ATM Cave Tour: 15 Things to Know Before You Book [2025]

Deep in a cave in Belize’s interior jungle in Cayo District, not far from San Ignacio, you’ll find a sacred Mayan burial site inside a cave, where the remains of 14 human sacrifices have been found.

To get there, you’ll have to swim through cold waters (aided by a rope if you’re not a confident swimmer), wedge yourself between narrow cracks in the cave system, and navigate using only a headlamp through the cave’s darkness.

Do I sound crazy for saying that that was the most fun thing I did on my entire Belize trip? Well, I just may be… but I’m not alone, as this is one of the top-favored things to do in San Ignacio and indeed Belize in general.

The ATM Cave is short for the Actun Tunichil Muknal, which is a bit of a mouthful for many tourists to say, hence the shorthand.

But the ATM Cave is truly one of one, like nowhere else in the world. I’m truly trying to think: where else can you spelunk through a water-filled cave in order to find the sparkling, crystallized remains of Mayan-age human sacrifices?

After a bumpy one hour drive from our pickup in San Ignacio, we arrived at the parking lot for the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve in the Cayo District. There’s no direct access to the cave, so you do have to do a hike. It took about an hour — including several river crossings that involved swimming along a rope! — so yeah, prepare to get wet before you even enter the cave.

Once at the cave’s entrance, we swam through crystal blue waters teeming with tiny tropical fish. It was already magical, but this was just the start of the journey into what the Mayans believed was the portal to the underworld. And lowkey, I get it.

Though the deep water here was cold, we warmed up quickly under the exertion of swimming and the excitement of the experience we were about to have!

The ATM cave holds the unique distinction of being the most sacred cave in the world by National Geographic.

While my Actun Tunichil Muknal tour was one of the highlights of my trip to Belize, I still was surprised by a few things that I wish I had known in advance of my trip.

My Top 3 Picks for ATM Cave Tours

In this post I’ll go into a full guide for what to expect on your ATM Cave tour, including what to (and what not to) bring, what the experience is like, and my tips for making it an enjoyable trip.

That said, if you’re in a hurry, here are my 3 quick picks for the best ATM cave tours out there — with the tour I personally did right at the top.

#1 TOP PICK

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ATM Cave Tour and Picnic Lunch
✔️ The exact tour that I did when in Belize — incredible guides!
✔️ Lunch & rum punch included after the tour

↳ Book it

#2 PICK

ATM Cave Full Day Tour
✔️ 8 hour tour with local guide, equipment rental, & transport
✔️ Top rated & free 24-hr cancellation

↳ Book it

#3 PICK

ATM Cave Tour with Local Lunch
✔️Free pick-up in San Ignacio (surcharge for hotels outside city)
✔️ Riverside lunch and water bottle included (alcohol extra)

↳ Book it

Where & When To Book Your ATM Cave Tour

Access to the ATM Cave is strictly limited based on a permitting system. Plus, each tour guide can only take so many tourists with them (maximum 8) to keep groups small and manageable.

The guides also go through extensive training to be up-to-date on all safety protocols as well as the history and geology of the cave.

This is also done so that the tour guides can ensure that the artifacts in the cave are being protected after some damages were caused by a few careless tourists.

You should book your ATM Cave tour immediately upon knowing that you want to do it. Since it’s 2025 and travel plans need to be extra flexible, I suggest booking with a company that offers lenient cancellation policies. Luckily, the exact tour that I did is available on Viator with a 24-hour free cancellation policy! It’s listed as Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic.

Note that this price is the same online on Viator as it is on their website, but the company’s cancellation policy is a lot stricter (e.g., you must cancel within 30 days to get a “full refund” but it’s not really a full refund because they take a 30% cancelation fee!)

So I highly recommend booking through a third party to take advantage of a better cancellation policy that you can have in your back pocket in case your plans change… and in today’s landscape, with things changing more and more frequently, that’s a useful back-up plan to have.

Book your ATM Cave Tour with Viator for full cancellation protection!

What to Know Before Doing an ATM Cave Tour

You’ll have to wear clothing as well as your bathing suit

The ATM Cave was considered a sacred site by the Mayans, who often used caves for their religious rituals, hence its alternate name Cave of the Stone Sepulchre, as its the resting place of several human remains.

