Xunantunich From San Ignacio: Day Trip COMPLETE Guide (2023)
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Looking at how to get to Xunantunich from San Ignacio? Visiting Xunantunich was actually one of my favourite day trips from San Ignacio, and you can easily do it without a tour guide.
After spending nearly a month backpacking around Belize, Xunantunich was a pleasant surprise. When travelling Central America, there are many Mayan Ruins to admire and learn about (some being more impressive than others, usually due to the number of tourists there are…)
Xunantunich blew all of my Mayan ruin expectations out of the water. From the simple act of getting there (you have to take a small hand-cranked crossing which is just as fun as the ruins are) to the well-preserved ruins scattered across a radius of 1.86 miles (3 km).
So, let’s discuss everything you need to know about Xunantunich, including how to get from Xunantunich from San Ignacio.
Other Belize posts you might like:
- A Complete Guide to Backpacking Belize
- Best Restaurants in San Ignacio Belize: Budget-friendly
- A Complete Guide to Visiting Caye Caulker
- Everything You Need To Know About San Ignacio
Xunantunich from San Ignacio: How to get there
If you are visiting Xunantunich from San Ignacio, there are a few options for transport you can take. They include:
- Rental car
- Taxi
- Public bus/colectivo
Whilst we were backpacking Belize and San Ignacio, we hired a car. As we wanted to explore the Hummingbird Highway, Mountain Pine Ridge and other areas away from San Ignacio town centre, it made the most sense to us.
However, if you’re not interested in hiring a car, you can take a taxi or public bus to reach Xunantunich from San Ignacio.
- Taxis should not cost more than 15 BZ dollars (£7/$8 USD).
- A public bus will cost under £1/$1 USD to reach Xunantunich.
When you arrive at Xunantunich (which is about a 30-minute drive along one highway), you will board the small hand-cranked ferry over the Mopan River. If you have a car, you can take the car onboard.
If you’re in a taxi, you can either jump out here or ask your taxi driver to take you right to the entrance.
NOTE: It is around a 1-mile uphill walk from the hand-cranked ferry to the Xunantunich ruins. If you do not want to do this walk, ask your taxi driver to take you to the main entrance.
Hiring a car to reach Xunantunich from San Ignacio
If you want to make the most out of trip backpacking San Ignacio and explore the surrounding areas (such as the Hummingbird Highway and the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve), you will need to hire a car.
We hired a 4×4 because the roads within the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve can be bumpy, and it had been raining the day before so some of the side roads were quite muddy. However, the main roads in Belize are smooth, easy to drive on and safe.
If you’re hiring a car in San Ignacio, we used Matus Car Rental. We had a great experience with them, found the owner to be super helpful and loved our 4×4. If they don’t have availability, there is also Caye Auto Rentals.
Prices for car rentals in San Ignacio start at $65 (USD) per day.
Taxis to Xunantunich from San Ignacio
As we stayed out of the main town centre of San Ignacio, we sometimes needed a taxi to get around when we didn’t have a car. There is a main taxi rank in the town centre next to the market, but our accommodation recommended us an excellent driver, and he was our taxi driver all week!
His name is Teddy, and he is well-known in the San Ignacio area. He was excellent at giving us tips and telling us all about San Ignacio and what we could do there. He also offers shuttles all over Belize and into Guatemala.
If you want to book a taxi with Teddy, his contact details are:
- Teddy: +501 600-2695
You can either call him or text him on Whatsapp!
If you’re in town and you are looking for a taxi, we did find the other taxis to be safe and have friendly drivers. There’s a main taxi rank next to the San Ignacio market and by the main roundabout near Hanna’s. Just be sure to check the taxi has green license plates – this means they are registered.
Do not get into a taxi that has the word ‘taxi’ painted across its windscreen and no green license plates – you are just going to be overcharged and scammed.
Public bus or colectivo to Xunantunich from San Ignacio
If you decide to get a public bus to Xunantunich from San Ignacio, you will need to:
- Have cash to pay the bus driver (at least 2 BZ dollars)
- Board the bus from the Cayo Welcome Centre (near San Ignacio market) with a sign at the front of the bus saying ‘Benque’ (Benque Viejo del Carmen).
- Tell your driver that you are visiting Xunantunich (or he may not stop for you)
- Know a little Spanish (or have Google translate ready!)
Buses in Belize are safe and easy to use, but they’re a little bumpy and chaotic! It’s definitely the most adventurous way to visit Xunantunich, and if you have the luxury of time on your side, so worth trying! The buses in Belize are actually old, converted American school buses, so you can’t miss them!
The colectivo to Xunantunich is similar, although you will need to board outside Martha’s Guesthouse.
