Nothing like a tourist town, eh?

One might expect big things from the second largest city in a country. St. Petersburg, Russia, Christchurch, New Zealand, Aleppo, Syria or even Montreal, Canada are tremendous cities in their own right. It may not be fair to compare little San Ignacio, Belize with these other places. After all, with a population under 20,000 it's hardly a metropolis. In a country not known for it's urban landscape, San Ignacio fits the mold in a long line of disappointing Belizean towns.

In comparison, San Ignacio beats the pants off it's national brethren, Belize City and Belmopan. It's cleaner, safer and far more chilled out. What makes this town different, in both positive and negative ways, is the historical and natural wonders scattered in geographical proximity to the town. Most tourists to the area will jump off cliff faces into subterranean rivers, climb Mayan ruins, delve deep into the heart of massive cave systems or listen to an incredible variety of bird species in the surrounding jungle. But the only thing to really do in town, is bob and weave through the numerous touts for tour agencies or youth hostels on the way to a completely westernized bar or cafe. I even struggled to find any Belizean food.

San Ignacio is a fully functional base to explore the area. There are enough accommodation choices to suit most travellers, there are sufficient bars and cafes to occupy the times between tours. But the city itself has little to offer. If travelling to or from Guatemala, a transit through San Ignacio is inevitable. With the range of activities and the plethora of tour operators vying to provide their service, the town serves it's purpose. But even with millennia of history, about all the city seems good for is being a base for tourists.