Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave with Local Lunch from San Ignacio

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

7 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Explore the hidden chambers and crystalline waters of the Mayan underworld at Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM), featured in National Geographic! Swim into the mysterious cave, which the ancient Mayas considered to be a portal to the underworld, known as Xibalba. This day trip from San Ignacio includes a 1.5-hour round-trip hike in Tapir Nature Reserve and enjoy delicious local lunch. Climb, crawl, swim, and play in the water passage as you enter the caverns, and delight in the refreshing waters of the Roaring River before and after your spelunking adventure.

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Minimum height requirement is 40 inches

It is recommended that you wear closed-toe shoes, comfortable clothing (short Pants, Long pants, T-shirt or long Sleeve) that can get wet, a change of clothes.

Hotel pick up and drop off is for hotels within San Ignacio town limits. For hotels outside of San Ignacio, a surcharge applies.

Pair of socks is required as portions of the cave shoes are removed.

Bring reusable Water bottle

No cameras allowed

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Local guide

Use of all necessary equipment

Entrance fee

Local Lunch (Stew Chicken Rice and beans or Vegeterian option)

Juice

Air-conditioned vehicle

Bring Reusable water bottles

Gratuities

Hotel pick-up and drop-off outside of San Ignacio Town

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

It will take us an hour to drive to the parking lot. Your experienced guide leads your group on an easy 35-minute hike to the cave entrance. Walk along the bank of the Roaring River, which you’ll cross three times before arriving at the cave entrance. To prepare your group for entering the cave, your guide provides a historical overview and a safety briefing. The water passage allows you to splash and play as you wade through the water, which may come up to your ankles, knees, waist, and even neck—sometimes requiring you to swim. At one point, you’ll climb up to a ledge to enter one of the most attractive parts of the cave, where archeologists have recorded more than 1,000 pieces of pottery and 19 human sacrifices. To explore this chamber, you must remove your shoes to protect the natural surroundings, including impressive formations like rock columns, stalactites, stalagmites, citrines, and flowstones. Your guide will share fascinating details about ancient Mayan rituals and ceremonies that once occurred deep under the earth.

Options

Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave with Local Lunch from San Ignacio

Pickup included

ATM Cave Early Tour with lunch

Earlier Departure: Departing earlier to the cave you can encounter fewer people
Shared Tour
Duration: 7 hours
Lunch: Water, Juice, Chips with Salsa, Stew chicken with Rice and beans
Air Condition Vans
Pickup included

ATM Cave late Tour

ATM Cave Late Tour
Shared Tour
Duration: 7 hours
Lunch: Water, Juice, lunch, Chips with Salsa
Air condition van or SUV
Pickup included

