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Jungle Ruins in Cayo District Cayo District Review

Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve is 6,700 acres in size and is home to Actun Tunichil Muknal (Cave of the Stone Sepulchre), several smaller caves and also an unexcavated Maya city (ruins) that you can explore near the cave opening (see below). Discovered only in 1998 (I believe... correct me if I'm wrong), parts of this unexcavated city have been looted, but the cave - so far - has not seen any looting. You can walk through the ball court, see walls of the ancient city protruding from the jungle that has grown over the site, and get a basic idea of what the site might have looked like 2000 years ago.

There is also a great hike up the hill to where sacrificial ceremonies used to take place. You can see the rock used for decapitating the victims and you will also see quite a few stone carvings. There are human remains buried all over the area. More than a dozen have already been excavated. Neat-o!

If you get a chance, see this before it's closed to the adventurer.

Caving in Cayo District: Part III Caving Review

Day II

You'll probably start your day by exploring the ancient uncovered city. Saddly, it's been looted quite thoroughly. Your guide should be able show you where/what most of the overgrown structures are represented, including the infamous ball court.

You'll have a chance to check out two smaller caves that contain (among other things) the assasin beetle and scorpion. When gripping, watch where you put your hands! Be sure to bring loads of water... chances are, the temps will reach 40 degrees and you'll be soaking in your own juices for the most part of the day.

Back to base camp. Once you've refueled at base camp and taken a dip in the frigid (yup... very cold) waters, at the mouth of the main caving system, you'll be re-energized for rappelling down rock walls that house sacrificial pottery remains, in small caverness openings.

Once you reach the bottom you'll have a choice of rappelling the wall again or exploring the 'alter' where many prisoners of war and winners of the games, played in the ball court, were publicly sacraficed. Only a couple of feet beneath you, over a dozen bodies have already been discovered. More bodies remain below to this day. It's thought that this elevated alter, at one time, overlooked an entire city that lay undiscovered in the thick of the jungle below.

Caving in Cayo District: Part II Caving Review

Base camp consists of simple thatched roof coverings protecting you from the falling fruit of the massive cahuna palm. Accomodations are a standard tent placed inside the thatched shelters. A make-shift kitchen area is ajoined by a small picnic style bench with a candelabra for night lighting while you enjoy the local rum and listen to tarantulas climb the thatched structure. The jungle surounding base camp is awesome!

Nestled beside the main caving system, base camp is also a short trekking distance from an unexcavated Mayan city you can experience the morning of your second day. Although it must be noted that this unexcavated site has been badly looted. This trip also includes exploration of 2 other smaller caves that require agility and a love of small spaces & dangerous insects.

Stay tuned for a 360 degree virtual tour of base I shot while on site!

Caving in Cayo District: Part V Caving Review

Most pottery and skeletal remains in the cave are calcified right into the cave floor. These sacrifices were performed as offerings to the gods of water, during what some speculate as a devestating drought, to bring rain to the Maya's parched crops. Most ceramic remains have 'blowholes' carved, or smashed into, the sacrifice to release its spirit to the gods.

Deep inside the cave you will experience what guides call the "Cathedral", a massive opening containing some of the most incredible stalagtite and stalamite formations you'll ever see. A truly surreal experience.

The skeletal remains of human sacrifices (one pictured) are a very erie sight to see. Calcified into the cave floor, the percieved fear in their expressions seem to be preserved in skeletal form to this day. There are also full skeletal remains from a small child in the cave, though accidentally crushed by an archeologist while working in the cave.

The remains pictured here were taken from inside the cave using our headlamps as the lighting source/flash :-)

Be sure to watch your step!

Caving in Cayo District: Part IV Caving Review

The Cave - Actun Tunichil Muknal

The trip into the cave starts with a short swim.
The water flowing out of Actun Tunichil Muknal's mouth is very fresh (no need to purify) and very cold, even though the temperature outside the cave can reach 40+ degrees. When you jump in, tiny fish will swarm and nip at you... thinking you're a meal!

Once you've entered into the cave, the adventure soon turns to a very dark, torch-lit trek for approx. 2km's. If you were to lose your torch light you'd probably join the the likes of the cave's inhabitants... hahaha.

Caving in the Cayo District: Part I Caving Review

Not far from San Ignacio is the caving system of Actun Tunichil Muknal. Discovered only in 1989 this cave is known to only a few licensed guides and contains artifacts and remains that are over 2000 years old.

The adventure starts by 4W-drive from San Ignacio to your drop point. This is followed by a short hike through lush jungle, to your base camp.

Caving in the Cayo District: Introduction Caving Review

Not far from San Ignacio is Actun Tunichil Muknal.

You can trek out for three days with various outfitters in the jungle to partake in rappelling, hiking, and caving while you spend the nights at a base camp next to a very clear freshing cave fed stream. (translation: cool and refreshing). This is great for when you return from monkeying about in the jungle in the 40 degree heat.

Caving highlights include viewing sacraficial human & ceramic remains and other artifacts you can see while repelling down a rock face. Loads of wildlife, very cool bugs, tarantuals, scorpions and the every famous 'assasin beetle'. I think the name about says it all :-) If you get a chance, experience this cave before it's closed to the adventurer.

A really great trip that will set you back about $165.00 USD. That was a few years ago though.

Other Contact: Contact Maya Walk across from Ev

Rappelling... a peek into the past Mayan sites Review

Picture yourself in 40 degree jungle heat rappelling down a rock face. Not just any rock face... but one that has small caverness openings in it containing sacrificial pottery from the Maya.

Very cool views and a nice place to 'hang' out!