#Hidden water pools skin#

Both are well kept but it’s the black 'eye' that gets the most attention, for its virtually light-free snorkeling.ĭiving gear for rent at the cenote includes a flashlight for shining just enough light to see the stalactites as you bob up for mere centimeters of air. The name means 'two eyes' and describes this cenote's two pools of water: one blue and clear, the other dark and cavernous. Swimmers at Cenote Dos Ojos, near Tulum © mundosemfim / Getty Images Cenote Dos Ojos, near Tulum Always check ahead before planning any trip and follow government health advice.

#Hidden water pools skin#

Meanwhile, open-air cenotes also have clear water, but often are home to additional vitamin- and mineral-rich algae that nourish and protect your skin if you take a dip.Įditor's note: travel restrictions may be in place during COVID-19.

Underwater photographers will be thrilled with the clear waters, which allow for aquatic-playground shots in high-definition clarity. Most cave cenotes have fresh water that has been meticulously filtered by the earth, making them so clear and pure that you can see straight through to small fish frolicking amidst the plant life below. Swimming in the pristine waters feels like stepping into prehistory, where giant tropical trees and vines form wild cathedral walls leading up to shafts of sunlight. Today you can still see why cenotes held the Mayans in awe. Mayans settled villages around these spiritual wells and believed that they were a portal to speak with the gods. The Mayans revered cenotes because they were a source of water in dry times indeed, the name cenote means 'sacred well'. Cenotes are natural swimming holes formed by the collapse of porous limestone bedrock, which reveals a secret subterranean world of groundwater pools. But those who wish to cool off from the sun and teeny-bikini flashiness can escape to a secret underworld of turquoise pools where Mayans communicated with the gods.Īt these hidden locations, you can swim in crisp mineral-rich waters in magical caves or under a jungle-framed sky and feel lost in another time. Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula has undeniably stunning beaches around Cancún, Playa Del Carmen and Tulum.