Top San Ignacio Nature and Wildlife

Ride a horse to the Maya ceremonial center of Xunantunich on a 4-hour private tour from a legendary riding stable in San Ignacio. Follow your guide along the gentle Mopan River, and watch for tropical birds and howler monkeys among the trees. Enjoy a sweeping view of the Xunantunich complex, then spend an hour at the fascinating site; take in the towering El Castillo pyramid and enjoy the serenity of the rural spot as you ride through the partially excavated ruins before returning to San Ignacio.

Discover pristine forests, limestone caves and scenic waterfalls on a full-day trip to the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve from San Ignacio. Visit the hidden source of the Rio Frio river, then slip into the water at a series of natural pools and rock slides. Pause for a picnic lunch before continuing to Big Rock Falls, a 150-foot (46-meter) waterfall that gives off a cooling spray of mist as it tumbles into a clear, deep swimming hole, then return to San Ignacio through the rugged mountain terrain.

Explore the dominion of the ancient Maya in Belize on a full-day tour from San Ignacio. Climb to the top of sacred pyramids and learn about the once-mighty civilization at the archaeological site of Xunantunich, and enter a portal to the Mayan underworld on a cave tubing adventure that takes you splashing through the crystalline caverns of an underground cave system. Round-trip transport from San Ignacio Town and lunch are included on this tour.

Enjoy a full day of adventure by exploring a cave and temple from San Ignacio. Begin by heading to San Jose Succotz, a Maya village, where you’ll board a ferry to cross the Mopan River. From here, you’ll be immersed in beautiful jungle surrounding the Xunantunich Maya Temple. After exploring the temple with a guide, head to Actun Tunichil Muknal where you’ll hike and explore this natural cave steep in Mayan history and culture.

Journey into the heart of the Mayan underworld at the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave. Departing from San Ignacio, this guided, action-packed 9-hour tour kicks off with a 45-minute, physically intense jungle hike through the Tapir Nature Reserve to the entrance of the cave. Swim, climb, and spelunk your way through astonishing caverns into the depths of the cave, where you’ll get an up-close look at artifacts and offerings used in ancient Mayan ceremonies. Round-trip transport and riverside lunch are included. Please note this tour isn't recommended for those with a fear of enclosed spaces or heights.

End your time in Belize on a high note and take an economical airport shuttle to Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) from San Ignacio. Your driver meets you directly at your accommodation to begin your journey. After collecting all of the passengers, enjoy a swift transfer to the airport where you arrive with plenty of time before your departure flight.

Enjoy an easy, economical exit from Belize with this shared departure transfer from your San Ignacio hotel to Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE). This prompt, door-to-door shuttle service will pick you up at your hotel and take you directly to the international airport near Belize City, approximately a 1.5-hour ride.

Float through a flooded cave system then soar through the jungle canopy on a full-day combination tubing and ziplining adventure from San Ignacio with a small group. Hike through a lush forest to reach the Caves Branch River, then float alongside your guide as you explore the natural formations, glittering crystals and stalactites inside a spacious series of caverns. Swap your inner tube for a harness, then strap in to a series of exciting ziplines that take you from tree to tree with a bird’s-eye view of the forest floor. 

Visit the incredible ancient city of Tikal on this day trip from San Ignacio. Once a powerful city center during the Mayan period, today Tikal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws scores of visitors each year. Your professional guide takes you across the border into Tikal National Park in Guatemala, and leads you on a fascinating tour of the archaeological complex. Round-trip transport from your San Ignacio hotel and all park fees are included.

Float down a pristine river in the heart of the jungle with a full-day tubing and caving trip from San Ignacio. Strap on a helmet equipped with a waterproof headlamp, and hike into a cave entrance surrounded by lush foliage. Follow a gentle stream through a series of cavern passages, learn about the rich Maya history of the region, then enjoy a cool swim in the clear water. Visit a final cave to see a thriving bat colony and fantastic rock formations before returning to San Ignacio.

Awaken your inner archaeologist as you explore the sprawling Mayan ruins of Caracol. Departing from San Ignacio, you’ll journey deep into the jungles of Belize to the Chiquibul Forest Reserve — home to one of the largest Mayan sites in the country. Your expert guide will illuminate the fascinating history of Caracol, which was once a mighty city and a rival of neighboring Tikal in Guatemala. Explore magnificent plazas, temples, palaces, and an observatory while learning about the social and religious practices of the ancient Mayans. Round-trip transport from your San Ignacio hotel is included on this full-day tour.

