San Ignacio: Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave Full-Day Tour

Depart from San Ignacio, it is almost a 45-minute van ride to the Park Reserve. On arrival, participants are broken up into small groups with 8 participants to a guide. The guide starts with an overall explanation of the day's proceedings and assists everybody with adjusting the safety gear; we then head to the starting point. This would be the first of 3 river crossings, this being the deepest point, there is a rope bank across the river to assist with a safe river crossing. In the other crossings, the water level is fairly shallow, ankle-deep. After a 45-minute hike, we arrive at the mouth of the cave; with the guide swimming across to the ledge for a safety demonstration. Make your way into the cave, swimming and then walking through the main water passage until you reach the boulder and head to the dry chamber. To enter the chamber, you will be required to slip off your shoes in order to protect the cave as there are artifacts lying on the cave floor. Marvel at the cave's artifacts, most of which have been calcified into the ground, unmoved even by archaeologists. Learn about the rituals and ceremonies, bloodletting offerings, food offerings, and human offerings, including the 15 human remains uncovered by archaeologists. To access the last chamber, you will climb a ladder to see full skeletal remains before exiting the cave in the same way you came in. You will hike back to the parking lot before replenishing yourself with lunch and returning to San Ignacio.