wooden bridge surrounded by lush green trees

San Ignacio Guide

San Ignacio is Belize's 🥇 top adventure and Mayan History destination. It's surrounded by rivers, waterfalls, hiking 🥾 trails, and the country's top eco 🍃 lodges.

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

🇧🇿More Belize Facts

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.

🎉 More Local Festivals

Things To Do

Where To Eat

Nearby Attractions

  1. Image of Xunantunich
    Xunantunich
  2. Image of ATM Cave
    ATM Cave
  3. Image of Cahal Pech
    Cahal Pech
  4. Image of Mountain Pine Ridge
    Mountain Pine Ridge
  5. Image of Barton Creek Cave
    Barton Creek Cave

Transportation

Getting To San Ignacio

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.

Trip Duration

3 Hours

Total Cost

$36.00 USD

Travel Route

View Route

International Airport To San Ignacio 🚌

PGIA Airport → Belize City → Belmopan → San Ignacio

  1. 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

  2. From Belize City, take one of the <a href="/belize/bus/#belize-city-san-ignacio">San Ignacio buses</a>. 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

Trip Duration

2.5 Hours

Total Cost

$80.00 USD

Travel Route

View Route

International Airport To San Ignacio 🚐

PGIA Airport → San Ignacio

  1. Shuttle companies are available at the airport but you can also pre-book online.
  2. 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.

Trip Duration

2 Hours

Total Cost

$100.00 USD

Travel Route

View Route

International Airport To San Ignacio 🚗

PGIA Airport → San Ignacio

  1. 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).
  2. From PGIA Airport, you can now take a new Airport road down south instead of passing through Belize City (Shown on map link).
  3. Then you can take the George Price Highway all the way to San Ignacio Town.
Getting Around San Ignacio

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.

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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