Is the ATM Cave Tour worth it? [Complete Guide]
The ATM Cave Tour in Belize is one of the most well-rounded and varied activities on offer in the country. It combines the adventure of jungle hiking and cave exploring with the culture and history of the ancient Mayan remains found within the caves. Despite this, the ATM cave remains largely unknown to most travellers. Plus its hefty price tag and lack of photos make lots of travellers question – is the ATM Cave Tour worth it?
This ATM Cave guide includes my honest take on whether is ATM Cave Tour is worth it (skip ahead) and will answer all your questions on what to expect and how to prepare for the ATM Tour.
About the ATM Cave
What is the ATM Cave?
The ATM Cave, short for Actun Tunichil Muknal, is an archaeological site nestled within the lush jungle of the Cayo District in Belize. Translated from Mayan, Actun Tunichil Muknal means the Cave of the Stone Sepulchre. If you’re unsure what sepulchre means (I had no idea), it’s where dead people are buried.
The main cave system is approximately 4.8km long, with many parts still unexplored. It’s made up of several chambers varying in size, filled with stalagmites and stalactites, and joined together by narrow passages. Clear blue water flows through much of the cave, supporting an array of wildlife including bats, snakes, crabs, crayfish, and tropical fish.
Despite its beauty, the cave is most renowned for its Mayan history. In fact, National Geographic ranked the ATM Cave top in their book “Sacred Places of a Lifetime” and listed it as one of the most sacred caves in the world. Ancient Mayan artifacts are littered throughout as well as the calcified remains of multiple skeletons. The most famous being the Crystal Maiden.
ATM Cave’s Mayan History
It’s estimated that the Mayans first started using the cave between 300AD and 600AD. The ATM cave was viewed as the entrance to the Mayan underworld known as ‘Xibalba’. This is where the Mayan gods of rain, agriculture and fertility resided. As such, Mayans ventured deep into the caves to connect with their deities. The cave became a ceremonial site where sacrifices would take place to appease the gods.
Rediscovered in 1989, archaeologists have discovered over 1400 artifacts, 14 intact skeletal remains, and a multitude of carvings within the caves. The remnants within the ATM cave have helped unveil the religious practices, rituals and significance of the cave as a spiritual sanctuary.
Witnessing the artifacts and human remains in this state, away from museums, creates a profound connection to the Mayan civilisation and helps paint a picture of how the Mayans used to live.
Where is the ATM Cave?
The cave is located deep in the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve in Western Belize. It’s best explored by those staying in the Cayo District, with most ATM Cave Tours departing from San Ignacio. Though you can take a day trip to the ATM Cave from almost anywhere in Belize.
From San Ignacio, the ATM Cave is around an hour’s drive over bumpy roads.
FAQs
Can you go into the ATM cave independently?
No, you cannot enter the ATM Cave without a guide.
Access to the cave is strictly regulated with the number of visitors each day limited to 125 and group sizes capped at 8 people. Visitors to the ATM cave must be accompanied by one of approximately 25 licensed tour guides in the country.
This license is specifically for the ATM cave. Guides are trained in the cave’s layout, history, and safety protocols to ensure visitor safety and preserve the integrity of this unique archaeological site.
NOTE: There are no guides to hire on-site, nor can you buy park tickets on-site. You must join a tour.
Is the ATM Tour safe?
The ATM Cave Tour is a safe activity. Though, it’s important to note that it involves physical exertion and navigating through natural cave systems. Both come with their own risk.
To minimise the risk of injury, listen to your guide who will be familiar with the ATM cave’s terrain. They will point out any hazards (sharp areas, tight gaps, slippery sections), instructing you as you traverse the cave. Respect your environment, taking due care and attention to where you are walking. Make sure you wear appropriate gear (closed-toe shoes with grip and a helmet).
NOTE: Tours may be cancelled if there is a risk of flooding, to avoid a repeat of the Thai football team saga.
How much is the ATM Cave Tour?
The ATM Cave Tour costs $100 USD.
