Cenotes - Yucatán Magazine

Culture

Divers Make Historic 120-Meter Descent in Yucatán’s Deepest Cenote
Expert team conquers extreme depths and toxic clouds in Cenote Sabakha
ByYucatán Magazine September 21, 2025September 21, 2025

A team of technical divers recently achieved what many considered impossible, descending 120 meters (393 feet) into Cenote Sabakha, thought to be the deepest cenote in Yucatán. The historic dive pushed the boundaries of underwater exploration in Mexico’s vast cave systems. Cenote Sabakha, known locally as agua tiznada or tainted water, lives up to its…

Read More Divers Make Historic 120-Meter Descent in Yucatán’s Deepest CenoteExpert team conquers extreme depths and toxic clouds in Cenote Sabakha
Nature | Environment | People

The Cave Guardian: What Drives Roberto Rojo Underground
Speleologist documents the world beneath Yucatán—and fights to protect it from destruction
ByYucatán Magazine September 7, 2025September 7, 2025

Roberto Rojo was 30 meters underground when the drilling started. Stalactites that had formed over millennia began tumbling around him as a massive industrial drill punched through the limestone ceiling above. The biologist ducked for cover, phone in hand, recording what would become some of the most dramatic footage of environmental destruction in Mexico’s recent…

Read More The Cave Guardian: What Drives Roberto Rojo UndergroundSpeleologist documents the world beneath Yucatán—and fights to protect it from destruction
Nature | Environment

Divers at Tekit Cenote Haul Away 225 Pounds of Trash
Environmental teams extract 102 kilograms of waste from Tekit cenote as part of broader Yucatán cenotes conservation strategy
ByYucatán Magazine July 27, 2025July 27, 2025

Environmental crews removed 102 kilograms (225 pounds) of trash from the Tekit cenote X’Pakay this week. The cleanup was part of Yucatán’s Strategy for the Conservation of Karst Systems targeting Yucatán cenotes across the state. Specialized divers extracted 38 kilograms (84 pounds) of waste from the Tekit cenote’s depths. Community members and municipal workers cleared…

Read More Divers at Tekit Cenote Haul Away 225 Pounds of TrashEnvironmental teams extract 102 kilograms of waste from Tekit cenote as part of broader Yucatán cenotes conservation strategy
Culture | Destinations

The collapse of a sacred ceiba tree into a cenote is seen as a sign
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht August 21, 2024September 12, 2024

Last week, the tiny town of Xocén made headlines after a 100-foot-tall ceiba tree collapsed under its massive weight into a sinkhole. However, being located in Yucatán, it soon became apparent that this was not simply a sinkhole but a previously undiscovered cenote. Speleologists are just now beginning to explore the secrets of Xocén’s cenote…

Read More The collapse of a sacred ceiba tree into a cenote is seen as a sign
Culture

Camino del Mayab: Trail Connects Hikers with the Real Yucatán
ByJoanna van der Gracht de Rosado May 4, 2024May 5, 2024

The Camino del Mayab tour traverses areas of rural Yucatan to remote archaeological zones, historic haciendas, and natural cenotes

Read More Camino del Mayab: Trail Connects Hikers with the Real Yucatán
Nature | Environment

Irreversible Environmental Damage To Cenotes Confirmed on Tren Maya Route
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht May 3, 2024September 12, 2024

Mexico’s environmental protection agency, PROFEPA, confirmed serious damage to five cenotes in the path of the Tren Maya.

Read More Irreversible Environmental Damage To Cenotes Confirmed on Tren Maya Route
Nature

Tren Maya Construction Damages Cenotes and Caves South of Cancún
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht January 26, 2024January 26, 2024

To speed up construction, engineers in charge of Route 5 of the Tren Maya resorted to pouring cement into several cenotes and caves, according to several reputable news sources, including El Financiero.

Read More Tren Maya Construction Damages Cenotes and Caves South of Cancún
News

The future of Xcaret’s new theme park in Valladolid remains uncertain
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht December 22, 2022December 22, 2022

Construction at Xibalba theme park on the outskirts of Valladolid has been completed for some time now. Yet there is no firm date for the park to finally open after a surprise inspection by federal authorities last year detected several problems. “The developers used dynamite to destroy walls between cenotes to create an artificial river…

Read More The future of Xcaret’s new theme park in Valladolid remains uncertain
News

New Mayan Train route to run directly over cenotes
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht December 7, 2022December 7, 2022

Environmentalists are expressing concern over plans to run tracks for the Mayan Train above caves and cenotes in Quintana Roo.

Read More New Mayan Train route to run directly over cenotes
Lifestyle

Hacienda Mucuyché and its 2 cenotes are ideal for tourists and empresses alike
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht October 20, 2022January 16, 2026

With a long history dating back several centuries, impressive architecture, and pristine cenotes, Hacienda Mucuyché sure has a lot to offer.

