Barton Creek Cave, Natural cave in Cayo District, Belize.
Barton Creek Cave is a large cavern in Cayo District with an extensive underground river that flows through soaring limestone chambers and passages. The system features high ceilings in many sections, with the river carving out navigable channels that visitors can travel by canoe.
Peace Corps volunteers first discovered the cave in 1970, sparking research into the site. Subsequent archaeological work revealed that the Maya had used it for rituals and left behind significant artifacts within the chambers.
The Maya people used this cave as a sacred ceremonial space where they left pottery vessels and objects on rock shelves as offerings. The flowing river inside remains central to how people understand the site's spiritual importance to ancient communities.
Wear sturdy shoes with good grip since the paths stay wet and slippery throughout the tour. Long sleeves and pants protect your skin from sharp limestone surfaces while you navigate the passages by canoe.
The canoe journey passes through chambers where stalactites and stalagmites create unusual rock formations, making the route visually striking. Archaeological findings show that the river's fresh water was crucial to the site's role in Maya life.
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