Best of Belize: San Ignacio and Caye Caulker Travel Itinerary

Even a small nation like Belize exemplifies all that’s good about Central America. A country just celebrating its 40th year of independence and the size of Massachusetts, has a huge amount of both environmental and cultural diversity. There are 10 languages commonly spoken and the ethnic makeup encompasses the shadow of colonialist and imperialist past. That diversity extends into the incredible food that surrounds you: Creole, Caribbean, Mayan and Mexican influences work together to create inspiring regional and national dishes. A two-hour drive from the coastal beach towns, you can be in encompassing jungle surrounded by some of the best ecotourism. Between the things to do and places to see, Belize is one of the best travel destinations. Here’s your complete guide to San Ignacio and Caye Caulker with a 5-night Belize travel itinerary:

San Ignacio

Getting to San Ignacio

San Ignacio is the second largest city in Belize, and can easily be accessed by car, bus or depending on your location, air. From Belize City, San Ignacio is a quick 2.5 hour car ride on a two-lane road. Most hotels can arrange airport pickup for around $100-150 usd per car. If you want to arrange transport yourself, William Shuttle is a great option and will be cheaper than the hotel rates.

If time isn’t a factor, you can take the local chicken bus for around $4 usd per person. To get the bus station, you’ll need to take a taxi from the airport. Official taxis will have green license plates and should charge around $25 usd for transport from the airport to the bus station. From there, you’ll take a bus to San Ignacio. Be warned – busses stop for anyone on the road and time to destination is unknown.

Best places to stay in San Ignacio

San Ignacio has something for everyone. Outside of town has some beautiful, quaint jungle resorts but you can also opt for the convenience of staying within town.

Mystic River Resort

The Mystic River Resort is perhaps one of my favorite accommodations I’ve ever stayed at in the world (seriously.). The resort host 15 cabins sitting on the peaceful Macal River. Engaged in sustainability, the resort generates its own electricity, manages an indigenous reforestation project, and raises crops and animals for the restaurant on the 80-acre property. The property is about 7-miles from town and must be accessed by 4×4. Mystic River will arrange any tours with pick-up at the resort, but if you are interested in just visiting town you’ll have to pay a $25 usd transportation fee.

Other Options

Though we opted for the seclusion of the Mystic River Resort, there are many great hotel options in San Ignacio including:

San Ignacio Resort Hotel – Located close to town, this resort houses the Green Iguana Conservation project. The hotel also includes a pool, spa treatments and birdwatching on the property.

Sweet Songs Lodge – If you want a truly unique (and Instagram worthy), eco-lodge experience, the Sweet Songs Lodge is a great option. Guests can choose from treehouses to larger casitas on the property. The lodge includes a restaurant offering farm-to-table features and their own horse stables.

River Park Inn – Budget travelers looking for something in town might enjoy the River Park Inn. The hotel is just minutes from downtown San Ignacio. Guests can choose from rooms or cabins on the property.

Best things to do in San Ignacio

ATM Cave Tour

By far one of the best things to do in San Ignacio, a must is the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave. The entire experience can only be described as Tomb Raider. After a 45-minute hike and three river crossings into the jungle, tour groups are lead into the cave by swimming through a large opening of crystal clear water. Throughout the tour, you’ll learn about the Mayan’s spiritual use of the cave between 700 and 900 AD. After a little over a mile journey into the cave, visitors are surrounded by Mayan human sacrificial remains.

ATM tours are only allowed through licensed tour guides, and most hotels can arrange group tours for you. Expect an entire day for ATM!

Xunantunich Mayan Ruins

A quick taxi ride from downtown San Ignacio, Xunantunich can be done individually or as part of a group tour. Getting there is pretty easy. You can opt to pay one of the many taxis about $15 usd or take the chicken bus for $5 usd directly to the ferry crossing. If you take a taxi, you can go directly to the entrance, located 1-mile uphill from the ferry. After reading some other guides, we opted to walk the mile to the park entrance. The walk up to the visitor center is doable but bring plenty of water and try to go early in the day to beat the heat.

The park entrance fee is $5 usd per person and includes access to all the Mayan ruins within the park.

Located within town, Benny’s Restaurant is worth a stop before or after your visit to Xunantunich. A local favorite, Benny’s offers a variety of Belizean foods, including Mayan classics. Locals and tourists alike come to try the pibil, a traditional, Yucatec-Mayan slow roasted pork dish served with avocado, pico and tortillas. It’s good. Like, really good. Be sure to fit it into your schedule.

Green Iguana Conservation

Located within the San Ignacio Resort Hotel, the Green Iguana Conservation project is a hands-on learning opportunity, where guests can interact with green iguanas while learning about conservation efforts for the threatened species.

Entering the conservation costs $11.25 usd per person.