Typical prices vary from $100-$125 though you can spend more. Private tours are also available for prices nearer $200 USD.
Tours of the ATM Cave include transport, a licensed guide, equipment (helmet, headtorch), park fees, and lunch.
When booking your ATM Tour, check out different tour operators; compare prices, reviews and what’s included. Then select something that is reputable and reliable and fits the requirements within your budget.
I booked through my hostel (Old House Hostel) as they were priced comparably ($100 USD) and offered the early start I was looking for. Strangely, they only accepted $100 USD rather than the equivalent local currency ($200 BZD).
How long is the ATM Cave Tour?
The ATM Cave Tour is billed as an all-day activity. And while it doesn’t necessarily take ‘all day’, it does take approximately 7 hours. Even longer if you are visiting the ATM Cave from somewhere other than San Ignacio.
The breakdown is as follows: driving to the National Park from San Ignacio (1 hour); sorting gear and hiking to the cave (45 minutes); exploring the cave (2-3 hours); return hike and getting changed (45mins); post-activity lunch (30 minutes), and the drive back (1 hour).
Times will vary depending on the pace and fitness of your group. Smaller groups are likely to move faster.
How many questions you ask your guide and how in-depth they go will also impact how long the ATM Cave tour will take.
How hard is the ATM Cave Tour?
The ATM Cave Tour requires a moderate level of physical fitness. While this doesn’t mean you need to be running marathons, you should be able to complete the short hike to the cave.
The tour involves hiking, wading through water, and scrambling over rocks. There are also sections where you will need to swim short distances. Other articles may describe the ATM Tour like it’s some kind of Iron Man challenge, but it’s not. If you have a sense of adventure and basic levels of fitness and agility you will be fine. Your heart will only get going when coupled with the adrenaline of exploring in the dark.
The one aspect of the tour that I would consider hard for some people is the narrow passages. Sometimes squeezing through gaps barely wider than your frame. If you suffer from claustrophobia or struggle in confined spaces, you might find the experience challenging.
What to Expect on the ATM Cave Tour
Getting to the ATM Cave
Most tours begin in the town of San Ignacio. You will be picked up from either your accommodation or your chosen tour agency in town. I was collected at 8am sharp, which meant we were the first group in the cave.
The drive to the car park takes approximately an hour. Most of the drive is smooth, but as you near the entrance to the national park, the tarmac disappears and the roads get bumpy! On route, our guide stopped at Cahal Pech to collect our passes which were required to show the park rangers on arrival.
Once at the site, you will be briefed by your tour guide and receive your equipment. Make sure your helmet fits properly and you understand how to use your headtorch (you will need it!). Lifejackets can be provided if you can’t swim.
Besides the clothes I was wearing, I had nothing with me for the rest of the day (weird, but liberating!)! We left everything else locked in the truck. This meant that pockets were empty, and we could fully embrace the activity.
Hiking to the ATM Cave
Now begins the 45-minute hike through the jungle to the entrance of the cave…
Immediately you reach the first river crossing, just a few metres away from the car park. Shaded by the trees and with the heat of the day yet to kick in, the water is a bit cold. Ideal for waking you up and kicking off the day! There are steps into the water, but having seen everyone else out of their depth, I decided to take the plunge. You can swim or use the rope to pull yourself to the opposite bank.
On the other side of the river, you will continue following the trail through the National Park. It’s a flat trail that weaves alongside the river, leading to two further river crossings. Unlike the first one, these next two are no deeper than waist height.
After the first soaking, we walked quickly to stay warm. However, throughout the hike, we remained vigilant of wildlife in the park. The area is known for tapir. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any, but our guide pointed out some fresh tracks in the dirt.
Eventually, the trail diverts away from the river, deeper into the jungle.
Out of seemingly nowhere, you will arrive at the entrance to the ATM cave. Standing at the entrance you will see an 8-metre-high clearing with a pool of clear blue water flowing out. It’s pretty inconspicuous and doesn’t give any hints of the enormous cave system within.
