BEST Hostels In San Ignacio, Belize: Backpacker 2023 Guide
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Looking for the best hostels in San Ignacio? If you’re backpacking Belize, San Ignacio should be one of your list’s ‘must-see’ places. We ended up spending just over nine nights in San Ignacio, and to be honest, we could have spent longer!
But if you’re backpacking Central America with more of a time limit, I recommend stopping off in San Ignacio for at least 2-3 nights. There is so much to do (which is all explained in my backpacking San Ignacio guide), see and eat, that it’s definitely worth a visit before travelling into Guatemala.
As always, be sure to read the Hostelworld reviews before booking anything (even after reading this post). The information shared here is accurate for March 2023, but things change! Read the reviews and ultimately, make the decision yourself.
So, let’s get down to the best hostels in San Ignacio so you can have the most epic backpacking trip in Belize!
Other Belize posts:
- Can You Fly A Drone In Belize? Complete 2023 Guide
- Belize City To San Ignacio: Complete Backpacker Guide
- Hummingbird Highway Belize: Ultimate Guide + Stops
- Belize City To San Ignacio: Complete Backpacker Guide
- Best Restaurants in San Ignacio Belize (Backpacker Guide)
San Ignacio Area Guide
San Ignacio is a town in the Cayo District of western Belize, on the banks of the Macal River. Most backpackers visit San Ignacio before leaving Belize to travel Guatemala, as it is only 30 minutes from the border.
The town of San Ignacio itself isn’t overly big, and you can either walk or grab a taxi around town. There are two main hostels in the centre of town, and one slightly on the outskirts (which still isn’t far, and is next to the Cahal Pech Ruins).
All of the main restaurants and bars are walkable from the three hostels on this list.
TOP TIP: San Ignacio is becoming more and more popular. I strongly advise pre-booking your hostel at least 4 weeks in advance. It just isn’t built up enough yet to host hundreds of backpackers, so be prepared!
Best Hostels in San Ignacio in 2023
1. The Old House Hostel
😀 Best for: solo travellers, couples, groups
⭐️ Overall Rating: 9.6 (Superb)
📍 Location: San Ignacio centre
💸 Budget: £ (Low)
🥳 Hostel vibe: social but not a party hostel
❄️ Air conditioning: Fan only
💻 Wifi: Yes
🍽 Kitchen: Yes
🏊♀️ Facilities/extras: Hammocks, communal spaces, BBQ, tour booking, bar
🏖️ What’s nearby?: Cucina 1904, Trin’s Bar, Erva’s Restaurant and more. The main square is a few minutes walk away.
Find out more on Hostelworld.com.
Old House is by far the most popular hostel for backpackers in San Ignacio, but it sells out quickly. We were not able to find a booking even four weeks in advance, so if you want to stay there, I highly recommend booking now!
Old House is located in the middle of San Ignacio, with all of the main bars and restaurants a few minutes walk away. It’s perfect for solo travellers, groups of friends and first-time backpackers, due to its friendly atmosphere and communal spaces.
As well as offering a social vibe and cosy atmosphere, you can book tours to the ATM Cave from the front desk, and ask about the Hummingbird Highway and Mountain Pine Ridge.
The staff are friendly, the rooms are comfortable and they even have a hostel dog. It’s the perfect hostel for backpackers in San Ignacio.
2. Yellow Belly Backpackers
😀 Best for: solo backpackers, couples, groups
⭐️ Overall Rating: 9.4 (Superb)
📍 Location: 1 Caracol Street, San Ignacio, Belize
💸 Budget: £ (Low)
🥳 Hostel vibe: social but not a party hostel
❄️ Air conditioning: Yes
💻 Wifi: Yes
🍽 Kitchen: Yes
🏊♀️ Facilities/extras: Outdoor terrace, BBQ, bike hire, free coffee, board games
🏖️ What’s nearby?: Cahal Pech Ruins, Lola’s Restaurant
Find out more on Hostelworld.com.
Another popular hostel in San Ignacio is Yellow Belly Backpackers. Whilst it’s a tiny bit further out of town and up a small hill, it’s still within walking distance of most of the local attractions.
It’s also close to one of my favourite restaurants in San Ignacio – Lola’s and is only a 15-minute walk to the ancient Cahal Pech Ruins.
Yellow Belly Backpackers is perfect for solo travellers, couples and groups of friends. There is a social atmosphere with communal areas (including a roof terrace) which makes it easy to meet other backpackers and relax!
