ATM Cave Tour—Most Sacred Cave in Belize
Interested in visiting the most sacred cave in Belize? Look no further than the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (ATM)!
Belize is a country rich in history and natural beauty. Choosing your destinations isn’t easy with so much to choose from.
One thing you won’t want to miss is the famed ATM Cave. You can visit it from almost anywhere in Belize easily, but there’s no better place than from nearby San Ignacio.
National Geographic ranked Actun Tunichil Muknal as the number one sacred cave in the world. Touring this cave provides you with a first-hand look at ancient Mayan ceremonies and rituals you won’t see anywhere else.
This cave contains a large network of underground tunnels and chambers serve as a sacred burial ground of natural beauty and historic Mayan artifacts. In this post, you’ll learn all you need to know to visit the ATM cave, including how to pack and what to expect.
Some links in this article may be affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them, I receive a small commission. This will never cost you extra. Please read the disclosures to learn more. Feature image courtesy of Benedict Kim, Photographer. Details in this post were provided by Luis at Kawiil Tours.
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave History
ATM Cave has been a sacred place for the Mayan people for most of their existence. The “Cave of the Stone Sepulcher” was found between 300 and 600 A.D. It quickly became a sacred and spiritual site.
The Mayan People were believed to have lived in this area from around 800 B.C. to 1200 A. D. They thrived here, and the culture flourished until an extended period of drought.
It was rediscovered in 1989, and the archaeologists excavating it prevented it from opening to the public for close to ten years. Their findings told a story about this advanced society and the events leading to its collapse.
Why Were People Sacrificed?
The Maya People were desperate for answers and a miracle during the prolonged drought. So, they took to drastic rituals to try to save themselves.
The drought caused them a crisis as there was not enough food. However, it soon became a religious crisis that caused a social crisis.
The Mayans believed that the gods supported the rulers when things were good. When things went bad with the drought, the people started to revolt.
The Mayans used the cave for spiritual purposes connecting with the gods, so it makes sense that they would use it when sending their desperate pleas for survival.
The gods of rain, agriculture, and fertility were believed to reside in the underworld. So, the ATM cave, with its vast underground caverns and tunnels, was seen as the perfect spot to connect with them.
By sacrificing in this sacred spot, they were offering these gods a message conveying their loyalty and passion.
Visiting the ATM Cave—ATM Cave Tour
You must go with a local guide to visit the cave. This is because it’s a sacred area, but also, the chambers inside of the cave are a maze, and you need someone experienced to show you the way.
There are only 25 guides certified for this tour, according to our guide, Luis. Visitors to the cave are limited to around 125 daily. The ATM tour cost will range in price, but it’s generally around $125.
There are no guides on site, so you need to plan for a tour in advance. You are not allowed to enter this sacred cave on your own, nor would you really want to. In case you think of trying it, there are guards at the gate.
Visiting the cave is safe with a guide that knows the area. There are some challenging spots, including a couple of climbs. And there are a couple of places where you have to slide your head and neck to get through the rocks.
You also don’t want to touch the areas of quartz growth on the walls. And you want to be especially careful around the artifacts and remains.
People are no longer allowed to bring anything in the cave except for a helmet with a light because people had dropped cameras on two of the skulls and shattered some bones.
Not only is this a sacred site where you want to be respectful, but please don’t ruin it for people to visit. Be especially careful inside, and listen to your tour guide as to where you can step and what you can touch.
The artifacts and remains are taped off, so you can walk really close to them but not directly. And you cannot touch either.
What to Bring on an ATM Cave Tour
Dress for a hike when you visit ATM Cave, and plan to get very wet! You’ll spend a good bit of time in the water, so you’ll want to prepare for it with loose, comfortable, and quick-dry clothing.
Make sure to bring a change of clothing for when you’re done. Though I had read that socks are required in the cave, my guide allowed people in bare feet if they wanted to once we hit the upper chamber.
Most tours include a traditional Belizian lunch after. It’s often rice and beans with stewed chicken, fried plantains, and a few other sides. But you might want a light snack right before you leave.
ATM Cave Tour Packing List
- Close-toed shoes (Water shoes with a good grip on the bottom are a good idea. I brought my Keen water shoes. They offer Keen water shoes in men’s too.)
- Socks.
- Comfortable wicking clothing. We actually wore rash guard shirts and appreciated them in the cold water! (Men’s rash guard shirts are here.)
