A.T.M Cave (Actun Tunichil Muknal) from San Pedro

Truly an incredible experience. Long day (catching the 6am ferry from San Pedro and not getting back until to San Pedro until around 7pm) but totally worth it. Everything was set up well for us, we didn't have to worry about anything. The ATM was an overwhelming experience and so unique I can't stress enough how much you should make the effort to go.

Unbelizable! Best cave tour I’ve ever done. We booked thru Ramon’s Dive Resort & our guide was the amazing Francisco with Ancient Cultural Tours. Francisco is passionate & loves his history. He makes the tour extra special by taking you back in time, as if you were a Mayan. Human sacrifices & sorid history makes for a fascinating 4 hours. How about turning off your headlamp so you can experience what it must have been like for the Mayans with no light & a couple torches? Francisco makes the story come alive. Its approx a half hour hike to the cave, 45-60 mins in the cave & same coming back out. 30 min van ride from the store. It’s a full day! Oh - lunch was amazing too. It’s pretty cool - only 125 people admitted each day to control over tourism. Belize is doing it right. Google Ancient Cultural Tours & you’ll find Francisco. Tips that we didn’t know: - No cameras are allowed! - Take an extra set of clothes - No 2 piece bathing suits allowed - You meet at a store to transfer to your guide so snacks, beer, extra is available - An Unbelizable day that you soon won’t forget!

This adventure rates up there as one of my favourite lifetime memories! It was a bit scary but thrilling. Don’t think about it…just do it! It was worth every penny.

We had such a great experience! If is definitely a full day coming from San Pedro but we had a great time! Thank you Orlando!

I was told that National Geographic said that this is one of the top 10 things to do/see before you die and after entering the cave, I totally understand why! To see the skeletal remains of human sacrifices from the Mayan Era, you need to walk, hike, wade through water, swim, climb, squeeze through cracks, etc.. but it's all worth it! Definitely do this tour if you're in Belize!

Have you ever seen old photos of people climbing up one of the great pyramids of Giza or sitting on top of a stone at Stonehenge and thought, "what a shame they don't let tourists do that anymore (preservation and all that) -that would be so cool!" Well, here is an experience like those. Summon your inner Indiana Jones and spend the day exploring one of the world's treasures. Here's what you need to know: If you are claustrophobic or afraid of heights (there is climbing) this may not be for you. TAKE SOCKS! I didn't read the instructions well and had to stop and buy some. You also need shoes appropriate for walking, climbing and wading. Make sure you bring a small towel and a change of clothes (dry shoes!) The instructions we received were not very clear. We traveled from San Pedro and it was unclear about times, travel modes, etc. I had to squelch my Karen tendencies and just go with the flow. YOU NEED TO BE IN DECENT SHAPE! I am in pretty good shape and this was still tough, although I was not sore the next day or anything. The guide will ensure you stay safe and get where you need to, no matter what. So don't let your fitness level worry you too much. LARGER FOLKS MAY STRUGGLE A BIT. My husband and I are both tall and, if we hadn't had helmets, we would have knocked our brains a bit (oh, the irony). We are both normal weights and there were some tight squeezes. If you are bigger, just be aware. Again, I'm sure the guides have helped people of all sizes and abilities. If you are going from San Pedro, you'll have to take the sea ferry, which is a different company and boat than the water taxi. It is still 90 minutes. To prepare yourself for this experience before you come, get a steel drum, heat it up to 85 degrees, seal yourself in, and roll it down a rocky hill for an hour and a half. Once you are on the boat, grab a life vest and sit on it. It will pad the worst knocks. Unlike the boat trip, the ride from Belize City to the site was fine. We were met by our driver, Paul, who took us from the station to the ATM turnoff. He showed us several sites and was very fun. On the way back, we both needed naps and he didn't bother us. At the turnoff for ATM, Paul dropped us off at a store. You can use the restroom (it costs) but, if you can hold it another 30 minutes, just wait. Seriously. At the turnoff, we met our tour guide, Orlando, who took down dirt roads to the trailhead. He pointed out the plants, crops, and trees, told us about the history of the area, and about some current events. NO CAMERAS ALLOWED. Stupid tourists ruin everything. You cannot take a camera with you on your excursion. Make sure your mind camera is fully charged because you will want to remember what you saw. The hike to the cave was very easy. Right off the bat, you cross a river. It was waist high but easy to manage -there is a rope to hold. There are two more crossings but they are ankle-deep. Just be aware the rocks are slippery. You will have to swim about 4 meters at the entrance to the cave. Then there is a lot of walking through water, squeezing through rocks, and climbing. You definitely get your exercise! Cave critters: I was a bit nervous about "things" that might be in the water or the cave. No worries. There were tiny fish in the water but nothing bad. We saw one bat flying about 20 feet above us and that was only because Orlando pointed it out. I was half expecting to see Gollum at some point but...nope. I won't describe the cave more. You just have to see it. No spoilers. After we came out, we had a delicious lunch and headed back to the trailhead. This was truly an adventure I will never forget.