Explore the ancient Maya city of Caracol with a full-day tour from San Ignacio that includes the Río On pools and the Río Frio caves. Follow your guide through the vast archaeological site, stand in the field of the ball court, and take in sweeping views of the jungle from the peak of the sky temple pyramid. Follow the history of Caracol in the glyphs, stelae, and carvings throughout the site, and then finish your day swimming in natural pools and visiting a vast limestone cave system in Pine Ridge.

See for yourself why Belize’s Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave is named one of the top caves in the world on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. After a hike through the jungle, swim across the flooded cave entrance to enter a complex system of underground caverns and tunnels that are only accessible with a licensed guide. Inside, with only a headlamp for light, walk among ancient Mayan artifacts and crystallized human remains.

Journey to the ancient Mayan ruins of Xunantunich atop a trusty steed on a half-day horseback riding adventure from San Ignacio. Ride along the Mopan River and through a private organic farm for a unique way to reach the fascinating archaeological site, where you can explore the remains of royal palaces and one of Belize’s largest ceremonial temples with a guide.

Explore the mysteries of the Mayan underworld with an expedition to Crystal Cave in Belize’s Blue Hole National Park. On this full-day trip from San Ignacio, a professional guide will lead you along a lush jungle trail to the cave entrance, where you’ll spelunk your way through glistening limestone formations and encounter ceremonial artifacts left behind by the ancient Maya. When you emerge back into the daylight, take a refreshing dip in the beautiful Blue Hole, a natural sinkhole surrounded by towering tropical forest. Lunch and round-trip transport from San Ignacio are included.

Get in gear for this Belize mountain biking adventure! Experience the magnificent Mayan ruins of Xunantunich in a way that few others do, reaching the archaeological site by way of a challenging single- and double-track ride. You’ll bike through a subtropical forest with an expert guide, then cross the Mopan River on a traditional hand-cranked ferry before riding to the hilltop ruins. Take in the panoramic views from the top of the imposing El Castillo temple and explore other highlights of the ancient city. The tour includes round-trip transport from your San Ignacio hotel. 

Discover highlights of Belize’s western Cayo District on a full-day combo adventure, beginning with a horseback ride through lush jungle and riverside trails. Follow in the footsteps of ancient Mayan royalty and climb to the top of a giant sacred pyramid at the Xunantunich archaeological site, and taste local flavor with a typical Belizean lunch. Finish on a sweet note with a chocolate-making tour where you'll learn to grind raw cacao beans and transform them into silky, decadent chocolate.

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.

Venture deep into Belize’s rain forest to the ‘Forgotten Jungle City’ of Minanha on a full-day horseback riding adventure from San Ignacio. Trek through the Maya Mountains on a trusty steed to reach the archaeological site, where you can explore hidden caves, ceremonial temples, and burial chambers left behind by an ancient Mayan civilization.

Experience two Belizean cultures on a full-day trip from San Ignacio to a Maya village and Barton Creek, a conservative Mennonite community. Browse local handicrafts at a trio of women’s collectives, learn about Maya farming techniques, and enjoy a traditional local lunch. Continue to Barton Creek, where the Mennonites maintain a simple way of life using horse-drawn buggies, conservative religious clothing and few modern amenities. Learn the stories behind this German-speaking tropical culture, and get an insider’s look at Belize’s remarkable diversity.   

Ride a horse deep into the countryside on a 2-hour private riding tour from San Ignacio along the Kiskadee Trail, and explore open pasture, jungle trails and the scenic Mopan River. Watch for parrots, herons and kiskadees as you follow your guide along a gentle path that’s appropriate for all skill levels, then pause to visit an ancient Maya site. Take in the tropical sounds of bird song and monkey calls, and enjoy the serenity of this rural valley before finishing your tour with return transfer to San Ignacio.

Ride a horse through an organic farm in San Lorenzo on a 2-hour tour that explores traditional agriculture, cattle farming and locally-grown medicinal plants. Follow your guide through fruit, vegetable and herb gardens, then try riding horseback across the gentle Mopan River. Watch for tropical birds and monkeys as you enjoy the leisurely pace of life in the Belizean countryside and finish your tour with return transfer to San Ignacio. 

Journey to the heart of ‘Xibalba,’ the ancient Mayan underworld, inside the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (ATM Cave). Named one of the top caves in the world by National Geographic, ATM is only accessible with an expert guide to lead you through a labyrinth of flooded passageways, tight squeezes, and steep climbs. It's all worth it to walk through glittering caverns strewn with 1,000-year old pottery and the chilling remains of human sacrifice victims.