Day trip

San Ignacio: Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave Full-Day Tour

4.9 / 5

97 reviews

Activity provider: Belize Caving Expeditions
Day trip

San Ignacio: Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave Full-Day Tour

Activity provider: Belize Caving Expeditions

From US$ 115 per person

Pass the gateway of the Mayan Underworld, stepping into hidden chambers revealing ancient Mayan artifacts, human skeletons and geological processes that have helped to shape the Mayan underworld.

About this activity

Free cancellation
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Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 8 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
Spanish, English
Pickup included
Hotels within San Ignacio Town or surrounding area.

Experience

Highlights
  • Enjoy amazing geological formations such as sparkling stalactites, stalagmites and flow stones
  • Discover the parallel unseen world where kings and shamans could enter to communicate with gods
  • Swim in the crystal clear water of the underworld
Full description

Depart from San Ignacio and head to the starting point for your hike. Make your first river crossing band hike to the cave entrance for a safety demonstration.

Make your way into the cave, swimming and then walking through the main water passage until you reach the boulder and head to the dry chamber. To enter the chamber, you will be required to slip off your shoes in order to protect the cave. Marvel at the cave's artifacts, most of which have been calcified into the ground, unmoved even by archaeologists. Hear your guides talk about the rituals and ceremonies, bloodletting offerings, food offerings and human offerings, including the 15 human remains uncovered by archaeologists. To access the last chamber, you will climb up a ladder to see a full skeletal remains before exiting the cave in the same way you came in. You will hike back to the parking lot before replenishing yourself with lunch and returning to San Ignacio.

Includes
  • Entrance fees
  • Water, snacks
  • Lunch
  • Rum punch
  • Tour guide
  • Transportation
  • Equipment rental
  • Gratuities (optional)
Not suitable for
  • Pregnant women
  • People with back problems
  • Wheelchair users
  • People under 3 ft 3 in (100 cm)

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Important information

What to bring

  • Change of clothes
  • Towel
  • Insect repellent
  • Socks
  • Helmet
  • Closed-toe shoes

Not allowed

  • Cameras
  • Video recording

Know before you go

  • Cameras are not allowed
  • Please bring a complete change of clothes, closed-toe footwear, a pair of socks, mosquito repellent, and a towel
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.9 /5

based on 97 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.8/5
  • Transportation
    4.6/5
  • Service
    4.9/5
  • Organization
    4.8/5

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Star rating:

Tour was incredible and highly recommend for anyone that is in the area. We ended up leaving everything we brought with us in the van including our dry bag and the socks. We walked barefoot for that portion of the tour with no issue. If you have sensitive feet bring them along. There was plenty of delicious food provided at the end and a place to dry off and change.

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February 21, 2023

Patrick our guide was very knowledgable and entertaining. I could tell he had good rapport with the other guides. Only downside is we bottle necked at the end and had to sit and wait for 3 other groups to see the last remains. We weren't aware until getting there that there was so much swimming and wading involved. We were under the impression there was just going to be a couple river crossings. Most of the time was spent in the water, so wear comfortable swimming gear. Luckily the water isn't that cold and they provide life jackets. Lunch and rum punch at the end were excellent!

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January 23, 2023

Best thing I did in Belize. No one should leave without doing this tour. It’s adventurous, fascinating, and just an all around unique experience. I don’t think there’s another tour like it in the world. Be prepared to get wet, have fun, see some cool shit and eat some amazing Belizean food at the end.

December 18, 2022

Product ID: 176307