San Ignacio & Santa Elena

These two towns, known as the “Twin Towns”, straddle the winding Macal River and serve as the primary base for inland adventure activities. Surrounding the towns are miles of lush jungles carpeting hillsides, numerous ancient Maya sites and dozens of waterfalls and caves. This area is the business hub of the west with over 15 surrounding villages coming to town for the market and other needs. With so many diverse, local residents and a regular stream of travelers, there is a kind of upbeat and lively feeling to the town that is unique to this area.

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By Bus
All buses going east to west pass through San Ignacio. Express buses are available from Belize City, Belmopan and Benque Viejo. The bus stop is located near the river next to the market.

By Vehicle
The Western Highway literally passes through these towns. Coming from Belmopan, you enter Santa Elena first and then cross the river to San Ignacio. From here there are 3 or 4 ways to get to the other end of the highway. There are several one way streets in town so go slow and observe the traffic and street signs. At the top of the hill by the Texaco all traffic merges together on the Benque Road which leads to Benque Viejo and the western border.

By Plane
A small airstrip is located just on the outskirts of town near the Western Highway.

Getting Around
Santa Elena is spread out and over one mile long and much of San Ignacio is uphill. Travelers can easily walk to destinations within the main areas of town. Since San Ignacio is built on a hillside, many people opt to take taxis up to their destinations. Cost starts at US$3 per stop.

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Banks: For a listing of banks in San Ignacio Town click here.

Internet: There are several internet cafes that charge US$3-5/hour.

Post Office: The post office is located just across the parking lot from the market.

Laundry: Martha’s Laundromat is located just behind the hotel and restaurant two blocks from downtown. A second Laundromat is open just across the Hawkesworth Bridge on the right side of the road. Average price for these two places is US$ 3 per load.

Stores & Shops: As the business hub of the west, there is no shortage of shops in either San Ignacio or Santa Elena. Several large grocery stores exist, with the most central one being Celina’s Superstore at the end of Burns Avenue. Smaller shops, exist all over both sides of the river. La Popular Bakery in Santa Elena, near the Social Security building, serves a variety of breads and pastries. The Old French Bakery, near the main square in San Ignacio, makes hearty multi-grain breads and authentic croissants.

Gift Shops: Gift shops line Burns Avenue and the two commercial centers of San Ignacio. Many hotels also have gift shops.

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Visitors will find many activities both in town and in the surrounding area. In fact, there are so many activities in and around the area that most people never have enough time to do everything!

Market Day: Certainly the most lively day in Cayo is Saturday mornings when the market area becomes a patchwork of color, tastes and smells. Everyone comes to this market, which opens at 6 am, before the heat of the day. While the market is mostly a fruit and vegetable market, in recent years additional items have been surfacing such as dried fruits and homemade granola, herbal remedies, clothing and tropical plants.

Visit Cahal Pech: Within walking distance, albeit uphill, is Cahal Pech or “place of the ticks”, a Maya site, surrounded by forest and wildlife. A recent visitors' center and museum has been added to enhance the visitors experience. This site is an excellent first stop on the Western Ruta Maya before heading on to larger sites such as Xunanunich and Caracol.

Biking: A few places in town rent bikes by the hour or day. An excellent route for exploring is the Branch Mouth Road that exits town by the Market. Parallel to the Macal River, often large iguanas and birds can be seen. At the end of the road is a wooden suspension bridge that leads to the village of Branch Mouth.

Green Iguana Exhibit: Located at the San Ignacio Hotel, on the way to Cahal Pech, is a small project that seeks to educate visitors about these creatures and their habitat.

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Mountain Pine Ridge: Travelers need several days to adequately explore this area of the country, but many day trips are available from town. Rio Frio Cave, Rio on Pools, and the 1,000 Foot Falls at Hidden Valley are just a few of the options.

Barton Creek Cave: is one of the most popular activities in the area. Traveling through the old order Mennonite farming community of Barton Creek leads to the mouth of the cave. As a wet cave, visitors must board a canoe and be led through the narrow passageways for approximately one hour. This is a guided experience and can be done in ½ day. Tours, including transportation, are about US$50.

Butterfly Exhibits: Green Hills Butterfly Farm and the Chaa Creek Natural History Center both offer excellent exhibits of butterflies.

Belize Botanical Gardens: Housed at duPlooy’s jungle lodge is an extensive area with tropical plants, shrubs and trees. These also attract a number of birds making it an interesting tour.

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Click either link to find Toucan Trail accommodations in San Ignacio & Santa Elena.

The Cayo District is chock full of people from all walks of life. This section continues to grow and so as you meet people who are interesting, please drop us a line so we can include them in the listing!

Find a Tour Guide

Click here to find a Tour Guide for the San Ignacio area.

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