ATM Cave Tour From Belize City

Skeleton Cave Belize Tours features Actun Tunichil Muknal (the Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre), also known locally as ATM Cave Belize, is a cave in Belize, near San Ignacio, Cayo District, notable as a Maya archaeological site that includes skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware. There are several areas with skeletal remains in the main chamber. The best known is "The Crystal Maiden", the skeleton of what is believed to be a 17-year-old boy, possibly a sacrifice victim, whose bones have been calcified to a sparkling, crystallized appearance.

The ceramics at the site are significant partly because they are marked with "kill holes" (holes created to release spirits lurking within), which indicate that they were used for ceremonial purposes. Many of the Maya artifacts and remains are completely calcified to the cave floor. One artifact, named the "Monkey Pot", is one of just four of its type found in Central America. The Maya also modified cave formations here, in some instances to create altars for the offerings, in others to create silhouettes of faces and animals or to project a shadow image into the cave. The cave is extensively decorated with cave formations in the upper passages.

Animal life in the cave includes a large population of bats, large freshwater crabs, crayfish, catfish and other tropical fish. Large invertebrates like amblypygi and various predatory spiders also inhabit the cave. Agouti and otters may also use the cave. These and many other species are quite common in river caves of this size in Belize.

Tour Details:

ATM cave tour from Belize City is one of the most exciting adventures that Belize City has to offer. ATM cave tour leaves Belize City at 8:00 am every day. The youngest allowed to participate in ATM cave tour from Belize City is 10 years old, and has to be a strong swimmer. ATM cave tour from Belize City is a family friendly adventure that can be done by most age groups. We offer the best ATM cave tour from Belize City.

Guide to Atm Cave Tour From Belize City. Your transportation  leaves Belize City  at 7:30 am and arrives in Tea Kettle Village at 8:45am. A 30 minute transfer in a van takes you to the entrance of the reserve. Then, a 45 minute hike through the Tapir Mountain Reserve, through jungle crossing creeks along the way (be on the look out for the tapirs). 

Enjoy a quick snack and orientation from your guide on cave history, preservation and safety, then onward to the cave entrance and the fascinating Maya underworld. The three hour tour is filled with excitement and wonder as you swim and climb to the inner chamber seeing Maya pottery used for sacrifices to the gods, along the way. The culmination of the tour is the Crystal Maiden, a young virgin sacrifice, and “The Cathedral”, with its stalactite and stalagmite formations. You leave the cave at 1:10pm to have lunch and then depart at 2:30pm for arrival in Belize City.

This tour is for the adventurer and involves moderate to intense activity level.

What to bring:

• comfortable clothing
• a spare set of dry clothes
• repellent
• sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
• USD $195.00 per person

• Visitors staying on Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, and San Pedro are required to board the 6:00 am water taxi to Belize City.

  If you are flying to Belize City, board the 7:00 am flight to Belize City.

  Everyone is required to pay in cash when they meet their tour guide/ driver.

• For reservations and inquiries kindly send us an email by clicking here - Please include a phone number. Please note that it is best to book in advance because it's a limited number of guests are allowed in this cave system on a single day.

Please keep in mind that the prices of our tours may vary depending on the number of persons booking. This is because we offer strictly private tours.