ATM Cave (Actun Tunichil Muknal)

Thanks to our amazing guide, Gliss, we had a once in a lifetime experience. He had a wide knowledge of the history, the geology, and the archeology of the caves and the Mayan sacrifices done there. It was really something to see these caves up close and personal. Traveling through the cave is not for the faint of heart, but we felt completely safe with Gliss. He was always very patient, and helpful. The authentic local fare lunch was delicious too. We would definitely recommend this tour, especially with Gliss as a guide.

Visiting ATM Cave was an unforgettable experience and truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. A licensed guide is required, and for good reason—the history, storytelling, and knowledge they provide make the journey incredibly meaningful and fascinating. The adventure starts with a hike of a couple of miles to reach the cave, including crossing three rivers along the way. Be prepared for the trek: wear closed-toe water shoes or Keens with socks (bring an old pair you can throw away afterward). You will absolutely get wet, sandy, and muddy—but it is 100% worth it. The caves themselves are breathtaking, and the journey through them is unlike anything else. The history is incredible, with ancient artifacts that make the experience feel surreal and deeply humbling. You’ll need to be in decent physical shape, as the tour involves climbing over rocks, using ladders, and navigating through narrow cave passages. After the tour, there are changing rooms with showers available, which is a huge plus. This is not a casual excursion, but if you’re up for the challenge, ATM Cave is one of the most amazing experiences Belize has to offer.

super fun learning experience. patrick is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. i recommend him a thousand times to all my friends

An incredible experience. If you do one thing in Caye, this should be it. It is a challenging day. The experience requires some swimming, hiking, climbing, squeezing in tight spaces, etc. If you’re fit, though, it’s a must-do. The ATM experience combines superb caving and Mayan history. The cave has beautiful and diverse formations, and it includes dry areas and wet. It also includes naturally lighted areas as well as areas that require mechanical light. The cave also includes hundreds of Mayan artifacts and the skeletal remains of human sacrifice. Our guides (from Mayan Walk Tours) were very knowledgeable and helpful. They provided fascinating information, and they ensured that all six guests were guided safely through the journey. I cannot recommend the ATM highly enough. It’s the highlight of any tour to Belize.

Much better than expected. Highly reccomend to any one who has an appreciation for culture and Gods creation. I can promise you that you will not be dissapointed in any way.

The road to the trail head is riddled with lot holes so it’s a bumpy ride. once you arrive, there are washrooms - USE THEM! It’s about 3.5 hrs before you will get access again. You can carry your water bottle for the 2km hike crossing 2 rivers to get to the cave entrance. Once there, you’ll leave everything behind because you will need both hands. Then the adventure begins - you will enter into the cold river and swim inside cave. Your guide will lead you along and you will follow the water, sometimes swimming, sometimes climbing over rocks, sometimes squeezing between them. Good shoes are a must - we wore water shoes with decent tread and they worked great. Wear socks! At one point you have to climb without shoes on and it would hurt to be barefoot. Some parts are steep but the guide tells you exactly where to place your hands and feet. Only 2 spots where you need to squeeze and it’s a bit scary but it’s only about a foot. I wore tight yoga pants and feel like I was the best equipped - they protected my legs when you had to sit or slide, and they didn’t cause any drag. Some agility was required; individuals with knee or back problems would probably have a difficult time of it. It was an amazing experience and a MUST DO excursion when in Belize!

This was a great experience. I highly recommend it if you're ever around here. Our guide, Philip, is a very knowledgeable man. He gave us detailed info about the cave formation and the Maya sacrifices. On top of that he's a funny guy too who made jokes and entertained us but at the same time he seriously knows a lot about the history and culture of his country. I'm glad we had him as our guide. He'll kindly send you pics, as it's not allowed to get in with cameras. He even sent me a complimentary documentary which he took part in it too. Worth every penny.

Very cool adventure involving both physical and spiritual aspects. Great for adventure seekers. Appreciated the attention to safety as there is some exposure or risk for injury.

Gliss was our tour guide. He was fantastic. One of the best guides ever. He has a great sense of humor. He is from the area and has been doing cave tours for most of his life. He loves what he does and has an incredible knowledge of the caves in the area, Mayan culture, geology, hydrology, the local area, birds, plants and animals in the area. We had an excellent experience. The ATM cave is a highlight of our experience in Belize. Great history, the geologic formations, getting wet in the river and the cave, and taking the mind back to the Mayan customs at the time, were all part of a wonderful day! This is a unique opportunity. We are so glad we chose to do this tour.

Our guide Oscar was perfect. He gave us information about every detail. Took his time and made us feel very comfortable. The way to the cave and the entrance was really cool. Going over rivers. The cave itself was behind amazing. You just have to do it.