San Ignacio Town
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San Ignacio is a town in the west of the nation of Belize; it is the capital of Belize's Cayo District.
San Ignacio is on the banks of the Macal River, a branch of the Belize River, about 72 miles (115 kilometres) west of Belize City and 22 miles (35 km) from Belmopan. The population is largely Maya Indian and Mestizo, with some Lebanese. San Ignacio also boasts a fairly large Chinese population, most of whom emigrated from Guangzhou in waves in the mid-20th century. As a result, the town is peppered with Chinese restaurants (there are at least four) and Chinese markets (at least five.)
In recent years San Ignacio has absorbed the formerly separate village of Santa Elena. Santa Elena stands on the other side of the river, which is spanned here by the Hawkesworth Suspension Bridge. According to the 2000 census, San Ignacio/Santa Elena had a population of 13,545 people. The two are collectively referred to as the "Twin Towns" although San Ignacio is technically bigger.
Although San Ignacio is not as popular with tourists as Belize City or Belmopan, the ancient Maya ruins of Xunantunich and Cahal Pech, and the cave Actun Tunichil Muknal, are nearby.
San Ignacio is currently governed by a Town Council affiliated to the UDP; Mayor is John Francis August, Jr.
There is a sizable Beachy Amish community near San Ignacio.
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