- Towel—I have a small microfiber camping towel like this one that I love. It’s light, packs small, and dries super fast!
- Sunblock. I read mixed feedback on this, as I read that it’s not allowed in the cave. Our guide didn’t say anything either way. If you get it, use reef-friendly, biodegradable sunscreens like this Blue Lizard or Banana Boat.
- Water bottle—I love my Hydroflask to reduce single-use plastics and use my Katadyn BeFree water filter bottle to filter and fill it.
- Snack.
- Change of clothes for after the trek.
- Waterproof bag. (You can grab a plastic grocery store bag for your wet items or get one of these waterproof bags. I love using dry bags for kayaking and canoeing.)
Cameras of any kind are not allowed in the cave due to the damage done by tourists visiting. As a blogger, that made me sad not to be able to capture the trip. But honestly, I appreciated it.
Not only did it push me to be in the moment and to observe and absorb, but also, I was able to ensure I didn’t cause any damage to this delicate and sacred area.
What to Expect from the ATM Cave Tour
Many tours you can take will pick you up at your hotel. If not, they will pick you up at a central meeting place in San Ignacio. You can drive to the lot near the cave, but having them transport you is better.
You’ll reach the stopping point after around 45 minutes of driving on a rocky, bumpy road in the Teakettle Village. The car/van will be parked in a sizeable lot with picnic benches and modern bathroom facilities. It takes around an hour in total from San Ignacio.
You’ll leave everything at your transportation except for your helmet, light, and water bottle. You cannot bring anything into the cave except for the helmet and light.
Then, you have a 45-minute walk through the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve through the jungle. Your guide will provide information about the area, the history of the local Maya, and the local plants and animals.
You’ll cross the river three times before you get to the cave. The first is right after you start the hike, and it’s deep! It was really cold and up to my chest. They had a rope across the length of the river to hold, though the water wasn’t moving too quickly.
There are two more crossings. One was pretty deep again, and there was a rope. The other was relatively shallow and easy to move through quickly.
Right before the cave is an area with a couple of picnic benches. Here, your guide will have you ditch your water bottle. And, as my guide said, you can feel free to use the “lavoratree.” (Yes, there’s no proper bathroom here).
In the ATM Cave
The cave part takes between one and two hours, depending on the speed of your group. You do swim in, and you’ll spend a good bit of the time trudging through the water at varying levels.
You’ll have a few tight spots and areas to climb. It’s a 12-foot climb up a ladder to get to the upper area, known as the “Cathedral.”
You need to remove your footwear before you reach it, and you’ll walk the rest of the way in your socks. The rock is fairly smooth from this part on, so it’s not bad. By discarding your shoes, you can help preserve and protect the cave floor.
Inside ATM Cave
Though the skeletons and artifacts are a highlight of the cave, they are certainly not the only ones. The inside of the cave is quite beautiful as well.
The water is clear and crystal blue, and there were times we saw fish swimming when the area was adequately lit. There are some impressively large stalactites and stalagmites.
And the walls are covered in areas with different rocky growths that shimmer in the light. There were many different kinds and shapes, some that our guide called out, including curtains, scallops, and more.
One area with a climb is a good distance up (maybe a few body lengths.) It is more challenging because there are some footholds and handholds, but you have to twist and turn just right to get to the top. The guide shows you. However, it’s challenging if you’re afraid of heights.
Once you climb up, the chamber is extensive though the ceiling is slightly lower. The patterns on the floor, walls, and ceiling are mesmerizing.
In this area, you’ll leave your shoes to reduce the risk of damaging anything inside the area called the Cathedral.
The Cathedral
As beautiful as the lower areas in the cave are, the Cathedral is simply mesmerizing. This is where you see evidence of the Mayan presence and the ceremonies.
First, you walk through an area with broken pottery. The area has a lot of stalactites and stalagmites, and the ceiling looks fairly low. The rock you walk on is a mass of swirling patterns.
Then, you see the first evidence of ritual sacrifice. It appears they were killed in different ways. Some were decapitated, some had their heart removed, and there were other means as well.
Some of the remains were on their sides, and some were on their backs. In total, 13 adults and nine children were found, including an infant. They did find one female, but the rest are believed to have been male. (And no, it was not the Crystal Maiden!)
Walking through, you can’t help but understand why the Mayan people saw this cave as a portal to the underworld. By the time the sacrifices were made, they had gone through nearly 18 years of drought.
