Riding The Chicken Bus: Navigating The Belize City To San Ignacio Route

If you're looking for a unique travel experience in Belize, why not try the chicken bus from Belize City to San Ignacio? This colourful mode of transport is a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture and interact with Belizeans in their daily lives. While it may not be the most comfortable journey, it's definitely an adventure! Here's everything you need to know about taking the chicken bus to San Ignacio.

Getting to the Belize City bus station

The Belize City bus station is located in the central part of the city. If you are travelling from the airport, you can take a taxi for around $25 US dollars. Alternatively, you can walk or take a taxi to the Philip Goldson Highway and wait for a bus there. The bus fare from the highway to the bus station is $2 BZ.

If you are already in Belize City, you can take a taxi to the bus station. These can be identified by their green license plates and usually cost around $5 US dollars.

When you arrive at the bus station, look for the guys in the khaki shirts who work there. They will be able to tell you which gate you need to wait at and what time you should line up. You can also ask other people waiting in line for advice.

Keep in mind that the bus station can get very busy, so be prepared for a push to get on the bus. It might be worth trying to find someone who can help you get on the bus and save you a seat, such as one of the employees in the khaki shirts.

Remember to use the bathroom before getting on the bus, as there are no bathrooms on the buses themselves, and you don't want to lose your seat during a stop.

Taking a taxi to a bus stop on Western Highway

If you're looking to take a chicken bus from Belize City to San Ignacio, you'll first need to get to a bus stop on the Western Highway. One option is to take a taxi to the bus stop. Here's a step-by-step guide:

If you're arriving at the Philip Goldson International Airport, you'll find plenty of drivers waiting to take you to your desired destination. The standard price for a taxi from the airport to Belize City is $25 USD, and you can expect to pay a little more if you have a group of four or more people.

If you're already in Belize City and need to get to a bus stop on Western Highway, look for cars with green license plates, which indicate that they're taxis. Simply flag one down, tell the driver where you're going, and agree on a price before getting in. Fares within the city are usually around $5 USD.

When taking a taxi, it's always a good idea to keep track of your location using offline maps on your phone. This can be helpful if the driver is unsure of your destination or if you want to ensure they're taking you to the correct location.

Once you arrive at a bus stop on Western Highway, you can board a chicken bus to San Ignacio. These buses are a cheap and interesting way to travel, offering a memorable experience. However, they can be crowded and uncomfortable, especially if you're travelling with large luggage.

Chicken buses in Belize are typically old American school buses, and they make frequent stops along the way to pick up passengers. The cost of these buses is usually around 3-4 BZ$ per hour of travel, and you pay onboard to the bus assistant who comes around to collect fares.

Keep in mind that these buses can get hot and stuffy, and the roads can be bumpy. It's recommended to bring something to sit on, like a t-shirt or a towel, and to be prepared for unpredictable weather.

So, if you're up for an adventure and want to travel like the locals, taking a taxi to a bus stop on Western Highway and then hopping on a chicken bus to San Ignacio can be a fun and affordable option.

Catching a bus to Benque

Once you've landed at Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport, you'll need to make your way to the Belize City bus station or a bus stop on the Western Highway. The airport is located in the village of Ladyville, just outside Belize City, and public transport doesn't serve the airport directly.

If you're on a budget, you can walk to the Northern Highway, which is about a kilometre north of the airport exit, and flag down a bus to the Belize City station from there.

If you'd prefer to take a taxi, you can find drivers lined up outside the airport exit. The price of a taxi to the Belize City bus station is $25 USD ($50 BZD). Alternatively, you can take a taxi to a bus stop south of the airport along the Western Highway for $20 USD ($40 BZD). This bus stop is next to a roundabout on the north side of the Western Highway, which is the road you'll take to San Ignacio.

From either the Belize City bus station or the stop outside of town, you'll need to catch a westbound bus to Benque. These buses are known as "chicken buses" and are repurposed school buses. They will have a sign in the window that reads "Benque", indicating that the bus is heading to the border town of Benque Viejo Del Carmen.

