Luna at the Cenote Slip at 1:00

How to properly shower before entering a Cenote

Original was uploaded on 2025-02-09

What is a Cenote?

A cenote (from the Mayan word ts’ono’ot) is a natural sinkhole unique to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. These water-filled caverns form when limestone collapses, exposing underground rivers. Cenotes contain fresh water at the surface and saltwater deeper down, separated by a natural layer called the halocline.

Millions of years ago, the Yucatan was a submerged coral reef. As sea levels dropped during the Ice Age, the reef became exposed limestone, where jungles flourished. Later, rising sea levels filled the caves with water, creating the cenotes we can now swim and dive in. These submerged caves feature crystal-clear water, stunning stalactites and stalagmites, and even prehistoric fossils.

Cenotes were sacred to the Mayans, believed to be gateways to Xibalba, the underworld. They were also vital as the only fresh water source in the region.

Today, there are over 6,000 cenotes in the Yucatan, with many famous ones near Tulum in the Riviera Maya. They vary in form—from open wells to deep caves—and can be found in jungles, mangroves, and even cities.

Cenotes hold archaeological significance too. Divers have discovered fossils of ancient animals like giant sloths, mammoths, and even human skeletons over 10,000 years old, offering insights into early human life in the Americas. Because of their importance, Mexico’s National Institute of Archaeology and History (INAH) enforces strict preservation rules—leave nothing but memories.