Last Updated on April 2, 2021 by Sammie
My First Mexican Cenote Experience In The Yucatan
I’m no expert here, but if you’re in Mexico and you don’t see a single cenote then I think you’re doing it wrong. A Mexican cenote is the prized gem of the yucatan. And I promise they aren’t hiding from you. Look on google maps because more than likely one will be within an hour drive of you, considering there are more than 6,000 cenotes to explore in the yucatan peninsula.
If you are lucky enough to share the experience with a local then I assume you will quickly learn how these beautiful craters came to exist. But until then…many many moons ago (think dinosaurs roaming around) there was a giant meteroite that hit southern Mexico in the yucatan peninsula. These large water filled sinkholes are the traces of that meteorite. I’m no scientist so I will leave the explanation at that, and instead switch to telling you to go to as many as possible.
A cool plunge off the highway.
My first Mexican cenote experience at the Garden of Eden was akin to the first time you see the ocean as a child. Maybe you remember the feeling or not but astonishment comes to mind. Garden of Eden, close to Playa del Carmen, can be easily accessed from highway 307. The “EDEN” sign comes up fast but a simple turn from the highway and a quick park and that’s as complicated as it gets.
By the way, the water is FRESH. And by fresh I mean, it really makes you feel alive, and by alive I mean it’s freakin cold. It’s not freezing. But if you go after a night of rain, going waist deep will make you do that thing when you raise you arms and shoulders trying to get away from the water the further you go in. But it’s spectacular. It’s like taking the freshest swim of your life. It’s like, “Yes, THIS is where I should be.”
What to bring to a Mexican Cenote?
I wish I had brought goggles but regardless, the colors are unbelieveable. I opened my eyes underwater and you can see bright shades of green and blue with the sunshine gilstening through the water creating a kaleidoscope effect. You can even pretend you’re Indiana Jones and go explore the caves and caverns along the edges. There are cenotes where you can take a guide and go scuba diving, but it’s quite advanced diving so my suggestion is to bring a snorkle. You can never go wrong with some snorkle exporing. But watch where you go because you don’t want to be landed on from the cliff jumping that goes on here.
Cliff jumping you say?
I mean, it’s a small cliff. You’ll notice at the entry of this mexican cenote there’s a little cleared platform edge about 5 meters up from the water. Take a second to check if someone’s scuba diving beneath you, but if not; go crazy. The bigger the splash the bigger the applause I noticed.
And if “thrill seeker” isn’t on your resume take a gander at the free spa brought to you by tiny fish that eat the dead skin off of your feet. Set yourself up on a rock and stay still. It won’t be long before you have a small school circling your feet giving you a free fish pedicure. I prefered flinging myself over the edge of a cliff more than having my toes nibbled on, but we all have our preferences. REGARDLESS, try it. Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt. It’s just very ticklish. It’s like a very tiny nip (not a bite). But I do believe these little guys must have a healthy diet because the fish pedicure I experienced at Cenote Azul (right next door to Eden) was far more tame. But go big or go home am I right?
Important information about Mexican Cenote “Garden of Eden”
- Don’t wear sunscreen in the cenote, it hurts the marine life.
- Come early in the morning to beat the crowds.
- The weekends will undoubtedly be more packed than weekdays.
- For more details about cenotes click HERE.
If you have any mexican cenote suggestions for the Yucatan, leave a comment below!
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