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Nov

01

2012

Feb

28

2013


Tunnel Through Mayan Remains at Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Belize

Published by Kristin Cowles, Editor-in-Chief

Country: Belize

The Experience

Follow in the path taken by the Mayan people over a millennium ago as you journey deep into the tunnels of Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, Belize one of the most amazing archaeological sites in the world. Long ago it was believed to be a portal to another world, the Mayans called this place by several disheartening names such as Xibalba, Place of Fright, or hell and regularly carried out human sacrifice rituals in its many chambers. Today there are 14 known skeletal remains that lay exactly where they were left along the floors of the ATM Cave, along with several ceramic and stonewear artifacts. One of the most famous remains is that of a teenage girl now called the Crystal Maiden, embedded in the cave the skeleton is perfectly preserved and covered in calcite which creates a glistening appearance. No easy feat to view, this ATM Cave requires you to trek through the Amazon Forest, swim through a 15 foot entry pool, followed by several shimmies and waist high wading efforts to reach the main chamber known as the Cathedral. Once here you must remove your shoes for two reasons, one as it is sacred ground and two to preserve artifacts that are strewn around Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave. The average cost is $100 - $125 for a guided trip including transport to and from San Ignacio Cayo. Not recommended for those that feel the confines of claustrophobia in small spaces.

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Belize - Lonely Planet
Weave your way through jungle rivers to the haunting sound of howler monkeys, escape the 21st century at Lamanai's millennia-old Maya ruins, dive deep with technicolor marine life at spectacular Glover's Reef or just kick back with a fruity rum punch.

Elsewhere on the Web

Actun Tunichil Muknal - Wikipedia.org
As a Maya archaeological site, ATM is notable for its skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware. The most famous of the human remains is known as "The Crystal Maiden". It is the skeleton of a teenage girl, probably a sacrifice victim, the bones of which have been completely covered by the natural processes of the cave, leaving them with a sparkling appearance.
Actun Tunichil Muknal - Maya Belize.ca
Accessible to the public only by licensed guides conducting day-trips to multi-day stays, Actun Tunichil Muknal is only one of three caves around the edge of a small valley.
Travel Report Belize - Voyages.gc.ca
TRAVEL WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
Belize by Natural Light
Belize portal.
Maya Walk Tours The Adveture People

Media References

10 great places to unleash your inner Indy - USA Today (newspaper)
For the ultimate archaeological experience, Matson recommends the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave for skeletal remains aplenty.
Descent Into the Maya Underworld - National Geographic.com (magazine)
In a far different part of the Maya world Stephen Alvarez and I watched a ceremony with many elements strikingly similar to the one at Balankanche. On the ridge far above Lake Atitlán, the Maya celebrants changed into traditional dress
Maya Human Sacrifice, Belize - National Geographic.com (magazine)
A skeleton from a Maya human sacrifice turns to stone in the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave in Cayo, Belize. To date, the remains of 14 victims have been found in the cave, also known as the Cave of the Stone Sepulcher.
On the Trail Of the Maya In Belize - NY Times.com (newspaper)
I'M clinging precariously to a sheer rock wall, grasping in the darkness for a handhold that's not there. The flutter of fruit bats hadn't really bothered me. Neither had swimming in clammy water, nor stumbling upon largely intact human skeletons, disconcerting as they were.

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Hindi , Japanese , Spanish are some of the languages spoken in Belize. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

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