Top Things to do in San Ignacio
The 10 Best Things to do in San Ignacio, Cayo
It’s true: parts of Belize are getting touristy. But San Ignacio remains rustic, making it a great base for budget-friendly tropical adventure travel. Canoe on the Macal River, or walk to Mayan ruins at Cahal Pec (just be warned: it's uphill).
Restaurants in San Ignacio
1. Creek Art Walter Castillo Home Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 23 reviews
Home of Belizean painter walter castillo's work shop and gallery. Guest can enjoy rush full tropical garden and small farm full of chickens and ducks. Try some complementary local herb tea made in traditional fire hearth. We have ordinal paintings and prints, post card.lunch can be served 1 day notice.
Reviewed By cpawill - Hopkins, Belize
We commissioned Walter to paint a depiction of Hopkins Inn. We gave Walter some ideas of what we wanted included and let his creativity fill in the blanks. Walter visited Hopkins Inn to experience the place and people, developed a sketch on the canvas, and then produced a detailed piece of art he titled “Nice Vibes.” We love it!
2. Cappello's Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
Cappellos Art Gallery, is very proud to boast to our customers a few fun facts.. ●The Art Gallery was opened to give local Artists to have a place to call their own. A place to offer their Art for sale. ●All artist do have their own private studios within the complex, being whereby they create their magic through their paintings..
Reviewed By Alohaoy - San Ignacio, Belize
Just right displays of a wide variety of art at reasonable prices, can see it all within one hour. Owner is very personable and knowledgeable about Belize.
3. Belize Botanic Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 199 reviews
Belize Botanic Gardens is a great place to spend from a few hours to the whole day! Come and take one of our guided tours through the gardens and discover some of the secrets within the plants and trees. Do you know what perfumes Chanel No5? or what tree can colour your clothes? come and find the answers. Visit our Orchid house with over 120 orchids species of Belize.
Reviewed By 238CatherineL - Victoria, Canada
My mom and I went for a visit to the Belize Botanical Gardens and we were so impressed. We were greeted by Roxi upon arrival who made us feel so welcome and set us up with a guided tour. The grounds were truly nature beauty at its best. We had a wonderful guide named Enilson, who was asked many questions by those in our group and he was so knowledgeable. It was such a lovely morning and I can highly recommend it to anyone that is even slightly interested in local Belizean flora. I will certainly be back again.
4. Cahal Pech
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,527 reviews
This ancient Mayan site features a museum and several dozen surviving structures.
Reviewed By cliffordicus - Salt Lake City, United States
Cahal Pech is one of the oldest grouping of Mayan Ruins we know of dating back to some of the earliest traces of Mayan history. Compared to many other ruin nearby like Xunantunich, its basically deserted. This is an amazing opportunity to explore some ruins practically on your own (at least that was our experience) the complex goes on and on and is so fun to step into history, literally, and see the amazing structures of a time long past. It's within walking distance of the downtown area (though you'll climb a fairly steep hill) and in really close proximity to a few hotels, including our own, the San Ignacio Resort Hotel. It's close, and it's worth it.
5. Green Iguana Conservation Project
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,303 reviews
Located at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel, the Project is a continuous effort that aims to conserve and look after the endangered Green Iguana species in Belize. The hatchery uses interactive exhibits and programs to help educate and create awareness among international and local visitors. Here, you are given the opportunity mingle with these wonderful reptiles and also, learn the about the incubation, hatching, rearing, and releasing process
Reviewed By ukienomad - Fleming Island, United States
I’ve been all over the world but have never done an “iguana” tour and it was so much fun. We enjoyed seeing the iguanas interact not only with us but with each other. We were able to pet them and feed them and took lots of great pictures. Tours run every hour and the location is perfect as was our tour guide. The tour was $9 USD p.p. but worth it. Located in the Ignacio Resort Hotel which is beautiful and there’s plenty of parking. Kids will love this. Stay and have a drink by the pool afterwards.
6. Chaa Creek Natural History Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 73 reviews
Reviewed By lindseyg891
The staff are very knowledgeable!!! They enhance the information with their personal experiences! Great tour!
7. El Pilar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 78 reviews
Reviewed By X2550CNjohn - Durham, United Kingdom
El Pilar was once a large Mayan city, but unlike more famous archaeological sites nearby there has been minimal excavation here, and therefore offers an almost unique opportunity to experience a city lost to the jungle as the first explorers might have seen it. It's not easy to get here; I took a taxi from San Ignacio which took over 2 hours on very rough roads, and my driver was probably only willing to risk his suspension as it was the off season and the weather was good. I only went because I had a free day, but it turned out to be an unexpected highlight of my trip to Belize; very little write up in the guide books, and few organised tours, but an amazing insight into how the Mayan civilisation was lost for so many centuries. One stumbles across a hillock, realises it's in fact a ruined pyramid, and then it vanishes into the forest after walking just a few yards. There are some explanatory boards which are enough to give a sense of the layout of the city without being intrusive, and a few areas have been excavated to show how the many buried structures would have looked, but for the most part one can imagine how the first explorers felt as they realised they were stumbling through the remains of an ancient metropolis. And because so few people make the effort, you can have the ruins almost to yourself. Amazing!
8. Belize Soul Project
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By S0larC0wb0y - New Braunfels, United States
Enjoyed the evening at soul project with my wife and friends. Downstairs bar services local beer and the owner served up his very own homemade wine. The venue itself is clean and adorned by art on every wall and corner. A local duo sang cover songs but not too cheesy one's.
9. San Ignacio Market
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 279 reviews
Reviewed By CONatureGirl
We were on a group trip and stopped here for the big Saturday market - you have to experience this!!! The piles and rows of fruits and vegetables and spices were just mind-blowing!! Add the other booths with vendors selling all kinds of art, clothing, etc. and it is like a large flea market. Food and ice cream available, and if you want snacks for your trip through Belize, you must stop here. We got some cool art, snacks for the road, and just had a great time browsing all the local produce!
10. 1000 Foot Falls
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 116 reviews
Reviewed By loribern1
The funnest part was the drive there in our 4x4 rental. At our time the roads were dry - travelled in March. Wouldn't have wanted to try the road in the rainy season. Was fun bumping along the washed out roads in our 4x4 and made the experience humerous. The view at the end to see the 1000 foot falls itself wasn't overly spectacular but we enjoyed our excursion as we went out and about when we wanted to - not with a group on a tour.
