The Ultimate Belize Combo: ATM Cave & Xunantunich Maya Temple

Absolutely loved it! But it’s definitely not for the faint of heart or weak in body. You should NOT do this adventure if you have any of the following: claustrophobia, neuropathy in your feet, heart failure, morbid obesity, fear of seeing skeletal remains, vertigo, trouble climbing on rocks, or fear of caves/the dark. Long hike through the jungle paths, crossing rivers 3x on the way there and 3x on the way back. Some tight squeezes and tricky climbing spots in the cave, but if your guide is anywhere near as good as our guide Dimas, they will ensure you get through safely. My husband is 6 foot and 200lbs of muscle and he made it though fine, even while wearing his life jacket which increases your bulk. Dimas was amazing- he had so much knowledge of the cave and the Mayan culture behind it. He took us the more rugged way out of the cave, which added to the adventure. The lunch was prepared by local eatery Mr. Joe’s BBQ and wow it was the most delicious food, really hit the spot after hours hiking around in jungle and cave. Wear tennis shoes or hiking boots, knowing that you will be in water deeper than you can touch (your head will stay dry because of life jacket, but everything else will be 100% soaked. Make sure you are wearing socks with whatever footwear you choose, because when you get to the area with the Crystal Maiden you must be in socks, no shoes, no bare feet. Our tour included going to see Xunatunich temple afterwards. Bring sunscreen and be ready to climb a total of 123 steps. The view at the top is worth it. Such a beautiful place. Again, Dimas taught us so much about the culture and the Mayan people.

Pedro was soooo fun and amazing. He picked us up, drove us throughout, shared so many laughs with us and overall was extremely patient fun and kind! Pedro was our Xunantunich guide and Hector was our ATM guide. Hector was extremely well spoken, and super well versed about the ATMs history and lore. It felt a bit rushed on the tour with Hector and he was a bit strict with timing.. but good man nonetheless. We miss pedro already hahaha

Dmas was the best! This was one of the best experiences I’ve had. The ATM cave! You just have to experience it! It was a long day but 100% worth it! The lunch was great after the cave and honestly the hour it takes to get to Xunantunich was needed for a nap. Dmas was great throughout! We loved hearing the history and just being so well guided. He was thoughtful and really down to earth.

ATM was a great experience! So much more hands on than expected in terms of climbing and navigating tight spaces. The combination option was perfect to fit both tours in one day!

Amazing guide and experience! Highly Recommended it!

Yes, you should do this. Loved it! We were with a group of 5 total, plus our guide. The ATM cave was the first stop. Included a 30-40 minute nature walk with some river crossings to get to the entrance to the cave. Be prepared to get fully soaked! Once we got into the cave, it started with a short float/swim and then it was walking around up and over the limestone to go deeper into the cave. Very cool experience to climb on the rock, slide down the natural water slide and shimmy through tight spaces. Our guide was super helpful for anyone that was a bit nervous or hesitant In some of the more questionable sections. We felt safe the whole time. Upon completion of the ATM cave exploration we had a chance to change into a dry outfit (so pack a full change of clothes and shoes). And lunch was waiting for us including a dry towel and waters. Our guide was knowledgeable and full of information and stories. After eating lunch and changing, we got back in the van and headed to Xenantunich where we got another informative tour around. We did climb to the top, and there are no guard rails so if you’re afraid of heights, well let’s just say, you will be tested! It was very laid back here though and so no pressure to go all the way up. Full Sun here so hat/sunscreen is smart. Safety- we left our things in the van to go into the cave but the driver stayed back with it, so no issues. The walk into the Mayan ruins was short, so easy to go in with a backpack with phone/water/sunscreen. Yes bring extra clothes including socks and shoes. Sandals were fine for me for Xunantunich but some may prefer sneakers to climb in.

What an amazing experience!! 6/5 stars if I could⭐️ Our tour guide Dimas was excellent and very personable. Made my entire group feel welcomed and helped answer any questions we had while making the hike and experience fun for the young adults we have. Lunch was great and plentiful. My only suggestion to others planning this tour is to NOT underestimate the amount of water you hike/swim through at the cave. Bring extra socks/shoes and clothes for afterwards and in between sites. Be prepared to leave your phone/belongings behind in the secure van, they will get wet. A once in a lifetime and memorable experience!!

This experience was fantastic, once in a lifetime! Our guide, Dimas, was kind, extremely knowledgeable, and prepared for the adventure and lunch (delicious barbecue lunch with fixings!). We waded knee deep across rivers, swam in the cool and beautiful cave waters, scrambled on a few rocks, heard a thorough account of history, and looked at the jaw dropping artifacts left in the cave. Due to his immense knowledge and training (truly, all the guides have a multiple month training to ensure safety and a positive experience), Dimas can make the caves accessible to many people. Xunantunich was also wonderful, lots of history and beautiful sights/views. Also, by starting this tour early at 7 am, you miss some of the crowds as you are one of the first in the cave. And when you go to Xunantunich, most people have left, so you have the location to yourself. We would highly recommend Dimas and Cayo Inland Expeditions.

We had a wonderful time at ATM and Xunantunich. I went with my two teenage daughters and they absolutley loved it. The adventure of swimming through caves, climbling, squeezing through rock formations and seeing the history in the caves was fantastic. We got to see actual remains and potery left behind that are hundreds of years old. Our cave guide was Hector who was really good and explained things in detail. My girls and I learnt a lot of history. After the cave tour, we had a lunch and then headed off to the Xunantunich Mayan ruin site. Our guide Pedro was also really great and spent the day with us. Thank you Pedro and Hector for an unforgettable day!!!!!!

An unforgettable experience! Goldburn starts the day with an easy pick up. You bond with his great personality right away! Then, he helps with anything and everything you could want to know about tuna sandwich (if you know, you know). After spending a few hours at the ruins, you make your way to the cave. There you have a delicious lunch (get the BBQ) and start your short hike to the caves. The tube isn’t hard to carry and you can give it to someone else if you need. The tubing is so fun and safe and you can end with swimming in the river like me. Trust me, book this company!!

+5