A Unique Cave Swimming Experience With Baby Mark

A bunch of cenotes (limestone sinkholes) dot the Quintana Roo peninsula and there are quite a few around Tulum. The only cenote we visited was the one in Valladolid and while it was very nice, it wasn’t so impressive.

Gran Cenote was.

We drove three kilometres Northwest of Tulum and spotted the sign on the highway: “Gran Cenote.” Sure, why not?

We paid the admission fee and were greeted by birds, sheep and dogs. Well, at least Mark is getting to know animals, I thought.

Then we walked to the sinkhole, not expecting much.

It was beautiful.

Imagine a pool of turquoise water, a dark chamber, stalactites and stalagmites, rays of light and darkness. Imagine fishes and turtles. Imagine a quiet place, the sound of water and a slight echo. It’s not hard to understand why the Mayas saw cenotes as gateways to the underworld.

I stripped into my swimsuit and jumped in. The water was warmer than I expected. I swam under the rock, among the fish.

Mark was watching me from the wooden pier and seemed curious.

“Come on babe, wanna go for a swim?”

Naked, he wasn’t so sure. But toddlers go wherever mom goes, so he came into the water with me.

Fifteen-month-old climbing pyramids and swimming in mystic cenotes. Gee, I’m screwing him up, ain’t I!