Actun Tunichil Muknal
Select Dates
Choose dates
Recent Searches
Clear
Actun Tunichil Muknal
Actun Tunichil Muknal

Actun Tunichil Muknal

Free admission
Tea Kettle Village, San Ignacio, Belize

The Basics

Reaching the remote parts of the cave requires hiking through a rain forest, crossing three rivers on foot, swimming through parts of the cave, and even going up a narrow ladder to get to its deeper, darker chambers. Efforts are rewarded with the sight of the “Crystal Maiden”: the skeleton of a young female, fully preserved, from thousands of years ago.

Along the hike, there are also ancient ceramics to see and the chance to immerse yourself in Maya culture. Actun Tunichil Muknal is protected by the government and is only accessible through a guided tour.

Show all
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic
USD125.00 per adult
Traveller Favourite
Amazing visit to Mayan “hell”
Great tour with Maya Walk. Eric and Hugh were attentive and knowledgeable guides. Delicious lunch. It was really a must do, Note the cave might be closed during rainy season.
Blaine_B, May 2023

Recent reviews from experiences in San Ignacio

Very cool adventure...
star-5
Very cool adventure...
Sally_E, Feb. 2023
ATM Cave (Actun Tunichil Muknal)
Very cool adventure involving both physical and spiritual aspects. Great for adventure seekers. Appreciated the attention to safety as there is some exposure or risk for injury.
Incredible Experience!
star-5
Incredible Experience!
Julie_M, May 2023
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave with Local Lunch from San Ignacio
We had the best time on the tour and our guide Patrick could not have been better, he was very funny and put us at ease as we were very nervous going into it. He was extremely knowledgeable about the Mayan culture along with the floral and fauna of the area. It was the most incredible experience ever! This is a must do tour when your are in Belize.
Some of the best and...
star-5
Some of the best and...
Caroline_H, May 2023
Actun Tunichil Muknal with Local Tour guide & Belizean Lunch
Some of the best and adventurous Belizean tours I have ever taken, ATM and Mayan ruins. Be sure you use viator to schedule your Belizean tours.
We learned a lot and got our workout in!
star-5
We learned a lot and got our workout in!
Elizabeth_W, May 2023
Actun Tunichil Muknal tour from Belize City
Our driver was great, our tour guide was fantastic and the site was out of this world. Our tour guide has been guiding in this cave for 20 years and we learned a ton from him. Our driver also has worked with archaeologists so that was really cool to learn about on the drive in. This trip is not for the faint of heart, though. We loved it but we’re in pretty good shape. There is some intense climbing and squeezing between rocks. It was the highlight of our trip to Belize.
Great experience
star-5
Great experience
Jordan_S, Apr. 2023
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave with Local Lunch from San Ignacio
Great experience and amazing guide who was very knowledgeable and passionate. Really glad we booked with this company instead of our hotel.
Amazing!
star-5
Amazing!
Matthew_O, Apr. 2023
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic
This was a great tour. Our guide, Hugh was great. Extremely knowledgeable and shared it well. Visiting the cave was physically demanding but doable and well worth it.
A great tour, would recommend!
star-5
A great tour, would recommend!
Kaity_U, Apr. 2023
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic
We had a great time on the ATM cave tour. It was a fun adventure for sure! It wasn’t too physically demanding but was very exciting to swim, climb and maneuver our way through the caves. Our guide shared information about mayan history as we came across different remnants and remains. We enjoyed the traditional Belizean lunch before heading back to town.
Our guide, Hector, was...
star-5
Our guide, Hector, was...
Julie_M, Mar. 2023
Actun Tunichil Muknal with Local Tour guide & Belizean Lunch
Our guide, Hector, was very knowledgeable and knew the cave. Hector gave us information on the history and geology of the cave and surrounding area. We were safe under his guidance. This experience was like none other!
Our guide who made this truly special
star-5
Our guide who made this truly special
Kristin_W, Apr. 2023
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic
Nothing but amazing things to say about our trip to ATM cave. My brother and I went this past week and had Junior as our guide. From the moment we started driving all the way until the last second of our ride home, he showed such a passion for the rich history and so much knowledge that truly was so impressive. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience and will definitely recommend this tour and tour guide to all of our friends and family!
Bait and switch on price, but pretty awesome day trip
star-4
Bait and switch on price, but pretty awesome day trip
Patrick_R, Jan. 2023
Actun Tunichil Muknal tour from Belize City
I'll start with the bad because it made me mad. They texted me the day before the trip and told me since I'm only one person I had to give them an extra $75 US to come pick me up in Belize City. They would not budge on the money, and it was too late to book something else. I paid it since this might be my only chance to do the tour. Since most travelers aren't solo its probably irrelevant. The tour itself is pretty amazing! Its a super easy hike about 2 miles to the caves. The caves are fun spelunking with quite a bit of climbing and water. The artifacts are pretty neat. No pics allowed. You need socks for part of it where they make you take your shoes off. Might want to bring a long sleeve rash guard. It got a little chilly getting in and out of water. Just do it!!
This tour was amazing, I...
star-5
This tour was amazing, I...
gyongyike_k, Nov. 2022
Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave (Caye Caulker / San Pedro)
This tour was amazing, I would recommend it to anyone who likes adventure. Our tour guide Francisco was great , he made sure everyone was well taken care of.
Better than imagined
star-5
Better than imagined
Matthew_F, Apr. 2023
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave with Local Lunch from San Ignacio
Don’t think the description does this one justice. Full physical endeavor, swimming and scrambling in the cave was a blast!
We perform checks on reviews

Things to Know Before You Go

  • Cameras are not allowed inside the cave.

  • You will be in the cave for about three hours, navigating some very constricted, confined areas; because of this, it’s not recommended for people who suffer from claustrophobia.

  • Bring water shoes, socks (you will need to remove your shoes at one point on the tour), and an extra set of dry clothes, socks, and shoes.

Show all

How to Get There

Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) is a 45-minute drive from San Ignacio. Most tours offer round-trip transportation from there. There is no public transportation that travels directly to the cave. You can hop a bus from Belmopan to the village of Teakettle, which is 7 miles (11 kilometers) from ATM, and arrange to meet your guide there.

Show all


When to Get There

During Belize's wet season, (late June to August), the cave may be flooded and inaccessible to travelers. April is one of the country’s driest months, which makes it a good time for exploring natural attractions such as Actun Tunichil Muknal, but you can also expect larger crowds when the weather is nice.

Show all

Caracol

A 2.5-hour drive from ATM, near the Guatemalan border, Caracol is an ancient Maya city. It’s the largest archeological site in Belize, covering about 65 square miles (168 square kilometers), and including more than 35,000 structures and five plazas. The site is only accessible with a military escort due to its proximity to Guatemala.

Show all
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What are the nearest attractions to Actun Tunichil Muknal?
A:
Attractions near Actun Tunichil Muknal:
Q:
What else should I know about attractions in San Ignacio?
A:
As well as visiting the Actun Tunichil Muknal, check out these trip ideas to make the most of your visit: