Wells of mystery, cenotes in the Riviera Maya

The limestone panorama of the Yucatan Peninsula is peppered with caves and pure wells or sinkholes crammed with cool, crystal-clear water known as cenotes, that are gateways to a hidden world, a labyrinth of underground rivers. The traditional Maya commemorated them as sacred locations and they’re a haven for wildlife. They’re additionally one of the space’s hottest pure sights, good for a cooling swim and respite from the warmth. Be part of us on a journey to some of the Riviera Maya’s most stunning caves and cenotes.

Into the depths of the earth

The Yucatan Peninsula is an unlimited shelf of porous limestone with no floor rivers. Rainwater seeps via fissures and fault strains in the rock and accumulates in aquifers and underground rivers, that are the solely supply of recent water in the space.

The phrase “cenote” is derived from the Mayan time period d’zonot or ts’ono’ot which implies “flooded cave,” “abyss” or “depths.” These sinkholes are fashioned over hundreds of years as rainwater reacts with the porous limestone to type carbonic acid, which dissolves, erodes and weakens the rock. Over thousands and thousands of years, the fissures are enlarged and tunnels and caves are fashioned. Erosion is twofold, from rainwater on the floor and the underground rivers flowing via the rock. Ultimately the rock turns into so unstable that massive slabs carve off and cave roofs collapse, resulting in the creation of sinkholes.

Cenotes might be deep lakes or shallow swimming pools and so they could out of the blue seem consequently of subsidence and a rock fall in a cave. There are a number of differing kinds of sinkholes: open cenotes are these in which the historical cave roof has collapsed utterly. Partially open cenotes nonetheless have a bit of the cave roof and there are nonetheless others which have a small opening in the roof via which daylight and the roots of jungle bushes filter in.

Native wildlife corresponding to deer, peccary and even the elusive jaguar will collect to drink on the banks of cenotes, swallows and dragonflies dip throughout the floor and the turquoise-browed motmot fowl nests in the limestone partitions.

The quantity of these enigmatic wells scattered via the peninsula is unknown, in the state of Yucatan alone there are between 7,000 and eight,000, many of that are related to native legends. The Maya believed that cenotes have been sacred locations – they have been the house of the rain god, Chaac, and the gateway to Xibalba, the Underworld. Even in the present day, some communities imagine that the aluxes or spirits hang-out caves and cenotes and others inform of legendary creatures corresponding to golden crocodiles.

The longest underground rivers found in the world thus far are in the Tulum space and exploration of this secret world deep in the limestone rock remains to be underway. Cave divers and archaeologists have made vital discoveries about prehistoric creatures corresponding to the sabre tooth tiger and big sloth, the bands of hunter gatherers who inhabited the space greater than 13,000 years in the past, and the historical Maya. They’ve discovered bones and traces of very early looking instruments and later choices of ceramics and different objects left in caves by the Maya to honor the gods.

Visiting cenotes is an unforgettable expertise. Their cool crystal-clear waters are inviting and fairly a shock after the steamy noon warmth and as you swim or snorkel, look down into the depths and marvel at Mom Nature. You’ll see pillars and sculpted columns that appear to be the turrets and spires of a submerged metropolis and in the distance the black holes of caves and tunnels main into the unknown.

The Riviera Maya’s hidden wonders

Right here’s a information to some of the Riviera Maya’s cenotes, touring north to south.

Ruta de los Cenotes

We start our cenote hopping tour in Puerto Morelos. Simply south of this waterfront city, an arch and an indication level you to a street main west via the forest. That is the Ruta de los Cenotes that results in a sequence of stunning cenotes and ultimately hyperlinks up with the village of Leona Vicario on Freeway 180.

Rustic indicators beside the Ruta de los Cenotes street point out flip offs for jungle trails resulting in cenotes open to the public corresponding to Las Mojarras, Kin-Ha, and La Noria the place you possibly can zip line, dive in from a tower or simply get pleasure from the view.

The seven mouths that give the Siete Bocas cenote its identify glow gently as the daylight penetrates the turquoise depths.  The unusual rock formations in this cenote are unbelievable.

Subsequent cease alongside the Ruta de los Cenotes is the mysterious underground pool of Boca de Puma.  Positioned in a personal jungle reserve, this cenote provides a range of adventures starting from snorkeling and zip lining to mountain climbing, rappelling down a cliff wall and biking. There’s additionally a chiclero camp the place you possibly can find out how the sap of the chicozapote tree was harvested in the space and used to make chewing gum.

