Belize
ATM Cave (Actun Tunichil Muknal)
Hike, wade and swim into the "Cave of the Stone Sepulchre", where the ancient Maya left offerings and the Crystal Maiden lies.
Actun Tunichil Muknal, the "Cave of the Stone Sepulchre", runs for more than three miles inside the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. The Maya began using it in the Early Classic period (AD 300–600) for rituals to reach their gods and ancestors. Inside you see ceramics, stone tools and skeletal remains, including the "Crystal Maiden", a young woman whose calcified bones sparkle.
It is a real adventure. After a drive of about 45 minutes from San Ignacio comes a jungle hike of about 45 minutes with stream crossings, and parts of the cave require swimming.
Pickup at your hotel in San Ignacio.
Photos: Antti T. Nissinen, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Duration
- About 8 hours
- Guide language
- English · Spanish
- Pickup
- At your hotel in Belize (other areas on request)
What's included
- Private transport with hotel pickup
- Guide
Not included
- Entrance fees, meals, equipment and boat: to be confirmed when we reply to your request
Sample itinerary
- 1Pickup at your hotel in San Ignacio
- 2Drive to the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve
- 3Jungle hike with river crossings
- 4Guided exploration of the cave
- 5Hike out and return to your hotel
Good to know
Can I visit without a guide?
No. NICH requires a guided tour for every ATM visitor, and children must be at least 40 inches tall.
How fit do I need to be?
The Belize Tourism Board describes the visit as physically demanding, with a hike and sections of the cave where you have to swim. You should be a confident swimmer in good health.
