Honest Review of Cahal Pech Resort in San Ignacio, Belize

Thinking of booking a stay at Cahal Pech Resort in San Ignacio, Belize? Before you do, be sure to read this honest review of my own experience staying here during my month-long trip through Belize.

Cahal Pech Village Resort is one of the most popular places to stay in San Ignacio, and a budget-friendly ‘resort’. There are two pools on site, the thatched-roof villas (where I stayed) are picturequse, and the views are absolutely breathtaking. However, after a few things we experienced while staying staying there, I’m not sure I’d recommend it to everyone (though its probably a great place to stay for a lot of people!)

Also See: My Full Guide on the Best Places to Stay in Belize

Cahal Pech Resort Review

I’ll be honest: Cahal Pech Resort Belize isn’t the type of place I usually book. When possible, I always try to book hotels and resorts with at least a 9/10 rating on Booking.com (my preferred booking platform for their generous discounts!)

Cahal Pech Resort has a 8.2/9 rating on Booking.com, which is lower than I’d typically go, but we were traveling with some friends who had been recommended this place from another friend. Plus, our time in San Ignacio was filled with activities so I didn’t think that where we stayed would matter too much.

But the two biggest factors that made us book Cahal Pech Resort rather than somewhere else in San Ignacio were the low price and excellent location. Cahal Pech Resort is located right across the street from the Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins, and it’s just a five minute drive from downtown San Ignacio town.

We only paid $101.7 a night to stay in a private cabana (with our discounts on Booking.com), which felt like a great deal compared to the cost of our accommodations in other parts of Belize.

What We Liked and Didn’t Like at Cahal Pech Resort

Advantages of staying at Cahal Pech Resort

⛰️ Hilltop location with beautiful views of mountains and San Ignacio town
👙 Two pools
🌮 Onsite restaurant, bar and all inclusive options
🥾 Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins across the street
🥗 Falling Leaves restaurant across the street
🚙 5 minute drive to downtown San Ignacio or 25 minute walk (cheap taxi rides, too!)
🌺 5 minutes away from pickup point for this ATM Cave Tour, Tikal Day Trip, and other excellent jungle adventures
✈️ Options to book roundtrip shuttle
💰 Affordable nightly rates (check rates here)

Disadvantages of staying at Cahal Pech Resort

👙 Pool and other shared areas can feel crowded
🛖 The thatched-roof cabanas (where I stayed) feel a little dirty and outdated
☀️ It honestly does not feel like a resort to me, it feels like a hotel
🥾 The hilltop location is beautiful, but the road to get there is quite steep if you plan on walking up
🦜 Not as tranquil as staying at a more secluded ecolodge outside of San Ignacio, like Kane Villas in Mountain Pine Ridge

Must-Do Activities & Day Trips in San Ignacio

Bucket list day trips and tours

🇬🇹 Tikal, Guatemala: You can visit a new country and explore one of the most fascinating ancient cities all in a day trip from San Ignacio! While you technically can drive into Guatemala on your own (we did.. and don’t necessarily recommend it due to the complicated border crossing and terrible roads), booking this highly-rated guided day trip with roundtrip transport from San Ignacio will save you money and guarantee a better experience overall.

🥾 ATM Cave: Many people come all the way to Belize for this exact experience! Only accessible by guided tour (this is the tour I went on), the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave is a site that still houses the remains of dozens (probably more) of human sacrifice victims. Seeing the famous ‘crystal maiden’ skeleton is only one part of the adventure, though, because to get there you have to wade and swim through the river that runs through the cave. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime type of unique experience. Read my full guide about the ATM Cave.

🌲 Mountain Pine Ridge: Just a short drive away from San Ignacio, the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is one of my favorite Belize hidden gems! This mostly undeveloped mountain forest is teeming with gorgeous waterfalls, fun swimming holes, and breathtaking caves. Just be aware that you need a high-clearance 4WD vehicle to get to most places in Mountain Pine Ridge. Alternatively, you can go on this Mountain Pine Ridge day trip with roundtrip transport.

🚙 Hummingbird Highway: Belize’s most scenic drive, the Hummingbird Highway, begins just under an hour away from San Ignacio. I’ve driven it twice so far and would certainly do it again! I list all my favorite Hummingbird Highway stops in this article, but a few highlights include the Billy Barquedier Waterfall, St. Herman’s Cave, and the factory and tasting room for Marie Sharp’s famous hot sauce. Along the way, you pass rows of palm trees, the picturequse Maya Mountains, and cute little Belizean towns.

🚤 Pontoon Waterfall Cruise Through the Mayan Jungle: This fun tropical adventure takes you off the beaten path as you cruise along the river on a pontoon boat. You journey deep into the rainforest until you reach a hidden waterfall where you can swim, cliff jump, and sunbathe. Lunch is included and you can request pick up from your hotel in San Ignacio.

👙 Cave Tubing: This uniquely Belizean adventure involves floating down a river that runs through Belize’s fascinating cave systems. There are several caves where you can do cave tubing, but typically you can only do it with a local guide. This cave tubing experience included roundtrip transport from San Ignacio.

🏺 Xunantunich Mayan Ruins: Climb Mayan temples and overlook nearby Guatemala and the Mayan Mountains at Xunantunich, which is only about 25 minutes away from San Ignacio town. Xunantunich is easy (and cheap) to visit on your own if you have a rental car, but you will admittedly learn a whole lot more if you visit with a local guide (which includes roundtrip transport from San Ignacio). This combo tour is also a great option if you want to go cave tubing as it combines cave tubing and Xunantunich in one day.

