Along the Western Highway

Although the chief attraction on this stretch of road between San Ignacio [1] and the Guatemalan border is the Xunantunich archaeological site [2], there are also a handful of resorts, budget lodgings, and campgrounds where many travelers stay and explore in between their Guatemalan and Caribbean adventures. Most of these places are close enough to San Ignacio that guests can easily pop into town for dinner and then back out to their tent or cabin in a bus or cheap taxi.

Hotels and Restaurants

Only a two-minute drive from San Ignacio, Windy Hill Resort (tel. 501/824-2017 or 501/824-2598, www.windyhillresort.com [3], US$100–130) sits on its own lovely rise, just above the Western Highway. You’ll find 23 well-appointed, clean, air-conditioned deluxe cottages and standard rooms with private baths, hot and cold water, ceiling fans, private verandas with hammocks, an infinity swimming pool, a fitness center, and a recreation room complete with TV, bar, table tennis, and darts.

Windy Hill specializes in tours and multiday packages with meal plans. Guests enjoy canoeing, caving, horseback riding, nature tours, and hiking trails. Meals are served in the casual, thatch-roof Black Orchid Restaurant.

Ka’ana Boutique Hotel & Spa (tel. 501/824-3350, www.kaanabelize.com [4], US$250–350) opened in 2007 at Mile 69, a few miles west of San Ignacio on the Western Highway. Ka’ana is a small, full-service upscale resort with 15 rooms and 10 fully equipped casitas around a pool, spa, and lounge.

The restaurant and bar offer an elite departure from the standard fare in San Ignacio (7 a.m.–9 p.m. daily, dinner entrées US$12–33); at the bar, try the sweet corn colada (cocktails US$5–12). Each evening there are tastings held at 7 p.m. in the well-stocked, climate-controlled wine cellar.

Clarissa Falls Resort (tel. 501/824-3916, www.clarissafalls.com [5]) is at the end of a mile-long dirt road, accessed on the right at Mile 701/2 of the Western Highway. This is a laid-back place focused on the river, where guests either camp in their own tents (US$7.50 pp) or stay in an overpriced cottage with private bath (US$75). The shared toilet and shower building has hot and cold water and is cement-basic.

The Mopan River is the main attraction here; don’t miss the nature trails and a hike (or horseback ride) to Xunantunich [2], the highest pyramid visible from the cottages. The dining room serves decent food, including a few specialties such as black mole soup and great, cheap Mexican-style tacos or stuffed squash (US$6–9).