About this experience
Join me on a journey to the karst caves and underground lakes to enjoy the mysterious Mexican nature. You will be impressed by stalactites and stalagmites, bathe in the crystal-clear water, admire the hanging lianas, the whimsical roots of trees, the greenery, and the flowers. I will tell you in a 'living' language what cenotes are, how they were formed, and what significance they had for the ancient Mayans. You will discover a unique new world and see that Mexico is truly a different planet with astonishing landscapes, traditions, and mysteries.
What to Expect
Exotic world of underground caves, lianas, and sacred lakes
You will visit open and closed cenotes. Open ones will remind you of exotic wells with hanging lianas and tree roots on the walls or islands surrounding the clear waters of the sacred springs. Closed cenotes are caves with underground lakes of the purest blue water, where you can swim, walk around, and admire the stone vaults, stalactites, and stalagmites. I will tell you why some cenotes became places for sacrifices, what meaning the ancients attached to these rituals, and how the modern world learned about them.
Enigmas of cenotes and the Mayan civilization
I will tell you how cenotes were formed in Mexico, whether the geology of the region influenced this process, what role the ancient meteorite and dinosaur extinction played in the history of cenotes. The Mayans called cenotes 'gates to the realm of the dead' and considered their waters sacred. You will learn about the mysterious discoveries that divers-speleologists encountered in cenotes, which gods of the ancient Mayans are connected with these artifacts, and what exactly people asked of higher beings. And I will definitely tell you about the modern descendants of the Mayans: what customs have been preserved to this day, why the Mayans lost their writing system, and how most of them live in the new world.
Organizational Details
How the excursion goes
- I will conduct the tour for you or another guide from our team and a driver on a rented car
- At your request, I can adjust the route and the number of visited cenotes and caves
Additional expenses
- For groups of more than 3 people (including children), an upgraded car is additionally paid (from $50) depending on the number of people and comfort preferences
- Gasoline and toll roads - about $140 depending on the location of your hotel
- Drinks and food
- Entrance tickets to cenotes - $10-15 per person
- You can reach an open cenote by foot or bicycle rickshaws/bikes - $3-9 per person