Deference to the dead who are buried here is still given today. For that reason, you will be required to wear clothing over your bathing suit out of respect for the dead. You’ll also be asked to go bare foot when traversing the fragile areas around the burial sites.

Cameras are strictly not permitted inside the cave

Similarly, you are no longer allowed to bring cameras…. after a tourist dropped his camera on one of the skulls, putting a large hole in it.

Because of this bone-headed (pardon the pun) move, cameras are now banned from all Actun Tunichil Muknal cave tours.

While there was an initial first thought that I was bummed I wouldn’t be able to photograph it for myself, I have to say, I’m happy for the camera ban.

Not having a camera forced me to live in the moment rather than trying to capture the magic of Actun Tunichil Muknal for the blog.

Luckily Maya Walk provided me with photos to use for this post (note: all photo credit belongs to them)

An ATM Cave tour is way more intense than it sounds

I’ll admit that the tour was a bit more than I bargained for. The ATM Cave was extremely narrow at some points! Often, you’d have to angle your head juuuust so, just to squeeze through a very narrow crack in the cave walls… all while up to your shoulders in cold, cold water.

While in some ways it did add to the excitement of it all, and made the experience feel more one-of-a-kind, it’s definitely not an adventure for the severely claustrophobic. Or honestly, even the mildly claustrophobic.

At one point I even slid, waterslide-style, down a small stream to get into a wider pool. My friend did the same and was unlucky and hurt her finger in the process. So always be careful when navigating the cave and listen to your guides. It’s a lot more intense of a tour than it may seem at first glance.

But it’s not too claustrophobic the entire time

That said… although there were absolutely times in the tour where my anxiety was piqued in particularly dark and cramped-up twists in the cave, it’s not like that the whole time (not like my experience caving in Budapest… now that was a fright and not an experience I’m likely to repeat).

For a large portion of the tour, you’ll have plenty of space to walk through. You’ll usually just have to worm your way through a particularly gnarled bottleneck, and then it’ll open up to a larger and less cramped area.

And at certain points during the tour, the cave was so vast that you almost felt as if you were walking into completely nature-made atrium… made all the more magical with its crystalline stalactites, which look almost like they’re icicles frozen in time, dripping down from the cave’s ceiling.

Still, it’s not a walk in the park

Prepare for a 45-minute hike through the jungle. Oh, and for good measure, you can’t be wearing any bug spray or sunscreen, as both can cause damage to the cave’s fragile ecosystem and animals who rely on it as a water source.

Depending on the time of year and how much rain there’s been, you’ll also have to swim/wade across three big (though relatively calm) rivers in between the place where you park and the cave’s entrance.

During my visit, the first crossing came about 5 minutes into the walk. So basically, your entire hike is in soaked shoes (which is fine if you have water shoes, but I did the hike in my sneakers… not pleasant) and wet clothes.

Then there’s two more river crossings… and that’s all just to reach the entrance of the cave! Then, you’ll swim, walk, and squeeze your way nearly a full kilometer into the belly of the cave, to reach the center of Actun Tunichil Muknal.

Another physically intensive thing we had to do was a spot of scrambling. There was one part where we had to climb up few big rocks to get to a series of large “rooms” in the cave.

But I didn’t find this particularly dangerous. Our guide was helpful here, pointing out exactly where we should place our hands and feet to ascend the rock scramble safely.

You’ll see much more than just skeletons on the ATM cave tour

A lot of the online hype about the ATM Cave is the human sacrifices you’ll find inside (and surely, that was a highlight for me, and the sacrifice element is definitely played up a bit for the sensationalist factor).

However, as a true archaeology nerd, I have to say that the other ancient artifacts and the stories behind them are equally interesting. For me, the artifacts as well as the literal geography of the cave were just as impressive as the skeletal remains.

One of the coolest things about this tour was seeing the archaeological site in the cathedral-like main hall or atrium of the cave, which helped us learn about the burial rituals of the ancient Mayan people.

In the large ‘room’ of the cave, our guide pointed out shards of pottery from as far back as 700 CE scattering all over the cave and up its walls, some high up on ledges to protect them from the flow of water.

