What is a cenote?

A Cenote is an underground river. They are found in the Yucatan Pennisula.<BR>You can arrange to tours to visit and swim in them.

Neat! Where are they?

Hi Linda,<BR>A cenote is NOT best described as an underground river.<BR>A cenote is a fresh or salt (or mixed) body of water (kind of like a sinkhole)which can be far inland or very close to the beach (as in the case of cenotes on the Mayan Riviera.)<BR>They are usually fed by underground rivers and make a great place for beginning snorkelers or divers to learn in quiet water without worrying about surf/currents/tides.<BR>Close by Cancun and down highway 307 to Tankah, there are lots of them, but they can get very busy with day-trippers, so it's best to arrive early.<BR>The ones I've been in did not usually have a lot of fish to see, but they are interesting. The Mayan people used the fresh water ones as wells for their drinking water and for sacrifices of young girls to the gods. If the girl could tread water and was still alive the next day, she was rescued. Some are very deep, and others very shallow. Some are easily accessible, while others have stairs or ropes down to them. (That is probably more than you wanted to know!!!)

Linda you can find a cenote at the Xpu-Ha Palace we stayed there 3 weeks ago and it was the most beautiful resort we had ever been to check into it,<BR><BR>www.get-me.to/cancun<BR>

There are 1500 cenotes in the Yucatan, many of which are set up for tourist. I would describe them as limestone caves with water in them. Often, the roof has a hole in it, allowing sunlit to come thru. The water is crystal clear with a blue tint...great for swimming. Cenotes are a must do when in the yucatan.