Blue Creek Cave

At Blue Creek, also called Hokeb Ha, a river comes out of a cave mouth in the hillside into a deep turquoise pool below jungle, and the way into the cave is to swim up the stream and then wade and scramble through the chambers with a headlamp. The Maya used the cave and pottery has been found inside. The village runs access and guides are required, which is right: the water rises fast and people have got into trouble here.

What you actually see

• The cave mouth - the river emerging from the hillside into a pool.
• The turquoise pool - deep clear water below the entrance.
• The upstream swim - the way into the chambers, against the current.
• The formations - flowstone and stalactites in the interior passages.

When to go

December to April is the dry season and the only sensible window. Water rises fast after rain and the cave becomes dangerous. Guides will refuse when conditions are wrong.

Honest expectations

Water levels rise very fast with rain upstream and the cave has been dangerous in flood; the guides' judgement should be followed absolutely. The entry involves swimming in cold water and scrambling in the dark. Facilities are none.

Nearby

Lubaantun is east, and Punta Gorda is southeast.