Best of the West : My Western Belize Road Trip
If you want to experience the history, culture, adventure and natural beauty of Belize then head West.
I spent 6 days exploring western Belize in July, travelling by car from Belize City to Belmopan and San Ignacio, with five days of tours arranged through Belize Maya Heritage Tours.
July was hot, humid and gloriously green — and although there were a few tropical showers, they only seemed to make the jungle more spectacular.
Here's how I did it.
Day 1: Belize City → Belmopan
After landing at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, I picked up my rental car and headed west towards Belmopan, Belize's capital.
Rather than rushing straight to San Ignacio, I decided to spend my first night in the capital. My first stop was Market Square, where I grabbed some food before having a wander around Belmopan.
It was a relaxed start to the trip — local food, a bit of exploring and a chance to get my first taste of inland Belize. But if you're short on time you could skip a night in Belmopan and head straight to San Ignacio.
Day 2: Belmopan → San Ignacio → Cahal Pech
After breakfast, I headed towards San Ignacio, my base for the next few days.
I stayed at Yumas Riverfront Lodge, right on the Belize River. With just four cabanas, a swimming pool and an open-air kitchen, it was a lovely place to unwind after a day exploring.
But I didn't have much time to relax.
After lunch, my first Belize Maya Heritage Tours experience began.
My guide Jose picked me up from Yumas and we drove to Cahal Pech, just 20 minutes away. Jose was fantastic — friendly, relaxed and incredibly knowledgeable about Belize and Maya history.
Cahal Pech was the perfect introduction to the Maya world. We explored the ancient plazas, temples and courtyards while Jose brought the site to life, explaining how the Maya lived and what the different structures would have been used for.
What I loved most was that it didn't feel like a history lesson. Jose encouraged me to imagine what life here would have been like when Cahal Pech was a thriving Maya settlement.
And the views across San Ignacio and the surrounding Cayo landscape were spectacular.
A perfect first afternoon — and a great reason to book Cahal Pech as a half-day tour when you arrive in San Ignacio.
Day 3: Xunantunich
The following morning, Jose was back to take me to Xunantunich, one of Belize's most impressive Maya sites.
Even getting there is part of the adventure. We crossed the Mopan River on the little hand-operated ferry, before continuing towards the ruins. And then, through the trees, the ancient Maya structures appeared.
Xunantunich means "Stone Woman", and once again Jose's knowledge made the experience so much more than simply looking at ancient ruins. He explained the history of the city, the buildings and the Maya civilisation, answering all my questions along the way.
Then came El Castillo.
The enormous structure rises above the jungle, and climbing to the top rewards you with incredible views stretching towards Guatemala. Standing there in the July heat, looking across the jungle canopy, was one of those moments I'll remember.
And if you want to add some adrenaline to your day, Belize Maya Heritage Tours can combine Xunantunich with horse riding, jungle ziplining or cave tubing.
History and adventure in one day? I'm sold.
Day 4: Barton Creek Cave
The next morning took me underground.
Barton Creek Cave was a completely different experience. Jose picked me up and we headed out through the countryside and into the Cayo landscape.
At the cave, I climbed into a canoe and we paddled into the darkness. The sunlight disappeared behind us and enormous limestone chambers opened up around us.
Stalactites hung from the ceiling, stalagmites rose from the cave floor and the only sounds were the movement of the canoe and the water dripping around us.
But Barton Creek isn't just about spectacular scenery. The caves were sacred places to the Maya, and archaeological evidence provides an insight into ceremonies and activities that took place here centuries ago. Once again, Jose's knowledge made all the difference. He didn't simply point out the formations — he explained what we were seeing and brought the Maya history of the cave to life.
If you want something genuinely different from visiting archaeological sites, Barton Creek should definitely be on your Belize itinerary.
Day 5: Caracol — the grand finale
For my final day of touring, I saved one of the biggest adventures until last.
Caracol.
This time my guide was Hugo from Belize Maya Heritage Tours. The journey itself is part of the adventure. The further we travelled, the more remote the landscape became.
And then we arrived.
Ancient Maya structures appeared amongst the jungle, giving a real sense of how enormous this city must once have been. The highlight is Caana — "Sky Palace" — the tallest man-made structure in Belize. And yes, you can climb it. Reaching the top was worth every step. Looking out across what seemed like an endless sea of jungle, it was hard to imagine that beneath that green landscape had once been a huge Maya city filled with people, homes, temples and plazas.
Hugo was an excellent guide, sharing his knowledge of Caracol and the surrounding area and helping me understand what I was seeing rather than simply walking around the ruins.
By the time I reached the top of Caana, I knew I'd saved the best until last.
Caracol was the perfect finale to my Best of the West adventure.
Day 6: San Ignacio → Belize City
After five days of touring, I finally had a slower morning.
I had breakfast at Ko-ox Han-nah (known locally as Hannah's) in San Ignacio, took one last look around the town and then got back in the car for the journey to Belize City.
I'd arrived in Belize wanting to see the Maya sites. I left having explored ancient cities, paddled through caves, travelled through jungle and mountains and experienced a side of Belize that I simply wouldn't have discovered by staying on the coast.
Want to do the Best of the West yourself?
This is the 6-day itinerary I'd recommend if you want to experience western Belize at its best.
Day 1
✈️ Belize City🚗 Pick up rental car🍴 Market Square, Belmopan🏨 Overnight Belmopan
Day 2
🚗 Belmopan → San Ignacio🏛️ Cahal Pech with Belize Maya Heritage Tours🏨 Overnight San Ignacio
Day 3
🏛️ Xunantunich🐎 Optional horse riding🧗 Optional ziplining🦇 Optional cave tubing🏨 Overnight San Ignacio
Day 4
🛶 Barton Creek Cave🏨 Overnight San Ignacio
Day 5
🏛️ Caracol🏨 Overnight San Ignacio
Day 6
☕ Breakfast in San Ignacio🚗 Drive back to Belize City✈️ Fly home or continue your Belize adventure
Why book with Belize Maya Heritage Tours?
What made this trip particularly special was having local guides who knew the places I was visiting and could bring them to life.
Jose and Hugo weren't just there to show me around. They shared the history, answered my endless questions, pointed out things I might otherwise have missed and gave me a much better understanding of Belize.
That's what Belize Maya Heritage Tours is about.
You can book individual experiences such as Cahal Pech, Xunantunich, Barton Creek and Caracol, or get in touch and create your own Best of the West itinerary.
Whether you're travelling solo, as a couple, with family or as a group, they can help you put together an unforgettable adventure in western Belize.
Ready to explore the Best of the West?
Get in touch with Belize Maya Heritage Tours and let them plan your Belize adventure.
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