Full Day Caving Experience at A.T.M with Katun Ahau

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Listing Type
Tour/Activity
Type of Tour/Activity
Mayan Ruins and Archaeological Sites
Main Activity
Cave Tubing
Departs From
Start Point
San Ignacio Town
Intensity Level
Difficult
$
140
/ Person
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About Listing
Features:
Ancient Artifacts
Archaeological Reserve
Cave System
Nature Trails
Subterranean Cave
Subterranean River
Belize Gold Standard Certified - Belizing.com
Description
Discovered in 1989, this cave is a full five kilometers deep. 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, and unique experiences of your life. You will venture into the heart of the Cave with a licensed, experienced tour guide. This cave is not only geologically beautiful with its crystalline stalactites and stalagmites but also historically as it is a natural museum of ancient Mayan artifacts and a sacred offering place for the “Crystal Maiden”. Time spent inside the cave is 2 ½ to 3 hrs. Get an in-depth look at Belize’s Mayan culture.

Inside the dry zone where the artifacts and bones are located, all persons need to remove all shoes and walk-in socks to reduce damage. To see the Crystal Maiden you need to ascend a 13 ft ladder to reach the area known as the sepulcher.
 
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Suitable for:
Teens
Adults
Families
Groups
Couples
Seniors
Recommended Age Range:
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
Over 50
What is Included?
Things the supplier includes without any extra cost.
  • Lunch
  • Equipment
  • Fees
  • Guide
  • Transportation
What to bring?
Recommended items to bring on the trip.
  • Short or long pants
  • Protective shoes
  • Socks
  • Extra set of clothes
  • Towel
Rates
The base rates charged by the provider. This includes all taxes and applicable fees.
Capacity:
8 people
Minimum:
2 people
Minimum number of people.
Price
Unless otherwise indicated, prices are in US dollars.
Per
Price
Unless otherwise indicated, prices are in US dollars.
Description
Person
$
140		For tour dates starting January 1, 2025
Special Instructions for Rates
Pickups and dropoffs outside of town limits are available.
 
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Itinerary
Activity
Time
Departure7:30 AM
Activities
Caving, Sightseeing, Swimming
Transportation
Is Transportation provided?:
Yes
Availability
Schedule
Dates
Start Time
Duration
Daily7:30 AM7.5
Provider
Katun Ahau Tours
 (53)
Katun Ahau locally owned and operated Elias Cambranes in San Ignacio, Cayo Belize. With over 25 years of experience in small group tours to archaeological sites in Belize and to Tikal ... morein Guatemala.

Elias is the only tour guide in Belize who is also licensed in Guatemala. While other tour operators will turn you over to a Guatemalan guide at the border when leaving Belize, Elias will be your guide from start to finish. All guides are licensed and certified with a focus on creating a safe and comfortable day trip during your vacation in Belize.
Account Type:
Tour Operator
Gold Certified:
Yes
Service Types:
Tours | Activities, Shuttles, Private Guides
Destinations
Main Attraction:
ATM Cave
Payment & Cancellation
Cancellation Policy
Flexible
  • Cancellations made 15 days before will be fully refunded except for a service fee of 3%.
  • Cancellations made 7 days before will be refunded 70% of the amount paid.
  • Cancellations made at a later date will not be refunded.
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41 reviews   0 comments
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11/10 experience
Our guide Micheal went above and beyond. By getting up early we were able to get to the park just after open and miss the circus of crowds providing a much better experience. I'm a huge nerd and I love learning about earth science and archaeology and Micheal really knows his stuff! He really knows all the details of the ATM cave, especially the Mayan history. He's also super nice and tries to be a ... more comedian. If your wondering which ATM tour to choose just choose this one! You won't regret it. Thanks Micheal!
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Amazing. - You can do it
Truly glad we did it. In our mid 50’s and had no issues at all. My worry about being cold was not necessary as it was warm enough even in the water. YouTube videos do not do it justice. Don’t miss out.
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Great Adventure!!
Micheal was the best guide!! We had such a good time. I would absolutely book with him again and recommend a trip with him to anyone. Thanks for showing us your office!
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Wonderful trip
Super fun and knowledgeable guides. Always kept an eye on safety for this in the group that were nervous and allowed Adventure for us others. We listened to some other tours and by far our guides were the best. They go in small groups which makes It a top tour provider. Highly recommend
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Great tour and day of adventure
Michael really knew his stuff! He answered all our questions, kept us informed about what we were going to encounter, and most importantly kept us safe. The cave was amazing and I feel liked I learned so much on this encounter with Mayan history. Wear good water shoes with socks and know you aren't allowed to bring anything (no phone or bag etc) from the shuttle. You can take a change of clothes for ... more after because you will be drenched from the river crossings, swimming into the cave, and swimming/floating at points in the cave. There's a changing room at the trail head.
