Actun Tunichil Muknal, also known as ATM cave is a Maya archaeological site in Belize, which is near San Ignacio, Cayo district. Not only is it one of the most visited caves in Belize, but also one of the most outlandish caves in Maya cosmology.

In this cave, archaeologists have discovered more than 1,400 artifacts from the ancient Mayan culture including tools, weapons, ceramic and stone objects as well as a few parts of human bones scattered throughout the cave. It is believed that it was used as a religious site to perform sacrifices during wartime by the prehistoric Maya. More notably, the Actun Tunichil Muknal also has an extremely elaborate and sophisticated carved stone altar.

The ATM Cave is part of a larger cave system situated in the Tapir Mountain nature reserve, about a half-hour drive from Roared Creek via the West Highway. This cave is moist, therefore, visitors can swim into the mouth then paddle through ankle to chest high water before climbing to a labyrinth of dry chambers which lead to the cathedral-like main hall.

Location: Cayo District

A half day excursion exploring Barton Creek Cave - one of Belize’s most fascinating natural and cultural wonders by canoe with a licensed guide will be a remarkable experience.

Licensed guides will help visitors explore this ceremonial cave in the most comprehensive way while sitting on a canoe. It might take up about half a day but the cultural and natural wonders you come across are worth the effort. The canoe will glide along the river cave and will take you through chambers that will remind you of cathedrals and wide spacious passages. Don’t forget to admire the stunning and gorgeous waterfalls, relax with a refreshing swim or just have a packed lunch amid tropical beauty.

Barton Creek Cave was recently listed as one of “nine of the world’s most beautiful and unusual cave destinations,” by the highly regarded Mother Nature Network and no wonder – it is an amazing experience everyone - young and mature – will remember forever.

Location: Barton Creek Area, Cayo District

Passing 16 miles from San Ignacio near Vaca Falls, visitors can reach Che Chem Ha Cave. It ranks third on our list of the most beautiful caves in Belize. Opposite Barton Creek cave, it is an adrenaline adventure. After going through a 45-minute mounting hike, visitors will be awarded the most gorgeous pottery collection of Maya that anyone has ever seen.

Discovered by a local farmer, this cave is considered as the most notable thanks to its distinct collection of Maya artwork and artifacts. Visitors who are keen on archaeology will appreciate the entrance, which is decorated with Maya motifs and the extensive variety of ancient pots which are called “ollas”.

Inside Che Chem Ha, there are many ladders. Each of them leads to chambers where many ollas still contain maize and other ingredients of the antique Maya diet. Because of the uniqueness of these antiquities, the cave is carefully monitored to prevent thieves and visitors are only allowed to enter with an experienced resident guide.

Location: Southeast Belize

Rio Frio Cave is located in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve and displays two overwhelmed 65-foot arches right at the entrance and caverns can witness the river running through the paths of the cave in the rainy season. “Big” is the most suitable word to describe this cave. From the giant arches at the opening to huge stalactites hang from the massive cathedral-like vault, which is part of a cave system the Maya used to bury their dead. Room size boulders are strewn throughout the cave and a stream flows through, forming pools with cascading falls.

Openings at both ends make flashlights unnecessary for viewing the cave’s formations during daylight hours. There is a beach area with a foot bridge for crossing the stream and getting to the other side, which leads to the exit opening.

The cave tour is not that strenuous or difficult and you should carry a flashlight to experience it properly.

Location: Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Cayo District

Talking about the most beautiful caves in Belize, St Herman’s Cave is compulsory. Lies inside the St Herman’s Blue Hole National Park in Western Belize established in 1986, St Herman’s Cave is one of the most reachable destinations.

Surrounded by the dense tropical forest on the Hummingbird highway, it provides a natural beauty. Beyond that, the cave attracts visitors with a great number of remaining pottery from the ancient Maya. As a part of the St’s Herman's Blue Hole National Park, it preserves essential cultural and archeological objects as evidence of the Maya during the Classic Period.

This high-value historic cave will offer visitors gorgeous stalactites and stalagmites as well as the pottery vessels utilized by the Maya to contain Zuh uy Ha or virgin water from the dripping icicles. The cave is managed by the Department of Archaeology of Belize and has gradually become a playground for caving and tubing devotees who want to have memorable experiences outside the capital city Belmopan.

