You don’t have to be an adventurer to admit that touring caves is fascinating. These underground chambers make visitors feel as though time has stood still, says Sam Anderson, writing for the UK publication, The Independent. “The appeal of caves is, obviously, primal,” he states, describing the importance of caves to prehistoric people who used these enclaves for everything from ceremonial rituals to art galleries.
“The formation of a cave is appallingly incremental,” adds Anderson. “Most often it happens when water, trickling down through the air and the ground, picks up carbon dioxide, creating a very weak acid.” The process is so slow it can take a million years to form a good size cave formed by single droplets of water build up. Anderson has done his homework. He calculates that growth takes place “at a rate of roughly one cubic inch per 100 years”! Is it any wonder we find caves hypnotic?
Must you travel to Lascaux for your cave experience?
Famous for its 20,000-year-old Paleolithic Lascaux Cave Paintings, a trip to the Dordogne region of southwestern France is by no means necessary when a short plane ride to Belize offers visitors fabulous caves that are among the nation’s biggest tourism draws. Among the most often visited is ATM, the acronym for Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, once known to the Mayas living in the area as “Cave of the Stone Sepulcher.”
Archaeological investigations verify the fact that this was sacred ground where ritual sacrifices were performed circa 700 and 900 AD, but it’s the evidence left behind and discovered by Dr. Jamie Awe’s team that made the most dramatic news: They found over 1400 artifacts, dating between 250 to 909 AD. Among the treasures are pottery, tools, weapons, water vessels and items pointing to a society that was more advanced than previously thought.
You’ll need a home base for your cave adventure
At Laru Beya Resort, located on Belize’s Placencia Peninsula, find a haven of fun, pleasure, and adventure by making this property your base throughout your stay. Simplify things by opting for the resort’s All Inclusive Package that covers all aspects of your sojourn so you can get on with your mission of visiting ATM.
Having claimed your money-saving package, add the a la carte Actun Tunichil Muknal Caving experience to your itinerary and every aspect of your visit to the cave will be arranged. If you’re so intrigued you want to keep going, consider additional tours on the resort menu sure to satisfy your appetite for adventure.
We’ve saved the best for last! Book your Laru Beya vacation now and you could save on the cost of your package, making the cave adventure that first attracted you to Belize possible with money you save by booking the Ultimate Tropical Escape. While the cave has been around for around 20,000 years, this special deal ends soon, so you’re going to want to book your adventure right now!
Contact Us Today
Email: [email protected]
US Toll Free: +1-800-329-2528
Local Belize Reservation Desk: +011-501-522-0384
Local Belize Front Desk: +011-501-523-347