San Ignacio Market

Take a quick trip to the San Ignacio Market and enjoy local commerce taking place. The market has a little of everything including fresh fruits and vegetables, clothing and home goods, handcrafted jewelry and fresh cooked food stands. The market is open 7 days a week from 5:00a-6:00p.

Rio on Pools

Located outside of San Ignacio, you can opt to take a trip to the Rio on Pools for a refreshing dip in the middle of untamed jungle. Many hotels offer tours to the pools as a part of larger full-day expeditions (especially a trip to Caracol). As the roads conditions to Rio on Pools are harsh, it’s best to explore the pools as a part of a guided tour.

Caye Caulker

What has been known for years as a backpackers paradise is starting to see a steady increase in prices. However, though backpacker-friendly prices are on the rise, the island vibe of small villas, friendly locals and a “go slow” mentality has remained. There isn’t a lot of “touristy” things to do on this island, but that certainly hasn’t stopped the island from being a relaxing getaway for all types of travelers. People flock to Caye Caulker do go slow and enjoy the beauty of island life while relaxing in the island breeze.

Getting to Caye Caulker from Belize City

There are two ways to access Caye Caulker, water taxi or small plane. The water taxi departs from Belize City, takes about 45 minutes and costs around $30 usd per person one-way. You can easily take a taxi from the airport directly to the water taxi station. Two regional airlines fly to Caye Caulker: Tropic Air and Maya Air. Depending on your travel dates, a roundtrip flight will cost you around $140 usd. If you are headed in or out of Belize City, flying might be an easy option to get you to your destination sooner but will cost about twice as much as the water taxi.

Once on the island, there are no cars. You can opt to take a golf cart, bike or walk around the island during your stay. Golf cart rides are overpriced for the distance. A quick ride from the water taxi to your hotel might run you $5-$10 usd. Most hotels offer free bikes to guests. Take advantage of them!

Where to Stay in Caye Caulker

I wouldn’t recommend our hotel (Barefoot Beach Belize) to folks, but perhaps it was our backpackers-style hut that was the culprit. It was basic accommodations- which I was expecting – but I wasn’t excited about the small bugs. But, I want to add that a couple staying in the main house told us how great their experience was. Who knows.

Here are two great alternatives:

Iguana Reef Inn – The resort’s main attraction for guests and non-guests alike is its Sea Horse Reserve, which features an ecosystem to revive the sea horse population in the area. Room rates start at around $169 during low season but a standard rate would be around $200-$250 a night. The rate includes use of bike, an arrival cocktail and daily breakfast.

Jan’s Hotel – This hotel is in a great location with a fair room rate and beach views. Rooms are simple, but the hotel is known for its incredible hospitality with endless 5-star reviews.

What to Do

Explore The Split

With its laidback lifestyle, The Split is a great place to relax with a bucket of beers and watch boats come and go through the island’s channel. The Lazy Lizard Bar and Grill is the Split’s main attraction with its cool music, ocean-side seating and island cocktails. If in season, be sure to try the lobster ceviche.

Hanging out at The Split is free, but cocktails will run you about $10 usd.

If it’s lobster season… Enjoy Lobster on the Beach

If you get the chance, be sure to visit Belize during lobster season. The season typically starts in June (in 2021 the season began in August) and runs through February. You can find fresh lobster grilling along the beach at small stalls and local restaurants everywhere in town. Some of the best I had was at a small shop to the right of the infamous Chef Kareem.

Snorkel in the Belize Barrier Reef

If you look in the distance, from Caye Caulker you’ll see a white break in the ocean. What you’re looking at is the second largest barrier reef in the world, the Belize Barrier Reef. Caye Caulker has numerous tour companies that specialize in snorkeling the reef. Caveman Snorkeling Tours is one of the best in the business. Half-day tours are priced at around $45 usd per person and include all gear, some snacks and water during the excursion. You’ll visit shark and ray alley to interact with nurse sharks and rays and head to the reef for some incredible snorkeling. By luck, you might even get the chance to swim with a manatee or two.

Cost Breakdown (5-Nights)

We spent a little over $2,000 usd for our trip to Belize. Most of the cost was our ultra-nice time in San Ignacio at the Mystic River Resort, which included a couple’s massage by the river and fancy meals nightly. However, we saved a lot on Airfare, having booked a Scott’s Cheap Flights deal for $140 a person on Delta. (Don’t miss my guide on how to find cheap flights anywhere in the world!) We also were lucky enough to split a private shuttle to with another couple from the resort to the water taxi. As to hotels, our not-so-great beach hut was only $45 a night for a “Pandemic Special,” which helped cut down our hotel cost and allowed us to splurge on the Mystic River.

Airfare: $280
Hotels: $595
Dining: $370
Entertainment $485
Transportation: $250
Other: $150 ($75 per person COVID test for US entry)
TOTAL: $2,135

Explore on. – K