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NatGeo has a great article, just in time for Halloween, about the Maya Underworld. Since Cayo has the most famous caves, many of them are mentioned, including Barton Creek Cave and Actun Tunichil Muknal. Worth a quick read. 'There are hundreds of caves in Belize that served as portals to what the Maya called Xibalba—home to ancient death gods, rituals, and extraordinary relics left behind.' 
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The Belize Tourism Board has a short video about Cayo, and Barton Creek Cave, Big Rock Falls, and Rio Frio Cave are highlighted.
"With Maya temples, dense jungles and mysterious caves, Western Belize feels like an adventure movie. Or at least an adventure movie with really nice hotels."
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Agreed! Xunantunich and Caracol rule. Cahal Pech is nice, and has a great visitor's center. Barton Creek is fun on a canoe, and rank as one of the world's must unique caves.. Where's ATM? The Best Maya Sites to visit - Xunantunich, Altun Ha, Caracol, Cahal Pech, Santa Rita, Lamanai, Cerro Maya, Barton Creek Cave, Nim Li Punit and Lubaantun.
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The Cayo chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association has a web page. It's still being constructed, but it's looking nice so far. Cayo is the ecotourism capital. Great picture of ATM. "San Ignacio Town is the main town in the Cayo District of western Belize and is an ideal base to explore ancient Maya cities like Caracol and Xunantunich, ceremonial caves like Barton Creek and Actun Tunichil Muknal, and cascading water falls like Rio on Pools and Big Rock waterfalls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Nature Reserve. Hiking, kayaking, bird watching and horseback riding are also top rated outdoor activities in the area. San Ignacio is also an important en route to and from Guatemala since it is one of the last towns in Belize before entering Guatemala where many travelers go to visit Tikal - one of the largest archaeological site in the country."
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The Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites project made a great donation to the Institute of Archaeology. One of the objectives of the MTBCAAS is the enhancement of the tourism experience by improving the local infrastructure and services. They donated some much needed tools and equiptment which will be used at many sites, including 4 in Cayo: ATM, Xunantunich, Cave’s Branch Cave and Barton Creek Cave.
"The Belize Rural Development Programme Phase II (BRDPII) 'Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites' is a 24 month action promoting broad-based rural economic growth and reduction of the incidence of poverty in the rural communities of Belize."
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A week in Cayo for the Winter Solstice Contest winner, based out of Chaa Creek's Macal River Camp, and starting with a tour of the Belize Zoo. Of course it was awesome! What a great thank you note and review at the same time. "Thank you SO much for our wonderful vacation! I feel extremely lucky and fortunate to be the winner of the Maya Winter Solstice Competition! The trip was so full of awesomeness that I almost don’t know where to start…
We really loved all of the tours we were able to do. Caracol was awe-inspiring and we felt privileged to have Mr. Hugh as our tour guide. He is so passionate about Mayan history and archaeology. Barton Creek Cave and Rio Frio were also breathtaking and turning the lights out while sitting in the canoe so deep in the cave in total darkness was bone chilling. The morning of December 21, 2012 we woke up and took a ride to the stables. I was a bit nervous about riding a horse through the jungle because I had only ridden a gentle horse in fields in the past. It took me about ten minutes to warm up to riding and the horses all ride in line so well."
Best of Cayo's insight:
Glamping at its finest: http://www.chaacreek.com/accomodations/casitas/
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Island Expeditions has a great list of eco adventures one can do around Cayo. The SIRH's Green Iguana Conservation Project gets a great review, as do the Belize Botanic Gardens at DuPlooy's, and Chaa Creek's Natural History Museum and Butterfly Farm. David, from David's Adventure Tours, is shown preparing to explore Barton Creek Cave.
"The eco adventures I recommend are going to the San Ignacio farmers’ market, exploring Maya temples and Maya caves, Mountain Pine Ridge sightseeing, taking a day trip to Chaa Creek’s butterfly farm, medicinal trail and natural history museum, exploring the Macal and Mopan river, visiting the San Ignacio Resort Green Iguana exhibit, touring DuPlooy’s Botanical Garden, and Cave Tubing or Zip-Lining at Jaguar Paw."
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The Divaz Next Door have quite a few pictures from their Cayo adventure with Cayo Adventure Tours. They canoed into Barton Creek Cave, and then did some repelling. They won't forget that adventure any time soon. CAT took us to ATM last week to view the damaged artifacts. They have some world famous guides: Martin and Teddy.
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Barton Creek Cave, and Barton Creek Outpost get good reviews in this article.
"Just some metres away there is a cave (Barton Creek Cave), which you can visit by kayak and check out 8km of passages. It is known both: as a touristic destination but also as a archaeological site. In cave there were found remains of at least 28 humans and many pottery shards, which makes scientist believe there was a life already at the beginning of 1st century. The strong evidence exist already in the first kilometre of kayaking, where on the left ledge one can see human bones and skulls. In the dark as hell cave, between stalactites and flying bats, it makes a strong impression."
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Barton Creek Cave is world famous, and canoeing through it is quite an experience. It was just listed as one of the 9 most beautiful and unusual caves in the world. Mother Nature Network is right to put it on their list.
"This cave was considered the 'underworld' by the ancient Mayans who inhabited the area and was used as a burial place. Human remains can still be found inside the cave. It is this unique history and Barton's amazing rock formations that make it one of the more interesting of all of Central America’s underground attractions. Barton is located in the Cayo District, a region of Belize known for its eco-tourism."
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Barton Creek Cave, and the adventure getting there, are mentioned in this travel blog.
