There are over 6000 cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Yes, that is a lot. This area is home to the highest concentration of cenotes in the world. What exactly is a cenote, why are they important, and should visiting a cenote be included on a vacation to the Mexican Caribbean?
Starting with the basics, cenotes are similar to a natural well or water reservoir commonly found in Mexico. They have a limestone surface that has collapsed to some degree. Think of it similar to a sinkhole that has a good chance of being filled with water. There are 4 kinds of cenotes:
Open: the ceiling has fully collapsed. They are great for swimming, relaxing, paddle boarding, and more.
Semi- open: the ceiling has partially collapsed. This allows for some natural light to come in.
Closed: only a small hole has collapsed as an entrance. The water is typically very calm making it great for snorkeling and/or diving.
Dry: no water is left and it is dried out. Dry cenotes are good for land-based exploration and archaeological finds from the Mayans.
What can you do in a cenote? Depending on which cenote you go to, you can zip line, jump from platforms, snorkel, swim, repel, scuba dive, kayak, or rappel.
One of the most famous cenotes is Cenote Azul. It is an open cenote located in Puerto Aventuras. It is close to one of my favorite places to visit in Mexico, Lagoon of Seven Colors in Bacalar and an easy car ride from Playa del Carmen. The water at Cenote Azul is simply stunning. I recommend taking a tour here to learn and explore.
For the Mayan people cenotes were considered it to be the entrance to the Xibalba, which means the underworld, and a place where the Mayan gods would visit. Cenotes were so important that most temples and villages were built close by or even on top of cenotes.
They are major source of water in modern and ancient Yucatán. The average temperature of a cenote is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Each cenote is unique so no two cenotes will be the same. They can have stalagmites (a mound/column forming from the ground) and stalactites (mound/column forming from the ceiling). Both make for some beautiful pictures. Cenotes are connected underground.
Click here to get a list of the top 10 cenotes in the Mexico.
Markwood Magic has access to tour operators that provide private and group excursions to at a few cenotes in Mexico.
Ready to plan your next adventure to Mexico? Schedule a consultation to get started.
