| Have you ever dreamt of exploring the | | | | highway, before departing off the road and |
| archaeological ruins of an ancient society? Open to | | | | toward the Tapir Mountain Reserve. At the edge |
| the general public since 1998, the Actun Tunichil | | | | of the reserve the real fun begins. From there, it |
| Muknal Cave in Belize offers just that. This cave is | | | | is a 45 minute hike through the lush subtropical |
| full of over a thousand artifacts left behind by the | | | | forest to the cave. While traveling through, |
| Mayan civilization. These items, dated from 1 to | | | | visitors have a chance to see many different |
| 1000 AD include pottery, tools, and ceremonial | | | | types of wildlife. Typical sightings include Tapirs, |
| items, in addition to 200 vessels. Four hundred | | | | Howler Monkeys, Silky Anteaters, White Tail Deer, |
| ceramic jars helped archaeologists to determine | | | | and sometimes even Jaguars. Upon reaching the |
| that the cave was often used for ceremonial | | | | entrance, many pause to eat and gear up; |
| purposes; these jars, used to hold water, are | | | | standard hiking gear includes helmets, lights, and |
| believed to have been a part of a ceremony | | | | waterproof bags. |
| petitioning the rain god to end a severe drought. | | | | Excitement mounts as you enter the mouth of |
| Throughout the cave there are also 14 skeletons: | | | | the cave and begin the 10 meter swim through |
| 7 adults, and 7 children, all under the age of 5. | | | | water that has a maximum depth of only 5 |
| Most of these are thought to be connected to | | | | meters. Upon reaching the rock shelf on the other |
| sacrificial deaths. There is also a small grotto | | | | side, you begin a half hour long hike. This trip calls |
| alongside the riverbed where visitors can imagine | | | | for caution; there are many sharp and slippery |
| Mayan men and women partaking in traditional | | | | edges. The water depth also varies greatly here; |
| blood letting ceremonies. The most famous | | | | there are parts where you can walk through, and |
| remains are known as “The Crystal | | | | parts where you must swim. Along the way you |
| Maiden.” This skeleton of a young woman, | | | | will notice various calcite formations that have |
| who was most likely a sacrifice victim, has been | | | | been partially carved by the Mayans. The hidden |
| completely covered by the natural processes of | | | | dry chamber lies just a few meters above the |
| the cave. As a result, the bones have a sparkling | | | | water bed, and is considered sacred ground. It is |
| appearance. | | | | here that the majority of the artifacts are found. |
| For many the journey starts, not at the hourglass | | | | The trip in itself is a journey, leading deep into the |
| entrance to the limestone cave, but in the city of | | | | Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, and deep into the |
| San Ignacio, about an hour away. Setting out | | | | ancient past of the Mayan Civilization. |
| from the city, one first drives half an hour on the | | | | |