Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
Hiking inwards waist-deep H2O through night caves at Rio Secreto, nosotros turned a corner to uncovering a massive cavern decorated amongst incredible stalactites all over the ceiling.
Spelunking, or exploring caves, is i of my favorite adventure go activities. I’ve hiked together with crawled through natural subway scheme passageways inwards South Africa, Guatemala, Iceland, together with more.
But Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is teeming amongst incredible caves too.
There is something exciting nigh wandering through the darkness, deep into the Earth, non certain what you’ll uncovering unopen to the adjacent bend.
Visiting Rio Secreto gives y'all a sense of savor of this rarely-seen together with magical world.
We walked through the jungle to i of the cave entrances led yesteryear our guide “Ro”, who told us photographic television receiver camera traps nearby had lately captured images of wild jaguars that telephone shout out upwards the expanse home.
The Maya Underworld
Our adventure begins amongst a sacred Maya cleansing ritual using smoke. H5N1 local shaman asks Mayan expire gods for permission for us to hold upwards into their domain.
The Maya consider these caves scared, a portal to Xibalba (aka “the identify of fear”) — the Mayan underworld.
Ancient skeletons, artifacts, together with petroglyphs receive got been discovered inwards the cenotes together with caves that embrace the Yucatan Peninsula. Some appointment dorsum 13,000 years!
Caves similar this were oftentimes used for human & animate beingness sacrifice, together with fifty-fifty today many local Maya proceed clear of them.
In 2007 Rio Secreto’s possessor decided to allow eco-tours through 10% of the natural reserve, inwards social club to fund conservation for the balance of it.
Exploring Rio Secreto’s Caves
There are a few dissimilar entrances to the caves, covered inwards vines. Black holes ready to swallow us into the earth. We switch on our headlamps together with caput into the darkness, non certain what lies ahead.
Rio Secreto is a maze of passageways together with dramatic mineral formations.
Water drips lightly from the ends of stalactites on the ceiling into the pristine bluish pools at our feet. This H2O has tardily filtered through the porous rock, which is why it’s thence clean.
We’re witnessing millions of years of geological history equally nosotros hike together with swim through dissimilar chambers.
The H2O is cold, but the air is warm amongst humidity too. We squeeze through narrow cave passages, sometimes amongst H2O upwards to our chests. But at that spot are also massive chambers, large plenty to check a small-scale menage inside.
Underground River Systems
Limestone cave environments similar this are real fragile. Rio Secreto has taken smashing pains to proceed the expanse pristine, without installing concrete paths or tons of cheesy artificial lighting.
It’s simply y'all together with your headlamp inwards the darkness.
You receive got to sentry your basis though, equally the cave flooring constantly changes from moisture together with slippery to abrupt together with jagged. It feels similar a proper caving adventure!
Our guide occasionally placed a twain of powerful waterproof flashlights into the water, turning it into a giant glowing river of bluish light.
This H2O is role of an intricate network of rivers that flows beneath the Yucatan Peninsula’s hollow limestone shell. It’s truly the 2d largest subway scheme river organization inwards the world.
Professional cave divers dearest the area’s many underwater caves. But at Rio Secreto, the H2O degree is shallow — allowing anyone to explore these caves on foot. No demand for specialized scuba gear or expensive training.
Getting There
Rio Secreto is located a few miles due south of Playa del Carmen, off Highway 307 along the Riviera Maya. It’s nigh an hr due south of Cancun, or xl minutes N of Tulum.
If y'all receive got a rental auto y'all tin drive at that spot yourself, bound inwards a local taxi/collectivo van, or conform for them to selection y'all upwards at your hotel.
Book Your Cave Tour
Ready to hold upwards explore some caves inwards Mexico? ➜ BOOK information technology HERE
Rio Secreto Tips & Advice
If y'all don’t acquire besides claustrophobic together with dearest exploring caves similar me, thence Mexico’s Rio Secreto is a pretty awesome experience. You are going to acquire wet. But don’t worry, that’s role of the fun!
Make certain to convey a swimsuit together with towel. Rio Secreto provides a wetsuit, H2O shoes, lifejacket, helmet, together with light.
Cameras are non allowed because of the moisture & hazardous cave environment. However trained staff tin accept photos amongst particular equipment, which y'all tin purchase at the cease of the tour.
Where To Stay In Playa Del Carmen
Playa has hold upwards a pop tourist hub for travelers to base of operations themselves piece exploring the Yucatan Peninsula. If you’re wondering where to remain inwards Playa del Carmen, hither are my recommendations depending on your budget.
Have y'all ever considered short-term even out rentals? It’s a smashing agency to salve money! Click here to larn how to acquire $35 off your showtime booking.
The limestone cenotes together with caves of the Yucatan Peninsula are real unique to this area, y'all won’t notice anything quite similar them anywhere else unopen to the world. They’re i of my favorite tourist attractions inwards Mexico! ★
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to assist y'all start packing for your trip. Pick upwards a go backpack, photographic television receiver camera gear, together with other useful go accessories.
Book Your Flight
Find inexpensive flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to notice deals on airlines. Also brand certain to read how I notice the cheapest flights.
Rent H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a smashing site for comparison auto prices to notice the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read to a greater extent than nigh how I volume inexpensive hotels online.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget go insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than nigh why y'all should e'er comport go insurance.
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Yucatan
Suggested Reading: The Maya: Ancient Peoples together with Places
READ MORE FROM MEXICO
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Amazing Pink Lakes Of Las Coloradas
How Much Does Traveling United Mexican U.S. Cost?
Have whatever questions nigh Rio Secreto? What nigh other suggestions? Drop me a message inwards the comments below!
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