Tucked away in the Southern Bükk Mountains near Miskolc, in the scenic Mexikó Valley, lies the entrance to one of Hungary's strictly protected caves. This isn't a casual stroll destination - it's a genuine adventure for caving enthusiasts, where the Mexikó Stream has carved a multi-level labyrinth of shafts and passages through Triassic limestone over millennia.

The cave impresses with its variety of speleothems - stalactites, helictites, wolf-tooth draperies, cave pearls and flowstones - though sadly many have suffered serious damage since the cave's discovery. Its largest chamber, the Crystal Museum, measures 18 meters long and 6 meters wide. The system is hydrologically very active: during rain, water flows through the entire cave, and the deepest sections become inaccessible. It's a raw, wild place with a cool, damp underground microclimate typical of karst terrain, offering a completely different experience depending on rainfall conditions.

• Bükkszentlászló (part of Miskolc) - entrance visible in a rock wall along the road, in Mexikó Valley, just above the bed of the Mexikó Stream (Tatárárki Stream)
• Entrance sealed with a 40x60 cm rectangular iron door, about 35 meters in a straight line from the entrance to Tatár-árki Cave

• Visits only permitted with authorization from the Bükk National Park Directorate
• Good physical condition and climbing skills required
• Rope techniques and equipment necessary
• Cave is prone to flooding - check rainfall conditions before entering
• Classified as a strictly protected natural landmark of Hungary

Thirteen arthropod species and bats have been recorded inside the cave, making it a valuable underground habitat. Interestingly, dye-tracing tests in 1971 proved that the water flowing through the cave later emerges at the lake springs of Miskolctapolca.