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8 hours
Mobile ticket
See some of Belize's top natural attractions on this day tour from San Ignacio to Blue Hole National Park and Crystal Cave. You'll experience the underworld of the ancient Maya as you go spelunking in the crystalline caverns, learning about this ceremonial site where the Maya people practiced sacrificial and sacred rituals. After venturing into the cave chambers, you'll have the chance to cool down in the waters of the Blue Hole, an inland jungle cenote (not to be confused with the country's offshore Great Blue Hole). Lunch is included.
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
Minimum age is 12 years
Difficulty: Challenging
What to bring: Hiking sandals or sneakers, change of clothes, small backpack, 1 liter of water, bug spray, snacks, and swimwear with shorts
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Crystal Cave
Leave San Ignacio in the morning to start your day tour with the drive toward Belmopan and the scenic Hummingbird Highway, crossing the green mountains while passing by orange orchards, pineapple plantations, and rainforest-draped valleys along the way. Your destination is Blue Hole National Park, a protected and accessible area managed by the Belize Audubon Society. It's also home to Crystal Cave, known locally as Mountain Cow Cave, an otherworldly natural wonder located deep in the jungle in the heart of the park.
Blue Hole National Park
After a 50-minute hike through the tropical forest with your guide, you'll reach the entry point where you'll rappel 15 feet (4.5 meters) into the vast entrance of the cave. Traverse its large chambers, sliding down mud ramps and scrambling along rocks. This is a challenging descent into Xibalba, what the Maya believed was the realms of the underworld. Your guide shows you the shimmering formations in the cave, along with artifacts and skeletal remains of sacrificial victims from ancient Maya ceremonies. This tour is physically demanding but well worth the effort to walk in the footsteps of Maya ritual leaders and see the evidence of their sacred rites with your own eyes. After your cave exploration, refuel with a hearty homemade lunch and soft drinks, and take a swim in the cool waters of the Blue Hole, a deep sinkhole filled with rain and spring water, known as a cenote. Your tour then ends with return to San Ignacio.
National Park fees
Use of helmet and headlamps
All taxes, fees, and handling charges
Guide
Lunch with a drink
water bottle and snacks
Select a pickup point
San Ignacio
San Ignacio Belize
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Enjoy the otherworldy experience of entering into the Maya underworld. Here we rappel into the crystal lined cave, which is complete with the remains if ancient Maya ceremonies.
Pickup included
20 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
78charmainek,Mar 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
Absolutely amazing day. From our driver, Juan Carlos who picked us up and made us feel welcome with personal stories, local folklore and historic trivia to our guide, Pedro who was not only knowledgeable about the caves and history, but also was patient and encouraging and made the Mayan history come alive. I am 59 years old, and Crystal cave is a phsically challenging adventure. There were times I thought I couldn't do it, but Pedro assured me I can do it, helped me when needed, and the encouragement of my fellow covers and I made it! Lunch was delicious and the swim in Blue Hole was refreshing. We returned exhausted but exhilarated by our adventure. Highly recommend Mayawalk Tours and especially Juan Carlos and Pedro. Thank you for an amazing experience and once in a lifetime memories.❤️





I1308KNmiram,Feb 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
CRYSTAL CAVE REVIEW: I did Crystal Cave with Maya Walks and I would definitely say this is not something to miss when in San Ignacio. It’s very different to ATM cave so I would recommend doing both if you can. Markus was our guide and I think he was probably the best guide I’ve ever had. I often find guided tours a bit dry/boring but I was honestly captivated by everything he had to say. He was also amazing at clearly explaining everything we needed to do to traverse the cave. The cave itself is absolutely stunning, especially the crystal cave part, it’s totally magical. There are plenty of Mayan artefacts too, including one skull. You do need a reasonable level of fitness to be able to complete the cave but you don’t have to be super fit. I would advise speaking to the team at Maya Walks if you’re unsure since they’re very helpful and knowledgeable. Crystal cave was a last minute addition to my itinerary and I’m so so happy I did it as it was my highlight of San Ignacio. If you like a bit of adventure I would really say this is something not to miss!






