We are not sure how many cenotes exist in Playa del Carmen but we are sure that there are many, and that they all contain a magic that you have to know. Join us on a journey through the depths of the Mayan cenotes, places full and of great presence in the culture of the Mayan Riviera.
Its origin dates back to the extinction of the dinosaurs, because when the meteorite hit the earth, one of the most affected areas was the now Yucatan Peninsula. The impacts caused rock formations that gave the vaults a spectacular appearance.
As time went by, those caverns fed by underground freshwater rivers were filled with stalactites and stalagmites, symbols that we are entering the bowels of the earth. For the pre-Hispanic cultures, the Mayans, the cenotes were very important ritual spaces.
They were considered entrances to the underworld and channels of communication with the gods. Perhaps the most important sacred cenote on record is the one found in the archaeological zone of Chichén Itzá and is the ik kil cenote, famous for having a Chac mool at the top of the Kukulkan temple. It is easily accessible and visitors can walk to it.
This cenote meant a ritual space for the ancient Mayans, because deep down, bones and offerings have been found that they made to ask the gods for abundance and give thanks. Currently the cenotes are spaces that reveal the imposing nature of the Mayan Riviera. Visitors from all over the world seek to make the route of the cenotes that connects them with an inner peace and adventures.
Camping and diving activities are very common for the whole family, for the little ones you can rent snorkeling equipment that is accompanied by life jackets. The cenotes in Playa del Carmen are easily accessible, such as the blue cenote, the crystalline cenote, the cenote dos ojos or the garden of Eden, which visitors can reach by federal highway, cool off and enjoy the wonders of the Mexican Caribbean.
At Evoke Real Estate we want these adventures to be your day to day, on your next visit we recommend Puerto Adventures, a magical place that we will talk about in a next installment.