San Ignacio Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, Where to Stay & How to Get There

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San Ignacio might not be the most glamorous city in itself, but it’s an amazing place to base yourself for some of the most exciting adventures in Belize. It has some of the most stunning national parks right around the corner, you can easily get to ancient Maya ruins and the famous ATM cave from here. So if you’re looking to add some adventure to your Belize itinerary, this is the place to go.

After my trip to San Ignacio I decided to put together a full guide of how to get there, the best places to stay and the things I highly recommend you add to your itinerary. I visited during Easter so most of the restaurants were closed and some of the sights I wanted to see too unfortunately, so I’m not able to add the best places to eat as I usually do since we only ate at our hotel while staying there. However, I loved our time here and I’m sure you will too!

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

How to get to San Ignacio, Belize

San Ignacio is located near the Guatemalan border, about two hours west of Belize City. Getting here is rather easy whether you’re coming from Belize City, Mexico, or even Guatemala.

From Belize City or the Belize International Airport (BZE)

The most straightforward way is to take a shared shuttle or a local bus.

By shuttle

Companies like Belize Shuttle and Transfers or Belize Ground Shuttle offer direct transfers from the airport or Belize City to San Ignacio. It’s more expensive than the bus, but it’s comfortable, air-conditioned, and fast. You can pre-book your transfer here from different places in Belize or Guatemala. This is what we did. Since we came from the islands we booked an earlier boat, but you don’t have to. The shuttle waited for the corresponding boat to come from Caye Caulker or San Pedro. Just make sure you book the ferry that goes to the terminal they are picking you up.

By bus

Catch a local James Bus Line or Westline bus from Belize City to Benque via San Ignacio. It’s cheap and probably more adventurous than the shuttle.

From South Belize (Placencia etc.)

If you’re coming from the southern part of Belize, the easiest way to travel is definitely renting a car as we did, but it’s also possible by bus. You need to first take a bus to Dangriga and then switch bus to one that goes towards Belmopan. Here again you need to switch to a bus that will take you to San Ignacio. You can absolutely do this, just set aside a full day and be prepared for lots of switches. I do however recommend renting a car so you can explore the Hummingbird Highway on the way if you are coming from or going to the south of Belize.

From Mexico (Bacalar or Chetumal)

If you’re coming from southern Mexico, take a bus to Belmopan or Benque Viejo del Carmen (via Belize City) and transfer to a bus or shuttle heading to San Ignacio.

From Guatemala (Flores)

From Flores, you can book a direct shuttle to San Ignacio here. The border crossing at Melchor de Mencos is simple, and you’ll arrive in San Ignacio in about 3 hours. This is a pretty popular option for backpackers so there are shuttles running every day.

Caracol, San Ignacio

Where to stay in San Ignacio: Best Hotels for every budget

As a full time traveler I don’t always know where I’m headed next so I can’t always book my hotels way in advance, which means I sometimes don’t get my first pick. I only recommend hotels I’ve stayed at if I genuinely thought it was a good deal. Other options listed are hotels I’ve researched or gotten recommended by other travelers and personally would’ve booked if I went back.

Budget friendly places to stay in San Ignacio

If you’re backpacking Belize or just looking to stretch your dollars, these places are both charming and cheap.

This colorful, social hostel right in the heart of town is a classic backpacker choice. There are dorms, private rooms, and a rooftop with hammocks. It’s basic, but has everything you need, including bike rentals and a communal kitchen.

A little outside the main town center, Yellow Belly is cleaner and quieter than most hostels, with modern dorms and friendly staff. They organize tours and help you connect with other travelers. This is probably the place I would choose if I went back on a tight budget.

Mid-Range Hotels in San Ignacio

Perfect for couples or travelers who want something cozy without breaking the bank.

The rooms are simple but comfortable, there’s a shared kitchen, and the location is perfect, just a short walk to the market and downtown restaurants. I’ve also heard that the owners are incredibly helpful with booking tours if you want that.

This is where we stayed and I found it really nice. The pool is a huge plus because it gets really hot in San Ignacio. We spent lots of time just relaxing here. They also have a nice restaurant and they were very helpful when looking at tours and rental cars. It’s outside of the city center, but we didn’t mind.

Best Luxury & Eco-Lodges in San Ignacio

Want to wake up to birdsong and fall asleep to jungle sounds? These stays offer that magical off the grid feel while still keeping it comfy.

This is the place for a romantic jungle retreat. Located a bit outside town, Chaa Creek offers stunning cottages, on-site spa, guided nature walks, and a gorgeous pool overlooking the forest. Definitely a splurge, but so worth it!

This boutique resort blends modern luxury with Belizean charm. Expect gourmet dining, private plunge pools, and lush gardens. Great for honeymooners or anyone looking to treat themselves.

Top things to do in San Ignacio (and nearby)

San Ignacio is the perfect base for adventure, culture, and nature. There are so many amazing things to do there, so if you want to do it all you should stay for at least a week. Otherwise choose and pick your favorite activities. You’re not going to go wrong with any of these things! Below you will find the highlights, but if you want the full list of everything to do in San Ignacio I’ve written a separate post about that here.

Take a guided tour to Caracol

Caracol is probably the most impressive set of ruins in Central America after Tikal in my opinion. You can even climb many of the structures, which makes you really feel the scale of the ancient city.

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)

This is the most famous activity in San Ignacio and the reason many people come here. Many people I met on my travels even said it was one of the coolest things they had ever done in their lives.

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.

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. The biggest highlights are Big Rock Falls, Rio On Pools, and Rio Frio Cave.

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.

Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve

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.

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

Go cave tubing

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.

If you do a guided tour it will most likely take you to the one in Nohoch Che’en, but since we drove ourselves and were headed for the Hummingbird Highway it made more sense to do the cave tubing at St.Hermans Blue Hole.

Cave tubing in San Ignacio

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.

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

Final thoughts: Why you shouldn’t skip San Ignacio

San Ignacio might not have the postcard beaches of Belize’s cayes, but it definitely have enough sights to keep you occupied for a while!

If you’re heading to Belize, don’t just come for the islands, come inland, and let San Ignacio surprise you. I am definitely very glad we decided to come here and stay for a while.