Mexico Day 8 - Cenote

 We had another amazing day! The last thing on our trip bucket list was to visit a cenote and there are plenty here. So many that it was actually really hard to find one! Cenotes are sunken pools in the limestone rock, some of them are completely open like the one in Chichen Itza, some of them are completely closed and can usually be accessed only by diving, and some of them are semi open which is the type we wanted to see. 

Looking down into the cenote

We had a bit of trouble finding the right one but finally we ended up at Gran Cenote in Tulum, about an hour away. The entrance fee was high and the process stupidly inefficient but the snorkels and googles were free and the grounds and bathroom well kept. As for the cenote itself... it was amazing! 

The tall sides of the cenote

Christian climbing down into the cenote

James enjoying the water

The large open part of the cenote had a dock and a protected turtle area and a narrow curve of water which went from one end to the other. We entered on the left side where a floating rope in the water led into darkness. We followed and found ourselves in a cave! Little fish swam all around us, so used to humans that you could catch them in your hands. Bats squeaked and fluttered overhead, going in and out of holes in the ceiling. Stalactites hung down, piercing the water. 

David and Bethany at the cave entrance

Looking out of the cave entrance

Will in the cave. I wish he was in focus! I love his smile.
There were bats flying all around him too but the camera wasn't fast enough.

Little fish in the cave

Will is ready for snorkeling

A few columns reached all the way down to the cave floor and the view underwater was even more amazing than the view above. It was so cool! I loved the sea cave in Xel-Ha but this was bigger, a LOT deeper, and really incredible. 

The cave entrance

Lots of little fish in the cave

We spent a lot of time in the cave before we began to explore the rest of the cenote. The boys discovered you could jump off the dock and enjoyed themselves there while we swam with the fish and turtles. One turtle seemed to like James and chased him all around the pool. Maybe he just wanted a picture?

This turtle really wants to meet James

Turtle in the cenote

Sunning turtles

David and James

The narrow curve of water by the wall of the cenote didn't seem that exciting, until we looked down. Under the water it stretched out into a deep underground cavern which you could see quite well. I don't know how far back it went but it was very cool and only a little intimidating. 

                                                                The underground cavern

The narrow bit of the cenote

Christian dives to look at the underwater cave

On the righthand side we found another smaller cave, this one open at both ends. There was more light here and lots of bats. It wasn't as deep as the first one though and paled in comparison, I wish we'd found it first. 

                                                                                Bats

The entrance to the smaller cave

The smaller cave from the other side

                                                    The view above and below the water

The boys tired of the sights first and climbed out to relax on the grass above us while David and I went back to the first cave. James took some pictures and then took another lap around the cenote. We didn't stay too long but we had enough time to fully explore and appreciate the beauty of the cenote. 

Playing Coconut Catch

They collected this coconut and invented a new game

Xander jumping off the dock

Christian jumping off the dock

Once we were home everyone wanted to relax for a bit and since I was still in my bathing suit I took my book down to the beach to read. I started out on one of the many chairs the resort provides but soon decided it would be better to read on the sand where the waves could splash my feet. Do I even need to say that a particularly big wave came and splashed me and my book? Of course it did but it was still worth it. After that I kept a better eye out and raised my book over my head when needed. 

Boys at the cenote

After a while James came out and joined me and the two of us spent time swimming in the ocean. The beach is weird here. There is a sudden drop at the shoreline so the water two feet in is pretty deep. But a couple feet later the sand starts to rise and there is a really wide sand bar. So even when you walk far out you might still be only up to your waist and it is actually hard to find deep water. And shallow or not I never like to go too far from shore in the ocean. 

James in the cenote

By the time we waded out we found the boys and David at the pool. We joined them and the seven of us played tag in the water for over an hour. A friend joined our game and we had the whole pool to ourselves. The pool area seems crowded during the day but late afternoon/early evening everyone goes in, probably because by then the pool is in the shade. But that's perfect for us because we haven't burned yet and I really don't want to on the last day!

Christian's picture of Xander

We thought about going into town tonight but everyone is tired. So David cooked tuna and cheese sandwiches for us while we relaxed. Dinner was very good and David and I ate and talked on his balcony. It was really wonderful to get a chance to talk to him. Being together all week you'd think it would happen more often but quiet moments don't always present themselves. Now he and James are off talking but I have to crash. I am utterly exhausted and tomorrow is going to be a VERY long day.