Fun Facts
- 🦥 San Ignacio has close proximity to top attractions like ATM Cave
- 🇬🇹 The Guatemalan border is located only 30 mins away by car
- 🛖 Top eco & jungle lodges are located in the Cayo District
- 🗿 Caracol, the largest Mayan Ruin is located 2 hrs from town
- 🛶 Hawksworth Bridge is Belize's only drivable suspension bridge
Local Festivals
Belize Birding Festival - Held Annually in October
This event is organized for nature enthusiasts especially avid birders. Belize hosts over 600 species of birds and has a passionate and growing birding community.
Transport
Getting There
Three ways of getting to San Ignacio are by bus, shuttle and car. The cheapest way is by bus while traveling by car is the most convenient way of exploring the area.International Airport To San Ignacio 🚌
PGIA Airport → Belize City → Belmopan → San Ignacio
- From the International Airport (PGIA), you can take a taxi ride to the main bus terminal in Belize City. Please note that the price is per group and not per person.
30 Mins
$30.00 USD
From Belize City, take one of the San Ignacio buses. The bus trip will take you through Belmopan then your final stop is at the San Ignacio Bus Terminal (C.W.C Bus Stop).
2.5 Hours
$6.00 USD
International Airport To San Ignacio 🚐
PGIA Airport → San Ignacio
- Shuttle companies are available at the airport but you can also pre-book online.
While shuttles can be affordable, most of the companies have 2-6 persons minimum per shuttle. So, in reality, the shuttle service would be $160.00 USD to confirm booking with a minimum of 2 persons in most cases.
International Airport To San Ignacio 🚗
PGIA Airport → San Ignacio
- Car rental companies are available at the PGIA Airport and range from $35.00–$75.00 USD. Keep in mind that gas prices in Belize range from $6.00–$7.00 per gallon (~3.8L).
- From PGIA Airport, you can now take a new Airport road down south instead of passing through Belize City (Shown on map link).
- Then you can take the George Price Highway all the way to San Ignacio Town.
Getting Around
The twin towns of San Ignacio & Santa Elena are relatively small. The locals get around by car and taxi. Shared taxis known as colectivos are available to go to nearby villages like Benque & Bullet Tree while regular taxis are readily available at the town center. To get to nearby attractions, it is best to have a car rental. Read more about transportation.
Local Tips
San Ignacio Tips
🌧️ Don't worry about the weather - Having lived here for over a year, I learned not to look at the weather app. San Ignacio has weather as random as a bipolar person. One minute it's raining and then it's sunny again. However, if there's a thunderstorm, expect lots of rain and flooding.
🌊 Flooding can cause tour cancellations - While short rains don't affect your vacation plans, a few days of rain brought about by a storm can cause flooding. That, in turn causes rivers to rise which might cause attractions like Xunantunich and ATM Cave to be closed for a short period of time. NICH in charge of Belize's Archeological sites gives frequent updates on public closures and other important changes.
🚗 Rent a car if want to save money - San Ignacio is packed with adventure tours that range from start at $30.00 USD and go all the way up to $150 USD. The tour companies charge a premium. To save money, you can rent a car for a few days and visit a few sites self-guided for the price of one tour.
Prices To Expect At San Ignacio
- Budget Hostel (Shared Dorm): $16.00 USD
- Midrange Airbnb (2 persons): $65.00 USD
- Luxury Resort (2 persons): $390.00 USD
- Coffee (Americano): $3.00 USD
- Budget Meal (Street Food): $2.00 USD
- Midrange Meal (Restaurant): $4.50 USD
- High-end Meal (Gourmet): $15.00 USD
- Bus Ticket (To Next Town): $3.00 USD
- Taxi Ride (Per person): $5.00 USD
Responsible Tourism
Here are a few ways to support the local Belize economy:
🏠 Book Airbnbs Directly - if you can, contact the vendor for your Airbnb directly to bypass the extra fees and directly support the vendors.
⛰️ Book Tours Directly - an excellent tip is to talk to the local bartender, restaurant waiter or your local Airbnb Host to have them suggest a friend for a snorkeling tour. Almost everyone has a friend or family member that owns a boat and might even offer a cheaper rate.
🧍♂️ Choose Local Owners - while booking a tour or Airbnb, try going the extra mile and ensure the company is Belizean-owned.
Things To Do
Where To Eat
Nearby Attractions
Xunantunich 
ATM Cave Cahal Pech 
Mountain Pine Ridge Barton Creek Cave
Frequent Questions
How long do I need in San Ignacio?
Packed with adventure activities like cave tours, national parks and Mayan ruins, it's worth making San Ignacio a base for three days.
When is the best time to visit San Ignacio?
High season (tourism peak) is between October & June which is when the weather is best. Avoid this period if you don't like crowds.
Is San Ignacio safe?
Because San Ignacio is considered a touristy area, it is safe for tourists to move around during the day. Walk around with caution at night given it's a larger town.
Where is San Ignacio in Belize?
San Ignacio is located in Western Belize just two hours away from the Belize Airport by car.
How do I get from Belize Airport to San Ignacio?
From the Belize airport, take a taxi to Belize City. From Belize City take a bus or shuttle to San Ignacio Town.
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