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International Living has a nice write up about ATM. Worth a quick read. "ATM—full name Actun Tunichil Muknal—is your ticket to the ancient Maya underworld, or Xibalba. Also known as the 'cave of the stone sepulcher,' it’s near San Ignacio in the Cayo District, and it’s where the Mayas of old performed their sacred rituals long before Europeans came." 
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Cayo has the caves. The article is actually called '5 things to do in Belize besides diving' but the first 2 they mention are what Cayo excels at. Actun Chapat and ATM both get mentioned in the article. How they missed Crystal Paradise, which is known for amazing birding, nobody knows.
"While neighbouring Mexico and Guatemala get all the press for Mayan sites, Belize was once the centre of the Mundo Maya. At its peak, the Mayan civilization in Belize is said to have reached over a million people. This means plenty of archaeological sites, some still buried under thick bush and, most fascinating of all, sacrificial caves now open to the public for supervised spelunking. You can hop on the popular Actun Tunichil Muknal tour to view the skeletal remains of a young Maya girl, but there are also others worth exploring. Arrange a visit to Actun Halal and Actun Chapat, in the western village of San Jose Succotz, through Belizean Sun Tours—there, your group will likely have the xibalba or Mayan underworld all to yourselves.
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Actun Tunichil Muknal, which was re-opened to tours many days ago after having been closed for the better part of a week due to heavy rains, has a significant history, which can be read in this article from a student getting a PhD in Archaeology.
"Actun Tunichil Muknal cave, otherwise known as the Cave of the Stone Sepulcher, was first entered by the Mayas in AD 300-600. It was not until the late AD 700-900 that the Mayas went deeper into the cave to perform their ceremonies. The cave was officially opened to the public in 1998. The cave houses various types of artifacts from ceramics and stoneware to the remains of skeletons. The Mayas consider Actun Tunichil Muknal a highly sacred location, enclosing the famous “Crystal Maiden,” who was thought to be a sacrifice victim. After decades of weathering and natural processes, the surface of the skeleton appears to be covered with a geological sanded finish, which gives the maiden a somewhat magical fairy-dust appearance."
Best of Cayo's insight:
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Caves Branch Adventure Company has some great pictures from their excursion through 7 miles of the underground. When was the last time you went cave tubing?
"You will enter and exciting world of rivers that disappears into the underworld as you float in the darkness where only your headlamp and those of your fellow adventurers will light the way. It sounds scary but it is not! It is exciting and fun – lots of screaming and echoes too! Whenever you look around you will realize that you are swirling around stalagmites jutting from the river and stalactites looming from above. There are also underground waterfalls and a crystal cathedral. This is a spiritual center to the ancient Maya."
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In this travel article, Actun Tunichil Muknal and the Lower Dover Lodge both get great reviews. And they explain the Mayan ruins that were found there too.
"I was originally drawn to this remote but accessible lodge because of the location. I had ventured to the Belizean mainland from the cayes to finally see the ATM cave and since the drive would be much quicker from Lower Dover than by going all the way to San Ignacio for the night I was sold. It also helped that they offer options for every budget."
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This is a classic review of ATM. Great for the pictures, of which new ones are few and far between now, and the story, which has a well written postscript about how the experience wouldn't be the same anywhere else. Pacz gets an honorable mention, as do Patrick Warrior and Carlos Panti.
"In other, more 'developed' countries, a comfortable dry tunnel would no doubt have been blasted through from the 'show caves' to the Visitors Centre and they'd be putting a thousand visitors a day through here along roped walkways to look at what remained of the artifacts after the museums had taken their cut. Of course, that would make the visit more comfortable and accessible but you'd miss out on a wonderful life enhancing adventure and the sense of awe and mystery that touched us would feel somewhat 'canned' if you felt it at all."
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ATM gets a great review. The author really describes the journey and the magic of the cave, which is number 1 on National Geographic's Sacred Caves list.
