The Cenotes of Quintana Roo, Mexico
Cenote Chen-Ha; a typical closed cenote in the Quintana Roo state
Sinkholes in the Jungle
Deep within the jungles and underground caves of Quintana Roo, along the Caribbean coast of Mexico, the crystal-clear blue waters of the cenote entice visitors to enter their cool depths. These ancient cenotes were essential to the survival of the Mayan people who believed them to be sacred gateways to the underworld below.
The Yukitan area has over 6,000 of these pools of water which formed when sinkholes appeared in the limestone bedrock, exposing the groundwater beneath. Cenotes can be open to the sky above, or they may be closed pools of water deep within a cavern. They can also take the form of underground river systems connecting the caverns and caves to one another.
The ancient Mayans of the Yukatan used cenotes as essential sources of fresh water and fish in an area that lacked any lakes or rivers, allowing for their survival in times of drought. But the cenotes were much more to the Mayan people who saw them as the place where the gods dwelled and where offerings could be made to help appease them.
The Mayan civilization was one of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world and occupied an area that included southern Mexico, starting around 1500 BC. The Mayans had a society based on agriculture and were known for their astronomical observations and calendar systems, as well as their ancient cities and temples. They were responsible for numerous structures such as the stepped pyramids of Chichen Itza. The ancient Mayan civilization began its decline around 900 BC, and by the time of the Spanish invasion in the 16th century, the temples and cities were deserted and overgrown by the surrounding jungle.
Cenote Mariposa; a typical open cenote in Quintana Roo state
Human Sacrifice and the Cult of the Cenote
Sacrificial offerings were an important part of the Mayan religious ceremony. Offerings to the gods were always made to coincide with important dates in the Mayan calendar. During these ceremonies, the local people would make the pilgrimage to the ceremonial temples to participate in the religious rites, praying for the harvest, the hunt, or fertility.
At the ceremonies, the Mayan people would get intoxicated, drinking hallucinogenic peyote concoctions while engaging in blood-letting rituals and watching the spectacle of the sacrifices before them. The sacrifices were of all forms of animal, from lizards to jaguars, with humans as the star attraction. Who were the unlucky humans? It was thought that the sacrifices were slaves, prisoners of war, orphans, and those abducted or sold for this particular purpose.
There were different methods used by the high priests when making an offering to the gods. One included repeatedly hitting the sacrifice with arrows until the heart was pierced, while another method was much more Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The painted blue victim would be held down atop the temple’s altar, and their beating heart would be cut out by the priest as an offering, and their bodies discarded down the temple steps. Drownings were also a common method of sacrifice. The offering would be laden with gold and precious stones and then hurled off the temple precipice into the sacred waters below to appease the gods.
Human sacrifice by drowning commonly involved the cenotes where the offering was made to the rain god Chaak in exchange for the gift of rain for the crops. This was known as the Cult of the Cenote. Many valuables such as gold and jade along with human skeletons have been discovered in cenotes that confirm this legend, with over 200 bodies having so far been found in the sacred cenote of Chichen Itza alone.
Top Tips
There are many cenotes to visit in this part of Mexico. You can explore them on your own—just remember to bring cash for entrance fees—or as part of a guided tour. Some cenotes are perfect for relaxing and swimming, while others cater to the adventurous, offering ladders for climbing and opportunities for cliff jumping. Additionally, there are cenotes located underground, deep within caves.
During our trip, we joined a tour that included visits to two cenotes and the Tulum ruins. If you go for the tour option, there are plenty available with activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, zip-lining, and quad biking between cenotes.
There is even an eco-archeological theme park with cenotes and an underground river set in the jungle called Xcaret.
Theme park info: https://www.xcaret.com/en/
A good blog of the best cenotes in the area: https://www.apoplous.blog/tulum-cenotes-best-tips-must-sees-one-to-avoid
Most cenotes require all swimmers to wear life vests before entering the water. Many cenotes also prohibit the use of sunscreens and other harmful chemicals due to the delicate ecosystems, so swimming tops or hats may come in use. The majority of the cenote have basic facilities on-site, including toilets, changing rooms, and lockers to use.