Explore ATM Caves

6:45am We Pick Up at hotels and stop downtown for other guests. 7:00am Depart from Coffee de Los Mayas Coffee Shop on Burns Ave, downtown San Ignacio to Teakettle Village, 45 minute drive.

The vehicle will make a quick stop at a small supermarket so you can buy snacks or water. This is also the start of the 30-minute Dirt bumpy road to the Parking Lot of the archaeological reserve. Along the drive through the valley towards the cave you will pass the village of Arizona and then some farm land - Corn plantations on the flat areas. As you get closer the cave, you start seeing some mounds that stand out from within the fields. We know now they are ancient Maya structures that have never been excavated. This is evidence that people lived in this area hundreds of years ago, cultivated corn and probably the ones that used the caves. Upon arrival to the parking lot, you will have time to change into proper clothing and put on the equipment provided - Helmet, Headlamp and Lifejacket.

Your adventure begins the moment the driver picks you at the hotel and you start a 75-minute journey to the Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves. It will be 45 minutes on a paved road and approximately 30 on a bumpy dirt road to the parking lot. Upon arrival to the Parking Lot, everyone changes into proper clothes and gear up with helmets, headlamps and life jackets (not obligatory). The hike to the Entrance of the Cave starts off with a River crossing that could be 5ft or deeper for most of the year but there is a rope to help with the first of three river crossings. The trail to the entrance is a 35 minutes flat hike where you will learn about the flora and fauna. The other 2 river crossings are under a foot deep so it's just a matter of not slipping on the riverstones. Upon arrival to the entrance of the cave you leave waterbottles and prepare to go in.

At the Entrance of the Cave your guide reassures you with a Safety Briefing, inspects gear and shares historical and mythological information about the cave. The following 500 meters inside the cave will be treading though water with levels going from ankles, knees to neck sometimes. You will be exposed to some incredible formations where you will need to be a bit flexible at times, using a combination of Leg & Arm strength to go up or down some spaces. The second part you will need to climb a rock to get up to a 3-4 meter ledge. Here you take off your shoes and go into the Sacred Chamber using socks to protect your feet and fragile surface. You will witness ceramic and human remains all over the floor, all showing evidence of Maya Ceremony. Archaeologists have recorded over 1000 pieces of pottery and 20 human sacrifices. The highlight is the full skeletal remains of the Crystal Maiden, evidence of human sacrifices practised by the Mayas at the end of the Classic Period.

After exploring this area and seeing the highlights of the cave you start walking back, this allows other groups to see every ceremonial space in the cave. The same way you came in in; will be your out. It will be a faster pace going back. It is a wet cave and most of the time we are in Dark Zones so headlamps are very important so is following instructions from your guide. The hike ends at the Parking Lot with a delicious Belizean dish, sodas and water. You will have time to change into a dry set of clothes and then come for some hot food. The drive back to San Ignacio es 75 minutes approximately.