By Contributor Miriam Porter
Cenote sink hole Oxman in Yucatan, Mexico, 2017 seen from above
With kids out of school for summer vacation it鈥檚 time to swap bustling city life for tropical views and rolling ocean waves. Families looking for sunny adventures will love exploring the Riviera Maya, located along Mexico鈥檚 Caribbean coastline of the Yucat谩n Peninsula, in the state of Quintana Roo. The region is packed with family friendly eco-adventures authentic to Mexico such as exploring natural mangroves and lagoons, snorkeling or diving among colorful fish, ziplining through jungle parks, and one of our favorite outdoor activities, swimming in cenotes.
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Underground caves Cenotes. Quintana Roo, Riviera Maya, Yucatan, Mexico
In the Yucat谩n Peninsula there are over 6,000 cenotes, and it鈥檚 estimated that under 200 hundred are open to the public. Cenotes range in size and are named after the Yucatec Maya word 鈥淒鈥檢onot鈥 – a place with underground water. Cenotes are the doorway to Mexico鈥檚 mysterious aquatic underworld and there are four main types: cave cenotes, open cenotes, semi-open cenotes, and underground cenotes, also called cavern cenotes. These natural deep water formations are a type of sinkhole and are formed by collapsing limestone bedrock and the percolation of rainwater and currents of underground rivers. They are truly quite special. If you go alone you will need to pay a small entrance fee upon arrival but if you are part of a tour it鈥檚 typically included in your overall price that includes hotel pick up. Be prepared to rinse off in a shower before entering the cenote.
My son and I have visited many cenotes in the Riviera Maya and these are three of our favorites.
Young man using a rope swing to jumpp into Cenote sink hole Oxman in Yucatan, Mexico, 2017
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Cenote Oxman
Valladolid, Mexico 鈥 July 25, 2019: Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman is a beautiful cenote open to swimmers and travelers in Mexico’s Yucatan region.
Cenote Oxman is the first cenote we visited and is very special. It鈥檚 a 15-minute drive from the historic Mexican city Valladolid and two hours from Cancun. (Tip: Save time to explore Valladolid鈥檚 colorful streets learning about Mayan culture, shop for authentic artwork, walk through the main square, and enjoy a vegan Tortilla Espanola at Elela Maya). Cenote Oxman is located at a former agave plantation dating back to 1746 within an estate property called Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman. It鈥檚 an open air cenote with dramatic views from above at the platform of rock walls, green hanging tree roots, and the water below is illuminated by the bright sun. There are 73 winding steps taking you into the jungle like underworld to a small platform where you can then swing like a monkey on a rope and drop into the refreshing water, or take another staircase down. Either way, you will be greeted by harmless black fish bubbling and swimming by. Our life vests allowed us to lean back while floating and look up from our deep hole in the earth at the birds flying high above in the sky.
Cenote Aktun Koh
Fish swimming in cenote cave interior in Quintana Roo, Mexico at Aktun Chen National Park.
Translated to mean Cave of the Puma, Cenote Aktun Koh, is a mysterious cavern enclosed cenote not far from Tulum and Akumal. (Tip: Add a visit to nearby Yal Ku Lagoon, a freshwater paradise where you can swim and explore the beautiful ecosystem 鈥 we have been several times and it鈥檚 one of our favorite snorkeling spots.) Our guide led us through Cenote Aktun Koh and explained the history while we swam in the frigid clear water. This magical cenote is situated in the heart of the highest concentration of underwater caves in the world and surrounded by impressive limestone. Since it鈥檚 enclosed, the light of our guide鈥檚 flashlight illuminated our path as we swam in the deep water. Be careful not to touch the stalactites and stalagmites all around you in as you swim with tiny fish through underwater corridors. I am pretty sure I saw a few bats staring down at me in wonder from the ceiling.
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Cenote Abierto
Young man jumping into Cenote in Yucatan, Mexico
My son loved Cenote Abierto for the adrenaline rush when he jumped off several cliffs and platforms of various heights into the glorious water. If jumping isn鈥檛 your thing (I did it once and screamed the whole way down), there are multiple zipline courses where you let go before reaching the other side. Then swim and check out the limestone formations in the shallow areas of this newer cenote. Located along the popular cenote route and accessible from Puerto Morelos, you can arrange a guided tour to pick you up from your hotel or rent a car and decide where to swim and explore. This open air cenote is perfect for families with kids of all ages and is surrounded by lush vegetation, flowing green trees, natural beauty, and friendly Mexican iguanas.
open air cenote, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. People swimming and sitting near the water, seen from a distance.
Cenote Travel Tips:
Leave Only Footprints sign
* Practice responsible tourism and ensure your sunscreen and insect repellant is biodegradable and eco-friendly to help protect cenotes, coral reefs, and water reserves.
*Bring a waterproof bag, towel, change of clothes, cash for entrance fees or snacks.
* If you have dietary restrictions bring snacks as there are limited options available for purchase 鈥 and please always throw out your trash!
* Leave only footprints, don鈥檛 feed or touch wild animals, and be respectful in these ancient Mayan caves as they are sacred spaces.
A Cenote is a sinkhole in the Earth’s surface, Black Fish in the Cenote in Mexico.
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