Actun Tunichil Muknal Caving
Take an off the beaten path look at one of Belize’s top Mayan attractions. Swim across the creek and under the jungle overgrowth to see the Actun Tunichil Muknal. It is one of the most interesting Maya sites in the world, and a has a chamber where you can see the crystalized, skeletal remains of a teenage sacrifice victim.
- Duration:
- 8 hrs
- Available Days:
- Every day
- Schedule:
- 7:30 AM
- Hotel Transport Included
- Mobile Ticket Included
- Offered in English, Spanish
This tour begins with a 90-minute drive from Chaa Creek. Then, you’ll take a 45-minute hike through the jungle. You’ll arrive at a small camp where you’ll eat lunch before you venture to the cave.
To get to the cave, you’ll need to swim across a creek. Participants should be good swimmers as the water is fairly deep. The cave is a wet cave, and you’ll wade through the water to see the cave’s chambers up close. Inside, you’ll see sacrificial altars and long-abandoned pottery and jade axe heads. Keep in mind you’ll need a ladder to reach some spots.
Note: You need some physical fitness for this tour—there’s swimming, squeezing into tight spaces, and climbing a ladder. Please also note that cameras are not allowed in the cave.
Attraction Visited
Actun Tunichil Muknal is a cave that the Mayans used for ceremonial purposes, dating back to around 900 AD. According to Maya lore, Actun Tunichil Muknal (known locally as “ATM”) connects the world of the living to Xibalba, the Maya underworld. This cave served as the site of human sacrifice – archeologists have uncovered the remains of 6 children and several adults inside the cave. Historians speculate that the Maya intended these sacrifices to appease the gods of the underworld.
Read more:Actun Tunichil Muknal
What to Bring
Sturdy water shoes that you can hike and swim in, clothes you can swim in, change of clothes,
What's included
Headlamp and guided tour.
Transportation
Many of our tours and activities offer transportation pick up & drop off options from several locations and destinations. Options vary by tour, see “BOOKING REQUEST” for full details.
Similar things to do
This 6-hour tour takes you two of Belize’s most interesting inland nature attractions – St. Herman’s Cave and the Inland Blue Hole. In addition to sightseeing, you’ll also get in some hiking through the forest and a swim in one of Belize’s prettiest swimming holes.To reach these spots, you’ll make your way through a lively jungle, where you’ll have the chance to see a huge variety of birds. Keep in mind that this hike is on the more challenging side, so make sure you’re ready for an active day.
Cave tubing and a visit to the Belize Zoo will bring you face-to-face with Belize’s incredible outdoors. First you’ll visit the Belize City Zoo, which is known for its rehabilitation programs for endangered animals. Then you’ll head to the Caves Branch River, where you will ride on an inner tube through the ancient caves of the Maya
Actun Tunichil Muknal cave is the doorway to Xibalba, the Maya underworld. This cave contains ceramics and human skeletons that have fused with the walls of the cave. The most famous of these remains is the Crystal Maiden, a skeleton of a young woman believed to have been a sacrifice. Her bones are now partially covered with the sparkling build-up of cave sediment.