Before entering the cave, you should check one last time that your head torch works properly.
Entering the ATM Cave
The only way into the ATM cave is a short swim across the entrance pool.
We followed our guide through the main walkway of the cave, wading through the water. The cool air filtering through the cave was a bit chilly, but the adrenaline soon made us forget.
It was exhilarating as we clambered over rocks, squeezed between gaps, and swam through sections, venturing deeper into the unknown. The water level varies throughout the cave as the landscape changes, going from dry rock to deep water. You will see dark holes where the cave branches off, giving you an indication of how extensive the system is.
We followed one fork in the cave to reach the first main chamber. This involved climbing up and around one rock formation to reach the upper level.
At this point, we removed our shoes, because from here onwards lies an area full of artifacts that need to be preserved.
As we turned the corner, the cave opened up to a huge area. We all turned off our head torches to experience the complete lack of natural light. Spoiler: it was very dark!
We slowly continued through the main chamber as our guide pointed out artifacts, told us stories, and answered our questions. We discussed the history of the Mayans; the Gods they believed in, and their way of life. Looking at all the evidence within the cave, we also learnt about the gruesome sacrifices and rituals that took place there and the reasons behind them.
There were so many small details that brought the cave to life that you would otherwise miss without a guide. From shadows created by modified stalagmites and stalactites to depict Mayan Gods, to the ‘kill holes’ in pots used for sacrifices.
At the end of this chamber, we climbed a couple of sketchy ladders to the next section. This is where we reached the pinnacle of the tour, the Crystal Maiden, a glistening skeleton almost perfectly laid out and intact. It shines due to the calcification that has occurred over the last 1100 years.
The skeleton is thought to belong to a young boy due to its small size. Judging by the breaks in his vertebrae, he was sacrificed in a particularly brutal way. Sacrifices of younger people (including children) were common, as they were viewed as purer offerings to appease the Gods.
Sadly at this point, it was time to turn back. No tours venture further than this point.
We retraced our steps down the ladders, back to our shoes and then down to the main cave. We seemed to reappear into the light much quicker than we got in. Though that was probably in my head.
After the Cave
Once we exited the cave, we followed the same hiking route back to the car park. This involved all the same river crossings.
At the car park, there are changing rooms and toilets for you to get changed into dry clothes.
We had our lunch here before heading back to San Ignacio. Lunch involved chicken, rice, veggies, tortillas and a drink.
Meals across tour operators are largely similar.
ATM Cave Hike Map
There is only one road leading to the start point of the ATM Hike, which leads down from the north.
The southwesterly hiking route from the ATM Cave car park to the cave itself can be seen below.
What to bring for the ATM Cave Tour
What to wear for the ATM Cave Tour
You should wear a swimsuit and wet shoes. I also wore a rash vest to cover my top half and be respectful.
Wet shoes should ideally be closed-toe shoes (flip-flops are not suitable). You can either rent wet shoes from your tour operator, otherwise, trainers are fine if you don’t mind getting them wet.
Bring socks for the upper chamber of the cave where you will remove your shoes. Socks are not mandatory, however, I strongly recommend them as the cave can be sharp underfoot.
What to bring to the ATM Cave
Besides the clothes that you’ll be wearing you should bring:
- Small bag for your belongings
- Towel
- Change of clothes
- Water
- Snacks
These items will be left in the car park for your return.
NOTE: Check with your tour operator if they have any further recommendations for the ATM Cave tour.
What not to bring to the ATM Cave Tour
Do not pack: cameras, drones, suncream, or insect repellent.
Cameras are completely banned from the site following an incident where a tourist dropped their camera onto a skull, fracturing it. Since then, Belizean authorities have cracked down in order to preserve this sacred place. This means that nothing (not even phones or GoPros) is allowed in the cave.
Do not use suncream or insect repellant which can leech chemicals into the waters in the area.
NOTE: Our guide checked to ensure that we didn’t bring anything unnecessary to the cave.
