Friday we were off to explore one of the most impressive cave in Belize. We didn't know what to expect except we were going to be hiking through jungle and wading through water. No cameras were allowed. We had heard it was quite something to see.
Orlando, our driver and guide, took us to the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve where we began our 45 min. hike through the jungle crossing the Roaring River at 3 different places to get to the entrance of Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave meaning "Cave of the Stone Sepulchre". Here is where we left everything, put on our helmet with a light and began our swim into the cave and the unknown for us. This was also the part of the tour which was very strenuous. We waded through knee to neck deep waters, climbed up the jagged limestone formations and crawled through small passages leading us further into the cave. The river ran through the cave which is approx. 3 miles long but only 1/2 mile has been explored. Research has found that that is as far as the Maya people went. This cave was only discovered and explored in 1993 and in 2000 excavation ended and was featured in National Geographic Magazine . The stalactite formations are throughout the cave. To get to the Maya ritual site, place of artifacts and human remains we had to climb 20 ft. out of the river. There we found a gigantic chamber where the rituals took place, along with intricate stalactite and stalagmite formations representing cathedral like structures and columns. An unbelievable site.
Our return didn't seem as strenuous.
This would be a must for anyone coming to this area if you are up for this type of adventure.
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