.
Outside your bungalow, you’ll find countless trees and plant life surrounding you and wake up to the sounds of birds and monkeys in the jungle. Located on the Macal River, Chaa Creek offers activities like canoeing and kayaking down the river.
You can also go for a swim in their infinity pool, try some “jungle cuisine” in their dining room made from local organic produce, or admire the butterflies at their butterfly exhibit.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
