How to get to San Ignacio Town From Belize City/Belize International Airport

Home » Belize Travel Blog » How to get to San Ignacio Town From Belize City/Belize International Airport

June 1, 2021

How to get to San Ignacio Town From Belize City/Belize International Airport

The town of San Ignacio is accessible by domestic flights from Tropic Air, or can arrive via bus or by private vehicle. The most popular nearby transportation hubs are Belize City, Belmopan (the capital of Belize), and destinations in neighboring Guatemala. For convenience and affordability, visitors to San Ignacio are commended to arrange transportation in advance.

Many hotels and resorts in Belize offer guided tour packages and shuttle services to San Ignacio. The Cahal Pech Village Resort, conveniently located in the heart of Cayo District, offers outstanding accommodations at affordable prices. Cahal Pech also offers guided tours to attractions in and around San Ignacio, as well as safe and reliable transportation to and from the city.

Arriving by Car

The second-largest town in Belize, San Ignacio is easily accessible by car. The Western Highway connects San Ignacio to the rest of the country, a modern paved roadway free of pot holes, with several convenient gas stations located throughout. After arriving at the town of San Ignacio & Santa Elena (the sister town of San Ignacio), you'll have to cross a one-way wooden bridge. If you are heading west, make a right turn, heading downhill to cross the bridge into San Ignacio Town. Many visitors miss this crucial turn, so feel free to ask the locals for directions if you get lost.

When leaving San Ignacio Town, cross the Hawksworth Bridge, the only modern suspension bridge in the country.

Arriving by Bus

Many local buses serve San Ignacio from Belize City, but these are generally less comfortable, with no air-conditioning or separate storage areas for luggage. The trip between Belize City and San Ignacio takes about two and a half hours, with multiple stops in between. A few express buses also run between the two cities, although far less frequently.

For visitors heading to San Ignacio from Flores in Guatemala, you'll have to take a tuk-tuk (local taxi) to the Nueva bus station in Santa Elena, Flores. Ticket prices are 5 Guatemalan Quetzals. From Santa Elena, Flores, mini-vans depart at the top of every hour for the Belizean border, with tickets costing 30 Guatemalan Quetzals. Once across the border in Belize, taxis can take you to San Ignacio for about $15 US dollars (30 Belizean Dollars). Alternatively, you can take a bus for about $7.5 US (15 BZD).

Far easier than dealing with negotiating multiple overcrowded buses and cabbies trying to hustle rides is arranging for convenient door-to-door shuttle service with Cahal Pech Village Resort to any destination in Belize.

By Shuttle

The Cahal Pech Village Resort offers safe and reliable shuttle service between Belize City International Airport, or any other airport in the country, with door-to-door service to San Ignacio, as well as to throughout Belize, and onward to further destinations in Guatemala and Mexico.

Getting Around San Ignacio Town

As a busy and thriving town, San Ignacio has modern, paved roads, and traffic is generally light. Sidewalks and smooth roads make for easy navigation by bicycle or on foot, and a wide variety of accommodations, restaurants, and markets are within easy walking distance from downtown. To reach the nearby Mayan ruins, or to travel outside of San Ignacio, it's a simple process to join a tour group, ride a local bus, or drive your personal vehicle.

Most locals prefer to ride the buses, making them a great way to obtain an authentic Belizean experience for very little money. With multiple stops, local buses are not always the fastest way to get around, but offer a great chance to marvel at the lush tropical countryside.

Questions about our Belize Shuttle Services or visiting San Ignacio and the Cayo District? Contact us at info@cahalpech.com or call toll free 239 494 3281. We’d love to help you plan your Belize vacation.