Power Places Tours: MAYAN Ceremonial Cenotes

National Geographic's "Traveler" Magazine states that Power Places Tours is "The Grandfather of Spiritual Tours".


In areas with limestone bedrock, occasionally a deep sinkhole appears to expose the groundwater beneath. This occurrence is often found in Mexico, specifically in the Yucatan Peninsula. Underground river systems flow beneath the entire area and formed massive cave systems. Some of these collapsed, leaving exposed access points in the form of sinkholes, or “cenotes” 

Like the iceberg, what lies beneath can be even more impressive than merely locating a source of water. Cenotes serve to connect surface water to large underground pools; some small and sheltered by an overhang or cave; others are many feet in diameter such as those at Chichen Itza. The really big ones attract cave divers from around the world to explore and measure the large cave systems that lie flooded underground. Divers with underwater lights and cameras have explored some of these systems for dozens of miles. 

For those living in early Mayan settlements, adequate water was a primary need. With a lack of rivers and lakes, the main source of potable water for many was the cenotes. They held water year after year, in every season, and were widely distributed. These natural wells were so important that cities (like Chichen Itza) were built around them. 

For some of us, the image that comes to mind is a still, mysterious pool deep in the jungle.   Mayans considered cenotes to be gateways to the afterlife, sometimes throwing valuables into their still waters as offerings to the spirit of the water. Could there be old gold down there in the form of jewelry or offerings? And, what spirits might protect the place from grave robbers? One old black and white movie I saw as a kid had this scenario featured that had more to do with scaring us than it did with serious archaeology.

 In real life, in 1904, Edward Herbert Thompson had these same questions. An American diplomat, he actually bought the Chichen Itza site and began dredging the Sacred Cenote at that location. He had heard of a local legend involving human sacrifice to the rain god “Chaac”. It involved the ritual casting of valuables and human victims into the cenote. Beginning to dredge the cenote, he did discover human skeletons and sacrificial objects. He may have been looking for gold, but the way it turned out was that the true worth of the site was a cultural one. Today, the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage protects it. 

The fascinating underwater systems linking cenotes and caves are currently being explored and mapped by Quintana Roo Spelelogical Survey teams. An expedition to the area in 2001-2002 discovered three human skeletons nearby. One was carbon dated to be 13,600 years old. The Global Underwater Explorers dive team investigated a section of Sistema Aktun Hu and found the remains of a mastodon as well as a very early human skull. 

You may not be interested in finds of this sort, but there are treasures to be found in visiting some of these wonders of nature yourself. While there are over 30,000 cenotes in the Yucatan, only around 2,000 of them have been registered as historical sites and studied. Some of these are well known in the area, and really worth a side trip to see for yourself. Among these are Ik-Kil, Cuzama, Zaci, Cenotillo, Xlacah, Dzitnum and Kankirixche. 

Imagine swimming in a sub-aquatic cavern with crystal clear water 140 feet deep beneath you. Stalactite and Stalagmite formations can be seen, and with a swimming mask and fins you can marvel at the excellent visibility of the water. Eyeless black fish swim by while hanging vines frame a small waterfall nearby. After exploring the nearby ruins, what could be better than a swim in such a mystical setting? Local guides can show you the best cenotes in their area while pointing out the tropical flora and fauna living nearby. Cenotes are yet another marvel from the past to discover and enjoy today.

Submitted By Power Places Tours