Early start this morning to get some breakfast before our 9:00 departure. We stopped in Acanceh, a small town only half an hour from Merida, to pick up some snacks for lunch, it’s very different to the city, the market has very little choice and everything looks a bit run down. There’s a Mayan pyramid next to the main square, not something every village can claim.
Today was all about Cenotes, underground sinkholes filled with water. There are over 2500 in the Yucatan peninsula. We visited two different ones. Both have in common that they almost invisible from above until you’re on top of them. Wooden steps lead down to the water 15-20m below ground. The water is deep blue and where the sun hits them the rays are visible a long way down. The water is cool to swim in but pleasant once you’ve been in it for a while. We’re given masks and snorkels to get a better look.
The first has a bit more sunshine getting in, the rays make beautiful patterns in the water. Surprisingly there are a few fish, a kind of small catfish. The second is deeper and widens out under ground to a space 150m across. There are a few platforms to jump from, one of the local guides impresses us all by jumping from the top – probably 20m down to the water. There are roots from trees hanging all the way from top to the water.
The second cenote has another surprise – on the bottom is a nativity scene – only in Mexico!
Both are very beautiful, it’s a wonderful experience to lie back in the water and look at the sun reflecting onto the roof of the cave or the sky through the hole at the top.
We stopped at a convenience store in Telchaquillo on the way back, they sell many types of soft drinks and cheesy crispy snacks – and not much else.
Back in Merida we have some more ice creams and walk round for an hour, I think we’ve seen it all.
The light patterns are off the charts!!!
Thanks, imagine what it’s like swimming in the middle of all that!