San Ignacio, Belize Luxury Hotels and Destination

The Best of Both Worlds

Part of the charm of Belize is that it offers the best of both the coastal world and the inland world. Most luxury hotel travelers are drawn to the renowned beaches and cays of Belize, but you should know that the stunning beauty, utter relaxation and all the adventure you can handle awaits you miles inland in the city of San Ignacio. Known as “Cayo” to the locals, this tropical rainforest city is located ninety minutes from Belize City and is one of Belize’s most prized tourist attractions. As soon as you step outside your luxury hotel, you’ll step foot into a world brimming with colorful culture, beautiful surroundings and exciting sights and sounds. There’s no better place to experience all that San Ignacio has to offer than from the comfort of a luxury hotel. Combine this with the expert care and fine attention to detail provided by your luxury hotel staff and you will feel relaxed and energized by the end of your stay.

San Ignacio Luxury Hotels

Imagine hiking through an authentic, untouched rainforest. Imagine seeing animals you thought existed only in your imagination. Now, imagine ending up such an adventure filled day in a Jacuzzi hot tub, overlooking the same rainforest you have just hiked through. This is the kind of exciting sensory experience that San Ignacio luxury hotels are just waiting to offer. San Ignacio luxury hotels are more than just your standard economy hotel—you can dive into the rugged nature all around you completely uninhibitedly because you know that at the end of every adventure you have the luxury of returning to the heightened standard of comfort and attention offered to you by the staff of your elegant small hotel. At your Belize luxury hotel, magical rivers and natural wonder are all at your fingertips. When you finally decide to give in to the wakeup call of the warm sun piercing through your window, after you untangle your well-rested limbs from the plush luxury linens of your comfortable bed and after you indulge in the complimentary spa products to help shake the last of your morning grogginess, take a moment to smile at the thought of a delicious Belizean style hearty breakfast waiting to fuel you for the day’s coming adventures. These are the indulgences appointed to luxury hotel travelers, the peace of mind that someone else has taken the time to ensure that everything is absolutely perfect for your arrival and adjusted for your entire stay. You can also gain peace of mind by taking advantage of your luxury hotel concierge—an invaluable resource for insider’s information on the many local cultural, architectural and natural wonders of San Ignacio, Belize. Luxury hotel travelers expect personal service and in San Ignacio, deep in the heart of the Belizean rainforest, that expectation will be fulfilled many times over. State of the art facilities, world-class spa treatments and first-rate cuisine await you in this place that you thought could exist only in your fantasies. A stay in a San Ignacio luxury hotel gives you a little bit of everything-- complete, pampered luxury and outdoor adventures.

Outdoor Wonderland

It is impossible to put the beauty of the Belizean rainforest into words. Imagine meandering rivers with mossy banks, large, shaded trees that house a wealth of exotic animals and colors everywhere-- from the red painted butterfly to the vivid purple and blue flowers that dot the landscape. Your camera is sure to get a work out! One of the most amazing things about the San Ignacio outdoors is the accessibility and the prevalence of Mayan ruins. By simply exploring the land around you, you can come across half excavated temples and caves (like Chechem Hah, a cave filled with Mayan artifacts) as they are dotted throughout the forest. It’s easy to lose a sense of time as you take a moment to imagine how this great ancient civilization used to live. A visit to the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Preserve is also a must see while exploring San Ignacio. There, you'll see a protected, subtropical pine forest that winds along the Macal River. The Mayan city of Caracol is located inside the Preserve, as well as Barton Creek Cave, a site that artifacts suggest was used for ancient, secret rituals. If you just want to tramp around the rain forest, there are a host of guided tours available. Horseback riding through the jungle or just relaxing and watching birds are two favorite activities. Even a novice bird watcher will appreciate the spectacular beauty of the rare, natural birds that inhabit the land. If you want to take to the Macal River, a canoeing or kayaking trip is available. Floating along on the river is an ideal way to take in the beauty and glory of your surroundings, all while having a memorable adventure maneuvering your vessel in the water. You'll pass villagers who wash their clothes on the riverbanks, sharing the hot afternoon sun with the fat iguanas perched on nearby rocks. Your knowledgeable guide will point out the wildlife that lives on top of and around the rock-wall formations that flank the river. Keeping an eye out for all of these wonderful things can tire out even the strongest of world travelers. But don’t despair; your luxury hotel is minutes away! There you can clean up using luxury accommodations, rest in the peaceful décor of your elegant hotel room, look through the amazing pictures you've taken during your adventure and feel completely pampered.

