Category:
Belize Information
Summary
From all of the adventures that someone can do in Belize in one day, market day at the San Ignacio Farmer's Market is perfect to start any adventure on a Saturday morning.
Content
Market Day at the San Ignacio Farmer’s Market is one of the most anticipated days of the week for local farmers, vendors and visitors. Although the market in San Ignacio is open every day of the week, Saturdays are the locally designated day as “market day.” In just one location, all walks of Belizean life come together to trade and sell their fresh produce or goods.
Considering the variety of faces seen at the San Ignacio market, it is the epitome of the melting pot – a true exhibition of many different cultures residing in Belize. Through this, a variety of fruits, vegetables, snacks and pastries, foods and drinks, and other crafts, household and thrift items are made available to the public.
The location of the market square is quite small; and, on a regular day, the place can be seen barren. On Saturdays, however, stalls and tents are set up at every corner of the space and the walkways are littered with people running their weekly market errands or witnessing our special market for the first time.
What is most astonishing about San Ignacio’s farmer’s market is the array of fresh produce and spices. Ranging from exotic and seasonal Belizean fruits, such as dragon fruit and mango to healthy greens and veggies and locally produced spices. Farmers and vendors take pride in the produce that they are selling; and, each stall is guaranteed to have the freshest fruit or vegetable that you can find.
While many visit the market for the weekly harvests, it is hard to resist some of the mouthwatering foods that are being made at the spot. Pupusas, burritos, tacos, barbeque, panades…boy oh boy, I’m getting hungry already! I can go on and on! And, let’s not forget all the natural juices that you can get too! A favorite is the standard orange juice, but there is also watermelon, horchata, pineapple, coconut water, papaya and soursop. After shopping around the market, if you’re hungry, you can grab a bite right at the market – how convenient!
Apart from getting your naturally grown, fresh produce and local dishes, you can also find affordable deals on electronics, household items, thrift pieces, and handcrafted art pieces from local Maya artisans and talented painters. Each piece of art is either woven, stitched or painted by hand. You will be guaranteed to get authentic crafts and souvenirs from the market.
For many of us, going to the San Ignacio market is a weekly routine; but, for a lot others, each visit is a new experience that the Belizing Team recommends to undergo. Seeing the melting pot of cultures coming together along with all the fresh fruits and vegetables and other amenities is an adventure in itself. So let’s go Belizing at the San Ignacio Farmer’s Market!
Attributes:
Featured White Background Will appear featured on top
Places to Stay
Hode's Place offers a relaxing and comfortable service to the world from our natural setting in the heart of the Cayo Twin Towns. ... more
Theodore's family-friendly atmosphere is guided by its customers' expectation of quality, consistency, and efficiency. We have the unique capacity to efficiently host large groups at our restaurant. Come relax with us.
We take pride in the food we prepare. Hode's Place is located on Savannah Road, across the street from the savannah Park and a short distance from the San Ignacio market. Eugene and Nazatte Burns started this business in 1998 as a family-oriented multipurpose entertainment center for San Ignacio residents and guests.
It has become the perfect retreat for the entire family, A place where San Ignacio residents gather and tourists can satisfy their varied entertainment needs.
An outrageous idea? Lose the children (or the young at heart) to the video arcade or ice cream parlor, and stay and enjoy a drink at the bar.
Hodes Place's Standard or Tripple Rooms are designed for a relaxing getaway for couples, business delegates, and individuals, families or small groups.
The Standard Rooms are available with 1 Queen Or Two Double Beds to comfortably accommodate 2-4 persons.
The Tripple Rooms have 3 beds available that can easily acomodate a family of 4.
From reading a book under the shade or listening to the sweet chirps of the local birds just passing by, these rooms offer a peaceful end to that hectic day or a much deserved good night rest.
(2)
Recommended
Established in 1976, San Ignacio Resort Hotel is a Belizean and family-owned boutique Hotel located in the Cayo District, Western Belize. The Resort is centrally situated on a 17-acre ... moreprivate estate, 5-minutes away of Cahal Pech Maya temple and the popular San Ignacio Town—an area that features a variety of cultural, adventurous, and culinary experiences. This characteristic has dubbed the Resort as “the only jungle in town”.
