ATM Cave Tour in Belize with Carlos the Caveman

It was pitch black.  I closed my eyes, then opened them again.  It made no difference, I still couldn’t see anything.  The only sound was the dripping of water, and my nervous breath.  Then a voice rang out in the cave……

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The ATM cave tour in Belize was an experience like no other.  The caves themselves are spectacular, and to be able to see Mayan artefacts just millimetres away was truly unique.  I joined Carlos the Caveman on a guided tour of the ATM caves, and was whisked away to another world in the Actun Tunichil Muknal caves.

*UPDATE MAY 2018* I have just found out that Carlos was tragically killed in a road traffic accident close to San Ignacio in May.  My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

*UPDATE FEBRUARY 2020* Carlos’ family are no longer operating tours.  The website forwards to a different company, so although I’ll leave this review here as a guide to what to expect, you will need to choose your own tour operator. 

The Best ATM Cave Tour Operator

Tours to the ATM caves in Belize, officially known as Actun Tunichil Muknal (the cave of the stone sepulchre), can be easily arranged from San Ignacio, the closest major tourist town to the caves.  There are several operators who run the ATM cave tour, and all have good Tripadvisor reviews.  I later learned that 49 potential guides took the test proposed by the NICH, the National Institute of Culture & History in Belize, but only 23 passed.  Now, not all of these guides are active, but there still seems to be a lot of companies in San Ignacio offering tours to the caves.  I chose Carlos the Caveman, partly because I love the name, partly for the excellent reviews, and partly because the company is a small business run by Carlos himself.  I try to support small, local, family businesses wherever I can, so I contacted Carlos to see if I could join one of his ATM cave tours.

Hard hats are provided for the ATM Cave Tour with Carlos the Caveman
Hard hats are provided for the ATM Cave Tour!

How Much Does the ATM Cave Tour Cost?

The ATM cave tour price varies slightly between companies, but expect to pay around $90-$95 USD per person.  While the tour is expensive for backpackers in Belize (as are most tours here) it is definitely worth it if you can stretch your budget.  The ATM Cave Tour price includes transport to and from the cave, safety equipment (life jacket, headlamp and helmet), a guided tour of the cave and lunch.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: What To Do in San Ignacio Without a Guide 

The Actun Tunichil Muknal ATM Cave Tour

Quick to reply, Carlos The Caveman confirmed my ATM cave tour for a couple of days later, and explained what we had to bring: closed shoes that would get wet, socks, sunscreen, insect repellent – and no cameras.  On the day of the tour, Carlos arrived at my hostel to pick me up at 8.30am.  We were just three people on the tour; my companions were a couple of friends from Germany and we chatted on the way to the caves.  The first stop was actually the Maya site of Cahal Pech to buy the tickets to enter the caves.  These are other Mayan ruins in San Ignacio that are also worth a visit if you have time.

The dirt road to the Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves
The dirt road to the Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves

Preparing for the ATM Cave Tour

It takes just over an hour to reach the ATM caves from San Ignacio; or the car park at least.  The first section is by paved road, then the rest by bumpy dirt track.  When we arrived, the ranger checked our tickets and Carlos parked the car.  The car park was already filled with mini-vans from other companies – the times of the tours are staggered to avoid having everyone in the cave at the same time, as some parts get a little cosy!  Carlos provided us with our safety gear – a hard hat with a head lamp, a life jacket, and a machete for good measure.  The machete was really just for the photo but it was still the biggest I’d seen!

Me and Carlos the Caveman ready for our ATM Cave tour!
Me and Carlos the Caveman ready for our ATM Cave tour!

We set off, and in a couple of minutes came across the river the first time.  I had expected to get wet in the cave, but didn’t realise we would swim across the river straight away!  But, swim we did, with the aid of a rope if needed.  We then squelched our way along the path towards the cave.  The hike to the entrance is 45 minutes to an hour, but on flat terrain through the trees, so it’s not a difficult walk.  We crossed the river twice more, splashing across this time as the water was shallower here.  I wished I had brought my GoPro, but cameras are not allowed on the ATM cave tour, so I had time to just appreciate the scenery.  As we went along, Carlos pointed out termite nests (and tried to convince us to eat a couple of them, but we all declined), lizards and an agouti, as well as several different trees and plants.  The caves are set in Tapir National Reserve, but we didn’t see any tapirs unfortunately!

