Chukum-Ha, the new cenote in Yucatan.
Mexico does not have a record of the number of Mayan cenotes that are distributed - most of them - in the yucatan peninsula , although it is true that many tour guides dare to handle a number of discovered cenotes: 8,000 . But who knows how many are hidden in the jungle?
Many of these cenotes appear on private farms that belong to the Mayans, so they decide whether to exploit them for tourism or not. So it is possible that an elderly couple is enjoying a private cenote on their farm for themselves and their family. Who wants a pool when they can have a cenote?
Originally these places were sacred temples for the Mayans , here they performed rituals and also sacrifices when, for example, they needed rainwater for their crops.
They are really nature shows , because man has not intervened in the creation of it, so it is normal that they are considered as magical places.
Haven't you bathed in a cenote yet?
A CAVERN CENOTE
Today they are a great source of income for the local population, That is why it is also great news that a new cenote has been discovered, both for them and for those of us who can enjoy them.
If you have never entered a cenote, it is time for you to consider doing it , its crystalline and turquoise waters, the aura that is breathed in them, the light that enters, the fish and the vegetation that you can see inside are as necessary as life.
Chunkun Ha , the new cenote, discovered near the colonial city of Valladolid, Cancun and Playa del Carmen, pays honor with its name to the type of trees found in it.
this natural wonder is 39 meters tall and, as they are common in the area, it has the appearance of a cave and is deeper. This specifically is one of the deepest in the area.
"It's a cavernous cenote , has three natural openings in your roof that allows the sunlight to illuminate its turquoise waters. It is fully equipped with zip lines, three diving platforms built at variable heights of up to 4 meters above the water, a rope swing and an experience of abseiling through the opening of the cavern", explains Ricardo Díaz, project director of Aventuras Mayans.
To conserve them and that they are not affected by human activity visitors are required to use biodegradable sunscreen , and they are asked to take a shower to remove any cream or non-biodegradable product before entering the cenote. In addition, they tell Traveler.es, "the geography of the Riviera Maya is made up of underground rivers, which are the source of water for the cenotes. Therefore, there is a constant flow of water that filters the water from Chukum-Ha ".
Between stalactites and stalagmites.
Chukum-Ha now has numerous activities and experiences, including gastronomy, managed by ** Mayan Adventures **, the company that has been in charge of its start-up and discovery.
"When we came across this beautiful property and discovered its impressive untouched cenote, we knew it had to be shared with the rest of the world , which would improve and support the local community of Valladolid", says its director.
Being a sacred place for the Mayans, before its opening to the public they had to perform a blessing ceremony with a Mayan shaman. "For the Mayans, cenotes are truly magical places and the literal entrances to the underworld", underlined its director.
How should that ritual be? " The shaman performs a ceremony with a mixture of Mayan elements and Christians, where he asks for permission in the Mayan language to carry out activities within the cenote and the property, giving an offering of food and copal so that the aluxes (Mayan elves) do not make mischief during the construction, "they point out to Traveler.es.