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Departs From: San Pedro (Ambergris Caye)
Take a Day Trip from San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, and experience the best Cave Tour in Belize. About the Tour
All-inclusive ATM tour from San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Includes all transportation, ... moreentrance fees, equipment, and lunch (meal preferences can be arranged).
Departure Time from the island is 7 AM
Your pick-up in Belize City is scheduled for 8 AM sharp - so it is critical that you board the flight on time!
Your tour will be with a certified gold-standard tour operator, with an ATM-licensed guide.
Groups are limited to 8 per guide, and there is a daily cap of 125 visitors per day.
You can add local transportation to/from your hotel in San Pedro for an additional fee.
The tour is refundable (minus a small service fee) up to 24 hours before departure. Any cancellations made within 24 hours of departure will not be refunded. However, if we are contacted at least 24 hours in advance, we can help you to reschedule the tour for a later date.
The ATM Cave has been declared the world's most sacred cave by National Geographic. Journey back in time to explore this sacred cave, previously untouched for thousands of years!
About the ATM Cave
The Belize ATM Cave is a wet cave, where you swim into the entrance and then trek through ankle to chest-high water before climbing to a dry chamber that leads to the cathedral or main hall. This towering chamber is 350 meters in length and 50 meters wide and is filled with artifacts and the skeletal remains of 14 bodies, about half of them children. All of the skeletal remains are male except one completely intact female skeleton covered in sparkling mineral deposits, the Crystal Maiden. Other artifacts include large pots and jars, flute-like instruments, and ground stones used for grinding corn and grains, suggesting agricultural rituals.
ATM Cave is considered the best Belize cave to explore and is declared the world's most sacred cave by National Geographic. It is an extraordinary and rare opportunity to see ancient Maya ceremonial sites and altars as they were thousands of years ago, virtually untouched.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave is a cave in Belize, near San Ignacio, Cayo District, notable as a Maya archaeological site that includes skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware. There are several ... moreareas with skeletal remains in the main chamber. The best known as "The Crystal Maiden", is the skeleton of an adolescent (an 18-year-old girl), possibly a sacrifice victim, whose bones have been calcified to a sparkling, crystallized appearance. Recent studies, however, claim that the remains are male and not female.
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.
Animal life in the cave includes a large population of bats, large freshwater crabs, crayfish, catfish, and other tropical fish. Large invertebrates like Amblypygi and various predatory spiders also inhabit the cave. Agouti and otters may also use the cave. These and many other species are quite common in river caves of this size in Belize.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
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.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
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.
Departs From: San Pedro (Ambergris Caye)
The ATM Cave is a "must do" tour experience- and it's easily accessible!! The tour starts with a 45 min hike through the jungle in the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. It is a great ... moreway to soak in the majesty of the surrounding jungle. You will cross three rivers as you wind your way through the jungle to the mouth of the cave. Tour duration is approximately 3 hours. Bring along a change of clothes as you will be completely wet by the time the tour is over. Understanding why this cave was of such sacred importance to the Mayas requires an understanding of their spirituality. In the Maya religion, the gods of agriculture, rain, and fertility were believed to reside in the underworld. It would only seem natural that the ATM Cave, with its seemingly endless pits, would be seen as a potential gateway to the underworld. By making human sacrifices within the cave, they could appeal to these important gods practically at their front door.
Guests should dress as if preparing for a hike, bringing comfortable clothes and sturdy closed-toe shoes. Also, socks are mandatory for walking inside the cave. Bring along a towel and change of clothes (required) for a dry trip on your return transfer. Bear in mind that no cameras are allowed within the cave. The prohibition of cameras prevents damage to remaining skeletons and artifacts and preserves ATM for future generations.