Location: Blue Hole National Park, Western Belize

Regarded as the “Mother of all caves” in Belize, Actun Loch Tunich or normally called as Black Hole Drop to avoid confusion with Actun Tunich Muknal is a gigantic cave with an enormous sinkhole. The edge of the sinkhole is over 300 feet above the basin and 200 feet above the rainforest canopy which grows outside of the sink hole basin. Black Hole Drop is not actually black but as the visitors can’t see the bottom from the top of the hole, it makes the adventure more exciting.

Experienced caving guides rig a system of rappelling ropes for your descent to the basin below. The first 10 feet provide adrenaline while the next 200 feet offer an unforgettable experience and sights to behold, and the last 100 feet take you down through the rain forest canopy. This cave is definitely worth a place in the top most gorgeous caves in Belize.

Location: Belize’s western Cayo District

Also settled in the National Blue Hole Park, Also located within the Blue Hole National Park, the Crystal Cave is for more established cavers who are seeking a little more adventure than what St. Herman's Cave offers. In this tour, visitors take a 1.5 to 2 hours guided hike in rugged terrain to the mouth of the cave where they are repelled down into the cave and greeted by huge caverns adorned with crystalline formations.

A guided exploration into this very spectacular cave system takes you miles down, down, down to huge caverns that are adorned with crystalline formations.

The steep downward walk that takes you to these caverns takes around one hour. Then, at the

mouth of the cave, you’ll follow the same footpaths the Maya shamans and priests once traveled to reach these ceremonial chambers. Along the way, you’ll marvel at all the Maya artifacts, including pottery, beads, and obsidian knives – even human skeletons that have been calcified in the limestone floor dating back 2,000 years.

Location: National Blue Hole Park, Western Belize

Another name in our list of the mist beautiful caves is Tiger Cave. According to the locals, Tiger cave was named after a villager once witnessed a dog chase a jaguar into the cave. It is situated in the Toledo district and takes about an hour and a half to hike from the San Miguel village. Because of the geographical location, it is occasionally called San Miguel cave. The hikes to the cave pass through modern-day Maya farms and Milpas. After passing through a narrow passage, visitors can see a huge space with a high vaulted ceiling and enjoy rays of sunlight coming in from different directions. Going deeper into the cave, pools like mirrors appear and terraces of water generated from limestones will captivate visitors.

With the immense entrance, visitors can get reminded of Frodo’s journey in Lord of the Rings as they look at the large holes in the 500 feet high ceiling. However, almost nobody recently came to explore this incredible cave as it is on private land but it would be a worthy trip for those interested in going.

Location: Toledo District

The Caves Branch System is right along the Hummingbird highway. It contains 3 smaller caves namely Petroglyph, Waterfall and Footprint. The names of those caves have been named after the objects you will find on the walls inside.

Visitors can see embedded footprints on the walls of the Footprint and enjoy the gorgeous beauty of about six waterfalls in Waterfall. Coming to the Petroglyph, there are a great number of Maya’s ancient rock drawings from 300 to 900 A.D. Not only that, lots of pottery slivers can be found as evidence of the ancient Maya.

Step into a rubber tube and float peacefully into the mysterious subterranean world of “Xibalba” – the mythic underworld of the ancient Maya. Enter an inner sanctum of crystal stalactites, stalagmites, rimstone pools, and ancient Maya evidence. Licensed guides lead visitors through a living natural cave system to witness the ongoing miracles that created this masterpiece of underground wonders. The crystal room which is located inside the cave has many beautiful formations that are enhanced by the light of your head lamp. It is undeniable that Craves Branch System is one of the most gorgeous caves in Belize.

Location: Hummingbird Highway

Hokeb Ha Cave or the Blue Creek Cave is a favorite destination of archaeologists because of the altars and classic ceramics it has provided them with. This cave is also known as one of the 10 most gorgeous caves existing in Belize. The outside of the cave is actually almost as interesting and mysterious as the inside with long vines draped over the entrance, and shadows of the rainforest surrounding the caves and bouncing off the limestone boulders. Starting with a hike through gorgeous jungle scenery to reach the mouth of the cave which is covered with long vines, visitors then need to take a swim before reaching a massive space full of crystal-like creations, huge stone salons and narrow chambers.

According to archaeologists, the discovery of several ceramic and ceremonial altars show that the Maya utilized this cave in the Late Classic Period. It is thought that they normally perform sacred ceremonies in the deeper sections of the cave. Despite the unfavorable destination, Hokeb Ha Cave is still an attractive stop.

Location: Blue Creek, Toledo District