On Wednesday we finally visited a cenote. Cenotes are basically water filled caves. There are over 14,000 cenotes on the Yucatan peninsula.
We went to a place called Santa Barbara which had three cenotes. They actually have four, but once was closed. The first thing they give you is a life vest which everyone is required to wear in the cenotes. At first I thought it seemed like overkill, but once I was in the water I realized you needed them. They are deep. You can’t touch the bottom in any of them.
The first one was a closed cenote which meant it was completely underground.
To get to it we had to go down these stairs. As a person who is bad on stairs it took me awhile to get down
Once I was in the water it was great. The water is cold but when it’s 103 outside cold water is welcome.
The second one was partial cenote which means there is a hole in the ceiling which lets in light. This one started with this tunnel. Once inside it was half cave with staglites and half open with a tree growing down down towards the water.
On the way out I asked Jeff to go ahead to get the phone to take the above photo. As I was getting out I teetered on my feet a bit and next thing I knew four elderly Mayan men were helping me out of the water.
The third one had these stairs to get down to it. The stairs were OK but the handrail was the blue rope. I was clutching the rope pretty hard, but made it down. Once down this one was the easiest to actually get in the water.
This one was open which meant the entire ceiling was open. This is also the one in the top photo.
Afterwards we had lunch in the restaurant which was included in the entry price. We thought it wouldn’t be good since it was included but it might have been the best food we’ve had in the Yucatan peninsula.
We now have only 13,997 cenotes to still see. Swimming in them was great, but getting into them was tricky. I need one with better stairs.
What a wonderful experience!!! What a treasure the cenotes are. Thank you for sharing your wonder and fun!
That looks so amazing! And the food looks so good too! Iād ask if there were escalators at any of the cenotes. I mean it is the 21st Century.
The place we went to actually had 4 cenotes. The 4th one was closed but it had an elevator! I was most excited for this one. But alas, it was not available.
Very cool! Precarious, but cool!š
It was cool enough to be worth the precariousness although still a bit scary on the stairs.
I was sure Jeff would’ve taken a pic of the 4 Mayan men helping you.
The food looks delish! š®
I so wish there has been photographic evidence. Although who knows the families of the men helping me may have taken some. I may be on “dumb gringos funniest videos”