Auto Rentals
There are a number of car rentals in San Ignacio with generally good reliability.

Banking / Exchanging Money
There are three banks in San Ignacio--Bank of Nova Scotia, Atlantic Bank, and Belize Bank--all located on Burns Ave. Their hours are 8 a.m. until 1 or 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Fridays until 4:30 or 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:30 to noon. All three have ATM"s for 24 hour cash advances on Visa and Master cards, exchange travelers checks, and have wire transfer services. Belize Bank, Barkley Bank and Scotia have full service branches in Belmopan.

Exchanging Money
Money changers can usually be found at both the Belmopan and San Ignacio bus stops. The standard rate is $2 BZ for $1 US.  There are also money changers at the border near Benque Viejo who will exchange US dollars for Belizean or Guatemalan currency at current rates. Banks also exchange money for a somewhat lower rate.

Most businesses--large and small--throughout Cayo District accept US currency for payment at a 2 to 1 exchange, so you can pay directly in US dollars. However, don't try to pay for a $2.00 purchase with a $100 bill because change can sometimes be a problem, especially at smaller shops. 

Email / Internet Access
Many resorts, hotels and tourist related businesses in San Ignacio and Belmopan now offer Email and internet services to visitors. Cayo Community Center, located next to the town hall and library in San Ignacio often has the lowest rates and Techno Hub, located inside the Novelos bus station in Belmopan, is easy to find,

FAX
Many hotels/resorts will receive or send FAX's for their guests. In addition, BTL (Belize Telecommunications Ltd.) will send or receive a FAX for you at their offices in Belmopan, Benque Viejo, and San Ignacio. 

Film Sales / Developing
Several stores including Venus Photos & Records on Hudson Street in San Ignacio have one hour photo processing,  as does Brodies in Belmopan. In general you are better off bringing with you as much film as you think you will need because of higher prices and limited choice of brands and film speeds. A better option is to bring a digital camera along.

Gas Stations
There are gas stations in and around Belmopan and San Ignacio; in Benque Viejo, Spanish Lookout and San Antonio village, near Mountain Pine Ridge. 

Grocery Stores
Virtually every town in the district has a variety of small tiendas which sell "staples"--rice, beans, canned goods, bread, soft drinks, and so on.  If you're looking for grocery stores that carry a wider selection of foods, try the following stores.

Belmopan has Brodie's, in the Shopping Center. Brodie's is a Belizean chain which carries household and hardware items, as well as a good selection of groceries.

Benque Viejo's Super del Carmen, across the street from the post office, offers a good range of products at excellent prices.

In San Ignacio Celina's Super Store on Burns Ave. has groceries, dry goods, and is an Ace Hardware affiliate.

If you're near Spanish Lookout, Farmer's Trading Center, on the main road, offers a good selection of groceries and household items at reasonable prices, and they have a hardware store next door, as well. 

Health Facilities
La Loma Luz Hospital, a private hospital located in Santa Elena, has a good reputation as a primary care center and 24 hour emergency services. Their phone number is  824-2087 and FAX is 824-2674.  There are also three government run health facilities in the district: the San Ignacio Hospital, 824-2066; the  Belmopan Hospital, 822-2264; and the Mopan Clinic in Benque Viejo 823-2079.

Pharmacies
The Pharmacy in San Ignacio is a well stocked North American style pharmacy. Registered Pharmacist on hand. Specializes in medicines for special medical needs. West Street, San Ignacio.

Police
If you need to contact the police to report a crime, an automobile accident, or for any other reason, there are police stations in Belmopan (822-2221), San Ignacio (824-2022), Benque Viejo (823-2038) and Succotz (823-2329).  In case of emergency, dial 911 anywhere in Belize for police assistance.

Post Offices / Express Mail
Virtually every town and village in Cayo has a small post office, often part of a store, where you can buy stamps and send or receive mail. For sending packages or more complicated transactions, visit the post office in Belmopan, Benque Viejo, or San Ignacio.

It costs 45 cents to send a letter to the USA. Rates for Europe are slightly higher. Figure about two weeks for a letter or card to reach the U.S. from Belize.

Express Mail
DHL Worldwide Express has an office at the Texaco Station on Buena Vista St. in San Ignacio where you can send or receive "overnight" packages. It takes about 4 days for express delivery between Belize and the U.S. Their main office is in Belmopan. Exodus Travel in San Ignacio is a Federal Express agent.

Telephone
Belize Telephone Limited (BTL) has offices in Belmopan, San Ignacio, and Benque Viejo where they can help you take care of all your phone call needs. Most hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other places of business will now also let you use their phone, provided that you make the call using a BTL Phone Card.  Phone cards come in denominations from BZ$5 to BZ$50 (BZ$2 = US$1).  The cost of calls you make are automatically deducted from the value of the card, and the phone from which you are calling is not charged.  You can buy the cards at any BTL offices, and a growing number of accommodations, restaurants and shops.

Western Union
If you need an emergency transfusion of cash, Celina's Super Store and Plaza Del Rio shopping mall in San Ignacio are agents for Western Union.

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