San Ignacio, Belize

What to Do:

1. Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour – This was my FAVORITE thing we did in San Ignacio. Book reservations for this ahead of time – it sells out quickly and there are a limited amount of tour guides!  This cave is one of the most popular Mayan burial sites in all of Belize. (**If you do this, book Patrick as your tour guide – he was unbelizeableee )
2. Hiking – I recommend the Masewal Forest Garden Medicinal Trail or Belize Botanical Gardens.
3. Ancient Mayan Ruins Xunantunich – Plan on spending 2-3 hours at these beautiful Mayan Ruins. If you aren’t able to make a day trip out to Tikal National Park – I definitely recommend going to Xunantunich!
4. San Ignacio Market – This market is near the center of San Ignacio and you will find an amazing section of fruits, vegetables and souvenirs. There were also a ton of street vendors set up selling breakfast!
5. Chaa Creek National History Museum – A great way to learn about the Belize culture and heritage!
6. Ziplining – You will find a ton of different companies that offer zip lining throughout Belize. You can find a jungle canopy and zip lining tour near San Ignacio here.
7. Take a day trip: Tikal National Park, Guatemala. – This would be my number one recommendation if you are wanting to take a day trip anywhere. Tikal National Park is home to ancient mayan ruins located in the rainforests of Guatemala. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking. I thought visiting a national park in July would be really crowded – but it wasn’t at all and it seemed like we had the whole place to ourselves which was amazing!

 

Ambergris Caye/ Caye Caulker

What to do:

1. Hol Chan Marine Reserve – This reserve is in close proximity to Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker. This is a great place to go snorkeling and/or diving! The wildlife and coral reef is absolutely stunning. We saw turtles, sting rays, sharks, eels, and even a lionfish to name a few!
2. Shark Ray Alley – Shark Ray Alley is such a neat experience, and no the sharks are not scary! (As long as you follow the rules and listen to your tour guide!) I was expecting to see maybe 3 0r 4 sharks but there were dozens. Very cool! You can visit Shark Ray Alley combined with going diving in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve – or you can just do one of the other. I recommend both! 😉
3. Sunset Cruise – Reggae music, complimentary Rum punch, and a watching a beautiful sunset while sailing on the Caribbean sea? Nuff said.
4. “Secret” Beach – While in Belize we met a local who gave us directions to find this “secret beach.” (Which is apparently not so secret anymore.) Check here for suggestions for the top 5 swimming spots in Ambergris Caye.
5. Kayaking – I have always loved kayaking, but kayaking in Belize with crystal clear water and beautiful scenery is a whole new experience! Many hotels and resorts will offer kayaking free of charge during your stay.
6. Blue Hole – If you are into diving – you can not miss out on going to the Blue Hole! The Blue Hole has made it on variations of “7 Wonders of the World,” lists.

 

Packing List:

1. Your passport!
2. Sunglasses
3. Camera
4. Bug spray
5. Flashlight
6. Closed toe shoes/Hiking Shoes
7. Water shoes
8. Sunscreen
9. Hat
10. Swim Shirt – (WEAR one while snorkeling or you will be burnt as a lobster like me)
11. Electronics/Chargers/Memory Cards: Stores/gift shops or resorts may have some of these items available for purchase – but in my experience many places overpriced these items so I would recommend double checking bringing these things!
12. Mask, Fins, and Snorkel (if you don’t want to pay to rent)
13. Money: $1.00 U.S dollar = $2.00 Belize dollars (Pro tip: Everywhere we went accepted the U.S. dollar – but change is provided in Belize dollars) ***In addition, for those of you who decide to take a day trip to Tikal National Park, the exchange is 1 Us Dollar = about 7.5 Guatemalan dollars)

I hope you enjoyed this travel guide! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at thekalonblog@gmail.com if you have any questions! 🙂

XOXO,

Katie Gibbons // The Kalon Blog