Another top destination for unique corporate stays, annual team meetings, and team building is in Cayo District. This area is a favourite in Belize for its vast natural wonders – a never-ending collection of caves, underground rivers and pools, waterfalls, jungle trails, and rugged Mayan mountains.

About Cayo District

Cayo District is on the western side of Belize. It neighbours the Orange Walk District to the north, the Belize and Stann Creek Districts to the east, and Toledo District to the south. Beside Cayo District on the west is Guatemala. Cayo is the largest district in Belize by area and covers almost a million acres of land. 

The twin towns San Ignacio and Santa Elena of Cayo are the busiest in the region and the hub of eco-tourism. Belmopan, the country’s capital, is a town that mostly serves as a site for Belize government offices. 

Slightly cooler temperatures and fewer biting mosquitoes in Cayo also make this region an escape from the heat on the Caribbean coast.

Event Venues and Hotels in Cayo District

Much like the rest of Belize outside of Belize City, Cayo District is a rural region with mountain terrain, farmland, valleys, and limestone plateaus. Much of Cayo is uninhabited and the small towns have a limited number of dedicated event venues. These are the options for corporate stays in Cayo District:

• Cahal Pech Village Resort, San Ignacio Town (2 meeting rooms)
• The Lodge at Chaa Creek, Chial Reserve (1 conference centre)
• Roaring River Golf Course, Roaring Creek
• San Ignacio Resort Hotel, San Ignacio (2 meeting rooms)
• The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant, Good Living Camp (1 meeting room)

Internet in Cayo District

Satellite, fibre optic, and 4G Wi-Fi internet are available across most of Cayo District. You can enjoy the use of high-speed Wi-Fi as a guest at hotels and some restaurants in the area. In remote areas, the internet may be interrupted. 

Corporate Entertainment in Cayo District 

Much of Cayo is uninhabited due to its subtropical rainforest that stretches out across the land. Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, St Herman’s Blue Hole National Park, and Caves Branch are featured in the middle of the district, offering an abundance of adventure and thrill-seeking excursions. Top things to see and do for corporate groups include:

• Marvelling the skeletal remains of human sacrifices while swimming and climbing on a guided tour of the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave
• Enjoying an tree top view of the rainforest at Jaguar Paw Zipline
• Voyaging the Caves Branch River to see magnificent caves, rapids, and wildlife
• Horseriding along mountain equestrian trails through pastures and pine forests to visit the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich
• Quad biking through the Elijio Panti National Park to reach the swim and picnic at the waterfalls
• Tasting the local Belizean chocolate and meeting cocoa farmers at Lamanai Chocolate Company

Dining in Cayo District

Experience the mixed culture of Mestizos, Lebanese, Mennonite, Chinese, Indian, and Caribbean people by sampling their delicious traditional food. Foodies in your business group will appreciate the local laid-back eateries. These are a few of the most popular restaurants for corporate dining:

• Guava Limb Cafe, San Ignacio (Caribbean and international food)
• Ko-Ox Han Nah, San Ignacio (Caribbean and Central American food)
• Grove House Restaurant at Sleeping Giant, Belmopan (American grill)
• Benny’s Kitchen, San Jose Succotz (Caribbean and Central American food)
• Everest Indian Restaurant, Belmopan (Indian and Nepalese food)
• Caladium Restaurant, Belmopan(Caribbean and Central American food)
• The Xunantunich Restaurant, San Jose Succotz(Caribbean and Central American food)

How to Travel to Cayo District

You can get to Cayo District by coach, taxi, hire car or by plane. San Ignacio and Santa Elena are 153 miles (3 hour 50 minutes driving) from Chetumal at the Mexican border and 9 miles (26 minutes driving) from Melchor de Mencos at the Guatemalan border.

Phillip SW Goldson International Airport

International and domestic flights run from Phillip SW Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Ladyville, near Belize City. A shuttle bus is available between the airport and Belize City. 

Additional Airports in Cayo District

• Maya Flats Airstrip (CYD) – flights from San Ignacio
• Hector Silva Airport (BCV) – flights from Belmopan

Travelling around the Cayo District

Visiting the different villages in Cayo District is the cheapest by bus. For large groups, it might be more cost-effective to travel by hire car or private coach.