Welcome to the Jungle | Cayo District
Located in the western part of the country, not far from the Guatemala border, San Ignacio is the hub city for the Cayo District. The Cayo District is home to many different parks and ecological reserves. It is also the heart of many Mayan archeological sites.
How to Get to Cayo District
Cayo is an easy area to get to, there are basically four different ways to arrive. The most popular would be to hire a private ground transfer. This method allows you to have a personal tour guide that makes a stop or two on your way to your destination in Cayo. This breaks up your two-plus-hour drive and you get to experience a little more of the country. The quickest option is to fly to the Maya Flats Airstrip, which is 6 miles outside San Ignacio. The other two ways would be to rent a car or take a public bus.
Where to Stay in Cayo District
There are tons of lodges in the Cayo District, from high-end luxury lodges to simple hostels in San Ignacio. We tend to stay in places that provide the comforts we are used to, but still provide a little bit of the local charm. We chose Black Rock Lodge, a casual ecolodge, and could not be happier with our choice. Each cabin has screen windows to let in that jungle breeze (it's very humid in this area), an en-suite bathroom, a sitting area, and a peaceful hammock space for just relaxing. The cabins are situated on the grounds, so you have complete privacy and feel like you are the guests there. Since you are so secluded, the lodge provides all meals, which were delicious.
What We Did in Cayo District
Community Baboon Sanctuary - We stopped here on our way from Belize City to our lodge. We learned about the conservation efforts of eight villages to protect the Black Howler Monkey (known locally as baboons) population and their habitat. The conservation program encompasses protecting the trees that provide food for the monkeys, preserving the forest along the riverbanks to prevent erosion and siltation, and maintaining corridors of habitat around pastures and farms. You can often hear the mysterious, rasping roar of the monkeys in the distance, as soon as you get out of your vehicle.
Guided Birding - This is a tour provided on Black Rock’s property, however, most lodges will also have a similar tour. The location of the lodge is on the banks of the Macal River which lends itself to seeing tons of tropical birds. You could see hummingbirds, toucans, parrots, the rare and endangered Orange Breasted Falcon, woodpeckers… and the list goes on and on!
Xunantunich | The Lost City - This site was one of the largest cities ever built by the Maya. It was believed to be lost for centuries until a local villager stumbled across it in the 1890s. At the time, he thought he saw the ghost of an ancient Maya maiden descending “El Castillo” — the main pyramid at the complex. Many others have claimed to have spotted the woman over time and it is how Xunantunich got its name meaning “stone woman.” You will travel through the Mayan village of San Jose Succotz, on the banks of the Mopan River. There you will board a small hand-cranked pontoon ferry to get to Xunantunich (an interesting experience). As always, we’d recommend having a guide. While it’s interesting to look at the ruins, having a guide giving you historical information and background, telling local stories, and answering questions is always a worthwhile expense to us.
Green Hills Butterfly Ranch - Located on 100 acres in the Green Hills of the Mountain Pine Ridge, this is the largest and the best of Belize’s butterfly farms open to the public, Green Hills has about 30 native species in a huge flight area on display at any given time. There are also many flowers, including passion flowers, bromeliads, heliconias, and orchids. The extensive hummingbird garden is an added bonus for birders.
Barton Creek Cave Canoeing - Barton Creek’s waterways flow through the cave and is one of Belize’s most unusual natural wonders. Entrance to the cave can only be accessed via canoe and its cathedral-like chambers make it one of the easiest caves to visit. While canoeing through the cave you’ll see cultural artifacts, skeletal remains, and geological formations.
Other Things to Do in Cayo District
There are so many activities you can do in this area. Besides exploring on your own different hiking trails, hummingbird Highway, or the town of San Ignacio, you can also research these ideas.
Several other Mayan archaeological sites
Cave Tubing
Ziplining
Belize Zoo
Botanical Gardens
Experience making chocolate from scratch
Cooking class