Top San Ignacio How to Get Around

Discover the ancient majesty of Xunantunich, a prominent ceremonial center in Belize known as 'Stone Woman.' This tour leads you across the Mopan River on a hand-operated ferry, immersing you in the lush jungle as you approach the impressive ruins. Marvel at El Castillo, the towering pyramid adorned with intricate stucco friezes, and climb to its summit for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and Guatemala. Guided exploration of ceremonial plazas and ancient structures reveals the rich history and culture of the Maya civilization. - Explore the ancient ruins of Xunantunich with a professional local guide - Cross the Mopan River on a unique hand-operated ferry - Climb El Castillo for breathtaking views of Belize and Guatemala - Includes park entrance fees, round-trip transportation, and bottled water

Visit Central America's most legendary ancient Mayan site on a private day trip to Tikal, located across the border from Belize in Guatemala. Get help crossing the border for a stress-free entrance to the archaeological site, and spend the day exploring the mighty and mysterious ruins of temples, plazas, royal apartments, and more with a guide. Look for wildlife like howler monkeys and toucans while trekking through the rainforests that surround the UNESCO-listed site, and recharge with included lunch at a restaurant inside the park.

Make a day trip to the Tikal Maya ruins easy with round-trip transportation from San Ignacio and lunch included. Enjoy the scenery on the ride from Belize deep into the Guatemalan rain forest, one of the world's largest protected forests. Explore the site with your guide, learning about the palaces and temples of the ancient civilization through insightful commentary.

This shared Xunantunich tour from San Ignacio focuses on the details that make the ancient city memorable, beginning with the hand-cranked ferry across the Mopan River. Climb the limestone ridge and walk through six ceremonial plazas containing more than 25 temples and palaces. At El Castillo, your guide explains the carved friezes and their symbolism, the role of Maya rulers, religious ceremony, astronomy, and Xunantunich’s connections across the Cayo region. The elevated setting and views toward Guatemala help travelers understand why this location mattered, while the guide’s interpretation turns walls and plazas into a story about the people who built and used them. Because the experience concentrates on one archaeological reserve, guests can develop a clearer understanding instead of treating the Maya ruins as a quick photo stop. The shared format offers an enjoyable way to explore with other travelers while retaining a strong educational focus.

Come experience Belize’s Subtropical jungle when you Zip lining over the forest canopy and fly over the spectacular view of the Caves Branch River. The rainforest is home to a rich diversity of insects, birds and animals such as the spider monkeys and kinkajous which are spotted during the zip lining tour. You are fastened to a harness which is attached to a cable. The experienced guides will instruct you on how to push off from the platform and soar into the forest canopy. The tour is 30 minutes of aerial jungle tour zip lining through a series of 8 platforms. MINIMUM 2 PERSONS

Without question- the Overnight Caving Expedition is by far the most fun-filled and ambitiously adventurous guided tour that you can add to your bucket list of fun things to do in Belize! Created to include the famous Black Hole Drop, this adventure takes you completely off the beaten path and allows you to camp out at the Awe-Inspiring rim stone dam entrance of the Actun Loch Tunich river cave system. Camp is set up inside the entrance and dinner prepared. Then on to exploring the upper crystal chambers which were the ceremonial sites of the ancient Maya. The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, you trek down another 400 feet along cave cliff walls on routes of the ancient Maya to the Actun Loch Tunich underground river, with over 24 kilometers of mapped passageways. Explore in the steps of the ancient Maya, past bubbling springs and an underground waterfall.

Go on an adventure to this incredible sacred cave in Belize. Drive from San Ignacio to Actun Tunichil Muknal, otherwise known as the Cave of the Stone Sepulchre. Here, you’ll follow guides as you wade through rivers and hike through the jungle to reach the cave entrance. Explore the stalactites, boulders and chambers of the cave, until you reach the remains of Crystal Maiden, believed to once have been a sacrificial offering to Gods.

Take a voyage along the scenic Belize River on this canoeing excursion from San Ignacio. Starting at the river’s origin where the Mopan and Macal rivers merge, you’ll paddle with the gentle current while your expert guide points out highlights of local flora and fauna. Be on the lookout for iguanas, monkeys, and colorful birds as you make your way along the river’s twists and bends!

Explore the Maya Ruin of Caracol and learn its history. Learn the history of how the Caracol was founded before the Common Era. Spend time hiking, touring, having fun, and taking pictures to commemorate the experience. Then, you visit the Rio Frio cave and check out the enormous bolder, stone chandeliers, water pools, and waterfalls. At Rio On Pools, you can enjoy sunbathing, water massages, relaxation, and swimming at a natural spa.

Follow the footsteps of the ancient Maya on a full-day trip to Caracol from San Ignacio, and go deep into the jungle to discover a remarkable archeological site. Watch for bright tropical birds and howler monkeys as you explore the sprawling ruined city, and take in views of rolling forest canopy from the top of the Caana pyramid. Trace the history of the site in a vivid series of carved stelae and stone altars, then visit a natural swimming pool in the Mountain Pine Ridge before returning to the city.

This Xunantunich and horseback riding tour from San Ignacio combines two close-up ways of experiencing the Cayo landscape. Cross the Mopan River by hand-cranked ferry and explore Xunantunich’s plazas, palaces, carved friezes, and El Castillo with a local guide who explains Maya rulership, ceremony, astronomy, and regional connections. At Banana Bank Lodge & Jungle Horseback Adventures, meet the ranch team, receive a safety orientation, and ride through tropical trails and riverside countryside on a horse selected for your ability. The transition from ancient ceremonial architecture to working Belize ranch country gives the day unusual depth and variety. Travelers first see how the Maya built above the river valley, then experience the surrounding countryside at trail level from horseback. Because both experiences are rooted in the Cayo District, they feel naturally connected rather than assembled as unrelated stops.