Again, make sure you tell the driver where you are going so they know where to stop for you (the colectivo goes right to the Guatemalan border, so you need to be clear or you’ll end up in another country! Well, kind of…)
If you need to squeeze in a day trip to Xunantunich from San Ignacio, I’d recommend getting a taxi.
Visiting Guatemala after Belize? Check out my detailed post: How To Get From San Ignacio To Flores: Backpacker Guide.
Xunantunich General Information
If you’re visiting Xunantunich for the first time, here is some handy information for your day trip from San Ignacio!
| Opening times | 8am – 5pm |
| Days open | 365 days a year |
| Facilities | Toilets, parking, visitors centre |
| Ferry times | 7.30am – 4pm |
| Must bring | Comfortable shoes, sunscreen or a rain jacket (depending on the weather) |
| Entrance fee | £4.50/$5 USD |
| Distance from San Ignacio | 30 minutes (12km) |
| Tour guide needed? | No, but there are tour guides available at the entrance |
| Hours needed | 1-2 hours |
| Suitable for those with a fear of heights? | Yes, although climbing the tallest structure should be avoided |
| Tallest structure | The second tallest building in Belize is at Xunantunich, reaching a height of 40m (130ft) |
| When was Xunantunich founded? | 1000 BC to 250 AD |
| What does Xunantunich mean? | Maiden of the rock |
| Can you visit Xunantunich in the rain? | Yes, but the ruins should be climbed with extreme caution as they can get slippery |
How do you pronounce Xunantunich?
Just looking at the word Xunantunich gives me anxiety when thinking about pronouncing it correctly! Luckily, I’ve already made the mistakes so you don’t have to.
After speaking to a local at Xunantunich, we found out the correct way to pronounce it is: shu-nan-tu-nich. In short, shunantunich.
Still not the easiest, I know. But we can at least try!
What is Xunantunich, Belize? Facts and History
The Mayan Empire stretches from the Yucatan state in Mexico all the way to El Salvador. Thousands of years ago, Mayans built giant stone cities in the middle of the jungle, which were then abandoned around 900 AD (for unknown reasons).
Nowadays, archaeologists are still uncovering different parts of Mayan sites across Central America. From Tikal in Guatemala to Xunantunich in Belize, they are working hard to learn more about this fascinating culture every day.
Crazily, the way that Xunantunich was discovered was by accident. According to recent history, a Belizean villager in the 1890s came across a Mayan maiden ghost who led him to the stone city. From then, a team set out to uncover what the village was proclaiming and found the lost city of Xunantunich.
Xunantunich was not a large city and was only home to around 7000-10,000 Mayan citizens. It has a number of ruins ranging from temples to plazas and game areas.
Now Xunantunich is a popular tourist attraction for backpackers and travellers in Belize, and is also used as a backdrop for destination weddings!
What to expect at Xunantunich from San Ignacio
When visiting Xunantunich from San Ignacio, you do not need longer than one morning or one afternoon. It’s a fairly short trip and can be completed within 1-2 hours.
The drive from San Ignacio to Xunantunich is around 30 minutes. When you reach the entrance, you will need to drive onto the hand-cranked ferry over the Mopan River. Passengers will need to walk onto the ferry (instead of sitting in the car with the driver). The ferry is included in your Xunantunich ticket price, but we still tipped the guys as they were so friendly and welcoming. They even allowed us to hand-crank the ferry ourselves!
From the ferry, it is either a 1-mile uphill hike or a few-minute drive. There’s a large car park just before the entrance, where you will pay your entrance fee and look around the visitor’s centre if you wish.
When you have paid, you can walk around the Xunantunich ruins in whichever way you like. There are some temples and ruins that can be climbed, with the highest one, El Castillo, overlooking Guatemala. It is only a short distance from the border, so you can look directly across to the next country!
One of the best parts about Xunantunich is the wildlife. It’s nestled in the Belizean jungle, so keep an eye out for tapirs, gibnuts, howler monkeys, giant spiders, iguanas and more!
As previously mentioned, you do not need a guide to visit Xunantunich, but having one will give you a much deeper insight into the Mayan way of life all those years ago.
Xunantunich Visitor Centre
If you haven’t hired a guide to take you around Xunantunich, I highly recommend checking out the visitor’s centre near the entrance. This is where we learned about the Mayan way of life and spent some time appreciating the original artefacts and archaeological finds.
Most of the signs in the visitor’s centre are written in English (which is perfect if your Spanish is as terrible as mine).
Xunantunich tours
If you would like to take a tour to explore Xunantunich, there are a few options. The first option is to hire a guide at the entrance. This supports the local community and they will be more than happy to show you around, telling you insider facts and knowledge about Xunantunich as you go.
Alternatively, if there is a large group of you and you need transport and tickets all in one, you can pre-book a tour online through this link.
Want to add a bit more adrenaline to your day? Combine a trip to Xunantunich with cave tubing! We met some other backpackers who did this and loved it.