Chicken buses run on a schedule provided by the Belize Department of Transport, and you can find a digital copy of the western bus service's east-to-west schedule online. The bus to Benque should cost $8 BZE or $4 USD, and it's best to have the exact amount or close to it, as breaking bills and making change can be difficult.

The bus will take around two and a half hours to reach San Ignacio, including stops to pick up and drop off residents along the way. It will also make an extended stop in Belmopan, Belize's capital city, and you may need to switch buses there.

Riding a chicken bus is not a comfortable journey, and the buses do not have air conditioning. However, it is a cheap and immersive way to travel, giving you a chance to interact with locals and experience the local culture.

Keep in mind that you'll need to store your luggage at the back of the bus, which may be challenging with a large backpack. Try to keep an eye on your belongings at all times to minimise the risk of theft.

The bus to Benque will drop you off in San Ignacio next to the Cayo Welcome Center & Tourist Information Center near the small park in the middle of the city. From there, you can decide to stay in San Ignacio or continue on to the Guatemalan border.

The journey to San Ignacio

The chicken bus from Belize City to San Ignacio is a memorable experience. It is a great way to travel like the locals do and immerse yourself in the culture.

Getting to the bus station

First, you need to get to the bus station in Belize City. The Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport is located just outside the city in the village of Ladyville, so you will need to take a taxi or public bus to the bus station. A taxi will cost around $20-25 USD, and a public bus will be $1 USD. The bus station is in downtown Belize City, and buses to San Ignacio run every half hour.

Buying a ticket

At the bus station, tell the attendant you want to go to San Ignacio, and they will direct you to the correct bus. The bus to San Ignacio is marked with its destination and is known as a "chicken bus". The chicken bus is a repurposed school bus, often overcrowded, and it makes stops at every village along the way. The bus costs $4-18 USD, and you pay for your ticket in cash after you board. An attendant will come through to collect the money.

On the bus

The chicken bus from Belize City to San Ignacio takes around 2 hours and 45 minutes, including transfers, and departs hourly. The bus makes frequent stops to pick up and drop off residents, and there is also an extended stop in Belmopan, the capital city of Belize. There are no bathroom breaks along the way, so be sure to use the bathroom before boarding the bus. The bus does not have air conditioning, so be prepared for a warm and humid journey.

Arriving in San Ignacio

The chicken bus arrives in San Ignacio next to the Cayo Welcome Center & Tourist Information Center, near the small park in the middle of the city. If you are continuing on to the Guatemalan border, you can stay on the bus at this stop, as it continues on to the border town of Benque Viejo Del Carmen, a short eight-mile ride away.

Arriving at San Ignacio

The chicken bus from Belize City to San Ignacio is a memorable experience. The bus will arrive in San Ignacio next to the Cayo Welcome Center & Tourist Information Center, near the small park in the middle of the city.

If you are staying in San Ignacio, you can get off the bus here. If you are heading to the Guatemalan border, you can stay on the bus at this stop. The bus runs all the way to the border town of Benque Viejo Del Carmen, which is a short eight-mile ride to the southwest.

San Ignacio is a great place to explore inland Belize. It is located inside the Maya mountains about 400 feet above sea level in the Mopan Valley, surrounded by the Macal and Mopan rivers, lush green jungle year-round, and friendly people.

There are many things to do in San Ignacio, including visiting the ancient Maya ruins of Xunantunich, the Belize Botanic Gardens, the Elijio Panti National Park, and Big Rock Falls.

There are also many great restaurants in San Ignacio, such as Pops Restaurant and Ko'ox Han Nah. Pops serves a mix of Belizean and American dishes, with great options for meat lovers and vegetarians. Ko'ox Han Nah serves a mix of Indian and Belizean cuisine and is a favourite among tourists.

There are many accommodation options in San Ignacio as well, ranging from inns and guesthouses to hotels and luxury resorts.

San Ignacio is a great place to base yourself for exploring inland Belize and the Maya Forest.

Frequently asked questions