Often described in one phrase…. Indiana Jones Movies…. A fitting name for one of the must do adventures in Belize. This adventure starts with a 35–45-minute hike ... moreto the entrance of the cave, with 3 (three) river crossings. Once at the entrance of the cave, a short swim will give you access to the Cave, where then you would be walking in the water for another 25-30 min. Once this is over, you would need to climb a 5-foot boulder, climb on a ledge, then through to the major chamber. Here you’ll find Mayan potteries, and remains; some of which are crystalized and have become part of the cave floor. As you explore this major chamber, you will come to the highlight of the tour, an even smaller chamber that houses the remains of a person, where all bones are accounted for and have been crystalized to the ground of the cave as well. This is a physically challenging tour, but it’s definitely worth it for the experience of a lifetime
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
ATM CAVE TOUR
Taking a journey into the Mayan underworld at Actun Tunichil Muknal, or the “Cave of the Stone Sepulchre”, will be one of the most enlightening, epic, and unique experiences ... moreof your life. Leave the world of the living behind as you venture into the heart of the ATM Cave with your licensed guide. Recently deemed the #1 Sacred Cave destination in the world by National Geographic, the ATM cave is not only beautiful geologically, with its crystalline stalactites and stalagmites, but also historically, as is a natural museum of ancient Mayan artifacts, as well as a sacred burial place. This is the final resting place of the “Crystal Maiden”, an ancient Mayan ceremonial victim, as well as the remains of 13 other sacrificed men, women, and children. MayaWalk guides have led government officials, National Geographic teams, the Discovery Channel, The British High Commission, and US Embassy officials into the ATM Cave.
This sacrificial site is accessed by approximately an hour's drive from our office in San Ignacio. Here we enter the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve and park our vehicles at the ranger post. From this point on we are on foot, hiking through the jungle for approximately 45 minutes to the entrance of the cave. The hike includes three stream crossings. To access the cave, we swim across a small spring-fed pool with the assistance of a rope and wade into knee-high water into the dark underworld of the cave that allows us access to the extensive underground maze of tunnels, passageways, and chambers, climaxing in the ceremonial chamber housing stoneware, ceramics and the famed crystallized skeleton of the “Crystal Maiden”. We spend approximately 3 hours in the cave under the instruction of our experienced guides.
Leave your cameras behind and experience the power of ancient spirits with your mind, body, and soul. This is not only a physical adventure but a journey into the spiritual realm. We enter back into the jungle world and hike to our vehicles, where we relax and enjoy a homemade picnic lunch, with water and soft drinks, before driving back to San Ignacio.
The ATM Cave is a "must do" tour experience- and it's easily accessible!! The tour starts with a 45-minute hike through the jungle in the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. It is a great ... moreway to soak in the majesty of the surrounding jungle. You will cross three rivers as you wind your way through the jungle to the mouth of the cave. The tour duration is approximately 3 hours. Bring along a change of clothes as you will be completely wet by the time the tour is over. Understanding why this cave was of such sacred importance to the Mayas requires an understanding of their spirituality. In the Maya religion, the gods of agriculture, rain, and fertility were believed to reside in the underworld. It would only seem natural that the ATM Cave, with its seemingly endless pits, would be seen as a potential gateway to the underworld. By making human sacrifices within the cave, they could appeal to these important gods practically at their front door.
Guests should dress as if preparing for a hike, bringing comfortable clothes and sturdy closed-toe shoes. Bear in mind that no cameras are allowed within the cave. The prohibition of cameras prevents damage to remaining skeletons and artifacts and preserves ATM for future generations.
Departs From: Caye Caulker
Take a Day Trip from Caye Caulker, and experience the best Cave Tour in Belize. About the Tour
All-inclusive ATM tour from Caye Caulker. It includes all transportation, entrance ... morefees, equipment, and lunch (meal preferences can be arranged).
Choose your option for a flight or water taxi transfer to Belize City. We will take care of all the transportation logistics.
By Boat - Departure Time from the island is 6:30 AM
By Plane - Departure Time from the island is 7:10 AM
Your pick-up in Belize City is scheduled for 8 AM sharp - so it is critical that you board the flight or ferry on time!
Your tour will be with a certified gold-standard tour operator, with an ATM-licensed guide.
Groups are limited to 8, and there is a daily cap of 125 visitors per day.
The tour is refundable (minus a small service fee) up to 24 hours before departure. Any cancellations made within 24 hours of departure will not be refunded. However, if we are contacted at least 24 hours in advance, we can help you to reschedule the tour for a later date.
The ATM Cave has been declared the world's most sacred cave by National Geographic. Journey back in time to explore this sacred cave, previously untouched for thousands of years!
About the ATM Cave
The Belize ATM Cave is a wet cave, where you swim into the entrance and then trek through ankle to chest-high water before climbing to a dry chamber that leads to the cathedral or main hall. This towering chamber is 350 meters in length and 50 meters wide and is filled with artifacts and the skeletal remains of 14 bodies, about half of them children. All of the skeletal remains are male except one completely intact female skeleton covered in sparkling mineral deposits, the Crystal Maiden. Other artifacts include large pots and jars, flute-like instruments, and ground stones used for grinding corn and grains, suggesting agricultural rituals.
