Discover San Ignacio Belize in 2018
San Ignacio is the beating heart of Cayo District, gateway to beautiful national parks, animal sanctuaries, and some of the biggest and ancient Maya cities in the country. Located on the banks of the Macal River, San Ignacio is only a short distance from the confluence of the Mopan River, the two most important watercourses in the country.
Along with its twin town Santa Elena across the river, the greater San Ignacio area is the second-largest municipal center in the country after Belize City. With plenty of shops, restaurants, hotels, resorts, cafes, and a bustling market, San Ignacio has everything a traveler needs.
Unlike more touristy areas, San Ignacio is where locals from all across the country come to meet. The open-air market on the banks of the Macal River draws in Mennonite dairy farmers, Creole planters, and Maya artisans who specialize in traditional medicinal compounds.
With the ancient ruins of Cahal Pech towering over the town from across the water, visitors can get their bearings on Burns Avenue, the main road in the town. Attractions inside the town include the House of Culture that includes a small museum, some beautiful churches (including St. Andrew's Church, built in 1905), and the Green Iguana Conservation Project (located on the grounds of the San Ignacio Resort Hotel but open to non-guests).
But San Ignacio is perhaps most popular as a staging point for nearby activities, including cave tubing (using an inflatable inner tube or small canoe to explore underground rivers), picnicking at the base of the majestic waterfalls of Rio on Pools and the 1,000-Foot-Falls (actually, 1,600 feet high), horseback riding through the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, zip lining, bird watching, hiking, and canoeing down the Macal River.
Other popular attractions near San Ignacio include the sacred Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave, home to the remains of dozens of sacrificial victims, the enormous ancient Maya cities of Caracol and Xunantunich, and jaunts across the border to visit Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
San Ignacio is at the center of a transportation hub, making it extremely easy to get to this lovely city by car or public bus. The Western Highway (officially "The George Price Highway" connects San Ignacio to Belize City, Belmopan, and Benque Viejo (on the border of Guatemala). The town is served by its own airfield (code: CYD) with regular domestic flights to other major cities in the country.
Travelers interested in exploring and discovering the best that San Ignacio Belize has to offer in 2018 can book their Belize vacations or accommodations with Adventures in Belize, the travel professionals that have over a decade in experience in creating and customizing bespoke and unforgettable Belize holidays.
Start planning your San Ignacio Belize vacation here: www.adventuresinbelize.com.
