Cenote Maya Native Park: Swim, Snorkel & Zipline in a Cave

I visited Cenote Maya on the return trip from a visit toChichén Itzá.

The trip was organized through a tour operator. If you're looking for similar excursions, you'll find them available for example onGetYourGuide.com.

You can't take photos inside the cave — only the staff take pictures and you have to pay about USD 5 for each photo. So I only have photos from outside, because being hassled for money like that always annoys me a bit.

The cave and lunch in the heart of Yucatán nature

The Cenote Maya we visited is located in Yucatán near the village of Chechmil. Its full name isCenote Maya Park Yucatan. There are plenty of similar cenotes. You can find them, for example, onGetYourGuide.com. Often these tours are combined with other sites. Usually the trip starts at the hotel, goes to Chichén Itzá and then to some cenote. It's also paired with food and some "almost local" refreshments. If you want to spice up your holiday, I definitely recommend booking the tour — after all, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the prices aren't that high.

The visit began with a walk around the park surrounding the cenote, a traditional ceremony and lunch. Lunch was grilled meat and you could also order drinks. Of course I couldn't resist tasting the local tequila — in that heat tequila with lime is literally priceless.

During the ceremony a local shaman burned resin that scented the whole area and gave the ritual a special atmosphere. Overall it was a pleasant experience.

After lunch we moved to the area above the cenote. Those who wanted could rappel down on a harness. Those who didn't could walk down the stairs.

Rappelling, diving and ziplining in the cenote

I'll put it this way — the rappelling itself was great, but… I didn't feel totally comfortable with the guy below me who was sitting on an inner tube directly under the rappelling spot. If I'd fallen I would have landed right on him. On top of that he belayed the rope quite loosely, with one hand, and was looking away.

Nor did the rusty beams the rope ran over inspire much confidence. The whole setup had a bit of a punk vibe — fun experience, but definitely not for everyone or every temperament.

The water in the cenote is pretty icy — at least that's how it felt to me. After a full day at the blazing Chichén Itzá, a ride in a hot bus, and eating outside in the heat... well, that evening my throat was sore because of it.

The zipline was awesome. You climb a few meters above the water and they send you across the cave on the zipline. Don't forget to let go — otherwise you'll do a somersault and hit the water flat like I did 😂.

There are fish swimming in the cenote and interesting formations on the bottom, so diving is an experience too and I recommend trying it!

For more information about Cenote Maya, visit the official websitehttps://www.chichenitza.com/cenotes/cenote-maya.