"When we began planning our trip to Belize last winter, Actun Tunichil Muknal (or ATM as everyone called it) was a name that appeared often in travel guides and in conversations with people who had been to that country before. 'If you can only do one thing while you're in Belize, this is the one you can't miss.' At first I was intrigued by the challenge. A cave. A long hike just to get to the mouth. A longer hike to the end where a centuries old intact skeleton lay. A guide required and only a limited number of people allowed in a group."
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This photographer has done some interesting 'Light Paintings' with her pictures from Actun Tunichil Muknal. She had an exhibit based upon ATM.
"This series of photos and paintings is inspired by the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave system in Belize, Central America. ATM is known for its miles of chambers believed by the Mayan to be the entry to the sacred underworld of Xibalba. In ancient times only dancing torch flame brought this pitch black world to life where fifty foot stalactites and stalagmites inspired reverence and creativity. Clay offering bowls, painted urns and full sacrificial skeletons are housed in crystalline limestone chambers to this day."
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From
list25
Video to go along with the list of the 25 Creepiest Places on Earth story from a few days ago. ATM is on there at number 25, so it's the first on the video.
"Also known as the Cave of the Stone Sepulcher, it’s like something straight out of Indiana Jones. Housing numerous skeletons, the creepiest thing about this place is that most of them belong to children…sacrificed children to be more precise. Most likely many years ago there was a drought and these unfortunate youngsters were the ones chosen to have their skulls crushed."
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From
fiz-x
Actun Tunichil Muknal got on The Creepiest Places list this time. It's the last entry in the article.
"They’ve found several skeletons in the cave, and most of them are, uh, small. That is, most of the sacrificed were children. They were probably sacrifices to Chaac, the Mayan god of rain, during a particularly severe drought. But don’t worry — these kids didn’t have their hearts cut out while still alive or anything. No, evidence shows that they were all killed by having their skulls crushed, which is way more genial and to the point. They were dealing with children, after all. Over hundreds of years, the bones became calcified and fused with the cave floor, which is why modern excavators have just left them there without a proper burial (though seriously guys, maybe like throw a tarp over them or something?). The most famous skeleton in the cave is that of a teenage girl, nicknamed the Crystal Maiden because her bones have partially crystallized and now sparkle in the light."
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The caves are wild in Belize, wilder than anywhere else. This is the first article on the web mentioning the fact that they couldn't take a camera into Actun Tunichil Muknal. That was fast. Really well written article; as he says it's because he didn't have a lot of pictures to show. There is a good picture of the Mayan Vision Serpent mural downtown.
"Apparently, a little while ago somebody had dropped a lens cap onto a skull and knocked some teeth out. Then, fairly recently, another tourist dropped an entire camera onto another skull, puncturing a camera-sized hole in said skull. Naturally, this was not well received. National archaeological treasure and all. People were scrambled, discussions were held, a hasty conclusion was reached! As of May 3rd, no more cameras in the ATM (Actun Tunichil Muknal, but ATM really is a better name for it) cave! May 3rd happened to be the day I was going to see the cave, so I wasn't really amused."
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ATM got a good video from some guests to the cave. Watch them "hike through the rain forest, wade through the river, climb into the mouth, and squeeze in through the rocks!"
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Great perspective in this article in regards to the 'branding' that the Mayans did.
"I have recently visited Actun Tunichil Muknal’s 'Cave of the Stone Sepulcher' – described as one of the most remarkable caves in the Maya Lowland, located in the beautiful Belizean Rainforest. It is believed Mayan’s first entered the cave during the early classic period (300–600AD). The ATM Cave is a wet cave you enter by swimming at first, then walk, climb or scramble over rocks and stones, through ankle-to-neck high water, before reaching the dry part of the cave. Dry chamber is a maze you must scramble in order to reach the so-called cathedral-like main hall, filled with artifacts, astonishing bloodletting altars and sacrificial human remains. These precious items are over a thousand years old, and haven’t been touched or removed. It’s somewhat a 'living museum.'