"The Cayo district in Belize is full of an incredible mix of history, culture and sites to explore. Today we delved into the Mayan underworld at Barton Creek Cave. But to get to the Barton Creek Cave, we drove past beautiful citrus fields and Mennonite country."
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Belizeing Adventure and Tours, which is owned by Fidelio Montes Jr. and opened on January 1st this year, has launched their website. There are some nice bird pictures on there, and he'll have a Belize Travel Blog promoting the attractions in Cayo. It's great to see the entrepreneurial spirit come alive.
"Unique Belize adventure tours and Travel services for Belize! Conducting Belize day tours such as: Birding in Belize, Barton Creek Cave, Cave Tubing Adventure, Caracol Mayan site, and Tikal from Belize…We’ve got ’em all! A Belize Tour Company situated in the adventurous town of San Ignacio.
First and foremost, we are about adventures with an experience. And there’s an adventure for everyone! Nevertheless, here’s all you need to know about Belizeing Adventures, and why you should trust us with your tours in Belize. This Belize tour company was started and operated by one of San Ignacio top tour guides. Mr. Fidelio Montes Jr., who has been in the adventure business for the past 15 years and counting. Furthermore, this company specializes in Birding and Archaeology; Making us Belize’s Birding and Archaeology Specialist."
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Stunning! Incredible! The best aerial footage done in Belize so far, and it all starts out, and ends, in Cayo, at Mountain Equestrian Trails. So beautiful, you'll be amazed. Big Rock Falls, San Antonio, Barton Creek Cave, and MPR are all seen in HD. Thanks, MET, for sponsoring this! "A big thanks to Mountain Equestrian Trails for accommodation and providing so much adventure.
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Great selection of sites and pictures from around Belize. Cayo rules the list, of course. ATM, Caracol, MPR, Xunantunich, and Barton Creek Cave are all on there.
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Amber Rivero will be representing Belize at the Miss Earth pageant in the Philippines. They've just started online voting for the Eco-Beauty and Photogenic contests. The video that Amber did is well done, and shows many great spots around the Cayo district, like Caracol, Barton Creek Cave, and Jaguar Paw. Watch the video to see how she was interested in ecology long before being selected as Miss Earth Belize, and to hear about her quest to stop mangrove deforestation. Good luck, Amber!
https://www.facebook.com/BelizePageantUpdates
"Vote for Miss Belize Amber Rivero for the Eco-Beauty Video Competition 2013. Voting Page: http://goo.gl/eugzP1"
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Sure, they are all in Cayo, but this is where the best caves are. Actun Tunichil Muknal, Barton Creek, Caves Branch, Chechem Ha, and many more. Chaa Creek got a great picture of the Rio Frio Cave.
"Millions of years ago, the majority of the landmass of Belize was covered by an extensive and shallow tropical sea. Limestone, a rock formed of calcium carbonate was one of the major rock types deposited in the sea. This limestone can be origin either from biological materials like dead corals and mollusks, or in some cases the limestone can be precipitated directly from the seawater... As the rainwater fell through the atmosphere, it would react with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. After the rain fell into the soil on the crest of the Maya Mountain, the water would absorb additional carbon dioxide from decaying plant material. The rainwater turns into a weak acid, which then reacts with the limestone rock eroding away creating caves."
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The Institute of Archaeology's National Institute of Culture and History is announcing that the ATM, Nohoch Che'en, and Barton Creek caves are closing due to heavy rains and flooding. They've been closed the last few days. Hopefully, they will be open later this week.
Other caves that are still open are Chechem Ha and Mountain Cow.
Best of Cayo's insight:
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Barton Creek Cave gets another great write up, this time in escapingabroad.com. They uploaded a cool video of entering the cave too.
"We were suited up with safety helmets, lights and life jackets and began are journey into the darkness. This cave is considered one of the largest in the world, estimated to be over 4 and a half miles long and in some places 100 feet tall. It is also filled with a rich and mysterious history as it was used by the Mayans who believed caves to be entrances into the ‘underworld.’ Evidence of Mayan use was left behind in artifacts and the remains of at least 28 discovered bodies inside."
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Cayo Adventure Tours took 5 moms rock climbing, zip lining, and canoeing in Barton Creek Cave. Plus TV's Divaz Next Door will be airing the adventure next week, but here's a preview. Looks like they were in good hands with Teddy Waight, known for his tubing adventures in Bullet Tree Falls.
"Looking up, around and down into the water...pausing now and then to breathe in deeply and exhale slowly with my eyes closed to fully take in the moment and be grateful for the entire experience. I couldn't keep my eyes closed for too long because I didn't want to miss a moment of this opportunity. Quartz shimmering like diamonds as the 1000 candle lightbulbs bathed the rocks with illumination. Our tour guide from Cayo Adventure, Teddy, was highly knowledgeable and he deftly guided us through the water with his expertise and his stories."
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Divaz Next Door is teaming up with Cayo Adventure Tours to take 5 moms rock climbing, zip lining, and canoeing through Barton Creek Cave, which has been getting great press lately. Plus TV and CAT are sponsoring the adventures, which are sure to thrill. For more information, call 668-1232 or email divaznextdoor@gmail.com. Good luck!
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8 caves mentioned, and of course they are all located in Cayo!
"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."
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Rio Frio Cave, Barton Creek Cave, Nohuch Che'en, Offering Cave, and Actun Tunichil Muknal(not Mucnal) are all mentioned in this travel article. Cayo wins again. They forgot Mountain Cow Cave, and Actun Chapat.
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