3. Bella’s Backpackers
😀 Best for: backpackers wanting to drink and party in San Ignacio
⭐️ Overall Rating: 8.2 (Fabulous)
📍 Location: San Ignacio town
💸 Budget: £ (Low)
🥳 Hostel vibe: Party hostel
❄️ Air conditioning: Fan only
💻 Wifi: Yes
🍽 Kitchen: Yes
🏊♀️ Facilities/extras: Events organised by the hostel, tours, communal areas, outdoor terrace
🏖️ What’s nearby?: Pop’s Breakfast (must-visit!) and all the main restaurants and bars in San Ignacio
Find out more on Hostelworld.com.
Bella’s Backpackers in San Ignacio is the perfect hostel for those who want to socialise and party. They run regular ‘Sunday Fundays’, where you can join in at a party and BBQ at a lake house.
The staff are friendly and welcoming, going out of their way to make the atmosphere as fun as possible for solo backpackers, couples and groups of friends. The amenities and accommodation is pretty basic, but it’s one of the cheapest hostels in San Ignacio!
What to pack for your hostel in San Ignacio
Staying in hostels in Central America? Don’t forget to pack:
- A padlock: to keep your valuables secure when you leave your hostel room.
- A hanging wash bag: to make sure all your toiletries are kept in one place, and won’t get confused with anyone else!
- Speakers: because, well, who doesn’t love music? Just make sure everyone in your room gets a chance to pick a song! (And no one minds you playing the music)
- A microfibre towel: Not all hostels will provide you with towels for free. Bring your own to save extra ££.
- Earphones: for loud nights and disruptions to your sleep.
- Flip flops: if you’re using shared showers.
- Eyemask: for uninterrupted sleep.
- World travel adapter or an extension lead: so you’re not using more than one plug!
- Your laptop or tablet: for movie nights, of course! 🍿
Looking to plan your Belize trip? Check out my post full of all the best things to do in San Ignacio here!
Is San Ignacio worth a visit?
Yes! San Ignacio is absolutely worth visiting if you are backpacking Belize. It’s a small town near the Guatemalan border, so it makes for the perfect 3-4 day adventure stop-off.
Expect dense green jungle, ancient Mayan ruins, cave systems, natural swimming holes, an abundance of wildlife, being surrounded by mountains and of course, welcoming and friendly locals (Belize has some of the friendliest people we have ever met!)
How many days should I spend in San Ignacio?
If you have the time and budget, I recommend at least 3-4 days in San Ignacio. There is a lot to do here, including the ATM Caves, Mayan Ruins, Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, San Ignacio town and more. We spent 7 days in San Ignacio and still didn’t have the time to do everything!
Is San Ignacio Belize safe?
It’s impossible to say whether a place is totally safe or not, but from our personal experience, the low crime rates of the town and other visitors’ experiences, San Ignacio is a safe place to visit. If you’re a solo female traveller, it is safe to walk around Belize, but as always, use common sense and check out my Central America safety guide here.
As a solo female backpacker, you may also experience some heckling or looks from locals across Central America. As I walked around by myself, I found this was quite common but never harmful. It stopped as soon as I didn’t respond. This can be quite annoying, but don’t let it disrupt your travels.
What are the best areas in Belize for backpackers?
Looking to backpack Belize? So many backpackers skip Belize entirely but that is such a big mistake! It’s one of the most beautiful countries we have ever travelled to, and I cannot recommend it enough.
If you’re looking at where most backpackers travel to in Belize, this is a common route and Belize itinerary (which can also be followed the other way round).
- Chetumal (Mexico) > Caye Caulker
- Caye Caulker > San Ignacio
- San Ignacio > Flores (Guatemala)
Other locations some backpackers stay in whilst visiting Belize include:
- Hopkins: a beachside, sleepy town
- Placencia: a resort, holiday-like town
- Belize City: although it’s not a popular choice with most backpackers
- San Pedro: another Caribbean island
- Dangriga: where the Ragga Sailing tour ends from Caye Caulker
- Tobacco Caye: another island but on a much smaller scale
- The Hummingbird Highway: an epic jungle road from Dangriga to San Ignacio. You can stop off along the drive to hike through the jungle and visit the caves and watering holes.
- Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve: a large national park that can be accessed from San Ignacio.
More on all of these locations coming soon!
Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America
If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.
Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.
I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.
If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.
With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)
Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!
If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!
Best Hostels in San Ignacio: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the best hostels in San Ignacio Belize (updated for 2023).
When you’re planning a trip to Belize, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently backpacking Central America with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Belize content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
Other Belize posts:
- Can You Fly A Drone In Belize? Complete Guide
- Flores to Belize City: Complete Step-By-Step Guide
- Belize City To San Ignacio: Complete Backpacker Guide
- Hummingbird Highway Belize: Ultimate Guide + Stops
- How To Get From Tulum To Caye Caulker: Backpacker Guide
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