The footpath leading to the ATM caves - no tapirs to be seen!
The footpath leading to the ATM caves – no tapirs to be seen!

When we arrived at the mouth of the cave I was struck by its beauty.  The sun shone into the blue water, and vines draped around the entrance to the cave.  We stashed out water bottles to collect later and descended into the cave.  The river flows right through the cave; and is deep enough to have to swim in parts.  The first part was at the entrance, and I flopped into the cold water as gracefully as I could and swam to where Carlos directed me.  The water here was much cooler than the river we had crossed, coming out of the shadows of the cave.  Once we had all crossed, Carlos led us deeper into the cave, climbing over rocks and wading through the river.  We passed the last window of natural light, and moved into the darkness.  We rested for a moment and Carlos asked us to turn off our lights.  We sat in silence in the dark for what seemed like a long time, but must have only been a few moments.  Then Carlos spoke.  We had just asked permission to enter the cave.  A spiritual place for the Maya, entering the cave should not be taken lightly.  He also emphasised the importance of safety and communication, those at the front must pass back instructions to those at the back so we all help each other through the cave.  Make no mistake, health & safety regulations don’t apply here!  There are no hand-rails, no anti-slip flooring, and a step in the wrong place could end in serious injury.  Well, if I wasn’t nervous before that, I was now!

The entrance to the ATM Caves (Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves)
The entrance to the ATM Caves.  credit: www.travelchannel.com side78, flickr

I had never been caving before, and honestly didn’t know what to expect.  I had spoken to several people who had already done the tour, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw inside that cave.

Actun Tunichil Muknal itself is stunning.  Beautiful rock formations had been moulded by the constant flow of water through the cave, and there were stalactites hanging down to stalagmites which reached up to greet them.  Columns of rock that looked like melted candles, minerals in the water had created bizarre shapes all around us, and the light from our head lamps threw strange shadows that loomed ominously on the cave walls.  Some parts sparkled from light, others were black from different mineral deposits, and others were dark with bat guano.  The bats hung upside down in holes from the roof, their faeces spraying upwards and melting into the rock.  Carlos the Caveman lived up to his name, deftly leading us through the cave.  I asked him how many times he had done the tour – “so many times I don’t need a headlamp” he replied with a smile.  He clearly knew his stuff, explaining the theories to explain why the Maya came here, and pointing out all the different rock formations, the beasties that lurked in the cave (spiders, bats, cave crickets), and a tiny sprout of a plant that somehow is managing to grow in the darkness.

Inside the ATM Caves, where cameras are no longer allowed! Credit: Carlos the Caveman
Inside the ATM Caves, where cameras are no longer allowed! Credit: Carlos the Caveman

After a while we reached a hidden entrance in the cave wall.  Apparently, cavers had missed the passageway several times, before finally discovering that it led up to a higher ‘room’ in the cave, known as the Cathedral.  We climbed up the rocks, and took off our shoes.  Climbing up a ladder that was tied to the rock, I wondered how anyone had managed to find their way in here, be they Maya or the later explorers!  I nervously climbed up the ladder (I am not a fan of ladders in any circumstance!) and crawled onto the rock above.

A huge room opened up in front of us.  Everywhere I looked there were fragments of Mayan pottery.  A few remained whole, set up high on ‘shelves’ in the cave walls.  Others had been washed away by heavy rains years before, and broken pieces collected in dips in the rock.  We followed a narrow path across the rock surface, our socks helping to prevent oils from our skin seeping into the stone.  The path was marked by a tape on the ground.  No railings, no ‘do not touch’ signs, just a piece of tape.  And millimetres over the other side of the tape was a Maya skeleton.  A human sacrifice, made to appease the gods and plead for rain.  Studies from the rocks in the cave suggest that there was a drought at the time, and the Maya performed more and more rituals in the cave, desperately hoping that the Gods would be satisfied & bring them rain.