Closer research showed that the pottery was broken with intention, on purpose, rather than by fragility or aging. This is because of an ancient Mayan belief: you must break a piece of pottery to release the spirit of the person, allowing their soul to rest in peace in the afterlife.

Still, the human remains are pretty freaking incredible

That said, much of the intrigue of the ATM Cave tour comes from seeing the skeletal remains of the sacrifices in person.

The first human remain you’ll encounter is the skull of a young nobleman. Mayan nobles practiced body modification, particularly head shaping.

They placed boards on the foreheads of newborns of high stature to shape their foreheads. One single filed tooth remains on this skull with the misshapen forehead, further evidence of his nobility.

Though we may gasp at this now, consider the fact that women today inject themselves with botulism and stuff silicone in their bodies in pursuit of beauty, and you’ll realize we aren’t so far off from the Mayans.

But it’s a little harder to be a moral relativist when you seeing the skull of a sacrificed child nearby. That’s a bit hard to see, I admit.

Despite some discomfiting moments throughout the cave system, it’s still very fascinating, especially the final room in the cave complex. This is where you’ll see the ATM Cave’s most famous resident: the completely in-tact skeleton of a young boy, preserved in crystalline flecks after centuries of being preserved by travertine deposits.

The calcium carried in the travertine as it flowed over the centuries clung to the skeleton, creating crystals, which eerily sparkle like diamonds once hit with the beam of a headlamp.

The cave’s geology is nothing to ignore, either

Even without the historical, mythological, and archaelogical importance of the cave, the ATM Cave would be still be worth visiting, just for its natural beauty.

Walking through the caves, I feel you can’t help but marvel at the stalagmites and stalactites, which sometimes even merged together at times, forming what look like actual columns over the course of centuries.

No wonder the Mayans felt something when they were in this place: it is an actual underworld of sorts, in the dark and quiet, disconnected from both heaven and earth.

An ATM Cave tour is a spiritual experience

Seeing the light of day again on our way out of the cave, I felt stirred and moved by what I had experienced during the ATM Cave Tour.

I’ll admit that I’m not a spiritual or religious person. Still, I felt moved by seeing the way people from long ago lived, believed, and in some cases, ultimately died.

Although we see human sacrifice as barbaric today, the Mayans who worshiped in these ceremonial caves were responding to fears and mythology in a way that made sense for their time.

Our guide told us that archaeologists now believe that the Mayan civilization ended because of a prolonged drought, and the physicality of the ATM cave provides proof to that: geologists can point to periods of drought that are quite literally crystallized into Actun Tunichil Muknal itself.

Perhaps the Mayans, fearing for their culture’s future, sacrificed these nobles and children in a failed attempt to save their civilization itself from the ravages of drought.

In the face of our current and coming climate change, this hits a particularly resonant note. It also resonates because the ATM Cave, too, is at great risk. While the Mayan civilization likely ended due to drought, Actun Tunichil Muknal and the Mayan ruins within it could likely meet the inverse fate.

Flash flooding caused by more frequent and powerful hurricanes could destroy what remains of ATM Cave.

Hurricane Earl, which slammed Belize in 2016, luckily did not cause any lasting damage to the cave, but who knows what the future of stronger storms could bring?

There are strict limits on tourism — for good reason.

While tourists offer promise to the preservation of ATM Cave, they also threaten its future. The governing body which protects the cave has put up precautionary protocols. 

They limit the visitors to 125 per day, in groups of 8. All guides are required to be licensed and entering without a guide is strictly prohibited. 

After a tourist damaged one of the skulls, cameras were banned, to mitigate the risk of further damage to cave system.

It is important to tour ATM Cave with licensed and ethical tour guides, who do not risk damaging ATM Cave to amuse their clients, like allowing cameras or other prohibited items or activities. 

Basically, choose a well-respected tour and follow their rules.

As a result of the limited number of places available for the ATM cave tour, prices don’t fluctuate much — demand is always higher than supply.

During peak season, you will want to reserve in advance to ensure you have a spot, as once those 125 spots are booked, the tour is full for the day everywhere legitimate.

You can book your tour in advance here with the company I went with and recommend!

It’s best to bring the right clothes from home

While you can buy certain things you need on the ground in Belize, you’ll find them overpriced compared to home.

