Casa Cenote, Natural sinkhole in Tulum, Mexico
Casa Cenote is a natural sinkhole carved into limestone north of Tulum, stretching roughly 250 meters long and descending about 10 meters below ground level. The water is so transparent that fish and underwater cave formations are visible, while steep limestone walls rise on both sides of the opening.
The sinkhole formed millions of years ago as rainwater gradually dissolved the limestone, creating underground caves and channels beneath the surface. This geological process connected multiple underground water systems across the region that continue to hold freshwater today.
The Maya treated these water formations as sacred sources where freshwater emerged from deep below and served as gateways to spiritual dimensions of their world. Visitors today experience this reverence through the way the opening sits within the landscape and the quiet respect people maintain around the water.
Visitors can swim, snorkel, or kayak and should know the location is easy to reach and tends to get crowded during peak times. Arriving early in the day or on quieter weekdays offers a more relaxed experience and better conditions for exploring the water.
Where freshwater from underground springs meets saltwater from a connected cave system, an invisible boundary creates a mirror-like effect beneath the surface. Snorkelers can observe this layer where the water appears to split into two distinct densities.
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