Reviews

4.88

182 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

170

Awesome!
danleyd2024,
Sep 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I went on this tour a little apprehensive after reading some posts online. I'm not the most active of people and had just come back from knee injuries a few months prior. With that said, the tour was amazing! I packed a few things for this trip: A pair of socks, dry clothes, some water. Things I should have brought: Dry footwear for the ride back, a little snack for the hike back to keep my energy up, an electrolyte mix. We were picked up from our hotel by our guide Patrick and our driver. He was seemed friendly and funny from the moment we met. As we loaded up into the van his knowledge about his country as well as his work became evident. With all of his attributes I became more comfortable with the fact that the day was going to be uncomfortable. Once we arrived we were given our life jackets and helmets with head head lamps. Then set off on our journey. Shortly after, we arrived at our first river crossing. We had a rope strung across to help us with our stability. After crossing we began our hike/walk through the jungle to to cave. Patrick would stop and explain to us things about the Mayans or the jungle and was always open to our questions. After 2 more river crossings we arrived at the cave entrance. To make it into the cave we had to swim/float for about a minute with the water being refreshingly cool. Then you would get to a point where you had to scramble up a big rock and through a hole. I am not the smallest, most nimble person out there but this was still doable for me. Patrick was there always advising me on the best way to navigate through some of the obstacles. The cave itself was a mixture of moving through water, scrambling over rocks, and movement through some of the archeological sites. The way back was a bit quicker but still full of fun. It was nice to end the time in the cave with wading through the cool water at the entrance. The hike back was uneventful but if you need energy I would bring a quick snack. You will be without water or food in the cave so keep that in mind. Patrick did have an extra source of water with him in his backpack. Back at the parking lot we were greeted with an amazing meal of chicken, rice, plantains, coleslaw, and an ice cold drink. We were able to rinse off and change into dry clothes before the trip back to the hotel. After the getting back I was definitely sore and probably needed to drink more water. This tour was a great experience made greater by the knowledge and care taken by Patrick to show us something that he loves. This was definitely a highlight of my trip to Belize.
Must do! Will remember for life
Noah P,
Aug 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Amazing one of a kind experience. Highly highly recommend, excellent tour guide and lunch was delicious. Very adventurous, the cave was massive. You’ll drive to the location, leave everything in the car besides water bottles, put on equipment then cave exploring for a few hours. After the hike you get to change into dry clothes for the ride back. Our tour guide Francisco was more than amazing. Couldn’t ask for a better day
Spectacular, virgin tourism
Samuel M,
Aug 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Excellent experience to do once in a lifetime. Fernando a very trained guide in all areas
Pickup was on time and...
RANA R,
Jun 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Pickup was on time and our guide Gliss was kind and very informative. He helped us along and explained so many things. The cave itself was really cool and learning about the Mayan culture was interesting. I wish we could take cameras or the guides could have taken pictures for us but cameras are banned. It did require a certain level of fitness so be Miguel of that since we were scrambling up and down rocks, swimming and crawling through tight crevices.
I cannot any more highly recommend this guide service.
Hayden C,
Jun 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The guide service was exceptional and the experience unforgettable. One must be of decent shape to navigate cave though
Great tour. Fascinating.
Peter B,
Jun 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Amazing tour. Says hike is intense, it’s not at all, easy hike to cave entrance and a little challenging when you get it but not hard . Abraham was a great guide. Communications on pickup was a little confusing.
This was a great...
Steve S,
May 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was a great experience! Our guide was so knowledgeable and fun. The cave was a challenge in the best way, a can't miss adventure! The lunch provided was great and transportation to and from our hotel was easy. Totally recommend!
Underworld Adventure
Ahmed H,
May 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
we were off to a bad start due to our driver being late by nearly 40 mins. I had already dropped the maximum rating I was going to give to 4 stars. Fortunately, that’s where the bad ends and the amazing begins. Our tour guide Fernando was extremely knowledgeable and humorous. With his expertise, we swam, climbed and explored the cave with our small group. It was truly an adventure that intrigued the archaeological side in me. The journey itself was a bit challenging but it’s manageable. At the end of it, exhausted and hungry we got to enjoy a delicious and tender meal that was much needed. Our whole group was satisfied and recommends the trip to anyone seeking adventure
Fascinating adventure!
shunib2015,
May 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We really enjoyed this trip. It was a mix of hiking, canyoneering/scrambling and loads of interesting history. Our guide, Gliss was awesome! Full of information and very engaging. Sadly there’s no photography allowed but we will have fond memories.
Totally worth it
Fernando F,
Apr 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
After pick up we drove for half an hour to starting point. We were given helmet and life vest and a bottle of water. Water shoes are ok for the tour, with mandatory socks. We had to walk for a mile and crossed 3 rivers (walking, no swim). Our guide Rafael is an archeologist and told us about the place. Reaching the start of the cave, we had to swim for a minute. The caves are amazing but the way is tough, but doable. When you reaching the dry chamber, the place is filled with ceramic and you can see mayas have lived there. You get to see skeletons with a very conserved one at the end of the chamber. Super recommend!