ATM Cave is considered the best Belize cave to explore and is declared the world's most sacred cave by National Geographic. It is an extraordinary and rare opportunity to see ancient Maya ceremonial sites and altars as they were thousands of years ago, virtually untouched.
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.
Join a soul-touching experience as you get the unique opportunity to explore the sacred underworld of the Mayan with our Mayan descendant expert guide. It is a spiritual experience ... morelike no other as the sharing is done with utmost authenticity. A 2hr road journey takes you to a very secluded jungle location where you hike for approximately 20-30 minutes to the elusive ATM Cave where your guide draws the attention of your soul to the era when the Mayans traversed the Cave in search of hope. Refreshing yourself in the cool stream at the entrance of the cave is a must. You are then asked to partake in the journey of walking along the inner stream in the Cave and climbing Rocks viewing the shimmery stalagmites and stalactites as you make your way to the upper chamber where skeleton remains and potteries can be seen. You are encouraged to engage all your senses to feel the moment
Departs From: Caye Caulker
The ATM Cave is a "must do" tour experience- and it's easily accessible!! The tour starts with a 45 min hike through the jungle in the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. It is a great ... moreway to soak in the majesty of the surrounding jungle. You will cross three rivers as you wind your way through the jungle to the mouth of the cave. The tour duration is approximately 3 hours. Bring along a change of clothes as you will be completely wet by the time the tour is over. Understanding why this cave was of such sacred importance to the Mayas requires an understanding of their spirituality. In the Maya religion, the gods of agriculture, rain, and fertility were believed to reside in the underworld. It would only seem natural that the ATM Cave, with its seemingly endless pits, would be seen as a potential gateway to the underworld. By making human sacrifices within the cave, they could appeal to these important gods practically at their front door.
Guests should dress as if preparing for a hike, bringing comfortable clothes and sturdy closed-toe shoes. Also, socks are mandatory for walking inside the cave. Bear in mind that no cameras are allowed within the cave. The prohibition of cameras prevents damage to remaining skeletons and artifacts and preserves ATM for future generations.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
Experience more than a cave! Imagine a world alive and imbued with sacred power divided into three domains: the starry arch of heaven; the stony middle world of the earth made to flower ... moreand bear fruits; and, the dark waters of the underworld below, Xibalba.
A short swim through the crystal blue waters will lead you into this amazing realm. Then working your way through a breakdown leads you into the main water passage, where you get to view amazing geological formations like sparkling stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones. This hidden chamber promises to reveal ancient secrets and geological processes that have helped to shape the Mayan Underworld known as Xibalba. Xibalba was the fearful world beneath the face of the earth, the parallel unseen world into which kings and shamans could enter an ecstatic trance and please their gods for their benefit.
Actun Tunichil Muknal (the Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre), also known locally as ATM, is a cave near San Ignacio, Cayo District, notable as a Maya archaeological site that includes ... moreskeletons, ceramics, and stoneware. There are several areas with skeletal remains in the main chamber.
Many of the Maya artifacts and remains are completely calcified to the cave floor. The ceramics at the site are significant partly because they are marked with “kill holes”, which indicate that they were used for ceremonial purposes. 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.
Actun Tunichil Muknal cave was first entered by the Mayas in AD 300-600. It was not until the late AD 700-900 that the Mayas went deeper into the cave to perform their ceremonies. The cave was officially opened to the public in 1998.
The cave houses various types of artifacts from ceramics and stoneware to the remains of skeletons. The Mayas consider Actun Tunichil Muknal a highly sacred location, enclosing the famous “Crystal Maiden,” who was thought to be a sacrifice victim. After decades of weathering and natural processes, the surface of the skeleton appears to be covered with a geological sanded finish, which gives the maiden a somewhat magical fairy-dust appearance.
Embark on an ultimate adventure in Belize with a combination tour of Xunantunich Mayan Ruins and Cave Tubing at Jaguar Paw. The tour takes you on a journey back in time as you explore ... morethe impressive Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, climb to the top of El Castillo, the towering pyramid, and marvel at intricate carvings and glyphs that provide insights into Mayan culture. Then, get ready for an adrenaline-pumping cave tubing experience at Jaguar Paw, where you'll float along underground rivers, surrounded by awe-inspiring limestone caves while discovering stunning formations and hidden wonders. This epic combination tour will leave you with unforgettable memories, a deeper understanding of Mayan history, and a newfound appreciation for the natural beauty of Belize. Don't miss out on this adventure!
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