If you go to Yucatán, the experience of swimming in a cenote should be ( no doubt !) one of your priorities (definitely my top 3).
What is a cenote?
Cenotes are very deep bodies of water fed by rainwater. There are three types: open, closed, cave-like, and semi-closed.
Which cenotes should you NOT visit?
There are many cenotes in Yucatán, but unfortunately, almost all of them have become overly “touristy.”
It doesn’t matter if you go in winter or summer, during high or low season, whether you book a tour or go on your own, in every cenote you visit, you’ll be swimming simultaneously with dozens of other people (at best), completely destroying the mystical concept of cenote experience and perhaps, giving you the wrong idea or feeling that the experience isn’t as worthwhile as you’d hoped.
Why are cenotes sacred?
According to the Mayan culture, a cenote is a sacred space where you “talk” to the Gods. Therefore, you must ask their permission before getting into one.
I did not know about this ritual until I discovered Destino Mío, almost two years ago.
There, you have the privilege of swimming in complete privacy in three beautiful and very different cenotes.
Surrounded by untouched jungle, feeling its atmosphere of absolute silence and respect for the environment and Mayan culture, the experience begins with a welcome ritual and lasts for about 3.5 hours, ending at the spectacular Cenote Emil.
You and your family or group go from one cenote to another on an ATV with a capacity for 5 people, along trails in the middle of the jungle.
The staff who assist you are originally from Tekit and the town of Mama and are proud to welcome you and share their culture ( they speak mayan besides spanish and are super nice and friendly guys )
Leaving a positive mark is very important to me when I travel or explore new places, but having a real/authentic experience, meeting local people is also my priority.
Destino Mío, the best cenote tour
I can tell you that, after living in Yucatán for several years, this was the only place where I truly felt the authenticity of the cenote experience.
Destino Mío is an absolutely magical place, created in total harmony with nature, where you truly feel the mysticism that cenotes involve.
I highly recommend booking your visit during the week (ideally Monday to Thursday). Although there is no best season to visit it, I love the sensation of swimming in the cold water of a cenote when it is extremely hot (in Yucatán, from May to August).
Use the code LUXURYTY15 to get your discount.
How to get there?
Destino Mío is about an 80-minute drive from Mérida, just after Tekit town ( which is well known as the “Guayabera City” )
The best way is by car.
The last part of the road before arriving at Destino Mio is dirt, but in excellent condition (approximately 15 minutes)
When you are leaving in your way to Merida, do not miss the chance to visit Tekit and buy some beautiful guayaberas at a very good price.
