The Caves of Belize.

Mystic River Resort: Explore the buried secrets of Belize’s caves In the mood for a bit of spelunking? Belize’s caves make for some of the best ecotourism in Belize. Adventure travel in these parts isn’t complete without a trip to the caves, and Mystic River Resort is within reach of many of them. Here are just a few of the attractions: Actun Tunichil Muknal Cayo District’s newest jungle cave attraction (it was only discovered in 1989) features ceramics, stoneware – and even human skeletons! This Mayan archaeological site is home of “The Crystal Maiden,” the skeleton of a teenage girl, probably a sacrifice victim, whose bones have been given a sparkling appearance by centuries of erosion inside the cave. Actun Tunichil Muknal is a must-see of ecotourism in Central America. To enter the cave, you wade or swim across a large pool before scrambling up and into the cave. The caverns where the relics are found are dry even when the area is hit by a hurricane. Rio Frio Cave If you’re in the mood for something less strenuous than Actun Tunichil Muknal, this cave located in the Mountain Pine Ridge area is the ideal destination. You can park not too far from the massive 65-foot arched entrance, where the large boulders allow for climbing up along the side of the cave. The cave is only half a mile long – you can see front one end to the other. A river runs through the cave, but in the dry season it’s possible to hike through to the other side. Che Chem Ha Cave Located in the upper Macal River area of Belize, Che Chem Ha is accessible by a healthy 40-minute climb through the bush from the Morales farm. Discover the cave’s Mayan pottery-filled chambers with large, intact pots. Caves Branch Float in rubber tubes deep within the Caves Branch River system. St. Herman’s Cave Located in Blue Hole National Park, and easily accessible. Barton Creek Cave The high ceilings and beautiful stalactite formations make this one of the most photographed caves in Belize. It is unique in that it is accessible only by canoe and is one of the largest caves in the world. Actun Halal & Chapat An adventurous 6 mile Land Rover ride drive brings you to camp, where the journey begins. The owner of the land surrounding the caves is also the only Tour Operator authorized to conduct trips here. Visit Actun Halal a cave shelter where bones and tools were found from the Late Archaic, a people dating back 2400-1200 B.C.E. Later, the Maya were using this shelter for rituals, and faces carved into the formations along with other modifications have been documented here. Actun Chapat is a cave of huge caverns and intense beautiful formations. Maya terraces, stairs, rooms and other modifications are found throughout the cave. BST worked with the archeologists over several seasons and have a vast knowledge of this cave. They will tailor your trip to your needs and desires. Each trip is unique and special. The trip ends with an ice cold beer, soda or water to collect your thoughts, relax, and talk about new discoveries before heading back to Mystic River Resort.