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Recommended
Discover Actun Tunichil Muknal: Belize’s Ultimate ATM Cave Tour with us! Step inside a living museum and experience what National Geographic ranks as the most sacred cave in the world. ... moreThe Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave tour isn't just a day trip it’s a bucket-list Belize adventure that combines jungle hiking, river swimming, and awe-inspiring Mayan history.
Why Travelers Choose the ATM Cave Adventure:
A Time Capsule of Mayan History: Hike and swim into dramatic underground chambers to see ancient ceremonial pottery, left exactly as it was placed by Maya priests centuries ago.
The Famous "Crystal Maiden": Witness the breathtaking, sparkling skeletal remains preserved naturally by cave limestone.
Exclusive, Small-Group Access: To protect this sacred site, entry is strictly limited. You’ll explore with an elite, licensed guide in an intimate, small-group setting.
Is this adventure for you? If you have a moderate fitness level, love a thrilling challenge, and want to experience history where it actually happened, this is the #1 tour you cannot miss in Belize.
Spaces are strictly limited to protect the cave. Book your ATM Cave Tour today and claim your spot on Belize's most legendary adventure!
Type of Tour/Activity: Mayan Ruins and Archaeological Sites
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
(15)
Recommended
Welcome to the gateway of the Mayan Underworld. Actun Tunichil Muknal (cave of the stone sepulchre) is commonly referred to as ATM Cave. Located near San Ignacio, Cayo District, it ... moreis one of the most impressive Maya ceremonial caves containing rare bloodletting altars used in sacrifices by Maya royalty, and where calcified skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware have been found. The best known as “The Crystal Maiden”, the intact skeleton of a teenage girl, whose bones have been calcified over the years to a sparkling crystallized appearance
The hike to the cave entrance through the lush Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve requires visitors to swim to the mouth of the cave and then wade through ankle to chest high water and once inside the magnificent cave, the exploration begins. The tour requires climbing and swimming as well as crawling through small spaces. The cave is extensively decorated with cave formations in the upper passages, a labyrinth of dry chambers which lead to the cathedral-like main hall, a towering chamber 350 meters in length and 50 meters wide, and filled with artifacts and sacrificial remains. Visitors remove shoes and explore the cave in socks only, to protect the artifacts on the cave floor. After this, another climb takes you to the stone sepulchre (after which the cave is named) where the Crystal Maiden lies. Photography is now disallowed inside the cave unless special permits are obtained.
This is an extraordinary Belize adventure and a rare opportunity to see ancient Maya ceremonial sites and altars as they were and virtually untouched for centuries. A visit to this site is truly profound and unforgettable. After this memorable adventure, we hike back to our vehicles and sit to enjoy a local lunch before heading back to San Ignacio.
Type of Tour/Activity: Mayan Ruins and Archaeological Sites
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
Group Discounts
Getting There: Your adventure begins at 8:00 AM with a 45-minute drive on the George Price Highway with another 30 minutes off-road to the parking lot. ... more
From the parking lot, we have a 45 minutes jungle hike toward the cave entrance, crossing a knee-deep river 3 times along the way- enjoy the scenery.
At the cave entrance:
Upon reaching the mouth of the ATM cave, your guide briefs you on the cave’s historical facts while you gear up with helmets and headlamps. The hike inside the cave entails a very short swim of about 30 feet across at the very entrance of the cave. For non-swimmers, there is a bypass around the corner of the cave’s entrance through which you are assisted by the guide. For the rest of the cave length, it’s mostly wading through the water no deeper than chest height (at average height) at most. Admire the myriad cave formations along the way until reaching the hidden dry chamber where amazement awaits you.
In the main chamber:
To get to the main chamber, you'll climb over some rocks providing a staircase to the chamber. Once in the chamber, you’ll be asked by your guide to take off your shoes and walk with only your socks on your feet. Here your guide explains the Maya rituals while you awe at the magnificence of this ancient tomb and its grandeur.
