Cave Tubing in Actun Tunichil Muknal

On your way to the cave, you’ll get to go tubing down the gentle river that flows outside of the cave. It’s a wet cave, and visitors should be prepared to do some wading on their adventure. Inside the cave, it takes a bit of climbing to get to the burial chambers, so this tour is best suited to visitors who are in good physical condition. Your guides will provide water and a break for lunch, so you’ll be well-fueled for this active tour.

Visitors are required to wear socks inside the cave – because of the fragile artifacts inside, no shoes are allowed. But it’s not just these impressive archeological finds that make it such an interesting attraction. This 3-mile (5-km) cave also has interesting natural formations, including twisted stalactites and stalagmites.

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.