I
The best tour in my life so far!
The best tour I ever taken in my life!!!❤️❤️❤️
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic
+9 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Price from
- $145 / person
- Location
- San Ignacio, Belize
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 1,501 reviews
- Languages
- EN, ES
- Group
- Small group, up to 60
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- MayaWalk Tours
- Meeting point
- DirectionsMayaWalk Tours Main Office located between Tandoor Restaurant and Belize BankReturn pointReturns to original departure point
Description
Actun Tunichil Muknal is a mysterious and beautiful portal to the ancient Maya and their traditions, ceremonies and spirituality. This cave system served as a ceremonial site where the Maya performed sacrifices and other ceremonies as they dealt with extreme and harsh conditions in times of drought. Explore this lush area surrounded by beautiful jungles, and the cave entrance is traversed by swimming across a crystal clear spring fed pool. Spend 3 hours in the cave after hiking in through the rain forest. Here you will see stunning artifacts, altars and the crystallized skeletons of the sacrificed girl, The Crystal Maiden.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 8:00 AM
- Next available
- Sun, Oct 11
- Adult (ages 12–70)
- $145
- Child (ages 6–11)
- $145
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 10.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM)
Taking a journey into the Maya underworld at Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) or the “Cave of the Stone Sepulchre” for one of the most enlightening, epic and unique experiences of your life. Leave the world of the living behind as you venture into the heart of the ATM Cave with your licensed guide. Recently deemed the #1 Sacred Cave destination in the world by National Geographic, the ATM cave is not only beautiful geologically with its crystalline stalactites and stalagmites, but also historically, as is a natural museum of ancient Maya artifacts, as well as a sacred burial place. This is the final resting place of “Crystal Maiden,” an ancient Maya ceremonial victim, as well as the remains of 13 other sacrificed men, women and children. Your professional guides have led government officials, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, The British High Commission and US Embassy officials into the ATM Cave. This sacrificial site is accessed by a 45 minute drive from our office in San Ignacio.
Here we enter the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve and park our vehicles at the ranger post. From this point on we are on foot, hiking through the jungle for approximately 45 minutes to the entrance of the cave. To access the cave we swim across a small spring- fed pool and wade into the dark underworld of the cave that allows us access the extensive underground maze of tunnels, passageways and chambers, climaxing in the ceremonial chamber housing stoneware, ceramics, the famed crystallized skeleton of the “Crystal Maiden”. We spend approximately 3 hours in the cave at the guidance of our experienced guides. We enter back into the jungle world and hike to our vehicles where we relax and enjoy a homemade picnic lunch with water and soft drinks before driving back to San Ignacio. Difficulty level: Moderate (involved some easy swimming and life jackets are provided for non-swimmers, who will also be escorted by our highly trained guide).
What's included
Included
Includes transportation to and from our office in San Ignacio
Explore the cave with an expert, specially licensed guide
Necessary equipment - Helmet, headlamps, Lifejackets
3-hour walking tour of cave system
Lunch with a drink
Not included
Hotel pickup and drop-off only if requested
Gratuities
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick ups from all locations in Belize can be arranged. There may be an additional charge so please contact us if pick up is needed. . Departure Point for most tours: Downtown San Ignacio Address: MayaWalk Tours Main Office 19 Burns Avenue San Ignacio Town Cayo District Belize, Central America Directions: MayaWalk Tours Main Office located between Tandoor Restaurant and Belize Bank Return point: Returns to original departure point
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
1,501 reviews
How it compares in San Ignacio
- The most-reviewed of 152 tours in San Ignacio
- Starting price $145 is 12% below the typical $165 for tours of similar length in San Ignacio
Excurgo comparison of 152 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Cancellations only due to severe rain or flooding
- Guests must wear appropriate (Closed toe) shoes for walking through jungle and water
- Guests must bring a pair of socks for the dry chamber in the cave
- Minimum height requirement is 40inches
- Vegetarian meal option available upon request
- Clothes to be worn for the tour needs to be modest to respect the cave. Clothing such as macaroni straps, bikini, shorts and sleeveless shirts for both male and females are not allowed.
- Eco friendly bug repellent is optional (Apply only if needed)
- No cameras/ electronics are allowed on the hike and/or on in the cave.
