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The Actun Tunichil Muknal (Cave of the Stone Sepulchre) is the most well known cave in Cayo and the most popular tour just outside of San Ignacio: the entire experience is an Indiana Jones type of adventure, where youâll wonder if you will make it in and back out. Reaching the best parts of the once sacrificial cave requires hiking through a rainforest for an hour and a half, crossing three rivers on foot, swimming through parts of the cave and even going up a narrow ladder to reach the deeper, darker chambers. Efforts are rewarded with the sight of the âCrystal Maidenâ--the skeleton of a young female, fully preserved from thousands of years ago. Along the hike there are also ancient ceramics to see, and youâll leave with a definite sense that the Maya came before you thousands of years ago.

Actun Tunichil Muknal

Among all the Maya caves in Belize, Barton Creek Cave is unique: a tall river cave that was once used for sacrificial purposes and can be explored only by canoe. The most striking feature is a stalactite so low, you occasionally will have to duck into the canoe to avoid getting struck. But the ride to the end is well worth it. The BasicsDuring guided tours of the cave, you will navigate using a headlight to illuminate the crystal formations and dangling stalactites, while learning about its ceremonial history. Tours typically end with a refreshing dip in the creek. Inside the cave, Maya ceramics are found high up on ledges, along with human bones, including a child’s skull. Though much of the cave remains unexplored, many artifacts, including pottery and jewelry, have been discovered there. Things to Know Before You GoThis is not recommended for those who suffer from claustrophobia or fear of the dark.Wear swimwear and bring a change of clothes and a towel.Some tours combine a visit to the cave with ziplining, or a stop at the butterfly farm and botanical garden or Big Rock Falls. How to Get ThereAll visitors to Barton Creek Cave are required to be accompanied by a guide. Tours are available from San Ignacio and usually include round-trip transportation. Equipment and guides are also available at the cave entrance without pre-booking. The cave is located east of San Ignacio on the Western Highway, off Chiquibul Road. It is difficult to reach in a standard rental car; 4WD vehicles are recommended. When to Get ThereDepending on the conditions, a cave tour can cover 1 or 2 miles (1.6 to 3.2 kilometers) in the rainy season or as much as 4.5 miles (7.25 kilometers) when water levels are lower. Belize’s dry season takes place from late November to mid-April. Some half-day tours offer a choice between a morning or afternoon departure time. Actun Tunichil MuknalFor a more intense cave experience, Actun Tunichil Muknal offers an adventure that requires a rain forest hike, three river crossings, swimming, and clambering over rocks as you wade through tunnels and passageways lined with stalactites and stalagmites. Although ATM is  basically next to Barton Creek Cave, it’s a 45-minute drive to go there due to the lack of highways in Belize.

Barton Creek Cave

Belize’s largest butterfly garden houses more than 30 native butterfly species, which flit freely about in a 4,000-square-foot (1,220-square-meter) enclosure. Learn about the butterfly life cycle at this nature center that attracts everyone from butterfly novices to researchers. Hummingbirds are also frequent visitors. The BasicsThe ranch can be seen in under an hour, but many visitors linger longer to chat with the butterfly keepers and look for birdlife in the landscaped grounds dotted with bromeliads and orchids. Located at the edge of the Mountain Pine Ridge, Green Hills Butterfly Ranch is a great place to connect with Belizean wildlife on the way to or from Barton Creek Cave or the Caracol Mayan ruins. Things to Know Before You GoThe butterfly ranch is a popular stop for families traveling with children.No food is sold at the ranch, but pack a picnic and enjoy it at a provided picnic area.Be sure to stop at the outbuilding to see butterflies at various life stages up close.Bring a camera to snap photos of hummingbirds that hover around a gazebo hung with feeders.How to Get ThereThe ranch is located in Belize’s western Cayo District, approximately two hours from Belize City and less than an hour from San Ignacio. Access is via a well-graded but slightly bumpy dirt road. If you don’t have a vehicle, look for a combo tour that stops at the ranch en route to other Cayo attractions. When to Get ThereGreen Hills Butterfly Ranch is open year-round, and the garden is always in bloom. Expect more rain in Belize's wet season (December through May) and sunnier skies in its dry season (June through November).Nearby Cayo AttractionsSince you can visit the Green Hills Butterfly Ranch in an hour or so, a trip to the ranch pairs well with one to other attractions in Belize’s Cayo district. Go cave tubing at nearby Barton Creek Caves, or visit the Rio On Pools and Rio Frio Cave inside Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve. A bit further afield, channel your inner archaeologist at Xunantunich or Caracol Mayan ruins.

Green Hills Butterfly Ranch

Big Rock Falls is a large waterfall located in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve that attracts a number of visitors who enjoy swimming and cliff jumping.
Part of the Vaca Plateau, the falls can be reached via a short, but somewhat difficult, 15-minute hike. The trek is pretty much straight down and includes a fairly steep section with a not so sturdy railing and a rope to hold on to and aid in the climb down. Once at the water level, you must walk over slippery, uneven slabs of granite rock. The deep emerald pools are perfect for swimming or cliff jumping, and the water is very deep so there is little risk of hitting the bottom when jumping in.
Getting to Big Rock Falls from San Ignacio can be an adventure in itself. The drive is approximately 13 miles over unpaved roads throughout Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve with scenic views.

Big Rock Falls

Belize’s Blue Hole National Park (officially St Herman’s Blue Hole National Park) sits near the capital city of Belmopan and is home to two cave systems (Crystal and St. Herman’s), along with nature trails and the jungle pool that gives rise to the park’s official name.
The caves are the main attractions in the park, with the cave and hole connected by an underground stream. The Blue Hole pool was formed by an underground limestone cave that collapsed, creating the sapphire blue pool at the bottom of the cenote. Visitors also typically visit Crystal Cave, also called Mountain Cow Cave, which can be seen on a guided tours through the Mayan underworld known as Xibalba.
The park has a series of small trails, many of which are good for birding, as the forest canopy is low-lying. Birds spotted in the region include jacamars, blue-crowned motmots, scarlet-rumped tanager, nightingale wren and the long-tailed hermit hummingbird.

Blue Hole National Park

Crystal Cave, also known as Mountain Cow Cave, is located within the Blue Hole National Park near Belmopan, Belize’s capital city. To get to Crystal Cave, you may have to start with a moderately challenging, 50-minute hike through lush rain forest and steep terrain. Depending on your entrance point, you then descend by rope for 15 feet to drop into the mouth of the cave.
Ancient Mayans believed this to be the domain of their gods, earning it the name of Xibalba. Mayans said this is the portal between the tangible human world and the invisible world of the gods. Sacred rituals and important ceremonies were once performed here, and visitors today will see remnants such as ceremonial bowls, pots, and even skeletal remains from sacrificial victims. Crystal Cave is also full of natural wonders including unique rock formations, massive stalagmites and crystal clusters, a major attraction. The calcite formations cover the floors, walls, and ceiling of Crystal Cave.

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