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San Ignacio ~ Belize

Cradled in a Picturesque Valley
Between the Macal and Mopan Rivers ....

San Ignacio and sister-town, Santa Elena make up Belize's second largest urban area.
The two towns are separated by the Macal River and Belize's only suspension bridge, the one-lane Hawksworth Bridge (Built in 1949).

Together the towns have a combined population of about 20,000 including: Creole, Mestizo (Spanish-Maya), Lebanese, Chinese, Mennonite, Maya and other cultures. Both English and Spanish are spoken, plus a myriad of other languages. San Ignacio Town Photo

Known locally as "Cayo," San Ignacio is located along the Western Highway about 70 miles and 90 minutes drive time from Belize City. Teeming with Guatemala-bound travelers, archaeologists, peace corps workers, North American retirees and thrill seekers, "Cayo" is a unique blend of America's Old West and tropical backwater with frontier-like wooden shops on narrow streets.

Burns Avenue is "Main Street" and a good place to begin a tour of the town. Most days it's a busy thoroughfare with lots of people walking in the streets. Burns Avenue and the adjacent streets are packed with shops, hotels and places to eat where hospitable townspeople mingle in restaurants, bars and wooden shops with colonial era architecture of days gone by.

Things to Do ....

Macal River CanoeingExcursions around San Ignacio include a short trip to nearby Cahal Pech, a Maya archeological site. It's a quick cab ride or a 20-minute uphill walk from town.

Macal River canoeing is very popular. Stopovers
include a Blue Morpho butterfly-rearing facility and "medicine trail".
 
The Iguana Conservation Project and baby iguanas
are located at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel.

Hammock Bridge at Branch Mouth

 

Rent a bike, walk or jog 1.5 miles along scenic Branch Mouth Road to the "Hammock Bridge" where the Macal and Mopan rivers join up. From the shaded river bank, you can watch for wild parrots along with lazing iguanas and enjoy a swim in the heat of the day.

Mai Cave - Mountain Pine Ridge

 

Venture to the Mountain Pine Ridge on the way to Caracol, or travel to Succotz Village and the equally impressive Maya site of Xunantunich. Another mile gets you to Benque Viejo and Hydro-dam Road where the journey continues on to Chechem Hah, a cave filled with Mayan artifacts. From Benque Viejo, it's one mile to the Guatemalan border.

Bullet Tree, 3 miles northwest of San Ignacio, is where the road to El Pilar, another archeological site, begins.


Xunantunich - Maya Archeological Site
Other Cayo area activities include: Horseback Riding, Birding, Canoeing & Kayaking, and excursions to other nearby Caves and Ruins, including Tikal and Flores in Guatemala.

Saturday is the Busiest Market Day
Here you will find vendors from the small towns and villagers selling their wares and locally-grown fruits and vegetables. You can get good buys on bananas, papaya, pineapples, oranges, mangos, coconuts, avocados and other tropical produce.

Cash advances, internet, real estate, travel, and auto rentals are some of the Business Services available in San Ignacio.

Where to Stay ....

San Ignacio Resort Hotel

San Ignacio Resort Hotel - Wrap yourself in Four-Star comfort at The Premier - Full-Service - Resort Property in San Ignacio Town, the heart of the Cayo District.... Perched above the lush Macal River Valley, the hotel-resort boasts picturesque views of rainforest and wildlife from each of it's 24 deluxe, air-conditioned rooms.

Wind Hill Resosrt

Windy Hill Resort - Located in the foothills of the Maya Mountains this beautiful resort provides modern convenience in a lush tropical setting .... situated on 100 manicured acres of beautiful flowers and fruit trees and just minutes from ruins, rivers, caves and other natural attractions that visitors come to see and experience in Belize.

 



 


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