San Ignacio ATM Cave Tour Review – The Best Tour We Did in Belize

If you’re researching the ATM Cave tour, you already know it’s one of Belize’s most talked-about adventures – but it’s hard to tell which reviews to trust or how challenging the experience really is. With swims, climbs, and a sacred archaeological site involved, you want to be sure you’re booking the right tour.

After doing the experience with MayaWalk, we can confidently say this is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime adventure that actually delivers. Their licensed guides, safety focus, and deep knowledge of the cave turn an already incredible tour into something unforgettable.

Our honest firsthand review will help you decide quickly and clearly whether the ATM Cave is worth it – and why we’d book this tour again without hesitation. Let’s dive in.

• Honest ATM Cave Tour Review
  • ATM Cave Tour Itinerary
  • ATM Cave Tour – Our Personal Review
  • What Other Travellers Say About the MayaWalk Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic
  • What Does the MayaWalk Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic Include?
  • What to Bring on the ATM Cave Tour
  • Conclusion: Is the ATM Cave Tour Worth it?
  • Where to Stay in San Ignacio

Honest ATM Cave Tour Review

We opted for this Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic:

ATM Cave Tour Itinerary

The tour starts with a pick up at the MayaWalk office which is centrally located in San Ignacio.

Your adventure starts with a 45-minute jungle hike including river crossings.

You’ll spend around three hours in the cave.

To access the cave, you have to swim. You’ll start in the lower wet part. Wade through an extensive underground maze of tunnels, passageways and chambers.

Climb to the higher dry part of the cave. The climbing part is only a couple of feet/meters. It is a bit of a challenge but our guide told us where to hold on to and step our feet so we felt completely safe.

In the dry part of the cave, learn about the traditions and rites that took place in the cave system and visit the famous crystallised skeleton of the “Crystal Maiden”.

After we climbed back down to the wet part of the cave, our guide had a little surprise for us.

The tour ends with a pick-nick lunch with some well-deserved rum punch.

ATM Cave Tour – Our Personal Review

We loved this tour – both the swimming through a cave and the archaeology part!

Our tour guide was extremely passionate. We spent much more time in the cave than the other tour groups and got entertaining and thorough explanations. Additionally, it was clear that our guide really respected the site and made sure we didn’t damage anything (let’s just say not every group was as careful).

What Other Travellers Say About the MayaWalk Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic

⭐ Rating: 5.0 / 5 (1171 reviews)

Wow! Our Guide, Hugh was amazing! He truly cared about every member of the tour. He is passionate about the ancient people's culture, mythology, archeology, geology and history. He made us feel at ease as we navigated the cave and some of the difficult terrain in and out of the water. We were impressed with his knowledge and skill. Also the driver was very professional and helped set up the food. And the cook who provided the meal at the end was awesome. Her food was so yummy. Very good stewed chicken. Loved the entire experience. This is the most unique cave experience you will ever have.

We chose the MayaWalk Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic because of the amazing ratings.

Government officials, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, The British High Commission and US Embassy officials have trusted MayaWalk Tours with their San Ignacio ATM tour – so did we and so can you!

What Does the MayaWalk Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic Include?

The tour we did includes:

• 3-hour walking tour of the cave system
• Expert, specially licensed guide.
• Small group ensures personal service.
• Transportation to and from our office in San Ignacio.
• All necessary equipment.
• Lunch with a drink. Rum punch.

What to Bring on the ATM Cave Tour

• Closed-toe shoes for walking through jungle and water.
• Modest clothes to respect the cave.
• A pair of socks for the dry chamber in the cave.
• Dry clothes for after the tour.

Conclusion: Is the ATM Cave Tour Worth it?

Just yes!

The ATM Cave Tour – or rather Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour – is absolutely worth it.

National Geographic voted the ATM Cave the #1 Sacred Cave destination in the world. It is not only beautiful geologically with its crystalline stalactites and stalagmites, but also historically, as is a natural museum of ancient Maya artefacts, as well as a sacred burial place.

Where to Stay in San Ignacio

Bella's Backpackers Cayo is a great budget-friendly choice in San Ignacio. It’s centrally located. The vibe is social but you can also book a private room. They have a kitchen to save money on food and a cosy common area with hammocks.

Disclaimer 1: You are absolutely not allowed to take pictures in the ATM Cave. MayaWalk Tours kindly provided some pictures for us to use. Neither the tour nor the blogpost was sponsored. We paid ourselves.

Disclaimer 2: This blogpost contains affiliate links. When you book the tour with our links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.