Description
The ATM Cave may today be known as a popular tourist attraction and a great place for caving adventures.
STARTING AT 7:00 A.M TO BEAT THE CROWD
Considering picking a tour that goes early, as being the first group into the cave can enhance the experience and beat the crowd.
Our tours are private or groups may be very small to provide visitors with an up-close and personal encounter with nature, not to mention some magical memories to take away.
OUR NEW MEETING POINT
For this particular tour, we will now meet at St.Herman’s Blue Hole National Park visitor center at 7:00 a.m. and are expected to be back at around 1 p.m., with only a 30-minute drive from the Blue Hole Park visitor center to the ATM cave through a new road that connects our location to the actual cave. Pick up can also be arranged from Jaguar Creek Lodge, Ian Anderson Caves Branch Lodge, The Banks, and Sleeping Giant Lodge at no extra charge.
ABOUT THE ATM CAVE
Actun Tunichil Muknal (the Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre), also known locally as ATM. The ATM is truly stunning. Over 1400 human artifacts have been discovered, all of them dating from 250 to 909 AD. The combination of pottery, tools, weapons, and vessels for water tells a tale of a broad and advanced society, and the scope of the discoveries makes it one of the most worthwhile finds in archaeological history. Actun Tunichil Muknal has earned its reputation as one of the most stunning natural and anthropological sites around. National Geographic ranked Actun Tunichil Muknal as the number one sacred cave in the world, placing it above breathtaking spiritual caves throughout the globe.
There are several areas with skeletal remains in the main chamber. The best known is “The Crystal Maiden”, the skeleton of what is believed to be a 17-year-old boy,[1] possibly a sacrifice victim, whose bones have been calcified to a sparkling, crystallized appearance.
Physical Fitness:
AMAZING but be prepared for a physically involved trip that is truly worth the effort. The tour involves hiking, wading through water, scrambling over rocks, and swimming short distances. You’ll navigate narrow passages, some requiring squeezing through tight spaces, and walk on slippery sections.
There are some sections that require climbing, including a short climb onto a high rock and a small ladder.
