Cenotes

Cenotes
Beautiful, but full of mystery and magic at the same time, the cenotes are the most beautiful jewels of the Yucatan Peninsula. Sheltered by the jungle, swimming in a cenote is an adventure that you cannot miss during your vacation in Cancun, the Riviera Maya or Tulum.

Cenotes are very deep water wells, which are fed by the filtration of rain and the currents of the rivers that originate in the heart of the earth. That is why when swimming in a cenote you feel so fresh, imagine that the average temperature of its waters is a maximum of 24°C! These wells owe their name to the Mayans, who baptized them with the word Dz’onot, which means “cave with water” and from there they derived their current name: cenotes.

TYPES OF CENOTES
The cenotes found in Cancún, Tulum, Playa del Carmen or Yucatán have different ages and are classified as:

• Cave cenotes. The youngest ones and their color varies from emerald green to intense blue and can be seen through the holes in their vault.

• Semi-open Cenotes. Middle-aged, although part of it is already out in the open and may be connected to others.

• Open Cenotes. The oldest ones where the vault collapsed and are home to many species.

• Ancient Cenotes. Similar to a lagoon and an oasis in the middle of the Mayan jungle.

The vast majority of cenotes are located in the Yucatan Peninsula and have a very porous limestone soil that, when collapsed by rain and the current of underground rivers, gives rise to the formation of cenotes.

In the Riviera Maya, a phenomenon occurs where seawater enters the continental part and when it meets the fresh water of underground rivers, the halocline occurs, dissolving the rock more quickly, causing landslides that form large flooded chambers such as the Dos Ojos cenote. and Sac Actun.