One of the things that amazed me most and a reason I wanted to share this story with you are pictures enclosed. Take a look at the very first two photos – these were Mayan logos. Branding seems to have existed even 300-600AD. Today we are faced with about 1500 brands on a daily basis and it’s impressive to know how people, even so long ago, tried to distinguish 'their products.' If you ever visit Belize, this adventure is a must."
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Actun Tunichil Muknal continues to be all over the world news. The Telegraph and the Daily Beast have some interesting articles about it. "The river that formed Belize’s Actun Tunichil Muknal cave still flows, pooling as it emerges into the dawn sunlight and necessitating a swim to start our journey into the Mayan underworld. Our guide has insisted on an early start and no one else is around as we take the plunge. The view back from inside is amazing, the rock arch framing a view of water, jungle and sky; the view the other way is black. That river is always with us. The water is strangely warm, sometimes around our ankles, then about our necks, but always pushing against us. Above, bats hang in their holes and tiny seedlings grow from their droppings, atrophying in the dark."
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Cayo's Mountain Cow Cave, located in the Blue Hole National Park, was on Overlander TV. They went with Hun Chi'ik Tours. This is a great video of one of Cayo's best caves.
"We start the tour by hiking through the steamy jungle, I film my first Blue Morpho Butterfly. We then descend into the Mayan Underworld, going 150 metres down into the cave system, that has been used for ceremony since ancient times. Maya shamans and priests would enter into trance in crystal cave to conduct their ceremonies and rituals. We see huge caverns adorned with spelothems and crystalline formation, artifacts of pottery, beads, obsidian blades and human skeletal remains that have been calcified in the limestone floor. Crystal Cave is located in the Blue Hole National Park. After exploring the realms of the Under world (xibalba), we hike back to the vehicle and drive for five minutes to the Blue Hole for a refreshing swim."
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Actun Tunichil Muknal makes another top 10 list, this time it's on the 'eeriest' list. They get the translation wrong - cave of the stone sepulchre - but it still sounds good.
"The Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre is found in Belize and houses the skeletal remains and archeological artefacts of the Maya. The most fascinating resident is the Crystal Maiden – a young girl who was the victim of human sacrifice calcified bones glitter like crystal making her all the more spooky than your average skeleton."
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Nine Belize Eco Cultural Tours has launched its website. Well done. Joe Awe's site looks and feels great. His philosophy, found on the 'About Us' page, is amazing, and explained perfectly. Best of luck!
"'Nine' is the number that, for the ancient Maya, represents the 'underworld', 'Metnal', 'The Place of Fright'. This number in Maya numerals is represented by a bar and four dots on top of the bar – the logo of this company reflects just that. The second ‘dot’ in the logo has a fingerprint on it, reflecting the important element of uniqueness of culture and people. The bar, which is a small tree branch, has a leaf with two water droplets reflective of a green livable world that we must protect and infuse new leadership into from the depths of all our combined creation place!"
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Actun Chapat and Actun Halal get great reviews. This well written article has some great pictures, and you can get a good feel for Chapat. The Trek Stop in Succotz, along with its butterfly farm, gets a good mention.
"We left Actun Halal behind and headed deeper into the jungle along an ancient Maya causeway toward Actun Chapat, an extensive cave or - perhaps more accurately - cave system with underground lakes, Maya artifacts, and miles yet to be discovered. It was hard to take photos because the moisture in the air obscured the formations if I used a flash; I used my small tripod and took mostly available light photos. Some of the chambers are massive but I wasn't able to document that with a camera."
's comment September 7, 2012 2:16 PM
Where can this article be found? Thanks to whomever wrote it.
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Barton Creek Cave gets another great write up, this time in escapingabroad.com. They uploaded a cool video of entering the cave too.
"We were suited up with safety helmets, lights and life jackets and began are journey into the darkness. This cave is considered one of the largest in the world, estimated to be over 4 and a half miles long and in some places 100 feet tall. It is also filled with a rich and mysterious history as it was used by the Mayans who believed caves to be entrances into the ‘underworld.’ Evidence of Mayan use was left behind in artifacts and the remains of at least 28 discovered bodies inside."