Things to do in San Ignacio town

🏺 Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins: You don’t have to go far to see evidence of Mayan civilization, the Cahal Pech Archaeological Reserve is right across the street from Cahal Pech Resort! It only costs a few dollars to enter, and you can climb most of the structures. I’ve visited dozens of Mayan ruins throughout Central America and I’m always impressed by how each site is so unique! Although Cahal Pech is smaller than Xunantunich, it is still an interesting place to see.

🥑 San Ignacio Market: In the heart of San Ignacio town right by the Macal River you’ll find the largest market in Belize. It isn’t that big compared to markets I’ve seen in other country, but its certainly a fun place to visit in San Ignacio. I especially loved the delicious $1 pupusas which are stuffed with meat or beans and topped with freshly made habanero hot sauce and pickled veggies.

🍫 AJAW Chocolate: You can make your own chocolate here! The 1-hour experience starts on the hour every hour from 9am-6pm (except Sundays). You’ll learn about the cultural significance of cacao in traditional Mayan culture, and grind cacao until it becomes the chocolate that was once enjoyed by Mayan royalty. Of course you get to taste every step of the way, from pod to chocolate! It costs $20 USD per person.

🦎 Green Iguana Conversation Project: Located at San Ignacio Resort, the Green Iguana Conversation Project hosts hourly tours of their iguana birthing center. You’ll learn about the different types of iguanas in Central America and the challenges their species are facing with poaching in the wild. You’ll also get to meet the babies and take pictures with them. (Note: I felt 50/50 about this tour, I thought it was a little overpriced and overrated, but many people love it!)

🫘 Eat Local Food: San Ignacio is the perfect place to get a taste of Belizean cuisine! There are a lot of restaurants to choose from downtown, but the one we kept coming back to was Ko-Ox Han Nah (Let’s Go Eat) which had reliable delicious Belizean breakfast, lunch, and dinner with plenty of vegan options (plus 1 barrel rum!)

Is It Worth Staying at Cahal Pech Resort?

I’ve stayed at plenty of places that far exceeded my expectations and were even more beautiful in real life compared to the pictures I saw online.

But unfortunately that wasn’t the case with Cahal Pech Resort, specifically the thatched-roof cabana that we stayed in. In my opinion, the photos online make Cahal Pech Resort’s cabanas look a lot better than they do in person.

Yes, the cabanas are spacious and have lovely screened-in porches with hammocks and views. But, they feel outdated, and worst of all, dirty, in my experience. Because it of the natural thatched-roof, there is really no way to completely keep lizards and bugs out, and we were greeted with lizard poop around the room every single day. The curtains were mostly see-through, the bedsheets felt rough, and the AC didn’t work too well.

Yet despite all of its faults, the Cahal Pech cabanas are affordable and spacious, and the property’s incredible views and perfect location just might make up for it, as long as you can live with some lizard poo.

Truth is, my experience is one of thousands. Cahal Pech Village Resort has 400 reviews on Booking.com, and an overall rating of 8.1/10 stars, which isn’t terrible but isn’t great. You can read more Cahal Pech Resort reviews experiences here if you want a second opinion.

I share some alternative places to stay in San Ignacio below, but if you are still interested in staying at Cahal Pech Resort, you can book your stay here for the best price.

Alternative Places to Stay in San Ignacio, Belize (And Nearby)

Although I have no regrets about staying at Cahal Pech Resort, I probably wouldn’t book a room there again since there are so many other incredible hotels and resorts nearby. If you want to stay in San Ignacio town, the best alternative is Falling Leaves Resort, which is located right across the street from Cahal Pech and has similar prices but better reviews (and a great restaurant we ate at!) However, there are even more incredible options if you want to stay outside the city:

Luxurious Ecoresorts Near San Ignacio

I have visited two of these three resorts, and even know someone who got engaged at one of them. They are some of the ecolodges in the entire country if you’re looking for pure luxury in a secluded jungle atmosphere.

☀️ Gaia Riverlodge (Mountain Pine Ridge): Boho luxury resort on a cliffside overlooking the Five Sisters’ Waterfall. Highlights include yoga in a cave, being served tropical drinks while you sunbathe beside a waterfall, and cliffside dining. Check nightly prices.

☀️ The Lodge at ChaaCreek (Chaa Creek): Gorgeous tropical resort with infinity pool, elegant thatched-roof cottages with outdoor showers, and highly-rated onsite restaurants. Check nightly prices.

☀️ Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge (Hummingbird Highway): One of Belize’s most popular ecolodges, located along the scenic Hummingbird Highway beside a gorgeous river. The property is so beautiful it feels like a botanical garden and it has several onsite restaurants, and an overlook with views of the Maya Mountains. Check nightly prices.

Also See: Where to Stay in Belize: The Best Resorts in Every Area

Budget Friendly Places to Stay in and Near San Ignacio

Looking for luxury on a budget? I’ve stayed at or visited most of these places and can attest that they are all lovely places to stay (and save $$).

☀️ Falling Leaves Lodge (San Ignacio town): Beautiful, newer hotel in San Ignacio, right by Cahal Pech. Choose a ‘Superior Suite’ to get a gorgeous jacuzzi in your room, or opt for a basic room for an affordable but cute and clean place to stay. The property includes a restaurant and bar, but no pool. Check nightly prices.

☀️ Kane Villas (Mountain Pine Ridge): Excellent vacation rentals with beautiful pool, incredible hosts, and private access to waterfalls, a cave, and hiking trails. Read my full review of Kane Villas, and check nightly prices here.

☀️ Green Valley Inn (Mount Hope): Basic but clean rooms (with AC!) on a beautiful tropical property with a swimming pool, hammocks, outdoor showers, and more. Located between San Ignacio and Belmopan, which is a great location for all Belize’s best jungle adventures. Check nightly prices.

Thanks for reading!

• Browse my favorite Belize tours and experiences.
• See the best hotels in Belize.
• Check out my other Belize travel guides.

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