hi all---

1) is the whole site called ACTUN TUNICHEL MUKNAL and a specific part of it IXBALBA? or vice versa? or something altogether different?

2) who else tours this site besides caves branch? how can one contact these guides?

3) what sort of tours have people taken & how much did they cost? (the cave's branch overnighter rapelling/camping/cave tour sounds amazing but i may not be able to do it because i am travelling alone.)

the collective wisdom of all who have gone before is much appreciated!

thanks!

Might try Jaguar Paw, they do cave tours in the area...

we go to caves branch....

We stayed at Pook's Hill Jungle Lodge near Teakettel village in the Cave Branch area last June and the owners set us up on the tour since they are friends with the guides.
Last year there where only 2 guides alowed to take tours into the cave. Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave was the most beautiful,exciting, adventures and magical cave we have ever experienced and we have been to many caves around the globe. It is not for the wimpy, not so sporty or scared type of person so. You know what I mean after the tour. We loved every second of it so!!!!

I just met Javier Gutierrez, a tour guide licensing trainer for the tourism board. He books mainland tours, you might email him at ecotrek@btl.net
--Silk

The Actun Tikal Muknal (sorry, I have butchered the spelling) cave sounds fabulous! However, is it too intense and/or strenuous for kids, aged 10 and 7? If so, what are some caves that are a little easier with kids?

Wait wait wait. Actun Tunijil is located in the Tapir Mtn Forest Reserve around Teakettle village off the Western Hywy. Caves Branch is in another area, outside of Belmopan.

Xibalba (spelt wrong I'm sure) is the maya word for underworld, which was reached thru caves and the roots of the Ceiba tree. The people at Caves Branch have a cave trip that is so named.

7 yr old for Actun? I don't know, depends on what your 7 yr old is like. I took an 8 yr old, but this kid has been in plenty of caves, climbed plenty of rocks, etc. Not sure this is for kids. They'll get cold and they'll be spending alot of time wet and uncomfortable doing something that is fascinating to you, but maybe not for them. I'd say your best bet for a cave trip with kids that age would be Barton Creek Cave off the Mtn Pine Ridge road.

The people at Caves Branch will not prebook a kid under 11 until they have met and seen the kid. So before you book with them, find out what the deal is for kids.

My choice for guides at Actun? Emilio Awe, hands down, without a doubt.

gogo, don't miss the caves. inquire with guides regarding difficulty for kids.
gay

[This message has been edited by GAY AND DAVID (edited 08-02-2002).]

we just went thru caves at: http://AmbergrisCaye.com/pages/photos/546.html

with caves branch. we had a 7 year old boy and an 11 year old girl, as seen in the pictures....

they did fine. Abel and Vita our guides were fantastic with the kids. the parents frankly had more trouble paddling upstream, but it was all glorious and very do-able....

you can contact mayatravel above at <mayatravel@btl.net>, she certainly can take care of this for you.

Also Kristen from Mayawalk Adventure Tours, <mayawalktours@yahoo.com> does the Actun Tunichil Muknal trip.

and of course, Ian Anderson's Caves Branch at caves@btl.net



[This message has been edited by Marty (edited 08-06-2002).]

Anyone looking for caving trips ranging from family outings to hard core adventure .. look to caves branch. They modify allot of thier trips to accommodate families with children, but as Katie said, they do not "guarantee" participation of younger children until they have a chance to meet them. But as Mary said, he had just stayed at Caves Branch and his pics show his 7 year old had a blast.

Caves Branch has about 12 different caving trips ranging from rock climbing underground waterfalls to cave tubing 7 miles underground to rapelling 300 feet into the "mother of all caves" Actun Loch Tunich.

Incredible life changing experiences at Caves Branch. Adventures for everyone.

drop Ian a line and see if it'll work for you. website is www.cavesbranch.com

HAVE A GREAT TIME.

Caves Branch does not take guests into the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave. It is off our property and we only do caving trips into caves on our estate.

However, Actun Tunichil Muknal is an incredible cave and should not be missed by any adventurer or caving enthusist.

The tour operator that I would recommend is Pacz tours, owned and operated by Emilio Awe.

Emilio has trained directly with archaeologist on the cave and has also trained with the Belize Cave and Wilderness Rescue team. Emilio is one of the fine, well trained and professional cave guides in Belize. I highly recommend Pacz Tours and Actun Tunichil Muknal cave.

Ian Anderson.

hi again all---

thanks for all these august replies! i was actually in belize june --- this past sunday, august the 18th. i had a wonderful trip all around the country but the absolute undisputed highlight was camping in the jungle and visiting the actun tunichel muknal cave with the amazing and mighty patrick warrior and star toothed chef supreme, ricky. (luckily i was able to find out the answer to my original post before i left!) i will soon type and post a report on the trip, which was pure magic.

hope you all had a fabulous summer, too.
peace & love--
gogo

Gogo! I am glad you had a great time. Isn't that cave just amazing? Looking forward to your report.

I agree on gogo's assessment of "the amazing & mighty Patrick Warrior." He is awesome. I had the pleasure of spending several days with him in June traveling all over Cayo & the Pine Ridge. He is "the man" for extreme adventure in Belize. He is also Caves Branch Rescue team trained. Awesome shamanistic healer as well.