One Of The World's Most Incredible Sacred Caves Has Crystalline Water And Stunning Landscapes

In the depths of the western Belizean rainforest sits a cave teeming with wonders to behold. Few places on this earth make you feel as though you've stepped into an Indiana Jones film, but boy, is this one of them. Considered one of the most sacred caves in the world, this underground dwelling was thought by the ancient Maya to be a passageway to the underworld. Actun Tunichil Muknal, or the ATM Cave, is more than a tourist attraction — it's a bucket-list destination you need to experience. What awaits those brave enough to explore it is an extraordinary underground labyrinth of crystal-clear pools, cathedral-like chambers teeming with stalagmites and stalactites, and thousand-year-old mysteries buried in the dark. It's a place where the remains of human sacrifices lie undisturbed on the cave floor, calcified into stone. A place where pottery fragments tell the story of sacrificial rites, and where the air still holds a heavy, spiritual charge. 

Exploring the ATM Cave is not a casual activity. It's a guided, physically demanding, and immersive journey into the "underworld" that requires hiking, climbing, swimming, and resilience. Visitors must hike through the forest, cross multiple rivers, and enter the cave fully clothed, prepped to get soaked from head to toe. But the rewards for these efforts are outstanding. You'll stand in chambers where ancient priests once communed with their gods, smoke residue from bonfires can still be seen along cave walls, and some of the most fascinating archeological finds in Mesoamerica still rest in testimony to the Maya's powerful belief system. As someone who just experienced a journey into this mystical cave, I can say with certainty that it is as incredible and awe-inspiring as it sounds, and is one of many reasons Belize should be your next travel destination.

Actun Tunichil Muknal is a Mayan phrase meaning "Cave of the Stone Sepulcher." Located in the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve in western Belize, this cave system extends nearly 3 miles into the earth, though visitors are only able to explore about half of that. What makes the cave especially fascinating, aside from being a natural formation as well as a ritual site, is its archaeological integrity. The cave contains the (found) remains of 14 humans, most believed to have been offered as sacrifices to appease the gods during times of turmoil. The human remains, pottery pieces, tools, and altars discovered in the cave have been left exactly as they were discovered. The main attraction is the "crystal maiden," the now sparkling, calcified remains of a young person who was sacrificed 1,000 years ago.

You need a licensed guide to explore the ATM Cave, and only 125 visitors are allowed in daily, so make sure you book in advance. Most tours depart from San Ignacio, about an hour's drive away. While there are many companies to choose from, like Mayawalk Tours, I went with Belize Nature Travel and felt like our guide gave us the best experience possible. He was informative and took his time helping us navigate our way through. Once you arrive in the jungle, you'll hike about 45 minutes (over flat-ish terrain) until you reach the opening of the cave. You can expect to wade across three rivers, which will have different depths depending on that year's rainfall. The cave entrance is a dramatic opening in the cliff face, with clear, cold water flowing out. From this point forward, you'll spend the next three or four hours entirely immersed in the depths of the cave.

When the tour operator says you will get wet, trust them. Your guide should provide you with a life vest, a helmet with a light, and a water bottle. As it's a sacred site, you need to be reasonably covered in more than a bathing suit, so wear some comfortable clothing that you don't mind getting wet or dirty. After a safety briefing, you'll swim into the mouth of the cave, fully clothed in whatever gear you decided to wear. You will also be climbing over slippery rocks, so wear shoes with good grip. You'll be navigating your way through narrow passageways in chest-deep water, over slick boulders, and between limestone walls. After about an hour of climbing and wading through water, you'll reach the ceremonial chambers (which you must climb up a large boulder to access). Removing your shoes is required for this part of the tour to preserve the ground, and you must be wearing socks.

Bring along a change of clothes and a towel for when you return to the car, and snacks for after (however, most tour operators provide snacks and lunch). Much to everyone's chagrin, photography is prohibited inside the caves after a visitor dropped their camera and damaged one of the skulls. The ATM Cave is as fragile as it is beautiful, and conservation rules are strict for this reason. As a visitor to this sacred place, treat it with respect, follow your guide's instructions, and take only you and your soaking wet clothing when you leave. When visiting Belize, the world-famous Blue Hole dive site is another must-do activity, but here's why it can be dangerous. And for a more laid-back cave adventure, check out Caves Branch for tubing.