Know Your Cenotes

By Robert & Joanne Birce of Alma Libre

You know the Yucatan Peninsula for its glorious beaches and ancient ruins, but under the ground there’s a completely different world to explore. The world of Cenotes.

Our Peninsula is a large limestone shelf dotted with clear blue-green pools of water. These pools are fed by an underground river system which winds through the limestone. Over the years these rivers have carved out vast caverns and tunnels.

Cenotes are filled with interesting rock formations, including stalagmites and stalactites. These systems are a Scuba Diver’s dream. There are Cenotes rated for both cave certified divers and non-cave certified divers. Exploring them can make you feel like you’re the first person to ever set eyes upon these amazing wonders.

Two wonderful books have been written on the subject. Both are authored by Cenote pioneers and are filled with breathtaking photos and stories.

Hidden Splendors of the Yucatan - Author / Photographer Lalo Fiorelli

This spectacular picture book explores the Cenotes in our area. The photos were taken when the underwater caves were first explored in the 1980's, the first people to visit them in at least 10,000 years. The photographs and tales of what they found are dramatic. The book is available in soft or hardcover.

Cenotes of the Riviera Maya - Author / Photographer Steve Gerrard