Budget travelers are always pleased to see that their dollar goes farther in Cayo than in other parts of Belize, often enticing them to stick around longer than they’d planned. Days fly by differently up here than they do at the beach—maybe because of how busy most Cayo visitors find themselves, signing up for a new activity every day, or just lazing by the river. But there’s no rush, and you can easily bop around the area for weeks without getting weary (unless you’re the kind of person who gets bored by too many trees, ruins, and spectacular waterfalls).

But alas, most travelers are on tight schedules, and must be efficient with their allotted Cayo days. In that case, begin in San Ignacio—strike up a friendship with fellow guests at your hotel, enjoy the narrow streets and cafés, then set off early in the morning for a local tour with a packed lunch and plenty of water. Save one day for caving, one for canoeing, one for Maya ruins, and one for a hike—how many’s that? Add one or two more days to rest and recuperate before heading back to the Caribbean. If you can’t spare a week, Cayo offers several time-saving combinations of the aforementioned activities—Actun Tunichil Muknal, for instance, is a hiking, swimming, caving, and archaeology trip all wrapped in one. And even if you’ve only got a day or two, San Ignacio is close enough to the coast and worth a trip; the forest runs right up to the city limits, where you’ll find several trails and a decent archaeological site.

Another option is to alight for the bush after a night or two of orientation in San Ignacio. Staying in Bullet Tree offers a village experience next to the lazy river, but with quick access to San Ignacio. Staying farther afield—like at Martz Farm or one of the campgrounds west or south of town—gets you even closer to nature.