San Ignacio 30.5.2017

After visiting Belize Zoo, I took a bus with a label of "BENQUE" at front.  I thought it should go to Belmopan from where I could have the change to San Ignacio.  When I got off at Belmopan and asked which bus to board on heading to San Ignacio, they pointed me back to the same bus.

San Ignacio

Macal River and the bridge next to the market area

Road split and roundabout to enter San Ignacio (the centre) from Santa Elena

Bus stop - heart of the town

Western Cayo's main town is a relaxed and vibrant community from where you can organise any activity in the region.  Together with twin-town Santa Elena, on the east bank of the Macal River, this is the main population center of Cayo.  It was really traveler-friendly.

The heart of Cayo District and the focal point of tourism in western Belize, it offers good food, inexpensive hotels and restaurants, and frequent buses.

Saturday is the main market day, where locals sell their produce and wares, but on any other day of the week, you can chill at a traveler cafe on pedestrian Burns Av, or plan your next foray to Mountain Pine Ridge, Caracol or Guatemala.

Arrival

Once getting off the bus, I headed to the main street of the town - Burns Avenue, according to the map in mind.  Just popped into first tour shop - Yaxche to ask for tours for the next few days.  However, only the ATM cave tour could be formed these few days (as in the shoulder or low season).  Well ATM is okay for me.

The lunch hour was already over, but I was too hungry to sit down at the street side table and order my lunch.

Eva's

Yummy local food, similar to Mexican (Seafood Ceviche, Tortillas, bean paste, cream & vegetible)

This little boy played around my table

Branch Mouth Road

There are some sights in the San Ignacio:

1. Cahal Pech
High atop a hill about a mile south of San Ignacio, Cahal Pech is the oldest known Maya site in the Belize River valley, having been first settled between 1500 to 1000 BC.  Having visited a few impressive Maya sites, I left this behind.

2.  Branch Mouth
It is the meeting place of Mopan River, comming from Guatemala, and the Macal River flowing down from Mountain Pine Ridge.  The confluence of these rivers forms the beginning of the Belize River, which flows northeast to the sea. A rope-pulled boat can take you across to the opposite bank.

I tried to walk there in the morning but followed the running man and turned away.

Field at the north of the town