Rio Frio Cave

Rio Frio is a single enormous tunnel cut through a limestone hill by the river, open at both ends so daylight reaches most of the way through, with an entrance arch some sixty-five metres wide. Inside is a sand beach beside the river, and the whole thing can be walked without lights. It was used by the Maya, and it is the most accessible large cave in Belize: no guide, no helmet, no crawling.

What you actually see

• The entrance arch - an opening around sixty-five metres wide.
• The through tunnel - daylight from both ends, walkable without lights.
• The sand beach - a bank inside the cave beside the river.
• The formations - stalactites and flowstone visible in the daylit sections.

When to go

December to April is the dry season and the roads are passable. The river rises after heavy rain and can flood the cave floor. Mornings give the best light through the tunnel.

Honest expectations

The roads through the pine ridge are rough and take well over an hour from San Ignacio. There are no facilities at the cave. Rocks by the river inside are slippery.

Nearby

The Rio On Pools are east, and Caracol is southwest.