Worth It? Belize’s ATM Cave Tour

Trying to figure out whether it is worth it to do the ATM Cave tour in Belize? You’ve come to the right place!

After years of hearing about the legends of the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (ATM Cave or Cave of the Stone Sepulcher) from my husband, whose family lives in Belize, I finally went on the Belize ATM Cave Tour on my recent monthlong trip to Belize.

Even though I did extensive research before going on the cave tour, there were so many things I didn’t realize about it until I was actually in the cave.

I’m sharing all about my experience in a series of three ATM Cave articles about whether the ATM Cave is worth it (this one), what to expect on your first ATM Cave Tour, and what to wear in the ATM Cave.

In this article I’m determined to help you figure out if this unique Belizean experience is something you should actually book. Full transparency, I don’t think ATM Cave is worth it for everyone, and if you’re uncertain about it at all, keep reading!

☀️🌺🌿 Article Outline (Jump Ahead)

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Is the Belize ATM Cave worth it? Pros and Cons

As I mentioned above, I don’t believe the ATM Cave is something that everyone should do. That being said, I had an incredible time on my ATM Cave Tour (the exact one I went on), and would recommend it to most of my friends.

Reasons to do an ATM Cave Tour

★ You are intrigued by Mayan history and want to see hundreds of Mayan artifacts, plus human remains
★ You enjoy adventurous activities and get excited about swimming through a cave, squeezing through tight passageways (optional!), and pushing yourself a little physically
★ You might be a little nervous about it (I was!) but know that exploring the ATM Cave with an English-speaking guide whose done it thousands of times will put you at ease
★ You’re curious about why some people travel all the way to Belize just for this experience
★ You don’t mind reserving a whole day for the ATM Cave since it can take a while to get there are you’ll spend a few hours in the cave, then eat lunch, before returning to your hotel in the late afternoon or early evening

Reasons to Skip the ATM Caves in Belize

★ You have mobility issues, or are don’t feel prepared for the physical challenges — climbing up slippery rocks, swimming through chilly water (with a life jacket), hiking 45 minutes through the jungle, etc.
★ You’re not interested in archaeology, caves, and Mayan history
★ There are lots of other things you want to do in Belize, and a full day dedicated to the ATM Cave would feel like a waste of time to you
★ You’re prone to claustrophobia

You may also be interested in: Cave Tubing in Belize (a more chill cave adventure!)

Photos by Mayawalk Belize

What makes the ATM Cave in Belize unique?

There are tons of caves in Belize, and you might be wondering why the ATM Cave is so popular.

The main reason why the ATM Cave is so unique (and worth visiting for many people) is that its the most accessible place to see Mayan artifacts and human remains, right where they were left in the cave.

A little context: Mayans believed their gods resided in the caves systems, and so caves were considered to be the Mayan underworld.

In times of desperation, such as during a brutal 100-year drought—the ancient Mayans would enter into these caves to perform rituals and offer sacrifices directly to their gods. Unfortunately, evidence suggests that human sacrifice became the norm and some caves in Belize have skeletal remains from hundreds of people.

With a certified guide, you can see some of these human remains, and lots of artifacts, in the ATM Cave.

But that is not the only reason an ATM Cave tour is such a unique experience—to reach the cathedral room that holds all the artifacts and remains you have to go on an Indiana Jones type adventure up a river that runs through the cave.

Before even getting to the entrance of the cave, you have to hike 45 minutes through the Mayan jungle, with river crossings along the way.

Although you can visit other caves in Belize, the combination of history and adventure of this particular experience is something you won’t find anywhere else.

Photos by Mayawalk Belize

My Experience of the ATM Cave: Expectations vs Reality

Going with a good guide makes all the difference

I always compare tours on Viator to make sure I book with the best tour company possible. For the ATM Cave, I ended up going with this tour and I am now confident I made the right choice.

Our guide was named Hugh and he was truly one of the best tour guides I’ve ever had in all my travels. He helped us connect what we were seeing in the ATM Cave—the human remains and pottery—to the bigger picture of what was going on in the Mayan world back when they were using this cave.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but in short, the destruction of their natural environment led to a 100-year drought, which led to desperation, which led to sacrifices.

Hugh also went above and beyond to make sure we felt safe and were well taken care of throughout the experience. I saw tourists from other groups struggling to climb slippery rocks and navigate the cave, but our guide gave us clear instructions every single time we had to do something challenging, which made all the difference.

Plus, Hugh had been in the ATM Cave thousands of times so there was never a moment I felt unsafe or uncertain.

If you’re comparing different tour companies and guides, I highly recommend you go with this tour, and request Hugh as your guide. You’ll thank me later!

The ‘Crystal Maiden’ skeleton is just the tip of the iceberg

Before visiting, most people know about the well-preserved skeleton dubbed the ‘Crystal Maiden’ (though most experts think it is a male).

