Cenotes of the Yucatán, Mexico

One of the main reasons I find myself returning to the Yucatán Peninsula again and again is the unique natural wonder that exists here: Cenotes. What are cenotes? Most people have never heard of them yet they are the gateways to the largest underground river system in the world and heavily linked to ancient Mayan history. Mostly made up of crystal clear sinkholes and fresh water, they litter the coast-line between Playa Del Carmen and Tulum running perpendicular to the ocean. Attracting a certain kind of eco-tourist, they are open to both scuba diving and snorkeling excursions.

I will never forget the first time I dove into one. It was El Gran Cenote. After gearing up and a brief stroll through the jungle, we plunged into an underwater world that I was never aware of and that would change my experience of diving for ever. Stalactites, stalagmites, crystal formations, fossilized coral and animal remains in the limestone walls, and sunlight streaming through the cenote opening revealing the jungle above. It was truly breathtaking. I felt like I was flying through pages of a National Geographic spread. The water was so clear and still that I felt as though I was floating in a void. There's really nothing like it.

On my current Mexican adventure I have made it a mission to explore as many of these cenotes as I can, particularly the ones that are lesser known. So far I have explored two:

Xunaan Ha Cenote
Location: 500 meters off the 307 highway in the town of Chemuyil


A relatively small and isolated cenote, I was captivated by the carpet of bright green algae that covered the rocks under the water. There is also a small fox that roams here which I saw twice!


Jardín del Eden Cenote (part of the Ponderosa cave system)
Location: Near Akumal on the 307 highway



I visited this cenote twice. With a much larger opening it is ideal for snorkeling as well as diving and a large overhang allows for exciting cenote jumping! There are two entrances into the cave system, upstream and downstream so it's perfect for a 2-tank dive. Most importantly, there is also a lady making tacos right there!