Here are some of the most interesting caves you can visit in Belize:
ATM Cave
Actun Tunichil Muknal, better known as ATM Cave, is one of the most interesting historical sites in all of Belize. Abandoned more than 1,000 years ago and only rediscovered in the 1980s, ATM Cave was formerly used by Maya priests. Accessible only by swimming through a spring-fed pool, ATM Cave's most famous attraction is the dozen or so human remains located more than a mile underground. Women, men, and even young children were bludgeoned to death as human sacrifices to appease Chaac, the bloodthirsty Maya god of rain.
Barton Creek Cave
Barton Creek is a popular cave in the Cayo District of Belize and this vast cave's most distinguishing feature is the enormous river flowing through it. The cave is explored on a canoe and there are more than three miles (five kilometers) of underground passages. Sharp-eyed visitors can also spot ancient Maya artifacts left in situ, including the remains of at least 28 human beings sacrificed in religious rituals.
St. Herman's Cave
No one is quite sure who St. Herman was, but his cave is found inside the St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park in central Belize near Belmopan. The park is a protected conservation area with an abundance of wildlife and bird species. St. Herman's Cave is one of the few caves in the country which can be explored without a professional guide.
Che Chem Ha
Situated some eight miles (13 km) from Belize's western border with Guatemala, Ca Chem Ha means "Poison Water" in the Mayan language. The entrance to Che Chem Ha is quite narrow, but the cave soon opens up to a long tunnel packed with ancient Maya artifacts.
If you're interested in any of the above cave tours, be sure to book your travel with Untame Belize. The company offers a number of other Belize tours like ATV tours of the jungle as well as Belize shuttles and transfers to and from any destination in the country.
And be sure to stay at Davis Falls Inn, a charming guesthouse in southeastern Belize owned and operated by a local Belizean family.