At the least, you’ll want a pair of water-resistant shoes (here’s a pair I recommend for women, and one I recommend for men).

I did it in my sneakers and really did not enjoy that (nor the subsequent stinky air-drying process that took several days to complete). But I was sort of planning my trip on the fly, and didn’t even decide to do the ATM cave tour until I was halfway into my 4-month Central America backpacking trip, so I didn’t pack appropriately.

A few other things you’ll need: a pair of quick-drying socks, a bathing suit, and a change of clothes for afterwards. (Heavy on the last part — you won’t want to come back in your wet clothes!).

Your guide should have a dry bag for cameras and phones in case you want to take photos during the 45-minute hike to and from the mouth of the cave, but don’t count on it… and maybe don’t bring anything that’s not ultimately waterproof, just in case the dry bag fails.

You won’t need sunscreen or bug spray since you’re not allowed to wear either in the cave to protect the fragile ecosystems and geology.

Just wear clothing that covers your body such as a loose, lightweight linen shirt like this one (women’s / men’s) as that will offer your skin protection without harming the environment.

Eat a big breakfast beforehand

You don’t eat lunch until after you finish the tour, and the tour itself is rather intensive on a physical level.

Definitely make sure you eat a hearty meal beforehand, as the Belize cave tour is about 3-4 hours of physical activity which can range anywhere from easy at times to physically quite strenuous.

It may be a good idea to bring some nuts or energy bars (I like these ones for travel!) with you. That way, you can snack before your hike into the jungle to keep your energy levels up, since it’s a full day tour of about 8 to 9 hours.

Don’t count it out if you’re not a strong swimmer

There’s actually very little swimming involved on an ATM Cave tour and all of the swimming sections have a rope for you to hang onto.

Many tour companies will also provide life jackets for you to feel more comfortable as well.

For tall people, you may even be able to stand nearly the whole time. I almost could, and I’m only 5’7″.

If you don’t know how to swim, but you also don’t panic when you’re in deeper water, you should be totally fine on a Belize cave tour.

However, it’s not for people who are afraid of the dark or claustrophobic!

While the swimming is minimal and you don’t need an insanely high level of fitness to do it, what you do need is to feel comfortable during the tour.

I have generalized anxiety (GAD), with a very slight amount of claustrophobia and a small fear of the dark. I was fine on this tour, personally, though I had a few moments of heightened nerves.

However, if I had more severe claustrophobia, I definitely could not have completed this tour. It’s a bit more of a psychological journey rather than physical, and it’s not easy.

You will be given a helmet with a headlamp on it, so you really won’t be in pitch blackness, but still – it won’t be bright, either, obviously!

There is a point as well where your guide will ask you to turn off all headlamps, which was a little spooky for me, but I was able to handle it.

Use discretion when deciding if it’s right for kids

I’ve been asked by many people if this Belize cave tour is appropriate for young children, and to that my only answer is “whose kids?”

Your kids need to be able to A) not be afraid of the dark B) swim or hold a rope comfortably enough and C) be able to walk and swim and be physically active for about 4 hours consecutively.

I’d say at a bare minimum your kid needs to be 8+ and an easygoing traveler who is used to going on short hikes and swims. Any younger than that and I think your kid would struggle.

Each tour company will have their own age restriction for kids, so please be sure to look at that first.

Be aware that trips are dependent on weather!

This cave’s safety is entirely dependent on water levels and therefore the weather.

The cave system is susceptible to flooding in extreme conditions (like hurricanes and tropical storms), but still, if there is any hint of bad weather, your ATM cave tour will be canceled for everyone’s safety.

And after the Thai cave rescue has been seared into everyone’s minds, that’s something we’re probably all grateful for — an abundance of caution!

As a result I recommend booking it for earlier on in your trip so that you can reschedule if necessary!

Click here to book your tour in advance

Finally, tours run every day of the year and are run by the same tour guides every day, as very few people own these licenses.

As a result, most guides work 7 days a week basically all year long!

Thank them for their hard work by tipping. I recommend at least $10 USD / 20 Belizean dollars per person, but $20 USD is better if you can spare it.

Note: Thank you to Maya Walk for permitting me to use these photos in this post after doing my tour with them! 

Allison Green

Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.