Belize: ATM Cave Tour

Several years ago, my husband and I vacationed in Belize. We spent some time in western Belize in the Cayo district exploring Mayan ruins. There are numerous ruins in this area which are all easily accessible. The most memorable tour we took was the ATM Cave Tour (Actun Tunichil Muknal tour).

About the Cave

Rated as the #1 Sacred Cave Destination in the World by National Geographic, the ATM Cave is a natural museum. It became a sacred site for the Mayas when they first discovered it between 300-600 A.D. The cave wasn’t re-discovered until 1989 and gave archeologists a closer look at who the Mayas were as a people. Full of archeological finds (dating back to 700-900 A.D.) such as weapons, tools, pottery, and human skeletons, it is believed that ATM is where the Mayas performed human sacrifice to the gods.

How Do I Get to the Cave?

To enter the ATM cave, you must be accompanied by a licensed guide. You can book with Mayawalk, an adventure tour company in Belize. After meeting up with our tour group, we took a van ride and hiked 45 minutes thru the jungle to the entrance of the cave. We were equipped with helmets and a headlamp as this would be our only source of light on the trip.

Inside the Cave

At the entrance, you must swim to get inside the cave. This tour is very physical with lots of climbing, walking, wading, some swimming. The cave consists of a series of chambers. There are times you are in wide open spaces full of stalagmites and stalactites. Other times you must shimmy thru small crevices (if you are claustrophobic, you may have issue with this). Photo credit: MayaWalk.

Once you reach the main chamber, called The Cathedral, you will climb a 12-foot ladder. This is where you see artifacts (such as pottery) and skeletal remains. Fourteen intact skeletons have been discovered including men, women, and children. As you move further back in the cave, you will see the ‘Crystal Maiden’. This is the most famous of remains because the skeleton is fully intact and covered in calcite crystals giving it a sparkling appearance.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The tour takes around 3+ hours.
• No cell phones, cameras, or backpacks are allowed.
• Shoes are not allowed in The Cathedral area. Bring spare socks.
• Wear a water shoe that has traction and is good for both swimming and hiking (like Keens).
• If you are claustrophobic, or have issues being in the dark for an extended period, you may have issues with this tour. A woman in our group was crying the entire time. She was not comfortable with the all the elements of the cave (climbing, water, darkness, tight spaces). Our guide was excellent and got her through the tour.
• Bring clothes to change into after the tour.

The ATM cave tour is unlike anything I have ever done before. It’s incredible to see things left by the Mayans thousands of years ago and a remarkable part of history still here today. It’s likely the opportunity to visit the ATM cave will not be around forever due to water levels, natural disasters or cave closure. Therefore, put this at the top of your bucket list when visiting Belize!