The Monkey Pot
This Mayan ceramic pot was one of the items found inside the Cathedral area of the ATM cave. It’s a large pot chipped slightly, with a carved monkey on the outside near the top.
The “Crystal Maiden”
One of the cave’s most famous and interesting finds is a full skeleton known as the Crystal Maiden. It made for a great story. However, a more recent scientific study revealed it wasn’t a maiden at all but a male.
This skeleton was found in one of the deepest caverns in the cave, beyond the Cathedral. Due to the unique climate of the cave, the victim has a shimmering appearance.
The ATM Cave Return
It’s so interesting walking back into the cave, as you know what it’s like from the way in. You can appreciate the shimmering cave walls even more.
At one point, our guide had us line up and hold onto the person’s shoulders in front of us. We then turned off our headlamps and walked into the cave. The water was to our mid-calf, and it was quite disorienting.
After the Cave Trek
Once you’re done in the cave, you’ll pick up your water bottles and proceed back the way you came. The trek is flat through the jungle, and it takes around 45 minutes, depending on your speed.
Once you get back to the parking lot, you can take advantage of the bathroom facilities to dry off and change into dry clothes.
Then, most tours prepare a traditional Belizian lunch. My tour had rice and beans, stewed chicken, cole slaw, plantains, and a carrot cake. It was all good, especially after the trek as you’ll work up a hunger!
You can imagine it was that dark with the ancient Mayans touring the cave, though they may have had lit torches. Then he had us let go of each other and walk, which was truly disorienting!
The ATM Cave Level of Difficulty
It’s a challenging trek through the cave, and though my friend, who is experienced with caving, thought it was a 3-4 out of 10, I thought it was around a 6-7 out of 10 as this was my first experience.
There are some tight spots, though most parts had a good bit of space. If you do have claustrophobia, you might want to consider it.
And, if you’re like me and you’re fearful of heights, there was one spot in particular that got my adrenaline going when we climbed up a large rock. There’s also a ladder to climb.
I was quite bruised from this trek. Mostly because I was a touch too short of making my way up some of the rocks and had to put my shins down on them to climb. I had a whopper of a bruise on my upper arm (and no idea how!), and both of my shins were very bruised up.
Tips for Visiting ATM Cave
Here are some thoughts to consider when preparing for the ATM Cave tour.
- Eat a light but hearty breakfast. You likely won’t get to eat again until early to mid-afternoon. Don’t eat anything too heavy, but make sure you’re not hungry when you get there. It’s worth grabbing a granola bar or something like that to snack on before you head out.
- Wear sunscreen. Though the jungle is fairly thick, you’ll get some sun exposure during the trek to the cave. If you burn, sunscreen is a good idea, but make sure it’s environmentally friendly.
- Bring a water bottle. You’ll want a bottle for the trek to the cave, and your tour guide will likely give you one. Though I prefer not to use single-use plastics, it’s not a bad idea in this case because you’ll leave it at the entrance to the cave.
- Ask for a life jacket if you don’t know how to swim. Though you won’t need to swim much, you will need to two or three times, depending on water levels. You will definitely swim into the entrance of the cave.
- Make a reservation. Don’t wait to book this tour, especially if you travel to Belize during peak season. It can sell out quickly. Ask your hotel for recommendations (that’s how we found our guide), or book a tour through a company like Get Your Guide.
Getting to ATM Cave
The drive is a little over an hour from the center of San Pedro. Much is on winding and bumpy dirt roads from the Teakettle Village.
It’s a lovely drive once you get used to the bumps as you make your way through cornfields, orchard groves, and other farmed land.
Would I Recommend the ATM Cave Tour—Visiting the Most Sacred Cave in Belize?
I’ll be honest—I was quite nervous about taking this tour after reading some articles about it. And in truth, if I knew what it would be like before I went, I’m not sure I would have. It was more physically taxing than I expected.
Having said that, I am so glad that I went. Not only because I was proud of overcoming my fear of doing it and the fact that I climbed in two areas without incident (but with a LOT of patience from my group!), but it was an incredible experience.
Sometimes, it’s a great thing to do things that scare you to help you bust out of your expectations of yourself!
The cave is beautiful, and it’s such a spiritual experience to visit. Once you enter the area known as the Cathedral, it’s hard not to be in awe of this find. And you can feel the beat of the past here.
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