501-610-3422

About

Ev's Place is a family owned local business. Owner Carlos, is an Airbnb Superhost and he named his bnb after his wife. Carlos and his team pride themselves in providing a world class comfortable, fun and affordable experience.

Newly built two lower level-two bedroom one bathroom apartment with all amenities, all rooms are air condition, hot and cold running water with very good water pressure. Both apartments comes fully furnished with all cooking utensils and very fast wifi and also security cameras surrounds the entire building for guest safety. Supermarket and restaurants within walking distant and also downtown is about a five minute taxi ride at a cost of BZ$6.00.

We are a vacation apartment rental fully furnished located in San Ignacio. Minimum Requirement for booking is 2 nights which includes cleaning fees.

Cayo District of Belize

Cayo is a district in western Belize with many parks and ecological reserves. Once the heart of the Belizean Maya world, it's rich with pre-Columbian archaeological sites. Cayo is known especially for the ruins of Xunantunich, with its 39m-high El Castillo pyramid, and Caracol, the country’s largest Mayan ruin. Many of its once-sacred Mayan caves are open for exploration, including Actun Tunichil Muknal.

The Cayo District in the west of Belize is the largest and most temperate of Belize’s districts.

Belmopan, the national capital of Belize, is located in the Cayo district. Some of the other towns and villages of Cayo include Cayo’s capital, San Ignacio, San Ignacio’s twin town of Santa Elena. 

There is also the charming town of Benque Viejo del Carmen, the pleasant village of Bullet Tree Falls, the delightfully named Teakettle Village and Crooked Tree Village and the local Mennonite community of Spanish Lookout and Barton Creek and a lot more quaint towns and locations throughout the district to discover

Major rivers in the Cayo District include the Macal River and the Mopan River which connect to feed the Belize River (longest river in Belize).

Importance and Beauty of Cayo. Considered by most Belizeans to be the best area of Belize in which to live, Cayo also attracts a lot of foreign retirees. Its beautiful hills, peaceful river valleys, flora, fauna and Mayan ruins provide a fascinating and relaxing place to call home. The Cayo people are friendly and helpful. Although Spanish is widely spoken in this area of Belize, English is still the official language.

 The Cayo District in Belize Spells Excitement and Adventure. Most of the Cayo District is rainforest ascending into the foothills of the Mayan Mountains. Breathe in the fresh pine-scented air of the only true pine forest in Central America! Snaking through the towering pine trees, tropical forests and Mayan Mountains are unspoiled rivers, majestic waterfalls, a labyrinth of caves and a network of hiking trails.

Observe the Wonderful Wildlife of Cayo. All of these pristine areas are prime locations for observing the variety of animals and birds including the ever-popular howler monkeys, toucans, tapirs, and the ever-elusive jaguars. Kayaking, canoeing, hiking, zip lining and river-rafting are all part of the adventure!

The Magic and Mystery of Belize’s Mayan Ruins. Major Mayan archeological sites in Cayo include Cahal Pech, Caracol, haunting and beautiful Xunantunich, El Pilar and a few other sites that are still mostly unexcavated.

Check out this article by International living on Five places to live in Belize

San Ignacio is a town in the Cayo District of western Belize, on the banks of the Macal River. It’s linked to the town of Santa Elena by the metal suspension Hawksworth Bridge. 

On a hill south of town are the Mayan ruins of Cahal Pech, abandoned in the 9th century. There is a small museum amid the plazas and temples. Nearby, the Rainforest Medicine Trail explores the medicinal properties of indigenous plants. 

San Ignacio serves as the cultural-economic hub of Cayo District. It got its start from mahogany and chicle production during British colonization. Over time it attracted people from the surrounding areas, which led to the diverse population of the town today.

Check out the Saturday market 

The country’s largest market swells on Saturdays, with Friday a close, less crowded second. In addition to the wealth of fresh produce in season, colorful hand-woven fabrics and hammocks, traditional carved slate designs, and baskets are available, as well as Belizean wine and traditional foods from Belize and beyond in Central America. You can find local groups playing music, as well as a local pastor ready to save your soul in espanol.

While you’re there, you can sample probably the cheapest breakfast or lunch in town, prepared while you wait from tarp-covered market stalls. The more upscale eateries, where breakfast might cost all of $5 for a breakfast burrito that will carry you through until dinner, are located at the back of the market, overlooking the Belize River.

West of San Ignacio about 20 mins or so Xunantunich offers many of the features of a Maya ruin found elsewhere in Central America, combined with easy accessibility. You can take your car or taxi on the hand-cranked ferry across the Mopan River and park near the entrance, or you could come by horseback tour from San Ignacio.