The incredible rock formations ion our ATM Cave tour
The incredible rock formations in the ATM Caves. credit: Benedict Kim www.DiscoverMagazine.com

We moved through the cave, to a narrow section at the back where we waited for another group to finish.  Here lay more skeletons, part petrified from the rains that finally came, washing minerals over the bone to calcify them.  Centuries of water flowing over the remains, which are remarkably intact.  Apart from a huge hole in the skull from a dropped camera.  That is why cameras are not allowed inside the cave!  A clumsy visitor dropped his camera on the skull of a thousand-year-old Mayan skeleton.

It was a sobering experience, seeing where these people had met their end.  Were they unconscious before they were killed?  Drugged or totally aware?  Did they know what fate awaited them deep in the cave?  Here in the darkness, the only light from the flames of their torches, the Maya had come time and time again to make their offerings to the gods.  There are the remains for 14 men, women & children in the cave, including the most complete skeleton of the ‘Crystal Maiden’ – a young woman (or possibly a man) whose bones are now calcified from the water & minerals, so they sparkle when the light touches them.

The Crystal Maiden in the ATM caves
The Crystal Maiden in the ATM caves. credit: Benedict Kim, www.discovermagazine.com

The ATM cave tour was fascinating and unique.  I don’t know of anywhere else in the world where you can be this close to such important artefacts in their original location, at least for the moment.  It is hard to imagine that the tours can continue like this, without more safety measures or protection for the relics that remain, but that would definitely take away the magic of the experience.  I really enjoyed the tour, Carlos was an awesome guide and I highly recommend him.  My advice is to go to Belize and do the ATM Cave tour soon, before it’s too late!

Tips for Visiting the ATM Cave in Belize

What to Wear for the ATM Cave Tour:

Swimsuit

T-shirt & shorts/leggings that you don’t mind getting wet.  I would also advise long-ish shorts, as in parts it is easier to sit on the rock & slide down on your backside – and my shorts were quite short so I scratched my delicate behind.

Socks & shoes that will get wet – closed shoes are better to avoid stubbing your toe on the rocks in the cave.

Also:

Contact lenses are better than glasses if you have them.

Apply sunscreen if you burn easily.  There is a 45-60 minute walk to reach the cave, partly in shade, partly in sun, so you may burn without sun protection.  Try to bring bio-degradable sunscreen if you can.

We didn’t need insect repellent, but in other seasons it may be useful, again, biodegradable if possible.

Leave your camera & phone at home, or leave it in the car.  Cameras aren’t allowed inside the cave since someone dropped their camera on one of the skeletons!

It’s better not to carry or wear anything that you care if it gets wet.  Carlos had a small bag with him where I put my sunscreen, but we didn’t need anything else.

If you’re looking for travel insurance for your trip to Belize, get a quote now from World Nomads.

Learn More About the ATM Caves

This video offers more insight into why the Maya performed these rituals in the ATM cave, as Dr Jaime Awe, the archaeologist who discovered the cave, explains possible reasons for their behaviour.

 

 

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Explore Mayan Underworld in the ATM Caves Belize

I was a guest of Carlos the Caveman on his ATM Cave Tour, and the fact that I had a great time definitely influenced my review!  As always, my opinions are my own.  Thank you Carlos for a great day!

Just to let you know, this post may contain paid or affiliate links, which help to maintain Tales of a Backpacker, and give me the chance to keep travelling, and to keep creating awesome content for you!

Tales of a Backpacker is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.  I only recommend goods and services I believe are useful and reliable.

[lastupdate]

20 thoughts on “ATM Cave Tour in Belize with Carlos the Caveman

  1. Claire says:

    Hi Eddie, thank you for getting in touch. I was so sorry to hear about Carlos, it was such a great loss. If you right click on the photograph in the article you should be able to download it and save it to your phone/computer. Best wishes, Claire

  2. EDDIE PANTIed says:

    Just read the great story of Carlos the caveman tnx….just to let u know we was my brother…liked that story very much tnx….if i can send me that picture u took with him with the machete would appreciate tnx.