SaraRx,Jan 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
I booked multiple tours and transfers through MayaWalk during my time in Belize including Tikal on December 27, Crystal Cave on December 28, and transportation from Belize City to San Ignacio and back to the water taxi. I originally planned to do ATM Cave, but it had been closed for several days due to weather with no clear reopening date. This is where MayaWalk stood out. The office manager Samantha was exceptional. She was empathetic, communicative, and genuinely invested in making sure I still had a great experience despite the disruption. She helped rearrange plans, gave me flexibility in case ATM reopened, and ensured I had strong alternatives so I was not left with a wasted day. She also gave excellent food recommendations. Martha’s and Pops were both great. That level of customer service is rare. Although I never got to do ATM, Crystal Cave ended up being outstanding. This is not a casual tour. It is muddy, slippery, and physically demanding, with real risk if you are not careful. The guides MayaWalk contracted, Marcus and Melvin, were exceptional. Marcus led from the front, explaining the cave and Maya history while Melvin stayed in the back making sure no one fell behind. I watched other groups pass through with a single guide far ahead, leaving people in the back unattended. That did not happen with our group. I felt safe the entire time. This mattered because I struggled physically more than others in my group. I am small, not very strong, and not particularly coordinated, but I never felt rushed or unsafe. The guides were patient, attentive, and safety-focused throughout. I would not do that cave with anyone else and strongly recommend choosing a company that uses two guides. The Tikal tour was also excellent despite a rough start. Border delays and a very large group caused by the ATM closure meant we did not leave for the site until about 8:38 am. I was worried we would lose time, but our guide made sure we saw everything, had time at all major stops, and even took some of us back to a gift shop when we had regrets. He was knowledgeable, patient, and clearly cared about the experience. The lunch stop was excellent as well. I research tours extensively and am budget-conscious, but customer service matters most to me when plans go sideways. MayaWalk puts people first. They were flexible, supportive, and made sure I still had meaningful experiences despite disruptions. I never felt treated like an inconvenience. They earned my trust and loyalty, and I would recommend them without hesitation.
U9571RObonniel,Jul 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
MayaWalk Tours provided a great tour for Crystal Cave. Our driver, Zander, pick us up at our hotel which was nice. We went to the office first where they verified we had the proper attire, footwear and plenty of water, Zander then drove us to the visitor center where we would begin our adventure. Jose Garcia was our guide with over 30 years of experience in giving Crystal Cave tours. His knowledge was amazing. He named many butterflies, mushrooms, and trees on the way to the entrance. Sharing the history of the area along the way was very interesting. Being knowledge about this area, he shared Mayan history and folklore about the cave as well. We were not rushed going in and were allowed to take many photos. When we reached the area where z80% of the hikers turn around, Jose was concerned for our age since he had never had a couple in their 70’s venture the entire hike. He gave us a choice to continue or turn around. We chose to continue. From that point forward, the formations were incredible. Some inclines and declines were taxing. Jose’s guidance and suggestions in hiking this portion of the cave was very helpful. Wonderland (the section at the end of the cave hike) is worth the effort and perseverance. Jose helped us traverse the narrow passages and vast chambers safely, pointing out special areas of interest. We even did the passage behind Wonderland. If you go this far make sure you do the areas behind the Wonderland chamber. It is worth the hike even though you have to do it without shoes to protect the formations. (Since we did 100% of the cave, we did not get to experience the Blue Hole due to time so cannot comment on that experience. ) Upon our return to the Visitor Center, Zander had a Belizean picnic waiting for us. The Centers well was not working so we were glad he had a full container of water to wash our hands as the spelunking got us muddy from head to toe. MayaWalk Tours knows what you need on this tour. Make sure you book with them and follow their requirements for what to wear and what to bring along. We would highly recommend them and Jose Garcia and driver Zander for your Crystal Cave and Blue Hole adventure.
chufengw2023,Dec 16, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
The ATM cave is flooded today, so we 6 people randomly choose this crystal cave for a private tour. it's really an adventure! The two guides and one driver is so nice and professional.

