Between the sea and the archaeological zones of the Riviera Maya lie the cenotes: deep natural wells that have existed for at least hundreds of thousands of years. Cenotes are formed thanks to rain that washes away the limestone soil, creating an underground cave system*1. This process is slow and can take hundreds of years to form a cenote.

An easy way to know the age of a cenote is by its structure. If the cenote is completely exposed, it is very old, as its vault has collapsed due to precipitation; if it is covered by a dome, then it is younger*1. Today, these wells are a popular tourist attraction and a source of pride both locally and nationally, but what is their history?

In the Maya World: a meeting of life and death

The Mayan civilization gave great symbolism to cenotes. For them, they were the entrance to the underworld, and also a source of life, as cenotes were the setting for various religious rituals to invoke abundance. For example, the Maya performed rituals to ask for rain from the god Cháak, the Mayan god of water, during the dry season.

Evidence of Mayan rituals has been found at the bottom of cenotes, such as jewelry, ceramic and utensil remains, as well as animal bones, and even human remains belonging to human sacrifices*2.

In the Modern World: a reason to fall in love with the Riviera Maya

Today, cenotes are a subject of study for biologists, and also a very attractive tourist spot for those who want to take a dip. It is common to find fauna such as fish, crustaceans, and some types of eel, as well as impressive stalactites that take the breath away even from the bravest visitors.

Some cenotes you can visit in Tulum and Playa del Carmen are:

• Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich
• Cenote Dos Ojos
• Cenote Carwash
• Cenote Nicte-Ha
• Cenote Azul
• And many, many more!

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Source:

1. National Geographic

2. Gobierno de Yucatán

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