As of March 20, spring has officially sprung. With it, an innate desire for a change of scenery, preferably outdoors to a place blooming with wildflowers—at least if you’re anything like me, and it seems I’m not alone. Travel experts expect more than 158 million people to travel for spring break in 2023, which is a volume that’s expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels. For a spring travel fling, I’m here to tempt you with Belize: with more than 60% of the entire country’s landmass blanketed with lush rainforests, a quick getaway could lead you to waterfalls, ancient Maya sites hidden in plain sight, and more. You can get all of the above this spring (plus cultural thrills and distinctive foodstuffs) in Cayo District, conveniently from the only jungle in town, San Ignacio Resort Hotel.
Vacation Thrills On Site
The name is a giveaway, as is its nickname, but the San Ignacio Resort Hotel is conveniently in the heart of San Ignacio Town as a lush 17-acre property. An easy reach from the continental U.S. with 2-hour direct flights from its Gulf Coast and Central destinations, plus another 90-minute drive towards Belize’s Cayo District, stopping just shy of the western border to Guatemala. Offering a mix of 27 luxury rooms and suites that offer hillside, garden, and rainforest views, Belizean culture shines through with handmade hardwood furnishings and art. It offers a faraway feeling while still being within walking distance of local eateries and attractions, which its onsite activities lends themselves to.
Images via CCL.
It’s a given that every warm-weather resort boasts a fabulous pool, but San Ignacio Resort Hotel uniquely has a handful of other amenities found nowhere else, like their Green Iguana Conservation Project. For the night owls, try a Critters Of The Night tour—headlamp included—for a night walk of the property towards their Maya chultun, a bottle-shaped underground storage chamber. And for the early birds looking to take advantage of spring migration to San Ignacio, go birdwatching in pursuit of the 119 species recorded on the property, either from the comfort of your breakfast table, or cleared trail.
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- Freshly steeped Allspice Tea marks the end of San Ignacio Resort Hotel’s onsite Medicinal Tour.
Images via CCL.
During the day, head out with guide extraordinaire and resident naturalist Luis for a crash course on Belize’s endemic medicinal plants, which culminates with a spiritual cleansing ceremony using Copal, a sacred tree of the ancient Maya who used the resin as a ceremonial incense.
And that’s just on the property.
Plus, Great Adventures In the Great Outdoors Too
Xunantunich Maya Site. Image by Duarte Dellarole
Big Rock Falls
As an added bonus, the well-known Maya sites of Cahal Pech and Xunantunich are just nearby to San Ignacio Resort Hotel. You can hit local trails on foot or on horseback, or book an adventure to spelunk in a local cave, explore Maya ruins, go ziplining through the forest, or even snorkel from the Belizean coast. The strikingly beautiful Mountain Pine Ridge is but 45 minutes away, a 107,000-acre forest reserve that houses attractions like the Thousand Foot Falls and Belize’s largest Maya site, Caracol. All of the above require a drive, but San Ignacio Resort Hotel’s own tour company, Cayo Gial makes it a breeze.
Header image via San Ignacio Resort Hotel.
