San Ignacio is the home for adventure especially for backpackers. Yellow Belly Backpackers is the closest choice for a perfect stay while in town.
While the location is a little outside town, this hostel has three things all backpackers look for: cleanliness, included breakfast and rooms with AC. It's also not a party hostel nor is it too quiet.
It's just right in between. Swedes call this lagom — not too much, not too little.
Yellow Belly Backpackers Overview
If you’re heading to San Ignacio and want a clean, social hostel with breakfast included and nice view of town, Yellow Belly Backpackers might be the perfect fit. Having personally stayed here, this is my honest review of the spot.
- Location
- San Ignacio Town
- Distance
- 15 mins from town center
- Cost
- $16.00 USD
- Room Options
- 8-Bed Dorm (Fan), 6-Bed Dorm (AC), Private Room (Fan/AC)
- Amenities
- Wifi, breakfast included, free drinking water, shared kitchen, co-working space, air conditioning, bike usage
- Vibe
- Social hostel
Location & How To Get There
Located in San Ignacio Town, Yellow Belly Backpackers is a hostel located about 15-20 minutes away from the town center. While the location isn't that close, they offer free bicycles for your stay.
The uphill walk is rough with a big backpack, but going down is easy — and you get used to it after a day or two. Unfortunately, there isn't much street food available in this area either.
The biggest benefit of this location is the proximity to the two popular Mayan Ruins. Cahal Pech is literally 5 minutes away by foot. Xunantunich is also easily accessible via bus and taxi from this location.
Room Options & Price
Choosing a room at Yellow Belly Backpackers is easy. You can choose between a shared dorm with fan, shared dorm with AC and private rooms with fan/AC. During the dry season, it's very hot which makes the AC rooms sooo worth it.
While Belize is relatively expensive for backpackers, this hostel fits the budget accommodation category and gives maximum value for your money.
Take a look at their room options on their website.
A Social Hostel
Choosing a hostel in Belize depends on what vibe you prefer. Yellow Belly Backpackers is right between a party hostel and a chill hostel. Not surprisingly, the two other popular hostels in town are exactly those other two options.
Yellow Belly backpackers has daily events. Here's what you can expect:
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| Monday | Movie Night |
| Tuesday | Trivia |
| Wednesday | Games |
| Thursday | Karaoke |
| Friday | Bar Crawl |
| Saturday | Walking Tour |
| Sunday | Family Dinner |
Breakfast Included
One of the biggest reasons I chose this hostel was because of the breakfast included. That's a huge plus! Imagine not having to go out and find breakfast every morning. And it's free!
Breakfast is served buffet style every morning. You can choose between coffee or tea. For food, you can choose between having oatmeal with banana or watermelon. There's also bread toast with jam, peanut butter or you can also choose to eat with scrambled eggs – perfect for vegan/vegetarian diets
Who Should Stay Here
This place is perfect for solo backpackers and digital nomads. I would categorize it as a social hostel so it's good for extroverts and introverts. You can choose to get involved in the daily activities like trivia night or just spend time alone.
Pros & Cons
Highlights
- ☕️ Breakfast included
- 💨 AC and fan options available
- 💻 Nice working area with view
- 💧 Free water included
- 🕵️♂️ Bed privacy covers
- 🚴♀️ Bike included
Downsides
- ⛔️ No street food nearby
- 😓 15-20 mins uphill walk from town
Would I Stay Here Again?
I would absolutely recommend staying at Yellow Belly Backpackers. It lived up to the hype as the best social hostel in San Ignacio Belize. Personally, I'm not a fan of party hostels or hippie hostels so this is the perfect blend between the two.
If you're ok with the walking distance from town, this hostel is a 100% for you.
Frequent Questions
Is the hostel noisy at night?
Because the hostel is located outside the limits of the town center, it's very quiet. There are also quiet hours between 11:00PM & 7:00AM
Can you walk to town safely at night?
Yes! I walked in town safely at night. San Ignacio is safe in comparison with other towns since it's a very touristy town.
Is this hostel good for solo female travelers?
It's difficult to say this as a male solo traveler. It's best to look at the reviews on Google Maps for up to date information.
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