Tips for the ATM Cave Tour
- Book early: Since there are only 125 places each day, the ATM Cave Tour can sell out. It’s advisable to book in advance where possible. I booked two days early which was fine.
- Eat a big breakfast: You won’t be eating lunch until after you’ve finished exploring the caves and the hike. Even if it’s an early start, you should eat something before the day’s exertion!
- Pick a tour operator that goes early (otherwise ask them to go early): Being the first people into the cave really heightened the experience. It was eerily quiet; we weren’t disturbed; and we weren’t held by slower groups in any of the tighter sections.
- Ask questions: the guides are very knowledgeable and this will help you make the most out of the experience.
- Don’t touch: I’m hoping this is obvious, but this is a sacred site so be respectful and don’t touch the artifacts.
- Listen to your guide: If your guide tells you not to step somewhere, they know best and it’s for your own safety.
Is the ATM Cave Tour Worth It?
“Is the ATM Tour worth it?” is a popular question amongst travellers to Belize. After all, the tour is expensive.
So without wanting to sound too much like a politician… whether the ATM Tour is worth it depends on both your budget and your interests. For some people the ATM Cave Tour might be worth it, for others it may not be. This means that it should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
To help with your decision, I will outline my standpoint before I booked.
I liked caves as much as the next person. Not necessarily a cave enthusiast, but always keen to explore somewhere new. In terms of Mayan history, I was relatively ambient towards any activities related to this as I lacked any sort of knowledge on the topic. Whilst backpacking Central America, I wanted to learn more about the topic and the history, but this would’ve been a very expensive lesson!
I decided to go for it since this was at the beginning of my Central America trip and my budget was healthy. Plus I was in San Ignacio anyway and I would’ve regretted not doing it!
My expectations were high because of the $100 USD price, but moderate because of my interests.
The experience
The tour exceeded my expectations in terms of the activity. The cave itself was a lot more impressive than I’d hoped. Plus, the caving was more adventurous than I was expecting with sketchy ladders and small crevices (it actually felt like we were exploring). If only we were allowed to go further!
Our guide was very knowledgeable, which piqued my interest. His delivery kept everyone engaged with a mixture of facts, questions and storytelling which combined helped you imagine what your surroundings would’ve been like 1000 years ago.
That being said, I did overhear some very boring-sounding guides…
At times, I couldn’t help thinking that some information was mere speculation. However, part of the magic is that we’ll never know exactly what happened thousands of years ago. This experience is probably one of the most authentic you will get, with minimal numbers of tourists, no lights, nor walkways the cave is kept as untouched as possible.
The price
BUT (Of course, there’s a but). And you probably know what’s coming here… $100 USD is a lot of money.
In Europe or other parts of the world, you would probably be looking at a similar price to explore a cave. Maybe less in some cases.
This makes $100 in Central America a big investment. You could do a lot of other awesome things in Central America for that money!
So the ATM Tour has to be pretty special to justify that price. At least National Geographic seems to think it is!
The price of the tour includes transport, food, and a guide (one of 25 in the country!). Plus it’s pretty much a full day where you don’t have to think about organising.
In terms of value for money, the tour has aspects of Mayan culture, adventure, caves, history, wildlife and hiking. So it could also save you money on other tours that you no longer feel the need to do.
I won’t be going on another cave tour after this for a while. Not because this has put me off of caves. But because I doubt other caves be able to compete with the all-round nature of this tour.
Conclusion: Is the ATM Cave Tour Worth It?
Personally, I would recommend doing the ATM Cave Tour. If you are in Belize and the idea of this even slightly interests you, you will regret not doing it. In terms of a cave experience, it’s one of the better ones. In terms of a Mayan history experience, it’s unique. However, if you’re not bothered (and this guide hasn’t sold you), stick with your gut. There are plenty more amazing things to do in San Ignacio and Belize.
Before you go
Thank you for reading my complete guide to the ATM Cave Tour. Hope this has helped you decide whether the ATM Cave tour is worth it. If guides, itineraries and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
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Happy travelling!
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