The 27-room Resort is renowned for its hospitality services and features the award-winning Running W Restaurant (which showcases meats from the family’s ranch), an on-site tour company (Cayo Gial Tours), in-room wellness treatments, an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court area, the largest event facilities in the District, and the #1 Activity in San Ignacio, the Green Iguana Conservation Project.
Located in downtown San Ignacio, just beside the Cayo Welcome Center. See why so many travelers make Venus Hotel their hotel of choice when visiting San Ignacio. Providing an ideal ... moremix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a budget friendly setting with an array of amenities designed for travelers like you.
Guest rooms offer amenities such as air conditioning, and guests can go online with free wifi offered by the hotel.
Venus Hotel features a 24 hour front desk, shops, and a gift shop, to help make your stay more enjoyable. If you are driving to Venus Hotel, secured parking is available.
If you’re looking for a cafe, consider a visit to Pop's Belize Restaurant, Bambu Tee Belize, or The French Bakery, which are all conveniently located a short distance from Venus Hotel.
San Ignacio is also home to Belize Botanic Gardens, a popular garden that is not too far from Venus Hotel.
We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Venus Hotel as you experience all of the things San Ignacio has to offer.
Surrounded by rainforest and set next to the Macal River, Midas Resorts is a 10-minute walk from the centre of San Ignacio. The pretty complex features a hot tub, outdoor swimming ... morepool and attractive gardens.
Set in charming cabins, each villa and suite at the Midas Resort has bright décor and comes with a terrace. All accommodation has air conditioning, cable TV and a ceiling fan.
Guests can enjoy an English breakfast in the Midas’ dining room. There is also a bar, where free Wi-Fi is available.
The Midas Resort has an ideal setting for fishing and horse riding. The resort arranges trips to nearby caves and Mayan ruins, as well as bird watching excursions.
Tours/Activities
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
Xunantunich: Getting There: The adventure begins at 8:00 AM on a mere 10 – 15 minutes’ drive onto the village of San Jose Succotz. Here you will cross the Mopan River via an old-fashioned ... morehand-cranked ferry and onto the site's parking lot.
At Xunantunich: Upon arrival at the site, you’ll be amazed at how impressive the Temple of El Castillo (the main temple) actually is at a remarkable 120 feet in height. Pay close attention to the history of this once-royal center of ancient civilization as your guide walks you through the site. Feel free to climb to the top of El Castillo if you’re not afraid of heights. There you’ll have a jaw-dropping panoramic view of the surroundings which encompasses part of Guatemala, Benque Viejo Town, and San Jose Succotz among other areas.
Be careful coming down from the pyramid as you make your way over to the ancient ball court. Imagine the excitement happening in real-time as your guide paints a vivid picture of how the popular Mayan game of Pokatok was played. On-site you may get to see spider monkeys and, depending on the time of the year, even howler monkeys. An on-site museum will give you an overall idea of this ancient city’s actual size.
Big Rock Falls:
Starts: 1:00 PM Ends: 5:00 PM
Getting There: After Xunantunich, you'll make your way onto the Mountain Pine Ridge road en route to Big Rock Falls. The drive is about 45 minutes on a partially paved road, the farther section of which is dirt.
Along the way, you’ll pass the villages of Cristo Rey and San Antonio. These are small settlements of mostly farmers along the Macal River. Along the way, your guide would normally point out local flora and fauna such as Toucans, Roadside Hawks, Iguanas, and Medicinal Plants and trees.
At the site: The parking lot is approximately 5 to 8 minutes’ walk from the waterfall so you'll want to take everything you’ll need with you for an enjoyable time at the waterfall. From the parking lot, you’ll be walking through a little trail that leads to quite a steep climb down to the river valley. Flip-flops are not advisable for this part of the trek. Once you’ve made your way carefully down that cliff, the delightful view of water rushing over the huge 150-ft rock formations and plummeting into the deep rounded pool at its base provides a rush of excitement.