Lastly, observe a winding path to Verde Lucero, an open cenote in a forest clearing the place one other rustic zip line gives hours of enjoyable.

The Xenotes Oasis Maya journey offers you the probability to discover 4 very totally different cenotes in sooner or later, attempting your hand at snorkeling, zip lining and kayak. The 4 cenotes are named in Maya after the 4 components: Ok’áak or Hearth, Há or Water, Lik’ or Wind and Lu’um or Earth. All are crammed with crystal-clear water and unusual rock formations, and every has its personal allure.

Knowledgeable guides level out native natural world as they escort you alongside jungle trails, explaining how cenotes are fashioned and their significance as sacred websites for the historical Maya. They will even inform them about Mayan mythology, together with the story of the Aluxes, the guardian spirits of the forest and the milpa or cornfields.

Xenotes, Oasis Maya is for small teams of guests and contains the use of snorkeling gear and a life jacket, a gourmand picnic and transport.

For a day of jungle adventures, Selvatica Park additionally suits the invoice. Fly via the jungle cover on a collection of thrilling zip line circuits, then swim in a cenote. ATV jungle excursions are additionally out there.

You’ll discover nature trails in these cenote parks and see flocks of parrots and Yucatan jays, toucans and turquoise-browed motmots. The forest can be house to spider monkeys, brocket and white tail deer, peccary, margay, ocelot, puma and the elusive jaguar that park wardens sometimes see at evening consuming water from cenotes or in caves.

Rio Secreto

Simply south of Playa del Carmen, Rio Secreto is one other labyrinth of limestone caves and nonetheless clear swimming pools that mirror intricate columns, stalactites and stalagmites. Guided excursions can be found via this hidden treasure.

Cenotes in the Puerto Aventuras Space

A cluster of cenotes lies in the forest to the west of Freeway 307 between Puerto Aventuras and Akumal. One mile south of Puerto Aventuras is the Kantun Chi eco-park the place two majestic caves and 4 cenotes (Kantun Chi, Sas Ka Leen Ha, Uchil Ha and Zacil Ha) will shock even the most intrepid traveler.

In a jungle clearing, Cenote Azul is one other giant cenote with a number of inlets for snorkeling. The water is so tempting that you could be not have the option to withstand the urge to take a operating leap!

Christened by divers, Taj Mahal is one of the most spectacular in the space; shafts of daylight like an underwater laser present illuminate infinite vistas stretching into the distance. Much more poetically named is Jardín del Edén or Backyard of Eden, a big cenote wealthy in marine life and rimmed by exuberant vegetation that’s splendid for a day picnic.

Aktun Chen

In the jungle to the south of Akumal, Aktun Chen is a sequence of caves which are illuminated to point out the turquoise waters of hidden cenotes and the delicate magnificence of the stalactites, stalagmites and flowstones sculpted by water and calcite over thousands and thousands of years.

After exploring the caves, you possibly can get pleasure from the park’s different actions corresponding to ip lining, swimming and wildlife watching – spider monkeys, coatimundis and toucans are native inhabitants.

Nohoch Nah Chiich

This unbelievable cenote is the mouth of the longest underground river system in the world.

Dos Ojos Cenote Park

A go to to the Dos Ojos Cenote Park in the Tulum space offers you the probability to discover the mysterious underworld of the Yucatan, the intricate labyrinth of caves and underground rivers deep in the limestone rock.

Dos Ojos is the website of two of the longest underground rivers in the world and a few of the Riviera Maya’s most stunning cenotes or sinkholes. With a information you’ll go snorkeling in a number of cenotes or sinkholes, attempt zip lining and revel in a day in the jungle.

Dos Ojos Park can be the website of the Museum of Prehistory, which casts mild on the wonderful discoveries of fossils and the bones of the earliest people to settle the Yucatan Peninsula made by archaeologists and cave divers throughout explorations of space cenotes.

There are extra cenotes to get pleasure from in the Tulum space and on the option to Coba.

Thomas More Travel can assist you guide day journeys to Rio Secreto, Aktun Chen, Dos Ojos and the many jungle cenote parks in the Riviera Maya. Go to the website or the journey desk in the foyer of your resort.