Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour

Adventure Overview

In ancient Maya cosmology, vast subterranean cave systems—some stretching for many kilometers beneath the earth—were revered as sacred gateways to the underworld, known as Xibalba, the “Place of Fear.” This shadowy realm was believed to be ruled by malevolent deities and lords of death. The Maya viewed Xibalba with profound dread and believed that only through ritual offerings could these formidable gods be appeased. The Actun Tunichil Muknal cave, commonly known as "ATM", was first explored in the late 1980s. Its hourglass-shaped entrance is partially submerged, requiring passage through water. Just beyond the threshold lie the earliest traces of ceremonial offerings—snail shells—growing increasingly unusual and numerous deeper within. Approximately a quarter-mile inside rests the main chamber, where the skeletal remains of fourteen individuals can be found, including the famed calcified figure known as the Crystal Maiden.

What to Bring

Reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, beach towel, waterproof camera or GoPro, light jacket or windbreaker, and cash for gratuities or dock refreshments.