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Fantastic Adventure!
We had a great day in the ATM caves with Michael - highly recommend for those looking for history and adventure. Prepare to be immersed in both knowledge and water the whole day - in a good way! This tour most likely won't be the same in the future - truly incredible opportunity.
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ATM Cave
We had an amazing adventure at the ATM cave. Thanks so much to Michael for teaching us so much about Mayan history and for keeping us safe on the tour! Once in a lifetime experience!
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Tikal Temples
So amazing and thankful to have Hugo explain so many details that enhance the experience. Lots of exercise and amazing pictures. The Maya discovered so much for their time.
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ATM Cave and hike
Superb!! Michael has given us a history lesson on the Mayan people and all of Belize. So grateful. This area is amazing and beautiful. Water was a bit high due to Tropical storm Sara.
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Amazing experience!
The ATM Cave is definitely a highlight on our trip! The place is stunning and worth every dollar you pay for it. Going with Katun Ahau Tours Made the experience truly special. Michael was an amazing guide who could answer all our questions about the cave and gave us a lot of information about Belize, it's culture and people on top. The tour was very well organized and they made sure we had the best ... more experience possible. Thank you so much!
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best tour ever!
The ATM caves were sooooooooooo cool. Unlike any tour I have ever done. It is crazy how up close and personal you are able to get with these incredible artifacts of history. Our Guide Michael was so well informed and knowledgable (about all types of things from geology to history to animal and plant species, etc) and he was also just very enjoyable and casual to talk with. On top of the great history ... more and archaeology tour, this tour is just fun and adventurous with a great hike in and out of the cave and a real enjoyable amount of navigating the cave.
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Incredible experience enhanced by Elias and Michael
ATM is a must-see. We were so thrilled to have gone with Elias and his trainee Michael. Elias is extremely knowledgeable and has a way of story telling that keeps you hanging on every word. What we appreciated most about Elias’s tour was that he took his time, while other tours were in a rush and pushing past us, we stopped and appreciated so many more cave formations and relics, with Elias telling ... more us their significance or explaining what we were looking at. By the time we returned, we were the last tour group to exit the caves and that was just magical without the noise and lights from the other groups. They were also very patient with us as we traversed rocks and river crossings, and they were very safety oriented. Topped off with a delicious lunch that they prepared for us. I would highly recommend them.
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Be sure to do this!
My girlfriend and I had an amazing time touring the ATM cave with Elias. He’s a wonderful person- funny, informative, and his wife makes the best chicken for lunch. 😀 We weren’t sure about doing this tour but it’s easily the highlight of our vacation. Book with Elias and have a one of a kind experience!
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Once in a lifetime experience!
We loved this tour! Super informative and adventurous.
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A truly spiritual experience
I’m torn for no cameras being allowed as it allowed us to fully experience the hike and cave without worrying about the best shot and yet words seem insufficient to describe what we saw. The cave formations were spectacular. Ian, our guide, was excellent and provided the story to go along with what we were seeing. We were an adventurous group so were able to return via the Devil’s Spine leading to ... more The Guillotine. If you can add this to your travel budget it’s worth it!!
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Great Experience
Ben Cruz was a great guide. The hike and tour was everything we wanted and more. Ben was extremely knowledgeable and did a great job of gauging the skill level / comfortability level of our group. He even went out of his way to drop us off at our resort after the tour. Would highly recommend this tour as long as you are ok with some spelunking, swimming and tight spaces.
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Awesome experience
Elias was great! He is very knowledgeable and detail oriented. We felt comfortable wading through the water and tight spaces with his lead. Highly recommend!
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Unforgettable!
Our guide Ben Cruz was amazing. He picked us up at the hotel and from that point on it was like he was our own personal guide. The tour itself is like being in a live action version of The Goonies. You definitely need to be pretty active to complete it. You have to swim/wade through waist deep and some neck deep water and climb some pretty steep and treacherous terrain. Not for claustrophobics. It ... more was the highlight of our 11 day trip. The only sad part is we have no photos (not allowed) but only memories!
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Amazing ATM tour!
Once in a lifetime experience! Elias, our tour guide, was incredibly knowledgeable and super kind. The ATM cave is such a unique experience and definitely worth doing if you're in Belize. Elias is a remarkable guide for many reasons. First, he made sure we were there early, before the crowds. For most of the tour we were by ourselves which added to the majesty and wonder of the cave. Second of all, ... more Elias is so knowledgeable about Mayan culture and history. We loved learning about how the ancient religion intersected with the history of the region. Thirdly, Elias made us feel very safe while in the cave. He told us where to place our feet and hands while climbing up the boulders and if there was a hidden rock while swimming through the cave (so we didn't bang our knees!) Finally, Elias showed us such hospitality and kindness. We didn't have a ride back to our hotel (Sweet Songs Jungle Lodge) which is past San Ignacio, up a long & bumpy road. We also wanted to stop at a market for a few items. Elias took us to both the market and back to our lodging, saving us both money and time! We really appreciate his hospitality and expertise. All in all, an amazing adventure and Elias an excellent guide! Highly recommend!
