Cenote Swimming
- Donna P.
- Mar 14, 2016
- 1 min read
Cenotes are like portals to a different world. The Mayans believed there were three entryways to the underworld. The bottom of the sacred cenote was one entryway. Other methods of entry included caves or through competition in the Mayan ball game. They believed they could communicate with the Gods by offering sacrifices into the cenote. The rain god Chaac was thought to live at the bottom of the sacred cenote, and many humans were sacrificed to appease him. Cenotes are sinkholes formed from collapsed limestone bedrock which exposes groundwater underneath. These gorgeous mineral rich pools of water can be partially enclosed, fully open, or hidden underground.
No trip to Mexico would be complete without a swim in a cenote. Over 6000 cenotes are located in the Yucatan Peninsula and if you know where to look, you’ll discover some of the most surreal swimming holes in the world.
Whether you’re visiting Cancun, Tulum or Merida, there is a cenote near by. I had the pleasure of swimming in the Chaak Tun Cenote which was filled with stalagmites and stalactites. Honestly, it is something you don’t want to miss no matter where you are staying; I can’t imagine an atrocious cenote. Take a few hours and transport yourself into a different world!