Climbing the pyramid, at 130 feet the highest structure among the ruins, yields a panorama of the amazingly uniform rainforest of Belize and Guatemala surrounding it. The sight and sound of varied species of monkeys and birds flitting through the trees are hard to miss. On the summit are large relief carvings representing astrological symbols, the sun god, moon, and Venus.

Six different groups of ruins, in various states of discovery and repair, comprise the site, which is at least 1,200 years old and rated one of the top 10 archeological sites in Belize. A visitors’ center on site tells the story of Xunantunich with a model of the site, photos, maps, and illustrations of significant events in the history of the city.

The Ancient Mayan ruins are within walking distance of San Ignacio town. But don't bother, it's all uphill. For $2.50 US take a local taxi, save your legs while supporting the little guy. 

It is believed that Cahal Pech is one of the oldest Maya sites in the region, first built more than 3,200 years ago. 

Perched on the highest hill overlooking San Ignacio Town, the Maya ruins of Cahal Pech were originally built as an enclave for the elite. Located in a gorgeous natural setting and surrounded by tropical birds and colorful jungle fauna.

Archeologists estimate that Cahal Pech was first founded around 1,000 years Before the Common Era. During the Classic Period (300-800 of the Common Era) of the Maya civilization, most of the surviving buildings, including the largest temples and palaces, were constructed during this time.

 Around the year 800, the citizens of Cahal Pech abandoned the city for unknown reasons, particularly mysterious because nearby Maya sites in Belize continued to have thriving population centers for several more centuries.

Who knew that a bizarre looking green reptile, whose ancestors walked the earth 10.5 million years ago, would become the number 1 tourist attraction in San Ignacio? It’s true, the green iguanas entertain visitors hourly in a small purpose built shed on the grounds of the San Ignacio Resort Hotel. This species, on the endangered list, is fighting its way back from probable extinction with the help of this project.  Some 40 iguanas are now being housed there, having been rescued from danger in the wild—either injuries in a fight with a predator or other iguana, or mere exposure as small round leathery egg abandoned by its mother right after she expelled it, two months before it would hatch and function on its own.

As is true for most animals, the more you learn, the more incredible and fascinating they become. Iguanas have not two but three eyes, the third one being in the center of their forehead like the human third eye.  The iguana third eye, while not fully sighted, registers light and dark, alerting the animals to movement by hawks or other predators.

Like other lizards, they can regrow their tails if one is captured in a fight with a would-be predator.  The stripes from the original tail do not return, however; if the tail is broken where it’s black, the replacement tail is all black.  If the tail is broken in a green spot, the new tail will be all green.

The town is easy to get around by foot. It has regular shops and stores including small town department stores, pharmacies, grocery stores and travel shops, the main bus station with connections to Belize City among other places, along with a bunch of bars, and eateries to check out. Caribbean lifestyle.com has a great article on 7 little humble restaurants that is work a visit.  

The twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, (separated by the river and joined by two bridges) are revered as the "Culinary Capital" of Belize and for good reason. It is home to multi award-winning restaurants and chefs who take great pride in pleasing the most discerning palettes.

For the more experienced travelers that appreciate street food vendors, there are several stalls that serve up tasty Belizean food at ridiculously cheap prices. 

There are many places to stay in San Ignacio at varying quality and prices ranges to suite any budget. The draw to this area is not the downtown core, surprise, surprize! It is the surrounding area, with the lush countryside, waterfall, caves and archeological reserves. 

As such along with really reasonable taxi fares ($2.50 US will get you to the outskirts of town) many travelers stay outside of the downtown core. Accommodations consist of hotels, resorts, lodges, hostels, vacation homes, and BnBs. There are 60+ accommodation outlets, and during covid availability has been good and easy to acquire. However as we move to a more post pandemic era and tourism normalizes bookings fill up fast so advanced planning is recommended.

Check these sites for accommodations

The Culture Trip

Trip Advisor

Expedia

Airbnb

Belize Cayo District

Belize is known for its beautiful Islands, beaches, seaside towns, great scuba diving and has the second longest barrier reef in the world which includes the famous Great Blue Hole. However there are other gems that should not be missed. Mainland tropical jungles with lush greenery, fantastic wildlife, waterfalls, caves and spectacular Mayan ruins of yester-year. 

It is safe to say that no trip to Belize is complete without a visit to the Cayo District and San Ignacio especially with it’s close proximity Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport and the Port of Belize Pier with easy access to transportation.  

Ev’s Place would love to host you in San Ignacio and help you have one of the greatest experiences of your life. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us. 

We are located 1 hour and 45 mins south west of Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport,  and the Port of Belize. 

A mere 20 mins from the Guatemala border and 1 hour and 57 minutes from the city of Flores in Guatemala.

Contact: 

Tel:  501 610-3422

Email: Carlosjex@Evsplacebelize.com

Address: 24 Crenshaw St, San Ignacio, Cayo District Belize