April 20, 2006 - Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Cenote Azul

Here is what happens when you bypass the big tourist billboards in favor of small handpainted signs: you find quiet places where only locals go. A cenote is a sinkhole filled with ground water - sometimes encompassed by a cavern, and sometimes (as in this one) the cavern around it has collapsed. Cenotes are widely scattered throughout this area, and were held sacred by the ancient Mayans. Some were even used for human sacrifices. Cenote Azul is on the road from Playa del Carmen to Tulum, and although there are plenty of far more spectacular cenotes, we shared this beautiful site with only a couple of local families and were able to claim the peaceful atmosphere of one of the pools all to ourselves. And, as you can tell by the look on my face, the water was extremely refreshing!

posted by Mahi at 4:43 PM  

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