• San Ignacio - 6:45am: Guests are picked up from hotels, with a stop downtown for additional passengers.

7:00am: Departure from Coffee de Los Mayas Coffee Shop on Burns Ave, downtown San Ignacio, to Teakettle Village, a 45-minute drive.

• Teakettle - A brief stop at a small supermarket allows guests to purchase snacks or water. This marks the beginning of a 30-minute bumpy dirt road journey to the archaeological reserve’s parking lot.

During the drive through the valley towards the cave, you will pass the village of Arizona and farmland, including corn plantations in the flat areas. As you approach the cave, ancient Maya structures become visible within the fields, indicating that people lived here hundreds of years ago, cultivated corn, and likely used the caves.

Upon arrival at the parking lot, guests can change into appropriate clothing and gear up with helmets, headlamps, and life jackets.

• Actun Tunichil Muknal - The adventure begins with a 75-minute journey to the Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves, including 45 minutes on a paved road and approximately 30 minutes on a bumpy dirt road to the parking lot. Upon arrival, everyone changes into proper clothes and gears up with helmets, headlamps, and life jackets (optional).

The hike to the cave entrance starts with a river crossing that can be 5 feet or deeper for most of the year, but a rope assists with the first of three river crossings. The 35-minute flat hike to the entrance includes learning about the local flora and fauna. The other two river crossings are less than a foot deep, requiring caution on the river stones. Upon reaching the cave entrance, water bottles are left behind, and preparations are made to enter.

• Actun Tunichil Muknal - At the cave entrance, the guide provides a safety briefing, inspects gear, and shares historical and mythological information about the cave.

The first 500 meters inside the cave involve treading through water at varying depths from ankles to neck. Guests will encounter incredible formations, requiring flexibility and a combination of leg and arm strength to navigate some areas. The second part involves climbing a rock to reach a 3-4 meter ledge.

Here, shoes are removed, and guests enter the Sacred Chamber wearing socks to protect their feet and the fragile surface. Ceramic and human remains, evidence of Maya ceremonies, are scattered across the floor. Archaeologists have recorded over 1,000 pieces of pottery and 20 human sacrifices. The highlight is the full skeletal remains of the Crystal Maiden, evidence of human sacrifices practiced by the Mayas at the end of the Classic Period.

• Actun Tunichil Muknal - After exploring the cave and its highlights, the return journey begins, allowing other groups to see the ceremonial spaces. The return follows the same path, at a faster pace. The cave is wet, and headlamps are crucial, as is following the guide’s instructions. The hike concludes at the parking lot with a delicious Belizean dish, sodas, and water.

Guests will have time to change into dry clothes before enjoying a hot meal. The drive back to San Ignacio takes approximately 75 minutes.

• Lunch
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Certified Tour Guide
• Equipment: Helmet, Head lamp & Life jacket

• Tips for Guide and driver.
• Breakfast

The Actun Tunichil Mucnal Cave is recognized as one of the world’s top ten sacred caves. The journey to reach it is an adventure in itself, involving a 35-minute hike beneath a tree canopy and crossing the same river three times. The first crossing is about 5 feet deep, while the other two are less than a foot deep. Upon reaching the cave entrance, equipment is checked and lights are turned on. The exploration involves wading through 500 meters of water, navigating around stalactites, under stalagmites, and through fascinating formations.

The second part of the journey includes climbing rocks to reach a ledge on a higher level. The Sacred Chamber houses all the ceramic artifacts and human remains. The guide provides insights into the various ceremonial areas within the cave, culminating in the main attraction: the Crystal Maiden. This fully calcified skeleton, embedded in the ground, is a testament to the human sacrifices once performed in the cave.

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