  3. Claire says:

    It’s so sad, I was shocked to hear it too. His family are continuing to offer tours so you can still use the company but of course sadly without Carlos himself being there.

  4. Steve Cummings says:

    I love this post, and I was suggesting Carlos the Caveman and Pacz Tours to other people. I just found out that Carlos “The Caveman” passed away in a tragic car accident. The post is still great, and I used it to inform my wife and I about the cave tours.

  5. Haley says:

    Hi there! Do you have a contact for Carlos? His website email link doesn’t work and I am so interested in booking his tour for next week! Thanks so much!

  6. Olu says:

    Experienced this tour yesterday with my 12yo son. And your post is an accurate description of both the sheer wonder of it, and the need for caution.

    Your description of the dark, the silence, the formations, and the shadows is exactly right. Throw in the chewed hallucinogenics that – according to our guide – would have been part of the Mayan rites and I can see how mind altering the experience would have been. Also a reflective moment, thinking on preserved last moments – over a thousand years on. I am deeply awed by the experience (as is my otherwise normally blase son).

    My son, who is athletic and sensible, was fine with the climbing. Not a strong swimmer, but with a life vest he was comfortable with the first river crossing as well as the swim into the cave. I am a big guy (6′ 3″, 250lbs) and had to submerge to get through some of the tighter squeezes. I am also nursing a sprained wrist. After the climb up the big boulder to the cavern with the artifacts everyone has to take their shoes off (socks only, as you are literally toes from almost two thousand year old pottery and finger bones). I then of course slide down the next climb of slicked rocks, grabbing rock edges to break my slide.

    I can imagine that access to this experience is only one serious injury or fatality away from being curtailed or significantly modified. Though I seriously hope it is not, but should probably be sufficiently caveated.

    An awesome, unique experience. Grateful to have had it, and shared it with my son.

  7. Claire says:

    Hmm I imagine it’s not that easy as the health & safety aspect of tours like this is much less than Europe or the US – it’s simply too dangerous for kids as it’s so easy to fall or slip. At ATM they have to be over 48 inches in height if that helps!! 🙂

  8. Rob Taylor says:

    Awesome caving experience! We try to visit caves with the kids whenever we can, but we’ve found that most tourist-friendly cave areas have really tight restrictions on children entering. Any info on caving in Belize with kids? I can research too, but always good to just ask. 🙂

  9. Ryan Biddulph says:

    Carlos the Caveman has the name of the year for a tour operator Claire 😉 As for the skeleton I am fascinating at how the bones are preserved. And how no barriers aka tape aka anything keeps ya from touching. In other parts of the world the relics are more real and accessible 😉 Fan post!

    Ryan

  10. Kim-Ling says:

    This is such a detailed and descriptive post! I really love exploring caves and the ATM Cave Tour sounds right up my alley! (Although, I have to admit, when I first saw ATM Cave Tour, all I could think about was a cave where you could withdraw cash! haha) I’d go with the Carlos the Caveman too; he sounds very knowledgeable and who can resist the name! The crystal maiden sounds interesting, especially if the bones sparkle in certain light!

  11. Bistra | The Magic of Traveling says:

    I didn’t know Belize had such an interesting cave! I would love to tour around it when in Belize – and become a cavewoman 🙂

  12. mark wyld says:

    Looks like an amazing experience. There seem to be so much adventure travel activities happening in Central America at present. Would love to experience this

  13. Cat says:

    What a fun, adventurous experience to do in Belize! I have never done a cave tour before but it seems like a great way to get up close to the Mayan artifacts! I will definitely consider doing this if I ever visit Belize!

  14. Stella says:

    The ATM tour sounds really fascinating. I would love to be so close to historical artifacts like that. It would be like time travel. And Carlos the Caveman sounds like a great tour guide. The only bummer is that you didn’t get to meet a tapir!

  15. Danijela WorldGlimpses says:

    This sounds like fun, can only imagine what it was like only to hear yourself breathing in that darkness! But it seems like it was worth it! 🙂

  16. Hannah says:

    Both Belize and a cave tour has been on my bucketlist for a very long time now! So I’m totally bookmarking this!

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