Top things to do in San Ignacio - the adventure capital of Belize

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San Ignacio quickly became one of my favorite places in Belize. It’s a little bit wild, a little bit magical, and packed with more adventure than you could ever fit into a few days—which I learned the hard way after staying four nights and still not crossing everything off my list. Whether you’re here for ancient Mayan ruins or cave tubing in pitch-black rivers, San Ignacio makes for the perfect base to explore Belize’s inland jungle and history.

I spent 4 nights in San Ignacio and still didn’t have time to explore it all, so either pick and choose your adventures from this long list of things to do,or stay longer if you want to do everything. Trust me, it’s worth it.

In this guide, I’m sharing everything I loved (and a few things I missed but heard amazing things about) from my time in San Ignacio. So whether you’re planning a quick visit or a week-long escape, here’s everything you need to know to make sure you make the most of your trip to San Ignacio.

The best things to do while in San Ignacio, Belize

Take a guided tour to Caracol

In my opinion, Caracol was the most incredible set of ruins we saw in Central America (after Tikal). I’m surprised more people don’t visit, it’s absolutely massive and you can climb many of the structures, which makes you really feel the scale of the ancient city.

You can rent a car and drive from San Ignacio, but we read about past incidents of robbery on the route, so we opted for a guided tour. It probably would’ve been fine, but I wasn’t willing to take the chance.

We did a full-day tour that included both Caracol and a few stops in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve along the way, which was a huge bonus. I loved the tour and would absolutely do it again!

Exploring Caracol, Belize

Explore the ATM Cave (Actun Tunichil Muknal)

I have to confess that I didn’t actually do this one, even though it’s the #1 reason many people come to San Ignacio. Me and climbing in dark, tight caves just don’t go that well together, so I decided to skip it. That said, I only heard glowing reviews from other travelers. Many I met even said it was one of the coolest things they had ever done in their lives. So It’s safe to say I might be regretting my decision a bit.

You’ll swim, climb, and crawl your way deep into the cave with just a headlight, discovering ancient Mayan artifacts and even skeletal remains. You can only visit the ATM Cave with a licensed guide, and tours book out fast, so if this is on your list, plan ahead.

Visit Xunantunich

Only a 15-minute drive from town, Xunantunich is a beautiful and well-preserved Maya site. Getting there is half the fun: you’ll ride a hand-cranked ferry across the river, then hike uphill to the massive central pyramid, El Castillo.

You can do this one without a tour, just grab a local taxi or rental car and go.

Take a day trip to Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve

If you’re not already going as part of a Caracol tour, I highly recommend taking a day trip here. This pine-covered highland forest is filled with waterfalls, rivers, and caves. We got to see two of the highlights on our tour to Caracol so we didn’t go back, but if you just want a place to relax and swim, this is an amazing spot.

The biggest highlights are Big Rock Falls, Rio On Pools, and Rio Frio Cave. If you decide to go, I advice you to go on a weekday. We came on a Sunday in Easter and it was packed with people swimming and BBQing. I’ve heard that if you come on a weekday you can have the place practically to yourself.

There aren’t many dedicated tours specifically to Mountain Pine Forest, but this one is very popular. Otherwise you can either go there with a tour to Caracol or rent a car for the day. We used Flames Auto Rental later in our trip and loved them.

Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve

Check out the San Ignacio Market

This is probably the most fun thing to do in San Ignacio city, especially on Saturdays this colorful market is the heart of town. It’s a mix of farmers’ market, craft stalls, and street food vendors. Grab a fresh tamale, stock up on tropical fruit, or buy handmade souvenirs. It’s a great place to experience local life.

Cross the border to Tikal (Guatemala)

If Belize is the only country on your trip, I highly suggest making time for Tikal, it’s easily done as a day trip from San Ignacio. That said, if you have a bit more time, spend a night near the ruins or in charming Flores.

Tikal is one of the most jaw-dropping Mayan cities I’ve ever seen, and it totally deserves a spot on your bucket list. We spent a couple of days in Flores while traveling Guatemala and loved our time there!

Exploring Tikal

See the waterfalls from a Pontoon boat

I didn’t get around to doing this tour, but it came highly recommended. It’s a bit of a splurge, so maybe not ideal for budget travelers, but it sounds absolutely dreamy. You’ll float down the river, stopping at waterfalls to swim and admire them up close.

Go cave tubing

This was one of the most surprising activities in Belize. I thought cave tubing would be adventurous, maybe like mild rafting? But actually, it was one of the most relaxing experiences of the whole trip. You just float gently through a river in total darkness, with only your headlamp lighting the way. It’s peaceful and magical.

There are two main spots to do this: the Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch and St.Hermans Blue Hole National Park. We did the second one and loved it, but I’ve heard the first is a bit more adventurous if that’s something you prefer. Another big difference is that the one in Nohoch Che’en don’t start and stop in the same spot, while the one in St. Hermans does, so you’re first being pulled up the cave, and then later float down.

If you do a guided tour it will most likely take you to the one in Nohoch Che’en, but since we drive ourselves and were headed for the Hummingbird Highway we did the cave tubing at St.Hermans Blue Hole since we also wanted to see the Cave and the Blue Hole.

Either way, you’ll need a guide. If you drive yourself, you can usually hire one at the site. Or book ahead for peace of mind. We came right on time for the last trip so we had the caves all to ourselves which made the experience that much better since it was no one making noise or flashing lights anywhere.

Cave tubing in San Ignacio

Canoe through Barton Creek Cave

If some of the adventure activities sound a bit intense, this one is for you. Barton Creek is one of the most peaceful ways to explore a cave, no swimming or climbing needed. You’ll glide through the cave in a canoe, guided by someone who explains the geology and history along the way.

Road Trip the Hummingbird Highway

If you have time, rent a car and take a road trip along the stunning Hummingbird Highway. I recommend spending the night somewhere along the way (we did and loved it), but you can see the highlights in one long day if needed.

The highway begins just outside Belmopan (about an hour from San Ignacio) and runs 86 km south to Dangriga. Expect waterfalls, jungle views, and lots of cozy spots to stop along the way.

We used Flames Auto Rental again and had a great experience.

Hummingbird Highway, Belize

Visit the Green Iguana Conservation Project

This is one of the few things to do in San Ignacio town. Located inside the San Ignacio Resort Hotel, this conservation center works to protect Belize’s endangered green iguanas. I didn’t have time for this one myself, but I really wish I had because it looks amazing.

Join a Chocolate-Making Experience

Stop by AJAW Chocolate & Crafts for a hands-on experience where you’ll learn how chocolate was made by the ancient Maya (and taste lots of it too). We decided to do this experience along the Hummingbird Highway so we skipped it in the city. If you however don’t drive the Hummingbird Highway, I highly recommend doing a chocolate workshop here.

Cocoa fruit

Explore Cahal Pech

Cahal Pech is a small but fascinating Maya ruin located right in San Ignacio, you can actually walk there from town. We skipped it since we had limited time and prioritized Caracol, but if you have a spare morning or afternoon, it’s worth a look.

Final thoughts: Top things to do in San Ignacio

From exploring sacred caves and ancient ruins to floating through pitch-black rivers and chocolate tasting, San Ignacio offers the best of inland Belize. It’s an adventure hub with enough to keep you busy for a week—but even a few days here will leave you with stories to tell. Whether you’re road tripping the Hummingbird Highway or just popping over from Guatemala, San Ignacio is a must on any Belize itinerary.