Cenote La Noria, courtesy Sandra Salvado and Boundlessroads.com

I was incredibly humbled this week as I was attempting to finish my book on Cancun and the Riviera Maya.  How did I miss the fact that there is a road near Puerto Morelos named “Ruta de los Cenotes” which has approximately 20 cenotes for travelers to explore?? (where’s a face-palm emoji when you actually need one?).  Gee whiz, I’ve only been visiting Cancun and the Riviera Maya, often several times a year, since 2011; one would think I should have run across this information a lot sooner, lol….nevertheless, I am always open to learning something new and now I have more fascinating things to explore during my next vacations to this area.

For those of you not knowing much about cenotes, here’s a very brief explanation about them (a more detailed explanation can be found here).  Cenotes (pronounced seh-NO-tays with the emphasis on “no”) are basically limestone sinkholes filled with freshwater–these sinkholes are discovered when the limestone ceilings of these underground caves collapse creating a hole in the ground.  Mature cenotes are open to the sky with no cave-like atmosphere.  Some cenotes are so cave-like you will have bats for companions and struggle for overhead space with stalactites while you swim in water which can have a depth of 200+ feet.  Very cool–literally and figuratively.  Cenote water is often between 72-75 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s if some sunlight shines into the cenote) and can make for a refreshing afternoon swim in the hot Yucatan sun.  Cenotes were very important to the Mayan people–not only were they a main source of freshwater, they were also considered to be entrances to the “Xibalba”, or Underworld where Mayan gods would visit.  Some cenotes became sacred and were also used for rituals and offerings to the gods.  Cenotes are considered to be protected by a playful but jealous Mayan sprite called Alux (pronounced Ah-loosh) who likes to play tricks on people.  It is not unusual for cenote visitors, especially those with Mayan heritage, to respectfully ask Alux for permission to enter a cenote.  (You wouldn’t want a Mayan sprite to ruin your day, would you?)

Ruta de los Cenotes is a 20+ mile road located just south of the Puerto Morelos exit off of Hwy. 307.  (If you rent a car, turn off the highway when you see the Selvatica sign if you’re not sure of this road’s particular location). For those who don’t want to rent a car, take a taxi from your resort and pay the driver to wait for your party…there are also multiple tour companies which will pick you up and escort you to various cenotes in this area (check with the excursion desk at your resort).

Click here to see a list of some of the most popular cenotes visited in this area of the Riviera Maya.  Some are major eco-parks with multiple zip lines, ATV’s, and other experiences (in addition to swimming in one or more cenotes), while others are run by families who own the property and collect entrance fees when you arrive.  Make sure to pack water and snacks–bringing a waterproof flashlight’s not a bad idea if you want to explore cave cenotes.  FIY:  don’t use any sunscreen when you visit a cenote, you will probably have to take a quick shower anyway prior to entering many of them.  Certain ingredients in many common sunscreens destroy cenote water clarity and hurt the fish who live within as well as destroy reefs and marine ecosystems.

What do you think, would you visit cenotes along this route, or have you already visited cenotes in the Riviera Maya?