The Guatemalan cave system once considered a literal gateway to the Mayan underworld

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Deep within the highlands of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, lies the Candelaria Caves, a sprawling 80-kilometer karst network. Once a vital transit point for the Classic Maya, these caverns were revered as a portal to the underworld. Today, they remain a site of living history and community-led conservation efforts.

The Candelaria Caves are defined by their dramatic karst geology, featuring an array of stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone drapes. The system is illuminated in sections by pit caves, where ceiling collapses allow sunlight to pierce the darkness. The main gallery stretches 22 kilometers, with over half of that distance carved by the subterranean path of the Candelaria River. While the main gallery is well-documented, the total extent of the system, including its complex network of secondary and upper passages, is estimated to reach 80 kilometers.

Historically, the caves served as a crucial artery for the Great Western Trade Route, linking the Guatemalan highlands to the Petén lowlands during the Classic Maya period. The site holds profound spiritual significance; the Popol Vuh, the foundational text of the K'iche' people, identifies the caves as an entrance to Xibalba, the underworld. Archaeological evidence, including pottery artifacts and ancient rupestral paintings, confirms that the caves were used extensively for religious ceremonies, a tradition that persists in some form through contemporary Mayan celebrations.

The modern management of the site reflects a significant shift in local autonomy. After the Guatemalan government designated the area a national park in 1999, the local Q'eqchi' people engaged in a protracted struggle for control. They eventually secured the right to manage tourism through organizations like the Association Maya Q'eqchi Development and Tourism of Candelaria-Camposanto. Today, various Q'eqchi' communities, such as Bombilpek El Porvenir, oversee different entrances. Visitors pay a modest fee for guided tours, with proceeds directed toward supporting the economic development and equitable welfare of the local villages.

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