- Bring along a water bottle. We will have water available to refill your bottles.
- Have a good breakfast before the tour. Lunch will be late.
- Tours are limited to 6 guests per guide. Larger groups (7+) will travel together while being assigned different guides.
- Form of Identification (ID) is required at check-in
- Extra set of dry clothing and sandals/flip flops to change into after your tour. This is a wet tour.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic take?
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic lasts about 9 hours. The itinerary has 2 stops.
How much does Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic cost?
Prices start at $145 per person for this San Ignacio experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:00 AM.
How much does Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic cost for children?
Children aged 6–11 pay from $145, adults from $145.
Can I cancel Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Pick ups from all locations in Belize can be arranged. There may be an additional charge so please contact us if pick up is needed. . Departure Point for most tours: Downtown San Ignacio Address: MayaWalk Tours Main Office 19 Burns Avenue San Ignacio Town Cayo District Belize, Central America Directions: MayaWalk Tours Main Office located between Tandoor Restaurant and Belize Bank Return point: Returns to original departure point Pickup points include Sun Breeze Hotel.
What languages is Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic offered in?
The experience is available in EN, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 60 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 1,501 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by MayaWalk Tours.
Reviews(1,501)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
J
Great tour
Alex was an amazing tour guide! We learned so much and had a great time. He made everyone feel safe and comfortable on the trickier parts of the cave. Highly recommend!
T
Fabulous ATM tour!
This was a fantastic trip! Our guide was super knowledgeable and made the whole experience a great time.
4
I definitely recommend
6/5⭐️. Tour was perfect! I was little worried about narrow sections and deeper waters but our guide Emil (hope I remembered it right) advised and encouraged us all on through even the trickiest parts, and it turned out to be quite easy and really fun! It was interesting to hear stories about Mayan history. The lunch was delicious, and the driver took us comfortably back to the starting point. The entire day exceeded all my expectations.
1 people found this helpful
M
Impressive and adventurous
We had a fantastic day! The guide was super enthusiastic and knew a lot to tell. The accompanying lunch was also well arranged. Definitely a recommendation!
T
Worth every penny
Fantastic experience!!! Loved every second of it-tour guide was amazing! Lunch was delicious and getting to and from a/c all the way! Definitely choose Maya Walk for your tour!!
K
This was a great...
This was a great adventurous way to get into the history/culture of ancient maya civilization. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and answered every question we had. He was sure to guide us exactly how/where/when to move. He lightened the mood with fun facts and humor. Lunch was great. Highly recommend this tour and the tour guide Andy!!!
T
Guide through the ATM Cave
An amazing experience - Activity much more fun and more beautiful than expected. Swimming deep into a cave with some climbing and scrambling, our guide, Andy was not only instructive, but kept the tour upbeat and fun. The entire staff were exceptional, and the lunch provided was delicious. Perfect after a long day. One of the best experiences I have taken!
9
Amazing Guide Christopher & Super Adventurous
We had such a good experience. Our guide Christopher was amazing. He helped me so much. I just got knee surgery five months ago and he was so kind and considerate. He was really knowledgeable. Overall, I really enjoyed our adventurous this tour was. I highly recommend. Also the lunch after was so delicious!!
E
Incredible tour- Francis...
Incredible tour- Francis was so knowledgeable and was helpful in getting around the cave. Would recommend this as a must do tour when visiting Belize
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| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic | 9 hours | 5.0 (1,501) | $145 | |
 Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM Cave) from San Ignacio: Maya Sacrifice | 7h 30min | 4.8 (193) | $145 | View |
 Actun Tunichil Muknal with Local Tour guide & Belizean Lunch | 8h 30min | 4.8 (120) | $145 | View |
 ATM Cave Adventure "Actun Tunichil Muknal" from Belize City | 9 hours | 4.9 (28) | $260 | View |
 ATM Cave Tour Actun Tunichil Muknal with Lunch | 6 hours | 5.0 (13) | $185 | View |
 A.T.M Cave (Actun Tunichil Muknal) from Caye caulker | 9 hours | 5.0 (1) | $280 | View |
 Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch | 8 hours | 4.9 (288) | $135 | View |
from$145
5.0(1,501) Free cancellation