Return to Our Excursions | Actun Tunichil Muknal

Actun Tunichil Muknal (the “Cave of the Stone Sepulchur”)
After a drive of about one and a half hours from the Lodge, you will hike for about 45 minutes through the subtropical forest of the Tapir Mountain Reserve. You may see local wildlife in this home of tapirs, howler monkeys, silky anteaters, and white-tailed deer. The hike is easy, but there's challenge to entering Xibalba, the fearsome, unseen Mayan world beneath the earth, that only shamans and kings could enter. ATM consists of a series of chambers, ending in a 300 by 50 meter Cathedral where sacrificial ceremonies once took place. This is a rare opportunity to visit a living museum where human sacrifices and artifacts can be viewed in their original context. To explore this piece of Mayan underworld, you must walk about 45 minutes, wade across three streams, and pass through a stretch of deep water that might require a short swim. Sometimes you must climb from rock to rock. The reward is a unique and unforgettable experience. You will explore a hidden dry chamber in which hundreds of Mayan relics and artifacts will visually enhance your guide's explanations of Mayan rituals and ceremonies. Welcome to Xibalba!

This caving trip requires a reasonable level of physical fitness and an adventuresome spirit. Wear shoes that can handle water and walking.

Price per person: US $120 (based on 2 person minimum)

Be sure to bring: insect repellent, towel, change of shoes and clothes

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