The land of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula is dotted with amazing pools and swimming holes called cenotes. Most cenotes have originated from underwater cave systems that have filled with water over time. The first time I saw a photo of one I thought I was dreaming, or reading about some Mexican author’s magical realism flight of fancy. But it is true. Cenotes are real and they are spectacular! It is said that there are over 5,000 cenotes in the Yucatan and many are open to the public. You can find them all around Mexico’s Riviera Maya: around Puerto Morelos, Cancun, Tulum and Playa del Carmen. You can actually swim, dive, snorkel and explore many of them. I’m not sure I would be up for exploring subterranean cenotes, but I would definitely love to swim in an outdoor one. They look otherworldly. And because it is an opening on the earth where a limestone cave is basically gifting us with this unique ecological (and in my opinion sacred) experience … I consider them perfect places to be grateful to Nature, places to dream, enjoy, pray … sometimes all of these activities at the same time. In the Mayan language the word cenote comes from the word “abyss” and these formations were in fact sacred to the Mayan people.
We found this wonderful link to information about Cenotes on a website called, of all things, “LocoGringo.” Though the names of our businesses are similar, we are not related and we are not business partners. I found their coverage of cenotes to be just lovely.
So how about exploring a cenote eco park or discovering some off-the beaten path magical cenotes on your next visit to Mexico’s Riviera Maya? No time like the present!