But what I didn’t realize before my tour with Hugh is that there is a lot more evidence of human activity (and yes, human sacrifices) in this cave beyond the famous skeleton.

During your tour you’ll walk past hundreds of clay pots and other ancient artifacts that are scattered around the cave. You’ll also see several other human remains—skulls, and various bones. And what is even crazier is that new remains and artifacts are being discovered here all the time as sediment shifts and different layers are revealed.

Hugh told us about other caves in Belize where hundreds of skeletons have been found, and that there are likely dozens—if not hundreds—of human sacrificial remains that still haven’t been discovered in the ATM Cave.

So if you—like me before my ATM tour—are wondering whether the ‘Crystal Maiden’ is just someone who wandered into a cave by chance, rather than a victim of human sacrifice, take the tour and see for yourself!

The cave was a lot more crowded than I expected

Only 125 people can enter the ATM Cave each day (which is why you must book ahead of time), but despite these restrictions, I found the cave to be quite crowded.

While navigating up the river we didn’t encounter many other groups, which was nice, but there were a lot of people when we actually reached the part of the cave where the skeletal remains and artifacts are.

This makes sense, as the ATM Cave is one of the most popular things to do in Belize, but it is important to keep in mind that you will be sharing this unique experience with lots of other tourists.

There were plenty of (optional) tight squeezes and other caving surprises

Some people (like me) love the occasional tight squeeze when caving, while others certainly don’t.

I expected the caving at Actun Tunichil Muknal cave to be similar to my other caving experiences—there is one way in and one way out.

But as we journeyed up the river through ATM Cave our guide offered different options depending on our interest. Our group always chose the more adventurous option—like squeezing through tiny passageway. However, I’m sure others appreciated the easier options!

On our way back to the cave entrance, our guides led us down a tube that was basically a natural waterslide!

Not bringing a camera turned out to be for the best

You aren’t allowed to bring any electronics (including phones, GoPros, cameras, etc) into the cave.

Since capturing quality photos of the places I visit during my travels is a big part of my job as a travel blogger, I was a bit bummed about this at first.

But once I was in the cave, swimming through the water, scrambling up slippery rocks, and navigating past large tour groups, I realized it would have been a major hassle to try to take any photos at all. What’s more, most cameras (including the GoPro I would have brought) would not be able to capture anything in the dark cave.

So, as it turns out, not being able to bring a camera is not a big deal whatsoever, at least for me! And of course it helps that the tour I went with (this one) automatically sends you professional photos of all the sites in the cave after your tour so you can show your friends and family all the crazy things you saw!

Many of the stalagmites and stalagmites are unhealthy, but not because of tourism

If it weren’t for my guide, I would have thought that the damaged stalagmites and stalactites in ATM Cave were due to modern tourism. As it turns out, the 100-year drought that I mentioned before prevented their growth.

It is certainly interesting that we can see the impact of a drought that happened hundreds of years ago. Thankfully, there are some healthy crystalline stalactites and other cave formations you can see, along with the damaged ones.

Photos by Mayawalk Belize

General ATM Cave Facts

Cost

You are only allowed to visit the ATM Cave with a certified guide. The cost of a tour does not vary much, and you can expect to pay about $145 per person, which includes all the required entrance fees, a helmet with a flashlight, a life jacket (depends on the company).

ATM cave location

The ATM Cave is situated inside Belize’s Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve, between Belmopan, San Ignacio, and the Mountain Pine Ridge.

Where to stay if you want to visit the ATM Cave

The good news is you can access the ATM Cave on a day trip from almost everywhere in Belize. However, if you want to be close to the ATM Cave, here are a few places you can stay:

San Ignacio: Most ATM Cave tours leave from San Ignacio. Stay at Falling Leaves Lodge right next to the Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins.

Mountain Pine Ridge: My favorite place to stay in the Cayo district! Stay at a tranquil lodge in Belize’s tranquil mountains. Gaia Riverlodge is the best, and Kane Villas is an excellent budget-friendly stay. Keep in mind you will have to drive into San Ignacio town to meet your guide for the ATM Cave.

Other Jungle Lodges: Stay at one of the many beautiful jungle lodges in the Cayo district. Keep in mind that most ATM tours will leave from San Ignacio town. A few excellent options include The Lodge at Chaa Creek and Ka’ana Resort & Spa.

So, is the ATM Cave worth visiting?

If you’re prepared for all the adventures that a journey through the cave tour entails, the ATM Cave is certainly worth visiting! The combination of caving, swimming, and archeology makes it such a unique experience. Even if you’re a little nervous, I urge you to try this once-in-a-lifetime cave tour! That being said, if the ATM Cave does not seem like a good fit for you, that’s okay! There are plenty of other fun things to do in Belize.

If you have any questions about the ATM Cave, don’t hesitate to leave a comment on this article!