Krystal Cancun Timeshare explains that Cancun is located in Mexico at one of the country’s easternmost point and is one of Mexico’s most important tourist destinations. The city borders the Caribbean Sea and sits on the vast Yucatán Peninsula, which is renowned for its breathtaking coastline and its famous cenotes. As a traveler in Cancun, one unique experience you can try is snorkeling or diving in a cenote.
When limestone collapses and exposes a reservoir of water underneath it is called a Cenote. The term cenote derives from the Mayan word “Dzonote,” which means “a sacred well.” Ancient Mayans revered cenotes and would throw precious stones in them to appease their gods, in addition to making sacrifices in them. These fantastic cave-like structures contain clean, fresh water from underground rivers. Over the years, an extensive network of underground caverns has developed, connecting them all.
The number of discovered cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula is over 7000. At any scale, this is an incredibly high number, and it would take an extremely long time to explore all of them. To make your work easier, we have listed 5 well-known cenotes we recommend you check out. Luckily, most of these are found in close proximity to Cancun and can be explored on your way to the Mayan ruins.
The most famous Cenote in Cancun is Ik Kil Cenote, just under a two-hour drive from the city. Take a trip to the cenote and explore the lush jungle foliage and fabulous caves. It is also a great place to snorkel and relish the impressive underwater formations and the array of aquatic life in the waters. Due to its clear and deep waters, it is also a great place to SCUBA dive as well as snorkel.
Krystal Cancun Timeshare recommends visiting the Cenotes of Cancun
Also located just off Highway 307, south of Aventuras Akumal, is the famous Cenote Dos Ojos. It is indeed one of the largest and most famous cenotes in all of Mexico. The term Dos Ojos is a Mayan word that means “two eyes.” As the name suggests, this cenote is made up of two distinct pools; one where the water is crystal blue, and the other is darker. The blue-pooled area is perfect for snorkeling, while the darker one is excellent for diving. Apart from enjoying the water, you can take a walk through the dry caves and witness bats fluttering among the stalactites.
Located just off the Tulum/Coba highway to the north is the spectacular Gran cenote that looks like a tropical underground beach with its palm trees, elephant ears, and water lily vegetation. Krystal Cancun Timeshare recommends this cenote as visibility here is very high. You can see clearly at depths of up to 60 feet below the water surface. Snorkeling is a joy here as you come face to face with underground stalagmites, turtles, and various species of fish.
The Cenote El Pit is located inside the Dos Ojos National Park, a jungle found 22 km north of Tulum. It is also part of the Cenote Dos Ojos and is located only about 2.8 km from it. Cenote El Pit is probably one of the best scuba diving spots in Mexico because its depth reaches 100 ft. The cenote features a hydrogen sulfide cloud at 30 meters below the water surface. Below this cloud, the water is very dark, so it is advisable to carry a flashlight for added visibility.
The Cenote Azul, or Blue Cenote, is located about a 20-minute drive from Playa del Carmen. This cenote is wholly exposed to sunlight and features clean turquoise waters. The cenote is only 26 meters deep and teems with tropical fish that are a marvel to watch. The surrounding cliffs are lush with many iguanas feeding off the vegetation, but are also great places from which you can jump into the waters. It also features an underground cave that you can dive through. Krystal Cancun Timeshare suggests that a visit to one or more of these cenotes should not be missed on your next trip to Cancun.