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Great write up on Actun Tunichil Muknal from the Lazy Travel Writer. The author describes the adventure, and talks about the life within the cave too.
"There is a surprising amount of life within the cave with some tiny plants battling their way into existence from seeds in fruit bat poo to live a short but sweet life on rocks in the darkness. Sizeable crabs can also sometimes be seen – I happened upon one by chance sitting on the wall and was surprised at its size. Up in the dry chamber unusual looking cave dwelling insects with antennae two or three times the length of their body dart around in the darkness. The stalagmite and stalagmite formations are simply stunning, with the cathedral area having almost a natural chandelier."
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Went yesterday to see the damage to the skull at ATM. It's the skull of the 9 to 13 year old child next to the Crystal Maiden. There is a 3 by 2 inch break in it. It looks like a tiny camera fell on it. There is talk about fixing the hole. Also examined the skull that had the tooth broken out of it 7 years ago. We support the banning of cameras from ATM.
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From
www
Barton Creek Cave is world famous, and canoeing through it is quite an experience. It was just listed as one of the 9 most beautiful and unusual caves in the world. Mother Nature Network is right to put it on their list.
"This cave was considered the 'underworld' by the ancient Mayans who inhabited the area and was used as a burial place. Human remains can still be found inside the cave. It is this unique history and Barton's amazing rock formations that make it one of the more interesting of all of Central America’s underground attractions. Barton is located in the Cayo District, a region of Belize known for its eco-tourism."
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From
www
Cayo has some cool cenotes around. One of them in east Cayo will be getting explored some more. Moon Guides has an article about it.
"Lisa J. Lucero, a professor of anthropology, returns to work in Belize... She has been working in a 200-foot-deep cenote at Cara Blanca, near Valley of Peace village. The dig is in the vicinity of the remarkable Banana Bank Lodge. Her team had discovered bones of an extinct giant sloth called Eremotherium, radiocarbon dated to 'anywhere from 9,000 to 39,000 years ago.' But, she writes, 'I am most interested in ancient Maya offerings, particularly those that date to a certain time period (about A.D. 800 to 900) when increasing evidence shows that a series of multiyear droughts, perhaps as many as eight, struck the Maya area.'"
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In an effort to help preserve the Mayan artifacts in the ATM cave, and stop accidental destruction from camera droppings, cameras have now been banned from the ATM cave, unless approved by NICH. After another unfortunate event, the Cayo Tour Guide Association made a great call.
"The best-known of all the remains are those of the 'The Crystal Maiden', the skeleton of a teenage girl, whose bones have been calcified to a sparkling, crystallized form. She has been photographed by many, but now all that comes to an end and the tour groups come to a screeching halt. Tours were stopped a few weeks back because someone had knocked out a tooth from the skull; believed to have been a direct cause of tour guides hurrying and flooding the cave with tourists. The ATM cave was closed for one day, and after a briefing with tour guides, tours resumed. Now, recently, a tourist dropped his camera on to the skull itself and shattered the back of it. After an unofficial meeting, tour guides of the C.T.G.A. suggested that cameras should not be allowed in to the cave."
Will Moreno's comment,
May 6, 2012 4:46 PM
Why are they allowing them to get so close to the crystal maiden?
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Another well written article about ATM.
"Actun Tunichil Muknal (referred to as ATM for short) is a cave in Belize containing thousand-year-old artifacts and human remains. The cave, once used by the Mayans to appeal to the gods, is now open to the public for tours. Knowledgeable guides lead packs of adventure seekers through the cave on a daily basis, following the same path taken by the ancient Maya thousands of years earlier...
We continued to navigate through the cave, at points swimming through shoulder-deep water, until we drew closer to our final destination. A climb up a steep, dusty rise led is into an expansive cavern, illuminated solely by the weak lights of our headlamps. Artifacts dotted the floor, many still lying in their original positions. Our guide informed us that ATM is considered a “natural museum” because its contents remain unmoved from where they were deposited thousands of years ago."
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