Overview
Take a trip to San Pedro on your Belize Vacation
Located on the banks of the Macal and Mopan Rivers, San Ignacio is the capital of the Cayo District in western Belize. In recent years, San Ignacio has absorbed the nearby village of Santa Elena and the two towns are connected by a suspension bridge across the Macal River built in 1949, all to be discovered on a Belize vacation.
The town was initially known as El Cayo by the Spanish but became well-known thanks to mahogany and chicle production under British rule. San Ignacio was officially declared a town by the government of British Honduras on 19 October 1904. Today, the town is an excellent base for exploring the many ancient sites that surround it and is also a transit town for those travelling to and from Guatemala.
There are many ancient Maya archaeological sites found near San Ignacio that make the town popular with tourists on a trip to Belize. Actun Tunichil Muknal is a cave that was once a sacrificial burial site that contains many Maya skeletons, ceramics and stoneware. It is famous for “The Crystal Maiden”, a set of teenage remains that have been almost entirely covered in limestone crystals. Caracol is also nearby and served as an important political centre during the Classic Period. Caracol covered an area larger than Belize City supporting more than twice the modern city’s population. Xunantunich, Belize’s most visited Mayan site, is located on a hilltop that forms six groups with around twenty-five temples and palaces.
At a Glance
Languages
EnglishCurrency
Belize Dollar (BZD)What do the experts say?
The Garifuna Settlement Day (November 19) is a powerful celebration of music, dance, and drumming that honors the Garifuna people’s arrival to Belize. It’s one of the most vibrant cultural events in the country.
Belize combines the Caribbean’s laid-back vibe with Central America’s cultural richness. You can snorkel the second-largest barrier reef in the world in the morning and explore ancient Mayan temples in the afternoon. Few destinations offer that contrast so seamlessly.
Globetrotters should look to visit Hopkins Village — a coastal community with strong Garifuna roots. It’s less touristy than Ambergris Caye but offers beautiful beaches, authentic culture, and easy access to both reef and rainforest.
Many assume Belize is only about the beach and reef. In reality, its inland adventures are just as extraordinary — lush jungles, hidden caves with Mayan artifacts, and wildlife encounters rival Costa Rica.
Most Popular Time to Travel
Know when to go.
Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
San PedroMostly Sunny
34°C / 93°F
15mm / 0.6"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
-
Travel Stories
Get Inspired About Your Trip to Belize
Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.
With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
ExcellentBased on 5,174 ReviewsThe most amazing experience with Goway!! Phoebe did an amazing job planing the best trip to Paris, Florence and Venice with a great mix of relaxing and adventure days. Will be recommending to other travellers. Always someone available which is great when you are travelling in different time zones. Overall cannot be more happy with our experience working with Goway Lauren BouwOur rep at GoWay, Kimberly, was fantastic from start to finish. She came up with the exact itinerary we wanted for Melbourne, Uluru, Cairns and Sydney, and assisted us with both international and domestic flights to help us get the best rates. Once we were on the trip, everything flowed seamlessly and every tour and transport was on time.Lisa WildesAs a travel agent, this is not the first time I’ve chosen to work with Goway for organizing my clients’ trip, this time to Chile, and once again, the experience was outstanding from start to finish.
Throughout the entire process, I could count on truly professional service from Susanna. My clients are very experienced travelers and requested a highly customized itinerary, including many unique experiences that are not typically included in standard tour programs. There were also several occasions when, on behalf of my clients, I requested changes to an already prepared itinerary.
Susanna was consistently helpful, patient, understanding, and — just as importantly — incredibly kind and pleasant to work with. It was clear that she genuinely cared about creating the best possible experience for my clients. I’m also certain that much of the work she put in went well beyond standard hours and expectations.
My clients returned absolutely delighted with their vacation, which is always the greatest confirmation of a job well done.
Thank you, Susanna, for your dedication and exceptional support. And thank you, Goway, for another wonderful experience!BeataOur family trip to Machu Picchu was absolutely incredible, thanks to RuthAnne Leonty. Every tour was thoughtfully organized and the guides were top-notch. The private transportation and transfers were flawless, making everything run smoothly with zero stress from start to finish. Not a single hiccup...just an amazing experience!BarbWe booked our 3,week tour of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and overall it was an excellent experience. I typically book my own travel, but travelling with a group and wanting tours in each destination made GoWay a great choice. We had great hotels and good guides in each city. I will say that our standout guide was Romeo Tran in Ho Chi Minh City. We spent a few days in the city, as well as an over night boat ride on the delta, and he was fantastic. We had alot of fun with him, and would highly recommend him in particular. Neil BraunWe booked a Viking cruise (Venice to Athens) through Goway Travel and it was fantastic! Our agent Kimberly was extremely helpful with air travel options, choosing excursions, and suggestions for pre and post cruise activities. Great communications and a really enjoyable experience.StanleyWe booked through Paula Williamson in the Toronto office, a Great Journeys New Zealand trip and it was fantastic! Although I had already scheduled a trip on The Ghan train in Australia, Paula helped me work it all as one huge 45 day trip including Bali Indonesia. My favorite was the New Zealand trip as I’d never been there before and the tour guide Toni was so spectacular and caring. I’m so pleased Goway was involved and I didn’t require any additional assistance once We'd started the first flight March 8.
If we do another overseas trip, Goway will be involved.JohnMichael Keon arranged our recent trip to Malta. I gave him a rough outline of what we were looking for and he responded quickly making great suggestions, offering alternatives as needed and booking everything. The hotel, excursions and transport he arranged were all exactly what we hoped for. We will be asking Michael to book our future European vacations. Mayssa MirshakOsvaldo Gonzalez was an excellent rep to work with when planning my client's Costa Rica vacation. He was efficient and timely with every correspondence. My clients had an amazing time! Rachel HoeingOur first trip with Goway was a total joy. Shalini worked with me to plan a trip for 5 adults to Portugal. She is a gem! Always responded quickly and offered great suggestions for activities, worked with our preferences and created an ideal itinerary for a week in Porto and Lisbon. The tours were excellent with engaging local guides. The food tour in Lisbon was a highlight. Everything was top notch - flight schedule, hotels, activities, even the weather! Patricia
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified