A beautiful collection of Mexico in photos featuring the magnificent cenotes.
Tree Roots Suck up Water at Samula Cenote
Yucatan, Mexico
What exactly is a cenote? It's a freshwater sinkhole usually connected to an underground river system that flows through limestone passageways in the earth. Cenotes are located all around Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, and a few Caribbean islands as well. It's estimated that there are well over 6000 of them in the area.
Cenotes come in many different shapes & sizes. Some are completely underground, others are semi-underground with small openings that let in sunlight, and some have no cave ceiling at all — exposed to the outside world.
The water here is crystal-clear and perfect for swimming. Snorkeling and SCUBA diving in a cenote are other popular activities, as there is a lot to see down there. Underwater stalactites, stalagmites, blind fish, cave fossils, and sometimes even ancient human remains are found in them.
These unique water-caves are considered sacred to the Mayan people who believed them to be entrances to the underworld. They were also once used for ritual human sacrifice!
Many of Mexico's most popular cenotes are located on private land, but you can often visit them for the day after paying an entrance fee of $2-$10 US and create your own memories of Mexico in Photos.
Cenotes are truly magical places, and should be a must-see while traveling through Mexico's Mayan Riviera. Here are some of my favorite shots of Mexico in Photos, particularly Cenotes. Enjoy!
Mexico in Photos – Cenotes of the Yucatan
Getting Some Sun at Xcanche Cenote
Cave Divers Prepare to Submerge at Pit Cenote
Colorful Limestone Walls at Grand Cenote
Lily Pads Cover the Water at Kuzan Cenote
Sunlight Beams into Dzitnup Cenote
Interesting Stalactites Inside Dos Ojos Cenote
Bio:
Matthew Karsten is a full-time vagabond & adventure junkie who's on a mission to inspire others to get out there and explore the world. Enjoy more photo essays like this one as well as travel advice, crazy stories, & entertaining videos on his adventure travel blog.
Blog: ExpertVagabond.com
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By Blondetheroad May 13, 2017 - 4:02 pm
These places are amazing, I visited a few ones on my trip to Mexico and really worth it! Stunning views.
By Capture the Colour, Bigger, Better and more Green August 14, 2013 - 9:46 am
[…] Vagabond – Matthew wowed us with his Extraodinary Cenotes in Mexico photos capturing their colours […]
By icoSnap September 25, 2012 - 12:02 pm
Awesome photos! I feel like going to Mexico 🙂
By Mike@completetravelguide September 8, 2012 - 11:49 pm
The moment I saw your pictures, I was really amazed and I even shouted “wow”. It’s really a must-see when visiting in Mexico
By debndave September 16, 2012 - 8:21 am
The Cenotes are definitely a must see in Mexico indeed.
By Serena Star Leonard August 21, 2012 - 8:53 pm
About 8 years ago my 7th ever dive was in Grand Cenote and my 8th was in Cenote Angelita. These dives sealed the deal with my passion for diving and the Angelita one was one of the best things I have ever experienced. In November I arrive back in Mexico to dive as many as possible in my time there and I can’t wait!
Thanks for reminding me visually what I have been so looking forward to!
By debndave August 30, 2012 - 1:53 pm
That’s amazing. We dove in Mexico at Cozumel for a week but never made it to the Cenotes. Next time for sure.
By Beth Campbell August 16, 2012 - 9:42 pm
wow, what a fabulous place! when I’ve got enough friends and money together, ill be sure to take a visit. the pictures just jumped at me when i saw them. absolutely amazing, without a doubt! keep up the good work. 🙂
By Rico July 23, 2012 - 8:15 am
The photos are stunning! Diving in Cenotes is one of the biggest tourist attractions on the Mayan Riviera. Thanks for the post! Cheers, Rico
By debndave July 27, 2012 - 1:01 pm
They are stunning aren’t they! When we go back to Mexico, this is the first thing on the list. When we went diving in Cozumel, we regret not taking a trip to the Cenotes. We should have. Oh well, a great excuse to go back.
By This Week in Travel, Week of July 14-20, 2012 | The Traveling Type July 20, 2012 - 2:03 pm
[…] what a Mexican cenote is and see just how beautiful they can be with photos from The Planet D. See even more in our Explore Mexico’s Cenotes […]
By Jonas Wynn July 19, 2012 - 12:56 pm
Honest to god ..without even the slightest exaggeration I literally whimpered when I saw these pictures. I want to see these places so badly it’s mind boggling. I’ve been talking with friends about going cave exploring here in Ontario ultimately wanting to see spots even remotely similar to this…backpacking the riviera maya is too expensive:(
By Matthew Karsten August 4, 2012 - 7:32 am
With street food, hostels (or Couchsurfing), and colectivos for transport, you can spend a month down there for less than $700.
By Gunnar E. Todal July 18, 2012 - 3:35 am
Nice pictures. I like the crystal-clear water. It will be wonderful to swim there. It is a pure place.
By Armands Balodis July 16, 2012 - 1:35 pm
The caves has always fascinated me. These ones look just like from the movies.
By Matthew Karsten July 17, 2012 - 5:41 pm
Actually the last photo, Dos Ojos Cenote, was featured in the horror movie “The Cave” as well as an IMAX movie “Journey Into Amazing Caves”. 🙂
By Dean July 16, 2012 - 3:45 am
Beautiful! Looks like a great place to take a dip.
By Christena Liitle July 15, 2012 - 8:12 pm
From Kaycie Little (11), what kind of animals do you see cave diving? I want to go cave diving.
By Matthew Karsten July 16, 2012 - 7:09 am
Hi Kaycie! You can see bats, cave swallows, and a few different types of fish.
If you look closely at the first photo (with the purple lights), you’ll see a bunch of little black things in the water. Those are black fish!
There are even some fish that don’t have eyes, because they don’t need them in the dark. 🙂
By Andi of My Beautiful Adventures July 15, 2012 - 3:19 pm
Absolutely gorgeous!!!! I heart cenotes. 🙂
By Victoria July 15, 2012 - 12:54 pm
Wow, what beautiful photos. I had never heard of cenotes before but will now be sure to visit some when we eventually get to Mexico. they look so idyllic.
By Camels & Chocolate July 15, 2012 - 12:22 pm
LOVE all these photos! Being an avid diver, I’m dying to dip into a cenote myself.
By Wandergirl July 15, 2012 - 10:20 am
Beautiful!
By Alberto Rojas July 15, 2012 - 9:09 am
I sincerely enjoy your great articles about this wonderful world!