Tips for visiting a cenote in Mexico
Standing under the hot Mexican sun, I thought back to all the times I complained about the cold Canadian winters and laughed.
At that point, I would have done anything for a cool breeze. It must have been at least 35 degrees and it was becoming almost unbearable. Our tour guide could tell that we were exhausted by the heat and mentioned with a smile that it was much cooler underground. We were heading down to visit a cenote. In the past couple years I have visited several underground caves and was not expecting this one to be any different. I was wrong.
Swimming in an underground freshwater pool: the Kiken Cenote
A cenote is a pool of freshwater in a sinkhole. We were lucky enough to visit Kiken, a cenote located in Dzitnup just outside of Valladolid. This cenote is completely underground, with no exposed surface water. It was first discovered by a local farmer whose pig fell through the ground above into cenote below. Funny enough, that’s actually how this cenote got its name, as ‘kiken’ is Mayan for Pig.
The caves I’ve visited in the past had proper stairs with hand rails, lots of lighting and railings everywhere to prevent anyone from getting hurt. This is great from a safety perspective, but it also feels very unreal. You may be in the cave, even able to touch the walls, but being stuck behind a railing and following a tour group makes the whole experience feel staged. The cenote we visited in Mexico was far from that: no hand rails, no proper stairs, and most of the lighting came through a hole in the ground above.
We quickly changed into our bathing suits and met at the entrance to the cenote. The uneven stairs in this dark, small, almost claustrophobic stairway were a challenge for my 3 dollar flip flops. I complained loudly about not being able to see, until I realized it was my own fault; I was still wearing my dark sunglasses.
Once inside, I was taken aback by the beauty and grandeur of this cenote. There must have been at least 20 people just relaxing and cooling off in this pool of water. I was the first one with my toes in the water, cautiously testing the temperature. Counting to three, I jumped in – the cool water was so refreshing.
The water appeared to be black. Looking down I had no idea how deep it was or what was swimming around me. It wasn’t until I swam over to the middle, where light shown through from above, that I realized the water was crystal clear and that there were friendly black catfish swimming with me. It was an unforgettable experience!
Tips for visiting a cenote in Mexico
If you’re planning on visiting the Yucatan Peninsula, I strongly suggest you visit one of the many cenotes. During my 7 day stay in Mexico, it was definitely my favorite experience. I have a handful of tips for you to keep in mind before you venture out to one of these natural beauties.
First off, make sure you bring proper running shoes. I tried to travel light, and since flip flops are small and easy to pack I brought several. With all the sightseeing and walking around town we were doing I was dying for a comfortable pair of runners after just one day in Mexico. In the battle between my flip flops and the uneven stairs in the cenote entrance, the stairs certainly won. I found myself grabbing onto the walls, the ceiling and even the person in front of me for balance.
Another thing you must remember is to leave your valuables in your car or hotel room. I brought my cell phone, ipod, and SLR camera to the Cenotes – definitely not the smartest idea. Lucky for me there were a few people in our tour group that had forgotten to bring their swim suits and were kind enough to watch my stuff while I went for a dip.
That brings me to my next tip: remember your bathing suit. It may seem pretty obvious, but sometimes in the rush and excitement of leaving your hotel for the day, important things can be left behind.
My last suggestion is that you do your research. Kiken is a great cenote and one that I highly recommend to people who are looking for something more relaxing. However, if you’re looking for more adventure, like repelling into cenotes from the ground above, than this cenote is not for you. There are thousands of cenotes throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. Each one different in its own way and you’ll have to find the one that’s right for you
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