Exploring the Yucatan - Cenotes

Can you imagine swimming through crystal clear water and admiring the incredible stalactites and stalagmites while exploring one of the many underground rivers in the Yucatan? I did that when I swam one of Mexico's many cenotes.

So What's a Cenote?

A cenote (pronounced se-no-teh) forms when rain trickles through the thin soil of the land and settles into porous limestone below. Over time, underground river systems and caverns form. The Yucatan Peninsula is riddled with cenotes, and some of them are popular hangouts for tourists and locals and offer a great place to cool off. Some are accessed from a cave-like entrance, while others require you to climb straight down a ladder into a pitch black abyss.

During my visit to Mexico I had the opportunity to explore Dos Ojos (Two Eyes), half hour drive from Tulum. It's one of the larger cenotes and offers more than 25 miles of underground rivers to explore. 

To fully explore cenotes you'll need scuba gear, a light and a guide - which are all normally available at the entrance. Snorkeling allows for ample exploration, but limits you to the areas that still have air space above the water. We had neither snorkel nor scuba equipment, but were still able to swim in the more open and lit areas. We even swam through a small canal between two sections of the cenote, which was quite dark but we could see the light at the end of the tunnel. This is definitely an activity you do not want to miss, so make sure to check out one of the many cenotes during your next vacation on the Yucatan.

Read more about Kim's amazing adventures in Mexico:

Kim Bowerman,
Nomadik Personal Fitness Expert

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