Cenotes Near Chunkanan, Yucatan

horse drawn cart For our last full day in Merida we decided to head out to the cenote zone near Chunkanan, Yucantan. The area was a major farming and agricultural center for sisal fibers up until a hurricane wiped out the mill. The locals had to come up with a new revenue stream so they formed a co-op to promote tours to the spectacular cenotes in the area.

We were staying at Casa Santana in Merida and the owner highly recommended we visit the cenotes and take a swim in their cool, crystal clear blue waters. We were told that we would be transported by a horse-drawn carriage on a narrow gauge rail out into the jungle. I was expecting this to be a cheesy tourist trap type of experience. It wasn’t.

The cenotes are way outside of the village. Look for Chunkanan on this map and then head south from there. I’d guess at least 5 miles. You can see in the photo above that the rails look like they are the old mining cart style. They were previously used to haul the plant matter to the processing mill and criss cross all through the jungle. You can still tell that the area was once agricultural as the rows of plants are still there though the jungle trees are starting to take over.

The tour is only 200 pesos and takes at least 90 minutes just to cover the traveling portions. We stopped at three cenotes for a swim. The entries and swim platforms are very well built and provide easy access. (There are bathroom facilities only at the first stop so plan accordingly.) The third cenote is a little scary for people that are afraid of heights. It’s a ladder that extends down through a shaft cut through the limestone until it opens into the cavern below. It’s pretty spectacular and well worth the anxiety.

The cart ride out into the jungle is not comfortable to put it mildly. My teeth were rattling horribly to the point of minor pain. If you have a bad back or a weak bladder it’s not the kind of thing you will enjoy at all.

The waters are cool and refreshing. There are a few small fish to watch. At a couple of the cenotes there are dive platforms which some of the local kids were having fun using. It’s a great way to spend a day if you don’t mind the ride. I’d do it again if we’re ever in the area.

Our camera doesn’t take great pictures in dark but you can at least get a feel for some of the caverns from these photos. There’s something to see in each of them even though a few look like black blobs of nothingness.