“Swim and hike more than a mile into a cave in a rainforest with a fast-flowing stream pouring out of it to search for Mayan sacrificial victims? … Sure. Let’s go!” That’s a repeat of what I wrote for the Blog Page for my Overview, as it pertains to The Cave of the Crystal Maiden, whose entrance is shown on that Blog Page.

What is the Cave of the Crystal Maiden? An article in National Geographic Magazine motivated me to find a way to visit Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) in the Cayo District of Belize, which had been imaginatively called the “Cave of the Crystal Maiden”. A couple years later I was going to Belize for diving, but I wanted to visit ATM as long as I would be in the country. Prior to leaving home, I found a way. In February, 2007, I rented a 4WD vehicle at the airport in Belize City, which was necessary to drive to a site where my wife and I met our guide and a few other “tourists” beside a stream; only PACZ Tours could lead groups at that time, but I think at least one other company can also do so now. ATM was “discovered” in 1986 and explored in 1993. It is believed to be the entrance to Xibalba, the Mayan Underworld wherein gods lived, although there is an alternative Xibalba in Guatemala.

Getting to Actun Tunichil Muknal. The cave is located in a jungle a few days walk (for the Mayans) from the major Mayan cities of Tikal (Guatemala) and Copán (Honduras). For us, we had to drive 45 minutes off the highway on a tough “road” (cow path, some might say) with a couple stream crossings. After parking and joining the group, we hiked another 45 minutes, crossing the stream three times, before we arrived at the entrance to ATM. 

Getting to the Crystal Maiden. Donning our waterproof headlamps and safety helmet, we then swam through the pool at the entrance of the cave and made our way upstream by swimming, wading, climbing over boulders and squeezing through tunnels and stacked boulders for nearly 1 km. There are places where the stream goes above your head, so it is good to feel confident in a flowing stream. We exited the stream and, putting on dry socks to minimize the oil from our skin impacting the cave, climbed up an embankment in an enlarged area of the cave. We walked at least 0.5 km further back into the cave eventually encountering pottery, bones, skulls, rock carving, and stalactites, pressing on until we reached the skeleton of the “Crystal Maiden”.

The Sacrificial Remains. The pottery was punched with “kill” holes and placed in specific locations and orientations to satisfy the Mayan gods. There are 14 skeletons of individuals ranging from babies to adults in multiple locations. The “Crystal Maiden” was approximately 18-20 years old. Apparently, she was pregnant; a short distance beyond the “maiden” are the bones from the fetus, placed there following the sacrifice. They were sheltered from our view. Most victims had been killed by a blow to the head in a sacrificial ritual similar to those seen at other Mayan sites. Some of the skeletons were covered with calcite crystals that had formed in the 1100-1300 years they had lain undisturbed, giving rise to the name “crystal maiden”. Although not certain, the likely explanation for the skeletons is that the victims were sacrificed at different times to propitiate the rain god Chac, especially during times of drought.

With nothing but a flashlight permitted for lighting and also with me being completely wet, photography was difficult.