Explore the mysteries of the Mayan underworld without getting bogged down with booking taxis and tickets on an expedition to Crystal Cave in Belize’s Blue Hole National Park. On this full-day trip from San Ignacio, a guide will lead you along a lush jungle trail to the cave entrance, where you’ll spelunk your way through limestone formations and encounter ceremonial artifacts left behind by the ancient Maya. You'll also visit the Blue Hole, a natural sinkhole surrounded by tropical forest.

Travel from San Ignacio into the jungles of northern Belize on a small-group day tour that makes it easier to reach the remote Lamanai ruins. Cruise along the New River to the archaeological site, avoiding complex road routes and turning the journey itself into part of the experience. Once there, explore the temples, plazas, and former royal areas with a guide who provides context on the ancient Maya city.

Experience the ancient history and wild landscapes of Belize’s Cayo District on this small-group kayaking and temple combo tour from San Ignacio. Walk among the ruins of a once-mighty Mayan civilization at the archaeological site of Xunantunich, and then test your paddling skills as you kayak down the rapids of the Mopan River. It’s a great way to get your fill of culture and adventure in a single day.

An unforgettable and amazing experience exploring the waterfall cave. Have fun and enjoy an adrenaline rush as you climb up the thundering waterfall cave to the top of the cascade. This trip is the total package, starting with a hike to the cave entrance before gear ingup at the waterfalls to start climbing.

Discover the magic of the Maya underworld without the crowds. This tour features small group sizes for a highly personalized, premium experience from start to finish. Tour Highlights: • Small-Group Guarantee: Enjoy individual attention and a relaxed pace with fewer guests per guide. • All-Inclusive Transport: Stress-free, convenient hotel pickup and drop-off included within 10km of San Ignacio. • Authentic Sit-Down Lunch: Fuel up after your adventure with a delicious, freshly prepared meal. • The Adventure: Journey to the spectacular Nohoch Che'en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve to gear up and float through an ancient cave system on a guided cave tubing expedition. This tour begins at 8:30am and concludes around 2:30pm.

Experience the wonder and natural beauty of Belize with this Caves Branch adventure tour. During your visit, you’ll board a raft for a float through the caves and passageways of this underground world, looking for ancient Mayan cave paintings and rock formations along the way. You'll also enjoy a zip line tour, where you can experience a thrilling aerial adventure as you glide above the rainforest canopy, looking for spider monkeys and other wildlife.

Visit one of the true travel wonders of the world, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tikal Maya. Hear the stories of the fascinating Maya civilization, including human sacrifices and complex political power, from your guide as you wander around the complex. With over 1000 structures surrounded by jungle, you'll spend the day around the temple complex with a transfer back to your hotel afterwards.

Discover some of Belize’s top natural attractions with ease on an 8.5-tour of Crystal Cave (Mountain Cow Cave) in the Blue Hole National Park from San Ignacio. Following a moderately challenging hike, you’ll descend to Xibalba, the reputed entrance to the Mayan underworld, and marvel at stalagmites, stalactites, and crystal formations. Plus, you’ll swim in the Blue Hole and enjoy a hearty lunch accompanied by rum punch.

“Butts Up!” Says Damian, as the rushing fresh water takes you away. The forty-five-minute hike feels so little yet so exciting as you walk through the humid green forest. The smell of fresh air filling up your lungs and the feeling of the cool breeze touching your skin makes it a whole new adventure. “We are here!” exclaims Damian. That’s when you know the best is about to begin. Gearing up, positioning yourselves in your tube and preparing for approximately 1 hour and forty-five minutes of effortless adventure is quite astounding. Let’s leave the hard work to mother nature and let's have some fun. Down you go, as the currents wash you away. Cold and dark is the new ambient as you enter the underworld of the Mayas. “Headlights on” orders Damian, as the daylight slowly fades away. Resting in your tube while flashing the glittery walls of the cave is mesmerizing and adds a sense of relaxation to one’s mood.

Enjoy a full day tour from San Ignacio across the border to Guatemala’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tikal. You’ll be driven to the famous temple complex to learn more about the ancient Maya civilization with a guide and admire the incredible relics. You’ll be given plenty of time to wander amongst the more than 3000 preserved sites in the complex, before enjoying a delicious local lunch upon your journey back.

Combine two fun activities into one full-day tour—a hassle-free alternative to managing multiple reservations—on this action-packed adventure from San Ignacio. Float through the largest cave system in Central America during a tubing session, and spot glittering crystals and stalactites inside a series of spacious caverns. Then, strap in for an exciting zipline journey from tree to tree with a bird’s-eye view of the forest floor.

Take an adventure in Belize at the Caves Branch, Nohoch Che’en. Take to the water with friends for an unforgettable few hours of fun in part of the country's largest cave system. Hike to the caves and enjoy beautiful scenery along the way. Once there, see Mayan paintings on the cave ceilings as you glide alongside schools of fish past stalactites. Learn about the history of the caves from your guide and enjoy cave tubing, kayaking and zip-lining on site.

Discover Tikal, an ancient Mayan site on the Guatemala border, on this two-day excursion from San Ignacio. Enjoy sunrise and sunset tours, with overnight stay at a jungle lodge. Listen to the jungle come alive during the early morning tour when howler monkeys, coatimundi, wild pigs, foxes, and jaguars are active. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included to keep you energized throughout your adventure.