How to get from Caye Caulker to San Ignacio
A trip to Belize is not complete without a trip inland to the jungle town of San Ignacio. Getting from the coast to San Ignacio is pretty easy with just a bit of planning. With many options to choose from and a variety of experiences to be had at both the islands and inland, it’s worth visiting both parts of Belize to see what the country truly has to offer.
Here is the complete guide to getting from Caye Caulker to San Ignacio:
Getting around Belize
Belize is a small country that is very easy to navigate. Depending on the type of experience you are creating, getting a rental car could be a good option. I always recommend running the numbers to help you decide if renting a car, taking public transportation or taxis will be best.
Flying into Belize City
The only international airport you can fly into is Belize City. From there you can easily get anywhere in the country in a matter of a few hours. Depending on where you’re going in Belize you can hire a driver, take a taxi, or even the local bus to your destination.
All major airlines operate into Belize City, including Southwest and Alaska Airlines. You can use Flight Connections to help you determine flight routes and days flown to help you find the best price.
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.
If you opt to take the water taxi, you’ll need to first get to the water taxi station. You’ll need to take a taxi from the airport to the station, which is around $25 usd. Once there you can purchase your ticket at the counter. All the water taxis go to all the islands. They’ll tell you which stop is yours from the ticket you purchase.
Be sure to check out my Complete Guide to Belize!
Getting from Caye Caulker to San Ignacio
There are many ways to get from Caye Caulker to San Ignacio. The easiest way to do it is to first backtrack back to Belize City, but you can also take a small plane directly from Caye Caulker to San Ignacio.
Getting back to Belize City
If you decide to go by car or local bus you’ll need to first get back to Belize City. The easiest and cheapest ways to travel to Belize City is heading back with the water taxi.
Getting there by car
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.
You can also rent a car at the airport in Belize City. Driving in Belize is very easy and if the price is right, renting a car will give you more freedom to explore. The only recommendation is getting a car with 4-wheel drive since roads to many experiences outside of San Ignacio will require it.
Getting there by local bus
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.
Getting there by plane
There are no direct flights from San Ignacio to Caye Caulker. You can take a water taxi back to Belize City and then a taxi to to airport. The flights from Belize City to San Ignacio are fair expensive and only cut an hour off the time it takes by shuttle or hired car.
Taking a guided tour
If you just want to go to San Ignacio for a day, maybe to check out the ATM cave, you can go on a guided tour. Tours are usually arranged through Belize City companies and they’ll arrange your transport from the Island to San Ignacio and back.
You can book a guided tour to the ATM Cave from Belize City.
Bottom Line
With a lot of choices to fit your budget and timeline, you can easily get from Caye Caulker to San Ignacio. San Ignacio is certainly a great travel destination in Belize. I’d recommend anyone take the time to visit it on their trip!