mireillev2024,Dec 9, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
Richard was our great guide with a lot of knowledge, (literally) supportive and respectful. The experience was one to remember! Very impressive, highly recommended. Nb we were with a small group (4 people) we saw with other tour operators much larger groups .
484kalinah,Nov 13, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
This was an insane experience that I highly recommend. That said, it is really not for the faint of heart. Our adventure started with our guide, Geo (shoutout!) picking us up in a van and driving us to a jungle which we hiked through for about 45 minutes. If you go in the rainy season I recommend a rain coat because we were absolutely soaked by the time we got to the gave. Once we did arrive, Geo pulled out a rope and we rapelled a short distance into the cave. From there we were in for a 3 1/2 hour experience that was both physically exhausting but also fascinating and beautiful. Once inside, we saw gorgeous cave structures (which Geo was able to explain in detail) as well as Mayan artifacts and even a human skull. Geo was a great guide, showing us handholds and footholds, ways to slide into cramped spaces and ensuring we were safe. That said, this was not for anyone who is claustrophobic or not in decent shape. Overall, this was a very memorable experience, unique from any cave tours I've been on in other places.
Chrisnaalj,Nov 5, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
We had a fantastic experience! We had initially planned an ATM tour, but unfortunately, it was closed due to rain. The team at Maya Walk kept us informed and offered alternative options, which I really appreciated. We decided to go to Crystal Cave instead, and while it was very challenging for me, it was incredibly rewarding. Our guide, Jose, was very patient and made sure we weren't rushed at all. Our driver, Ronald, waited for us the whole time and had a delicious lunch ready as soon as we returned. Overall, it was a wonderful experience!
Departure68426449724,Oct 25, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
We've been choosing the crystal cave tour, because the ATM was flooded. Is was a quite exhausting but super interesting and wonderful tour. Giovanni shared his huge knowledge about general Belize (Cultures, Communities, History) as well as specific Mayan history and culture. You could feel from the first moment, that he's an experienced guide who's passion is to explore and explain. In the jungle and especially in the cave, it felt very safe the way he guided us. We would recommend this tour with this guide to everyone who's not afraid of some hike and some climbing. The cave itself is mostly wide and the halls are often surprisingly huge. Narrow parts are rare and you always see an exit of the narrow part, so no need to get claustrophobic.



Q314TEkristinat,Dec 23, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
My 60 year old father and I did the Crystal Caves tour with guides Marcos and Jose. What an incredible journey! I suspected it was going to be challenging but I still underestimated the amount of physical prowess needed! That being said, I never felt unsafe and it was great to get down and dirty and feel challenged (ATM felt like a Disneyland kid ride compared to this). We were 1 of 2 groups down in the cave so it felt very private, in contrast to ATM where we were shoulder to shoulder waiting in line at some bottlenecks. At some point our group split in 2, 1 turned back and 1 continued on to Wonderland, based on skill/ability to descend into the harder to access parts of the cave. I am infinitely grateful to Jose who led us down to Wonderland and shared his intimate love of caving and ‘extreme adventure’ with us along the way. My experience would not have been complete without making the descent to Wonderland! Jose was so kind and patient and exuded passion for caving and rescue. My father thinks this tour should come with a more robust warning about the physical ability required to reach Wonderland- I think if you’re just slightly above average physical fitness level, you would be fine, but it takes mental fortitude as well! And even if you’re an exceptional rock climber, still expect to be covered in mud by the end-there are tight spaces you have to slide through. Bring 3-4L of water per person, and plenty of snacks too. I highly recommend (if you are physically able) to ask your guide to take you to wonderland- they may not if you do not specifically request. They may even say ‘no’ if your group is too slow! But the experience overall was unforgettable and I encourage everyone to request Jose for this tour!
Operated by MayaWalk Tours