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Amazing - This is a must!
For me personally, this was a little nerve-wracking at times, but it was absolutely amazing and I am so glad I did it. I do have a fear of heights, am somewhat claustrophobic, and don't like being in water when I can't see what else is in the water. I am also not in the best shape - bad knees and ankles. All of these challenges were things I faced on this tour. Despite this, I still highly recommend ... more this tour because the experience was incredible. A review I read before our trip said to just do it even if you are scared. How true! My husband and sons also loved this tour. Elias was an awesome guide and was helpful and knowledgeable through it all. Thank you for an awesome time!
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Incredible experience!
Our tour guide was Ben. He was incredibly knowledgeable and just generally a great guide. The tour was amazing, plenty of physical exertion, but well worth it. This tour is not to be missed
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Incredible Experience! Here's What You Need to Know
This was absolutely the highlight of our trip and one of the most incredible experiences I've had in travels around the world. I highly recommend, HOWEVER, I wanted to include some need-to-know information because there wasn't really a definitive guide that we could find for preparing. First, you should definitely be able to swim, not be scared of dark/tight places, and in relatively good physical ... more condition. It's exhausting and you do a fair bit of climbing. As for what to pack: For the actual trip you will leave everything except yourself and the clothes on your back in the car. I recommend women wear a one-piece bathing suit and shorts while men wear swim trunks and s hirt. everyone should some sort of water shoe - either a swim shoe or Tevas, Keens, Chacos, or even crocks (though they must fit ok with the strap) and socks. The socks are important because you do have to take your shoes off at one point to climb into the cathedral and walk through it and there are some sharp rocks! Then, bring a change of clothes (they say extra socks but if you have water shoes just take your socks off and let your shoes dry) and a towel. There are showers at the end but they're not super reliable. Most importantly ENJOY!!
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Amazing must see experience!
We had a great time with our guide Elias. He was super knowledgeable and passionate about being a guide. The caves were beautiful and the artifacts were awe inspiring. Getting to the sepulchre requires some swimming and moderate climbing. There are also multiple routes so request the more difficult path if your group is up for it. We were very comfortable in moisture wicking shirts, swim shorts and ... more water shoes with socks. Don’t forget your socks or you will end up barefoot on the rocks!
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ATM Cave Tour - Once in a Lifetime Experience
This is such a unique experience that you can really only have here in Belize. Elias is friendly and so knowledgeable. The tour itself is a workout but not incredibly difficult is you take your time, watch each step and listen to instructions. Don't pass up this opportunity to navigate the refreshing cave waters and learn about Mayan history. Elias provided a delicious homemade lunch and refreshments ... more which really hit the spot after a nice little workout.
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So grateful for this amazing experience.
Reading about this experience had me so excited, and if I am honest, a little terrified. The idea of trekking/swimming through water in caves in the only pair of sneakers I packed...it sounded uncomfortable if not a little scary. So hear me when I say: just do it. It was incredible - highlight of our whole trip. Our guide could not have been better and we learned so much. Was grateful for our early ... more start time and smaller group. Can't say enough good things. Thank you!
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Great experience
Elias was a wonderful, knowledgeable guide. He was flexible on where we met the group since we had our own car, which was really nice. Also it was SO nice to not have too large of a tour group. We were able to take our time and Elias showed us really cool routes. Definitely recommend this tour!
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Life changing
We literally don’t have words to describe how amazing our legendary tour guide Ben and the whole ATM experience was! Relatively physically demanding but Ben does a great job at explaining the safest and most practical way to navigate the caves! Ben is also very knowledgeable and is extremely entertaining. Ben took the time to share his knowledge on things we expressed interests in. Ben is definitely ... more a master of his trade! In the caves I was with someone who wasn’t a strong swimmer but was capable of completing the journey a week after a hurricane passed through.
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You won’t regret it!
If you are in Belize you must take this tour! Ben was our tour guide, he was extremely knowledgeable, helpful and better than the rest. We arrived before anyone else so we had the entire cave to ourselves. As we were climbing back down the rest of the tours were just making their way up. There was a line of 40 people waiting to climb up to the cathedral. This was definitely a once in a lifetime experience
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ATM tour with Ben- BOOK NOW!
There are truly no words to articulate this experience! Ben was an outstanding & knowledgeable guide whose true passion is to educate and share his love for caving with others. ATM Tour experience was more than I could have ever expected. I would be blessed to get to do it again.
