The beautiful country of Mexico is a top global travel destination and draws tourists all year round. Cancun is one of the most popular areas of Mexico and many go there for the beautiful beaches, fantastic weather and vibrant nightlife. Although if you want to explore a little further a field and see a truly unique part of the country then follow our guide.
The Cenotes are actually sinkholes with exposed rocky edges containing groundwater and the term is derived from a word used by the Maya. They are also found in the Caribbean but the ones located in Mexico are particularly impressive. If you head just south of Cancun you will find the Yucatan peninsula which is home to this amazing destination. Unsurprisingly these curious series of underground water-filled caverns are extremely popular with visitors, swimmers, snorkelers, divers and photographers.
There are four types of these sinkholes – those completely underground, semi-underground, land-level and those that are similar to open wells. The ones in Mexico were formed after a long period of time. An ocean lied underneath the limestone floor which eventually gave way in places leaving large water-filled holes.
Incredible Diving – The diving here is extra special. The water is mostly rain water which enables the diver to see over five hundred feet. The surroundings are also superb – there are thousands stalagmites and stalactites, some of which are over 65 million years old. Another interesting part of the experience is the many beams of sunlight blasting through the darkness from many small holes above.
Not all the sinkholes are suitable for diving but many of them are. Some of the best include Chac Mool, Kukulcan and Chickin-Ha. They also considered to be one of the best cavern diving spots in the world although you will need to be an experienced and certified diver. As you can imagine with cavern diving comes with a certain amount of danger. For the less experienced swimming or snorkelling is a good option.
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