You won’t regret visiting this site for a nice cold swim amidst the scorching Belizean heat. You may choose to swim all the way up to the waterfall but try to contain the temptation to climb up any of the wet rocks or do so at your own risk, they tend to get very slippery. Your guide will allow you ample time to swim or bask at your own leisure until you're ready to head back to San Ignacio Town.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
Getting There: Tour departs San Ignacio Town at 8:00 AM. You'll embark on our journey out of San Ignacio on a 1 hour & 15 minutes drive along the George Price Highway (paved road) ... moreuntil arriving at the junction of the Jaguar Paw Cave Tubing outpost. The site’s parking lot is another 10 minutes or so on from the paved road.
At the site:
Make use of the expansive restroom complex to change into your swimwear. Your guide then walks you over to the tube racks where you’ll pick a tube of your choice. You will be provided with life jackets, helmets, and headlamps.
Geared up, you will embark on a 45 minutes’ hike across the clear green Caves Branch River. A rope at the crossing keeps you from straying. The water is waist-deep, normally. After the river crossing, you'll hike a jungle trail heading upstream. Your guide will point out interesting aspects of the local flora & fauna as you trek through – a perfect time to take out your cameras (preferably waterproof).
After a briefing on the proper safety techniques, you'll be set afloat through a series of caverns that periodically open up to the sunshine & jungle. Your guide will occasionally point out various Maya artifacts within the crevices of the caves. Depending on time availability, he may allow you to disembark your tube & walk up for a closer look into the hidden chambers of the cave which are normally not explored by many other companies or cruise ship passengers due to time constraints.
Departure:
After Lunch, you'll walk back to the parking lot where you'll board the vehicle and head back to San Ignacio via the George Price Highway, arriving around 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
This is a waterfall lover's dream! There are 3 waterfalls on this trip: The unnamed waterfalls, the Rio Frio Waterfall, and the Twin Waterfalls. These beautiful waterfalls are located ... moreup in the Vaca Reserve which is about 8.5 miles on the Hydro Road which is about one hour drive from downtown San Ignacio. This is my favorite place in Belize!!
From the time you get on the pontoon boat on your way to the waterfalls, you will be engulfed by the beautiful scenery of the river gorge. While enjoying the scenery we travel slowly on the river bank trying to find some wildlife. Some days we see a lot, and some days we don’t see anything. Hence the reason I do not guarantee wildlife but the great adventure, scenery, and waterfalls will always be there. However, you will see images of the wildlife we encounter on the trip many times, however, the wildlife is not guaranteed as it is not a zoo.
You can get to the location where the pontoon boat is waiting for us in two ways. One, you drive all the way down to the river bank. Two, you can hike the recently built trails that pass through the jungle while learning about some of the traditional edible and healing plants that were used and are still used by the Mayas.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
MAYA & MENNONITE CULTURAL VILLAGE TOUR
Barton Creek Mennonites
There are approximately 10,000 Mennonites living in Belize. Although originally of European descent and heritage, ... moremany Mennonite children and their parents have been born and raised in Belize, creating a unique blend of culture and spirituality. The Mennonites are much like the Amish, living a humble and religiously pious lifestyle. The Mennonites of Belize are peaceful, hardworking people and the more remote communities like Barton Creek retain a very traditional and simple way of life, relying on their knowledge and strength to farm and survive in the jungle with few modern amenities. Belizean Mennonites speak a dialect of German as well as the local languages of English, Kriol, and Spanish.
The communities are very conservative and the women wear bonnets and long dresses, while the men wear denim overalls and wide-brim hats. The men may wear traditional suspenders and dark trousers. They use horse-drawn buggies for transportation and till their farm fields with horses. In the most remote communities, they still use horses to drive their sawmills.
The Mennonites of Barton Creek are very restrictive with their use of machinery and they produce many agricultural crops without any modern machinery. They are highly productive people and they produce honey, milk, eggs, poultry, beans, and other staple crops. Often confused with the Amish, the Mennonites are actually their own distinct religious group with strict Christian principles and their own language. They have many traditions and practices that date back hundreds of years, including arranged marriages. Come to explore this fascinating and reserved culture on a trip through the jungle and back in time to how things were before cell phones, cars, iPods, and even before electricity.
