Barton Creek Cave

Barton Creek Cave is a flooded limestone cave in the hills of western Belize, near the Mennonite farming country of Spanish Lookout, and it is one of the most atmospheric short trips in Cayo. Visitors paddle a canoe along the river that runs through the cave, with a guide steering, and the passage opens into high chambers hung with stalactites and flowstone that glitter in the headlamp beams. The Maya used the cave for ceremonies, and in places you will see pottery and skeletal remains left on ledges, which are protected and are looked at from the water rather than touched. It is a calm, seated experience that suits people who want a cave adventure without the swimming, climbing and fitness demands of the ATM cave, and it is a good half-day outing from San Ignacio.

What the trip is like. After a short walk down to the water you board a canoe, put on a headlamp and slip into the cave mouth. The cave is a long, winding river passage, and the guide explains the formations and what the Maya did here, pointing out features you would otherwise miss.

Because you are seated and gliding, you can look up and around, and the combination of black water, white rock and light beams makes it very photogenic, although low light is hard on phone cameras. You paddle in, turn at the end of the accessible section and drift back, which takes a little over an hour.

Who it suits. This is one of the most accessible cave experiences in Belize. Moderate fitness is enough, there is no technical climbing, and most families with older children can manage it. It is a good choice for people who find the ATM cave too demanding or who have only a half day, and it combines naturally with a visit to a nearby waterfall, butterfly farm or the Mountain Pine Ridge.

The tour we link is a cave canoeing outing, and since operators package it in different ways, check whether lunch, the cave entrance fee and any extra stops are included before you book.

Practical tips. Bring a swimsuit or quick-dry clothing, water shoes or sandals with grip, and a towel, since you may get splashed and the walk to the water can be wet. The cave floods in heavy rain, and the trip can be shortened or cancelled when the river is high, so the dry season from roughly February to May is the most reliable, and it is worth asking the operator about conditions on the day.

Keep your voice low and your hands inside the canoe, and treat the Maya remains with respect. If you want a longer and more strenuous cave day, add the ATM cave or a river-cave tubing trip on another day.

For photographers, the cave rewards patience: bring a small waterproof pouch for your phone, hold it close to the headlamp beams, and accept that the best views are the ones you simply look at. Because you glide rather than hike, this is also one of the few cave trips that works well for travellers with sore knees or limited stamina. Ask the guide to pause with the headlamps off for a moment if the group is comfortable, since the total darkness and the sound of dripping water are a memorable part of the cave.