San Ignacio Attractions

While you may often find yourself amazed at the beauty of the natural surroundings, you’ll also gain a long-lasting impression from the wealth of local Belizean culture inside the limits of the town itself. It is certainly worth venturing from your luxury hotel in San Ignacio in order to take in the city life of Belize's second largest urban area. Mild days and cool nights make wandering the streets of this spectacular city comfortable and enjoyable. Vivid paint colors on historic buildings and friendly locals selling homemade artisan jewelry and fresh fruit line the streets. Find yourself strolling Burns Avenue on a Saturday and you’ll be delightfully surrounded by stands of local and nearby town merchants selling the best of their tropical fruits, jewelry, produce and much more. Downtown San Ignacio has been compared to an "Old West" American town and once there, you'll see how accurate this description is. Wooden sidewalks flank buildings with low-slung porches and frequent "watering holes" make downtown San Ignacio a fun and vibrant place to walk through.

If you're hungry, stop at the farmer's market where you'll find fresh fruits and vegetables handpicked from local farms. The farmer’s market delivers sweetness and bounty like you’ve never seen or tasted before. To give your taste buds something to sing about, try the fresh citrus, pineapple and tomatoes, as these are juicy flavor-packed treats. As a luxury hotel traveler, you can be sure to find some of these delectable fresh ingredients on your luxury hotel restaurant menu. Of course, if shopping is the order of the day, then the farmer's market also offers handmade jewelry, trinkets and even toys for you to bring back home for your little ones. Don't worry about getting around San Ignacio, either. The town is perfectly situated for walking but also has a frequent and reliable bus system that will not only carry you through the town itself, but around the whole country, should you desire.

When you’re ready to take an afternoon off from exploring the Mayan ruins and buying out the local merchants, take a few hours to appreciate the plant world at the Belize Botanical Garden. Learn about countless species of plants and their benefits to human health and wellbeing in this 45-acre facility of native and exotic plants.

Adventure in San Ignacio is served on a silver platter by most luxury hotel concierge services. Inquire about such activities as all-day horseback riding tours, zip-line canopy tours, trips to Mayan ruins, caves, sink holes, kayaking and canoeing, jungle hiking and much, much more.

Nearby Treasures

Not far from this supremely located luxury destination, you’ll discover a truly amazing sector of Central America just waiting your perusal. If you can drag yourself away from the lavishness and magnificent ambience of your luxury San Ignacio hotel, for example, just two hours away and across the border in Guatemala is one of the world's foremost examples of spectacular Mayan architecture—the ancient city of Tikal. Sprawling grasses and huge stone pyramids and temples deep in the heart of the jungle will thrill and excite you. Monkeys will hoot at you as you hike and the cool jungle breezes will invigorate you and urge you to keep going all day. Located nearby is a Guatemalan market where you will find authentic Mayan crafts and souvenirs to take home. Imagine an unforgettable vacation where the beauty and excitement of timeless natural splendors and past civilizations await you.

San Ignacio Luxury Experience

Teeming with Guatemala-bound travelers, archaeologists, peace corps workers, North American retirees and thrill seekers, "Cayo" is a jungle wonderland that offers something of interest to everyone. The next time you feel like it’s time for a vacation, choose a San Ignacio luxury hotel where the stresses of work and life will be pampered out of your system, and where you’ll reacquaint yourself with the adventure seeker present in all of us.