You’ll be amazed by all the Mayan artifacts and remains freely scattered throughout the cave as your guide explains how they got there and what lead to this shocking massacre in such a remote location. Walking farther into the cave, we’ll reach a higher but smaller chamber accessible only through the use of a man-made ladder. This is where the prized, intact, crystalized skeletal remains of the Crystal Maiden lay. Take your time, to sink in the reality of what lies before you.
Departure:
After being saturated to capacity with astonishment, we make our way back out of the chambers and the cave. (the way back out always seems so much shorter than the way in). We then hike back onto the parking lot, where the guide will provide you with your lunch as you discuss the reality of what you’ve just witnessed inside. You may choose to change into your dry clothes before or after lunch (your choice). After lunch, we board our vehicle and head back to San Ignacio arriving around 3:30- 4:00 PM.
Type of Tour/Activity: Mayan Ruins and Archaeological Sites
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
(1)
The ATM Cave is a wet cave – you swim into the mouth and then wade through ankle to chest-high water before climbing to an intricate passageway of dry chambers which lead to ... morethe cathedral-like main hall, a towering chamber 350 meters in length and 50mteres wide and filled with artifacts and sacrificial remains.
After this another climb takes you to the stone chamber where the Crystal Maiden lies, this is the skeleton of a teenage girl who was sacrificed and left in the cave. Over thousands of years, her remains have been covered by a layer of diamond-like limestone. The Mayas sacrificed humans in the hopes of appeasing the gods and bringing fertility to the land.
This is an extraordinary Belize adventure and a rare opportunity to see ancient Maya ceremonial sites and altars as they were virtually untouched for centuries.
Type of Tour/Activity: Mayan Ruins and Archaeological Sites
(6)
Into the Heart of Belize: The ATM Cave Experience Plunge in on a transformative journey in the vibrant rainforest of Belize, where the symphony of tropical birds and the rustle of ... morehidden wonders beckon you to explore. A 35-45 minute hike through the lush jungle unfolds as a promise of self-discovery, with each step forward a testament to your inner strength. As you ford three rivers, the invigorating currents energize your spirit, urging you to push beyond your limits.
The cave entrance awaits, a majestic gateway to the unknown, cloaked in vines and shadows. To enter, you must swim across a pool of crystal-clear water, its refreshing chill awakening your senses. As you slip beneath the stone archway, the outside world fades, replaced by the soothing echo of dripping water and the radiant glow of your headlamp against ancient rock. Inside, the cave reveals its secrets gradually, like a mentor guiding you towards hidden truths. For 25-30 minutes, you wade through an underground river, its shimmering surface reflecting the beauty within. The walls glimmer with mineral deposits, and every turn feels like a step closer to unlocking your full potential. The path grows more challenging, yet with each obstacle, you rise to the occasion.
You climb a five-foot boulder, scramble along a narrow ledge, and squeeze through tight passages until suddenly the space opens into a vast ceremonial chamber. Here, the whispers of the past empower you to forge your own path. Scattered across the floor are Maya pottery and ritual artifacts, preserved where they were left centuries ago, a testament to the power of human resilience. And then comes the moment that defines the journey. In a smaller chamber, illuminated by the soft glow of your light, lies the Crystal Maiden. Her skeleton, calcified by centuries of mineral-rich water, shines like a beacon of hope, every bone accounted for, fused forever into the cave floor—a poignant reminder of the transformative power of sacrifice and reverence.
This is no ordinary adventure. It is a testament to your inner strength, a passage through water, stone, and history. It demands courage and perseverance, yet rewards you with sights that will inspire a lifetime of growth and exploration. To walk the halls of the ATM Cave is to tap into the infinite potential within, to touch the edge of the unknown, and to live an adventure that will leave you forever changed.
