Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM Cave)

Our guide called it the circle of trust

Yesterday we went on an adventure to Actun Tunichil Muknal. Also known as the ATM Cave. We drove about 45 minutes before we got there. I noticed there was not a sign from it and we randomly pulled off the highway on to a dirt road. We arrived to the place where our hike would begin 30 minutes later. To get to the entrance of the cave we had to walk through the Macal River three times and of course it was raining so the trail was very slippery. At the end of the hike we ate lunch and walked up to the entrance of the cave. To get into the actual cave we had to swim for about 100 feet. Once in the actual cave it was amazing to see. The path our guide led us on took us through very narrow paths in waist deep water. We saw so many different artifacts and pottery the Mayans used for ritualistic purposes. Our guide told us that they would be on hallucinogenics when they would do these rituals. At many different points we all turned off our head lights just to get a feel for how dark it was. I could not see my hand in front of my face. We walked in the dark at one point for about five minutes. Needless to say it may have been the longest five minutes of my life. As our trip continued we were headed for the grand finale. So we climbed up some rocks and our guide gave us some more information. We had to take off our shoes and walk in our socks so we would not ruin the floor. We saw many skeletal remains of people that had been sacrificed. Nothing in the cave had been moved since it was rediscovered in 1986. We climbed the ladder to the main attraction and it was amazing. It was a female skeleton that had been sacrificed. So we took our pictures and headed back.

I also went to the Iguana Resort in town on Friday. They raise iguanas until they are old enough to survive in the wild and then release them. I got to hold a male and a female. The orange one is the male and the brown one is the female. I also got to hold 15 iguanas at once! They were so green. This upcoming weekend we are headed to some botanic gardens so we will see what happens. Having problems with the pictures but I will get some up as soon as possible!