Actun-Tunichil-Muqnal Cave
Actun-Tunichil-Muqnal is a famous cave within Belize. The cave is also a cultural heritage site of the Mayan civilization. Here, scientists have discovered skeletons and a large amount of material possessions.
General Information
The most famous skeleton of the Actun-Tunichil-Muqnal cave is considered to be the so-called “Crystal Girl”, who was sacrificed and the natural coating of the skeleton made it shiny, whence such an unusual name.
The pottery found in the cave is of particular interest because it was deliberately pierced with special holes.
.One can enter the cave by wading or swimming across a large pond. Inside the cave, however, the climate is permanently dry, even during hurricanes.
There are several Mayan archaeological sites near the cave – Cahal Pech, Shunantunich.
.Actun Tunichil-Muqnal was considered by the ancient Maya as a shibalba (entrance to hell, the underworld).
.Tourists
The Belize Tourism Board has licensed only a small number of travel agents to conduct tours to the cave in order to maintain a reasonable balance between tourism revenues and cave preservation.
The cave is located within the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. To reach the cave, a tourist must hike up an uncomplicated mountain road through the jungle for about 45 minutes. The entrance to the cave is flooded with water and travelers should be prepared to get wet. The cave consists of a series of chambers, the final one being the “Cathedral” where sacrificial ceremonies were once held. Here 14 skeletal remains and numerous samples of ancient Mayan pottery have been discovered. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to get to the “Cathedral”, so tourists should be prepared for their journey through the cave to last 4 to 6 hours.
.Bathing suits are optional, wearing quick-drying clothing is sufficient. Wearing shoes is prohibited, but tourists are required to wear socks to avoid leaving sweat marks. Guides usually carry dry bags in which to store cameras and other items that may be affected by water. In some areas, a helmet-mounted or portable flashlight is the only source of light. The temperature in the cave is quite cool.
.How to get there
The closest town to the cave is San Ignacio, and you can easily find a guide there who will organize the entire trip.
Address
Belize, Tapir Mountain National Park Natural Reserve.
.