Type of Tour/Activity: Mayan Ruins and Archaeological Sites
ATM Cave is about 7 miles south of the village of Teakettle in the beautiful Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve in the Cayo district. Hike 2 miles through the pristine jungle crossing Roaring ... moreCreek three times to reach the cave entrance with your specially licensed guide. Put on your helmet and headlamp and get ready to swim and clamber into the ancient Maya ritual world.
The first part of the adventure is swimming and wading through the awesome array of stalagmites and stalactites and other limestone feature before reaching the Stella Chamber and the Main Chamber. The Main Chamber is about one kilometer from the cave entrance. To enter these chambers, you need to remove your shoes but wear socks. Your guide will show you and explain the amazing number of valuable artifacts used in Mayan rites. These artifacts include the Skeletal Remains of 14 individuals, 150 ceramic pots, stingray spines and obsidian blades used for bloodletting, grinding stones, whistles and dried remains of corn and other plant remains. These remain in place just as they were when they were discovered about 25 years ago. At the far end of the Main Chamber, you will find the Chrystal Maiden, a young girl who was sacrificed as part of agricultural fertility rites.
Type of Tour/Activity: Mayan Ruins and Archaeological Sites
(1)
Actun Tunichil Muknal is located in the Cayo district at the Tapir Nature Mountain Reserve. We will need to take 15 minutes to ride to the village of Teakettle, then we drive south/west ... morefor about 35 minutes. We will arrive at the parking lot of the reserve, guest will be instructed to use the restroom first and then we will provide guests with their helmets, lights, and light vest if necessary. We will hike for 35 minutes passing through three rivers in the Tapir Nature Mountain reserve after which we will arrive at the entrance of the cave. Our knowledgeable guide will provide you will an introduction to the cave. We enter the cave for a three hours tour. We will have Belizean lunch, rum punch, desserts, sodas, and water at the end of the tour. All guest change and we return.
Type of Tour/Activity: Mayan Ruins and Archaeological Sites
Departs From: Belmopan City
(1)
This tour will take you from the Maya temple to the entrance of the Mayan underworld. The adventure starts at the popular Mayan site of Xunantunich; just getting there is an adventure ... moreof its own. After touring the temples, we drive to No’och Che’ en Cave, where you will start off on an easy hike through the jungle to your starting point. As you sit back and enjoy tubing downstream, you will be floating through a series of remarkable limestone caves, each filled with fascinating discoveries of the Mayan underworld. There is also an opportunity to leave your tubes behind and go exploring cave chambers, where you will see ceramic pieces and beautiful geological formations. The adventure ends floating downstream through the jungles of Belize; back at the starting point.
Type of Tour/Activity: Mayan Ruins and Archaeological Sites
ATM Cave was first explored in 1989 and National Geographic produced a documentary about ATM Cave in 1992 called Journey Through the Underworld.
... more
Actun Tunichil Muknal is one of the most impressive Maya ceremonial caves containing bloodletting altars used in sacrifices and over 1400 artifacts as well as human skeletal remains.
Type of Tour/Activity: Mayan Ruins and Archaeological Sites
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
Actun Tunichil Muknal (the Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre), also known locally as ATM, is a cave in Belize, near San Ignacio, Cayo District, notable as a Maya archaeological site that ... moreincludes skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware. There are several areas of skeletal remains in the main chamber. The best-known is “The Crystal Maiden”, the skeleton of an adolescent (now thought to be a teenage boy), possibly a sacrifice victim, whose bones have been calcified to a sparkling, crystallized appearance. The ceramics at the site are significant partly because they are marked with “kill holes”, which indicate that they were used for ceremonial purposes. Many of the Maya artifacts and remains are completely calcified to the cave floor. One artifact, named the “Monkey Pot”, is one of just four of its type found in Central America. The Maya also modified cave formations here, in some instances to create altars for the offerings, in others to create silhouettes of faces and animals or to project a shadow image into the cave. The cave is extensively decorated with cave formations in the upper passages.
Type of Tour/Activity: Mayan Ruins and Archaeological Sites
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
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