⮕ CHECK OUT THE CAVE TUBING AND XUNANTUNICH TOUR HERE!
⮕ PRICES FOR THE XUANANTUNICH FROM SAN IGNACIO TOUR
Wildlife at Xunantunich
One of the best parts about Xunantunich is the wildlife. It’s nestled in the Belizean jungle, so keep an eye out for tapirs, gibnuts, howler monkeys, giant spiders, iguanas and more!
Just walking around the grounds is an adventure in itself. The sounds and noises of the jungle are unbeatable, and we were lucky enough to see both a baby tapir and howler monkeys swinging from the trees!
Is Xunantunich worth visiting?
Yes, Xunantunich is absolutely worth visiting! It isn’t far from San Ignacio and is a great activity to learn more about Mayan history.
The Xunantunich site is nestled in the middle of the jungle, so not only will you be able to admire the ancient ruins, but you’ll also be able to spot wildlife and enjoy a walk through the trees!
As Xunantunich only takes around an hour or two to enjoy, you can combine it with a visit to the other Mayan Ruins in San Ignacio, Cahal Pech, which is closer to the town centre.
Where to stay in San Ignacio as a backpacker
There are a few main hostels with good locations in San Ignacio for backpackers.
We heard good things about all of the hostels I’ve recommended below, but make sure to do your own research too and check out the latest Hostelworld reviews (as things in hostels can change quickly!)
My biggest piece of advice is to book hostels in advance. We sadly missed out on some of the best hostels in Central America as they fill up quickly – so get booking!
- Old House Hostel (9.6, superb): This is the hostel most backpackers stay in when visiting San Ignacio. It’s right in the centre of town, has a good social scene and has exceptionally low prices. ⮕ BOOK THIS HOSTEL HERE!
- Yellow Belly Backpackers (9.4, superb): Another hostel that we had friends stay in whilst in San Ignacio. A great social vibe for solo travellers, easy access to town (although a little further out than Old House), and is right next to the Cahal Pech Mayan ruins. ⮕ BOOK THIS HOSTEL HERE!
- Bella’s Backpackers (8.2, fabulous): Another hostel situated in the middle of San Ignacio town which has mixed reviews, but is a great option if you’re on a budget. ⮕ BOOK THIS HOSTEL HERE!
BACKPACKING BELIZE? You might also like my detailed guides on San Ignacio, Caye Caulker, and my overall guide to backpacking Belize!
How to get to San Ignacio
This depends on where you’re coming from. A popular backpacking route is travelling south through Central America from Mexico to Panama.
If you’re coming from Mexico, you have two options. You can either get the boat over to Caye Caulker (from Chetumal, Mexico), or fly directly to Belize City and get a shuttle. I recommend the first option, as Caye Caulker isn’t a place you want to miss out on!
If you need a reputable company to use and you’re already IN Belize, I highly recommend Mayan Adventures. We used them all over Belize and into Guatemala, and they were reliable and reputable.
🦉 TOP TIP: I only recommend using Mayan Adventures if you are IN Belize/Guatemala whilst reading this blog post. If you would like to pre-book online beforehand, I recommend one of the following shuttle companies:
They’re often the same shuttle buses anyway, and using a third-party website gives you a little more insurance than emailing a random person and confirming a shuttle online!
Alternatively, if you’re arriving in Belize from Guatemala, you can book a shuttle that takes you directly from Flores to your San Ignacio hostel. This takes under 3 hours, including the border crossing and immigration process.
How to get around San Ignacio
San Ignacio is a walkable town, and most of the major attractions are within walking distance to the main hostels (such as the Cahal Pech ruins and iguana sanctuary).
However, if you want to explore the national parks or the Hummingbird Highway, you will need to rent a car or book a tour, as they are 1-2 hours from San Ignacio.
The three main ways of getting around San Ignacio are:
- By foot and walking
- Hiring a 4×4 or car to explore the surrounding areas
- Taxi
We found the taxis to be safe and the drivers were friendly. There’s a main taxi rank next to the San Ignacio market. Just be sure to check the taxi has green license plates – this means they are registered.
Do not get into a taxi that has the word ‘taxi’ painted across its windscreen – you are just likely to be overcharged and scammed.
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!
Xunantunich from San Ignacio: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about Xunantunich from San Ignacio.
When you’re planning a trip to Belize, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below. I’d love to know about your experience in San Ignacio and if you found it as fun as I did!
If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write informative and honest posts directly aimed at backpackers. Researching and planning your trip whilst backpacking can be so overwhelming, so I’m here to make it as easy as possible!
I’m currently backpacking Central America with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow 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:
- Best Restaurants in San Ignacio Belize (Backpacker Guide)
- How To Get From San Ignacio To Flores: Backpacker Guide
- Backpacking Belize: A Complete 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).