Read More Hacienda Mucuyché and its 2 cenotes are ideal for tourists and empresses alike
Lifestyle

On your way to El Cuyo or Las Coloradas? You can’t miss Kikil
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht September 28, 2022December 7, 2022

Though the town is very small, it makes for a worthwhile stop on the way to El Cuyo, the ruins of Kulubá, or Las Coloradas.

Read More On your way to El Cuyo or Las Coloradas? You can’t miss Kikil
News

Fecal contamination shuts down Dzibilchaltún cenote
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht July 26, 2022July 26, 2022

Xlacah cenote, will remain closed until further notice due to contamination.

Read More Fecal contamination shuts down Dzibilchaltún cenote
Lifestyle

Cenote Suytun beckons lovers of nature and social media alike
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht June 1, 2022June 2, 2022

All about the magnificent Suytun Centoe on the outskirts of Valladolid.

Read More Cenote Suytun beckons lovers of nature and social media alike
News

Pig farm accused of hiding cenotes and filling them in with cement
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht May 24, 2022May 24, 2022

A pig farm in the municipality of Homún is being accused of filling in and hiding two cenotes from environmental authorities.

Read More Pig farm accused of hiding cenotes and filling them in with cement
Nature

AMLO promises action against polluting pig farms in Yucatán
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht April 25, 2022April 25, 2022

Yucatán’s status as one of Mexico’s large pork producers employs thousands across the state. But this is not without its problems. According to a recent report issued by Mexico’s federal government, a great many of these pig farms do not meet even the most minimal environmental standards. On the Peninsula, 85% of the 257 registered…

Read More AMLO promises action against polluting pig farms in Yucatán
Lodging | Lifestyle

Camping in Style at Mexico’s Famous Cenote Ring
ByClaire Tyrpak April 15, 2022February 21, 2025

About an hour’s drive from Mérida, in Homún, Hameki offers a distinctive experience: glamping. Combining a bit of camping with hotel room amenities, glamping is a way to get away from the city and enjoy some nature without roughing it too much. Hameki promotes itself as “the best glamping experience in the southeast of Mexico.”…

Read More Camping in Style at Mexico’s Famous Cenote Ring
Community | News

New discoveries shed light on the ‘first Yucatecos’
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht January 4, 2022January 4, 2022

The discovery of pre-historic human remains near Tulum sheds light on the origins of Yucatán’s first inhabitants.

Read More New discoveries shed light on the ‘first Yucatecos’
News

Rare 1,000-year-old canoe found in cenote near Chichén Itzá
ByYucatán Magazine October 31, 2021October 31, 2021

A wooden canoe used by the ancient Maya and believed to be over 1,000 years old has turned up in Yucatán. It is nearly intact and extremely rare. The discovery occurred as workers were preparing a path for the massive Mayan Train project, officials said Friday. The canoe was found submerged in a cenote near…

Read More Rare 1,000-year-old canoe found in cenote near Chichén Itzá
News

Scientists discover a massive underground cave network in Yucatán
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht October 20, 2021October 20, 2021

The cave system extends from the Chuy Ha Cenote, in the municipality of Kaua, to the Aktun Kaab dry cave, in Santa Rita — which is roughly 85 kilometers away in a straight line.

Read More Scientists discover a massive underground cave network in Yucatán
News

More remains of the world’s largest shark found in the depths of a cenote in Yucatán
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht October 18, 2021October 18, 2021

The megalodon, or “big tooth” is an extinct species of shark that lived approximately 2.3 to 3.6 million years ago from the early Miocene to the Pliocene periods.

Read More More remains of the world’s largest shark found in the depths of a cenote in Yucatán
News

People of Homún awarded Lion Heart award for their fight against pig farms
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht July 29, 2021July 29, 2021

The recognition comes as Homún continues to fight against pig farms which locals say produce dangerous levels of pollutants that seep into their groundwater.

Read More People of Homún awarded Lion Heart award for their fight against pig farms
News

Kantunil’s Best Tourist Attraction — The ‘Rabbit Cenote’
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht July 16, 2021April 12, 2025

With the new improvements, locals are hoping that visitors from surrounding communities and abroad begin to visit their town and cenote in larger numbers.

Read More Kantunil’s Best Tourist Attraction — The ‘Rabbit Cenote’
News

Looters target Yucatán cenotes in hopes of finding ancient treasure
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht June 30, 2021June 30, 2021

The sacking of archaeological has become a serious issue, especially in the sparsely populated south of Yucatán.

Read More Looters target Yucatán cenotes in hopes of finding ancient treasure
News

Sinkhole appears in Mérida home’s backyard, but family is staying put
ByCarlos Rosado van der Gracht June 22, 2021June 22, 2021

The sinkhole revealed a cave system below, but it is still not known how large it is or if other parts of the property are also in danger of caving in.

Read More Sinkhole appears in Mérida home’s backyard, but family is staying put

That’s all for now

That’s all for now