Kantun Chi is a remarkable ecopark located in the heart of the Mayan Riviera. Its name means yellow stone mouth in Mayan. The cenotes at Kantun Chi provided water to the ancient Mayans and local wildlife. The Mayans believed that cenotes could purify their souls. Before entering one to drink or bathe, the Mayans would perform a ceremony to ask permission of mythical creatures like the God Chaac, who was believed to be the rain and water god, and the aluxes. The aluxes were human-like beings that inhabited the forests and hid from view. At night, while everyone slept, they emerged to walk through the forests. The Mayans believed that if they were treated well, the aluxes would take care of the plants of the forest’s plants, ward off plagues, protect the animals, and keep away negative energies.
The Maya-owned and operated eco-park of Cenotes Kantún Chi has cenotes and a few beautiful underground caverns that are great for snorkeling and diving, as well as some small Mayan ruins. The place is low-key—a nice break from the crowds. Explore the park’s four main cenotes on foot, kayak or by snorkeling. The vast underground caverns are filled with incredibly pure water, tropical fish and breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites.
The Cenotes are impressive natural formations. Cenotes are sinkholes naturally formed over millions of years. The Yucatán region has a porous bedrock, which means instead of collecting in rivers, rainwater seeps through the rock into underground caves. As it seeps through, the water weakens the bedrock and eventually the ceilings of the caves fall in, the roofs collapse, and young cenotes are formed.
Over the course of hundreds of years, these open sinkholes fill with dirt, rock, and other organic material, reducing the cenote’s water depth. The life of a cenote comes to an end when the hole eventually fills with organic material and mineral debris. At the very end of their lives, they are called dry cenotes, and are usually covered with a variety of vegetation.
Kantun Chi Ecopark is home to several cenotes. Currently four are available for swimming, snorkeling, or just admiring. The biggest cenote in Kantun-Chi is Sas ka leen Ha, a name which translates to “transparent water.” All the cenotes have beautifully clear water because, as the rain seeps slowly through the soil and rock, it is filtered, leaving it with very few suspended particles.
The caverns are well-lit, naturally from above and by tasteful artificial lighting. After swimming through the incredible underworld, swing beneath the tree canopy in one of the many hammocks that are strung-up throughout the park.