Experience the best of San Ignacio
San Ignacio is a market town in western Belize, set in the Cayo hills beside the Macal River, close to Maya ruins, caves and the Guatemalan border.
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San Ignacio stands on a ridge above the Macal River, the main town of the Cayo District in western Belize, with its twin town of Santa Elena across the water. A Saturday market fills the centre with produce and crafts, and the main street has cafés, guesthouses and shops that serve the visitors who base themselves here to explore the forest and the ruins around it.
Cahal Pech, a hilltop Maya centre with temples and plazas, overlooks the town, and Xunantunich rises above the Mopan River near the Guatemalan border, reached by a small hand-cranked ferry. Actun Tunichil Muknal is a cave holding Maya pottery and skeletal remains, entered by wading. Caracol, the largest Maya city in Belize, lies deep in the Chiquibul forest, and the Mountain Pine Ridge has waterfalls, pools and pine woodland.
Belizean cooking here means rice and beans with stewed chicken, fry jacks at breakfast, tamales wrapped in banana leaf and fresh tortillas, with fruit juices to wash them down. The dry months from February to May suit caves and trails best. Canoes drift down the Macal River past iguanas and kingfishers.
- Free cancellation on 95% of experiences
- 4.9 across the top 24
Top 9 attractions in San Ignacio
Day trips from San Ignacio
71
Free cancellation
Nature and wildlife tours in San Ignacio
6
Free cancellation
Free cancellation
Signature experiences in San Ignacio
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Questions about San Ignacio
- What are the top attractions in San Ignacio?
- Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in San Ignacio are Actun Tunichil Muknal, Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, San Jose Succotz, Barton Creek Cave.
- What is the most popular experience in San Ignacio?
- By number of traveller reviews it is "Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic", rated 5.0 out of 5 from 1,502 reviews.
- How long do tours and tickets in San Ignacio take?
- The typical experience in San Ignacio lasts about 6 hours; the middle half run between 4 hours and 8 hours.
- Can I cancel a booking in San Ignacio?
- The operator lists free cancellation on 95% of the 163 experiences we hold for San Ignacio. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.
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