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A must if you're in Belize!
This was such a fun adventure. Our tour guide Ben was super knowledgeable about the surrounding area, the geology of the caves, and the history of the artifacts. I highly recommend this to everyone who wants some adventure while you're here.
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Fabulous experience at ATM cave with Elias
My wife and I had the greatest experience exploring the Mayan underworld with Elias of Katun Ahau tours. We were staying in the beautiful town of San Ignacio and Elias picked us up and from the moment we started our journey, Elias taught us more about the Mayan culture in one day then years of geography classes. Then once inside the cave the experience was breathtaking, and even though Elias has been ... more in the cave literally thousands of times he made it feel like we were seeing things for the first time, which we were. When we completed our tour, Elias’ wife’s lunch was delicious and a must when visiting Belize.
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DJ and JessieSt Paul, MN, USA
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Amazing!
We had the best time exploring the ATM caves with Ben C. Highly recommend!
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Wow! What an incredible experience.
Just got back from a week in Belize and the ATM tour was the highlight. Our guide Ben, was so knowledgeable about the caves and the artifacts and went above and beyond to make sure we were safe and comfortable. He took great care to make sure we went at a pace appropriate for my level of fitness. It’s an incredible experience…something you can’t find anywhere else. Highly recommend.
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Experience of a Lifetime!
My family's visit to ATM was nothing short of spectacular! The site was breathtaking and the history of and within the cave was a reminder of how temporary life is and how much we should treasure every moment. Our tour guide, Elias, was well versed in the Mayas' history and took great care in explaining the symbolisms used in their rituals. I'm really glad we had this experience and I would certainly ... more recommend it to anyone interested in spending a day in nature in the belly of the "underworld"!
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Once in a lifetime experience
Informative, fun adventure. Elias took us through the cave and was a wealth of knowledge about the Mayans, their rituals, scientific theories and geology. He even helped us locate and observe the native bird species en route through the jungle since we told him we were bird enthusiasts. Highly recommend this tour.
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Incredible ATM tour with Ben
We had a great time on this tour and it was definitely one of the highlights of our two week trip to Belize. Ben picked us up early from San Ignacio and drove expertly through some really sketchy roads to get us to the entrance of the park. He led us through the 45 min easy hike and supported my wife over two river crossings, which I really appreciated. It was an intense experience swimming and climbing ... more through the wet cave, but we felt safe with Ben’s leadership the whole time. He also conveyed a strong love and knowledge for the cave/jungle environment which impressed us. Took one star off for gear due to some confusion about what we should bring with us on the hike, and what we should leave in the car. All in all- fantastic experience- highly recommend the Katun Ahau tour company!
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Incredible Cave Tour
I completed this tour with my 10 year old son. Ben was incredible--so knowledgeable and a clear love of his job. The cave itself is majestic, stunningly beautiful and undoubtedly worth the visit. We would absolutely do it again! Ben knows the cave so well and has a deep understanding and love of the history that it brings. It 10 year old said this was his absolute favorite thing we did in Belize--and ... more we did a lot! It was a magical experience for us to do together--thank you!!
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Wonderful Experience
Ben was our tour guide but he was so much more than that. His wealth of knowledge on rock formations and everything at ATM was outstanding. He picked us up very early and we were the first and only group there which made the experience even better. I can't swim and he made me feel very comfortable and safe. I am so glad I chose Katun and had Ben to show me ATM.
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Outstanding
Our tour guide through katun ahau- Ben - was absolutely amazing. Ben was here on time and seemed excited to share about his country, the area, and of course - the cave and the rituals. Ben was open regarding all questions our crew had, even the critical ones. He was helpful and thanks to him we were almost the first group in the cave. He took his time explaining everything, has a wealth of knowledge ... more about geology as well as vegetation and wildlife. He spotted threats way before anyone else and took care of his group, making sure everyone has a great experience. Ben has experience as a cave rescuer and has come to this cave as a guide for 17 years. He has worked with the researchers here and shared a wealth of their knowledge. The truly most outstanding part about Ben was - he loves this place and it shows. he loves explaining and protecting it, making sure that his guests are careful and educated where others seemed careless (stepping on artifacts, bones, etc). Totally recommend this guy and will specifically ask for him when I book other tours in the area if at all possible.
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CAVE tour
This is an awesome tour, a must do. There is a lot of climbing and descending though. Make sure you have the stamina. Our guide Ben Cruz was amazing and very knowledgeable.
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excellent experience with a knowledgable guide
Elias shared a wealth of knowledge of the Mayan history and religion and tied it in beautifully with our cave experience. At least two other guides passed our group as Elias helped me, and those I talked with after, understand the significance of the ATM cave to the Mayan. Well done Mr. C!
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