San Antonio’s Women's Group
Located on the road to the Mountain Pine Ridge, the village of San Antonio was named after St. Anthony of Padua when a Spanish Priest who visited regularly from the town of Benque Viejo del Carmen brought a statue of St. Anthony to the Village. The statue can be seen in the Catholic Church near the Village Square. Prior to the name change, San Antonio was known in the local Yucatec Maya dialect as “Osh Multun Kakab” which translates to “Three Mound Virgin Forest”. Today villagers simply refer to their village as “Tanah,” which is the Mayan term for “our home.”
This is a beautiful and productive community with various cultural activities throughout the year, especially in the months of June and December. June 13 marks St. Anthony Day and villagers celebrate for 13 days with traditional Mayan music, foods, such as tamales, and festivities. This is mainly an agricultural community and the local residents grow crops such as peanuts, corn, squash, and beans, much like their ancestors. There are currently three Women’s Groups in San Antonio. One group operates the community bakery, the other specializes in pottery, local jewelry, and embroidery, and the most recent group is making hammocks, embroidery, and clothing. Tour this lovely village and get a firsthand look at living Mayan culture. Local Mayan lunch is included with your tour.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
CAHAL PECH BIRDWATCHING
Cahal Pech was the ancient palatial compound of an elite aristocratic Mayan family. The site name is Maya for “House of Ticks” (given in the 1950s when the ... morearea was used for grazing cattle) and it is situated on the highest hill overlooking modern-day San Ignacio town. This is a serene jungle setting close to the town, and the 2-acre compound is not only rich in ancient artifacts and structures but also in wildlife. Cahal Pech is an excellent place for birding in Belize. This is a fascinating site for birdwatching as the morning mist rises over the various temples and courtyards, which were built over several centuries spanning from 1000 BC to 800AD. Belize birding tours at Cahal Pech will offer birders a chance to see a vast variety of tropical bird species, including hummingbirds, parrots, birds of prey, and many colorful migratory birds. Your bird-watching vacation in Belize is not complete without a morning spent in this otherworldly environment, where the jungle allows glimpses of the cultural past of this ancient landscape.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
XUNANTUNICH MAYAN RUINS ON HORSEBACK
Riding through the jungle on horseback is an exciting way to discover the ancient Mayan city of Xunantunich. The tour begins at a local stable ... morewhere you will meet your Riding Guide, mount your horse and depart. The ride to Xunantunich takes you along a well-maintained trail through a large private farm, along the banks of the Mopan River, in the village of San Jose Succotz.
Here you will cross the river on an ancient (yet well-maintained and very safe) hand-operated ferry and then ride your horse up to Xunantunich. When you arrive prepare to dismount and let your horse rest and you spend as much time as you desire to explore the Xunantunich temples and plazas on foot. Afterward, we will ride to nearby Benny’s Kitchen for a delicious lunch of traditional Belizean dishes or enjoy lunch at the farm before returning to the stables. The horseback ride includes lots of nature viewing of local birds and plants.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
This tour is a leisurely horseback ride around an organic fruit and vegetable farm. If you are looking to spend a shorter period horseback riding and want to see something other than ... moreMayan ruins, come to learn about organic farming in Belize. This short guided tour of the farm includes a slow-paced horseback ride through the property, with stops to view, discuss, and learn about the natural exotic fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants that thrive in Belize, as well as see some local cattle. This tour also includes guiding your horse through the picturesque Mopan River and lunch.
The ATM Cave is a wet cave – you swim into the mouth and then wade through ankle to chest-high water before climbing to an intricate passageway of dry chambers which lead to the cathedral-like ... moremain hall, a towering chamber 350 meters in length and 50mteres wide and filled with artifacts and sacrificial remains.
After this another climb takes you to the stone chamber where the Crystal Maiden lies, this is the skeleton of a teenage girl who was sacrificed and left in the cave. Over thousands of years, her remains have been covered by a layer of diamond-like limestone. The Mayas sacrificed humans in the hopes of appeasing the gods and bringing fertility to the land.
This is an extraordinary Belize adventure and a rare opportunity to see ancient Maya ceremonial sites and altars as they were virtually untouched for centuries.
|