UNBELIZEABLE VACATION DAY 6 :: SAN IGNACIO, CAYO DISTRICT, BELIZE :: San Ignacio is Belize's westernmost town, located just twelve miles from the Guatemalan border. More than 16,000 Belizeans live in San Ignacio, along with hundreds of tourists that make their basecamp here, making it a relatively large population center in Belize. It's an ideal location for travelers: the lodging and eats are cheap, and it's very easy to find a guide to take you on your next jungle adventure.

San Ignacio is a 20 minute drive from Chaa Creek. We snuck away from the resort the next three nights, because our dinners were getting to be pretty expensive. The staff definitely noticed when we were absent, and seemed to be saddened by it. It was nothing personal or against the superb meals they prepared; we simply didn't feel comfortable eating like a king and queen every night. We looked forward to humbler meals in town. We also wanted to check out the market and shops, and to get closer to the people and the culture.

We're glad we did, because San Ignacio is a fun and charming place. We strolled the downtown streets, checked out the stores and interacted with the owners. Again, everyone was extremely friendly and we felt perfectly safe, except when we were walking on the cracked and crooked sidewalks with exposed gutters a foot deep. You could easily break a leg walking through town if you weren't careful.

We found a few gifts for our family and friends, and then followed the advice from our Barton Creek guide to check out Hode's Place, a large restaurant with outdoor seating within an orange grove, across from the soccer "stadium" and park. We loved this place! Hode's had a large and diverse menu, with great service, great food and great value. The dining area was surrounded with playgrounds, swings, an ice cream shop and arcade. We saw lots of families enjoying their evening here while a jukebox played catchy Spanish and Caribbean tunes. We came back the remaining nights after our activities, relishing the relaxed atmosphere and the warm, tropical nights.