Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Feb 20!! Part one.

Pottery found in one of the chambers.
This image of a monkey can be found on one of the pieces of pottery.

Kat outside the cave entrance.

Me with the cave entrance in the background.

Cave entrance.

Here I am sporting the very flattering and fashionable helmet, did I hear someone say egg head;)

On the trail to the cave.

Crossing the river to the cave.

Kat protecting her Camera whilst crossing the river.

Last Tuesday I headed to San Ignacio with Pacz Tours http://www.pacztours.net/ so that I could take the ATM Cave tour the following Day. This had been one of the tours I had been wanting to do since I arrived in Belize and I was stoked that I was finally going to see this incredible Mayan site for myself.

On arrival in San Ignacio I met a Marine Biologist named Katheryn who works for the Oceanic Society doing Dolphin Research on Turniffee. Over a few beers Katheryn and I soon discovered we were both doing the ATM tour in the monring:)

Actun Tunichil Muknal, the bejweled cave of Belize, displays some of the most spectacular limestone dripstone formations, many glistening with spectacular calcite. It was first discovered in the late 80's and although archaeologists have examined the cave, it has not been excavated in the traditional sense up to this time. Aside from the geological wonders are the numerous relics of the Ancient Maya Culture. These were ritually deposited in caves, to beckon rains and overcome long periods of drought. Over 200 ceramic vessels litter the chamber of Tunichil Cave. The meshing of cultural history and geology forms an unrivalled natural museum, a gallery like one never seen before. Apart from the ceramic vessels there are also a number of Skulls and Skeletons to be found in the chambers of this cave complex.

The ATM cave is one of the top Mayan Sites not only in Belize but in the world and is a breathtaking experience that I can highly recommend to anyone visiting Belize.