Before reaching the Yucatan and the Riviera Maya in Mexico, we can discover that there are cenotes, that would be something like an oasis of recreation are only a few meters from the beautiful beaches of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Photgraphy by Alaskan Dude

For those who do not know what the cenotes are, these are ponds that are one or two hundred feet, emerging to the surface leaving emerge groundwater in the area. The water is usually turquoise or green, although there are cases where the water is very clear. There are several types of cenote, depending on their time and their classification, are those of the open, semi open or in caves, which are the most recent. These are formations of Pleistocene and say some are connected with the sea, but as the sea water is denser in the lower left of the cenote. In the Yucatan Peninsula is estimated that over 3000 cenotes.

Mayan language, but also meaning sacred cenote cavern with water or well water, so we can deduce that the Maya used the cenotes as a water reservoir to supply their cities in the Yucatan.

The cenote of sacrifice at Chichen Itza:

One of the most famous cenotes Cenote is the sacrifices of Chichen Itza, which is half destroyed and the water has stopped running due to the excavations and the techniques used in the interior in search of objects and bodies. Finally a large boulder fell within the Chican Itzá cenote, for which no more water has left circular. In this way, when you visit Chichen Itza, you see the cenote water is green or yellow and it smells particularly bad because the water is stagnant. It is said that this ancient sacred cenote, and that just 400 meters from the Chichen Itza pyramid, which was used to make and offer human sacrifices to the gods.

Photgraphy by ramonbaile

Tourists can swim in the cenote glass is very near the city of Tulum, but there are hundreds of them in the area, is a small cenote, not very touristy and local shows with pretty nice. The water is crystal clear (hence the name comes from), there is great visibility from the surface can see the cenote in all its depth, its flora and fauna. Normally the water is very cold and can be seen a lot of freshwater fish and even turtles. To swim in a cenote must respect a few rules, given that they live with endangered species and water in the cenotes is very pure. As cautioned swimmers or divers to avoid using sunscreen, drinking alcohol or throw any liquid in the water. So it is forbidden to enter the cenote with beer!.

Photgraphy by ryePix (formerly ryemang)

Throughout the Riviera Maya there are many cenotes announced in the road, and there are caves where apart from swimming in the cenote you can enjoy the beauty of the cave and other adventure sports like zip-line to name just one.