Charming small towns, lush tropical forests, and the Macal and Mopan rivers await you here. Take some time for there is much to see: lush tropical rainforest, the Mountain Pine Ridge, which is rich with waterfalls, pools, and limestone cave systems, that lead you into the Maya underworld.

The Cayo District boasts many wonders: caves, waterfalls, picturesque hillside towns, and great people. By far, the biggest draw is the colorful riverside town of San Ignacio. Being a neighbor to Guatemala, its Latin and Maya flavors are difficult to resist. Burns Avenue, San Ignacio’s cobblestoned main street, buzzes with shoppers and steaming roadside grills. As well as the iconic HawkesworthBridge, built-in 1949, which towers over rivers. This is a place to be outdoors, and it is never dull.

Saturday is the highlight of the week. It is Market Day when all the diverse ethnic populations converge and inhabit the area. Mestizos prepare tacos and pupusas as you wait, while Mennonites sell their freshly-made cheeses and desserts. You’ll see stalls of homemade jams, chutneys, fruit wines, even natural peanut butter, and vibrant stalls of fresh tropical fruits and vegetables. This is the nation’s “ breadbasket.”