A Mystical Adventure Awaits with Grupo Xcaret’s Xenotes Tour

Four kinds of cenotes highlight geological exploration adventures and Mayan culture at the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula along the Riviera Maya

 

Riviera Maya, July 25, 2019 – Explorers looking for adventure off the beachy-path should escape to the mysterious underground caverns known as Cenotes, [se-noh-tes] on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Grupo Xcaret’s Parks & Tours offers a chance to see these hidden gems that fascinated the ancient Mayans who once ruled the region.

 

Grupo Xcaret features an exciting “Xenotes Route” as the perfect alternative water experience, letting guests skip the beach and learn about these mystical formations. Also known as sinkholes, cenotes are a natural feature of the region carved out over millions of years into the underlying jungle landscape. Some fun facts about cenotes: many believe they were formed by the same meteor that struck dinosaurs, while evidence shows Mayans believed Cenotes were the pathway to the underworld. Cenotes were the location of Mayan rituals and ceremonies to ask for rain and plentiful crops. Part of the cenote experience is learning about the “alux”, child-like magical spirits Mayans believed inhabited the jungle and the cenotes. Each alux had different personality traits depending on where they were encountered.

 

This tour is the only one in the Riviera Maya where visitors can experience the four types of cenotes sacred to the Mayans that abound throughout the Yucatan. These include:

 

• K’áak’ – The “fire cenote” boasts underground currents that communicate with light and the jungle where guests will get an adrenaline boost via a thrilling zipline and test their bravery with cliff jumps.

 

• Ha’ – Visitors can swim and kayak in this “water cenote,” home to beautiful aquatic fauna and unusual rock formations.

 

• Iik’ – The “wind cenote” is an ancient cavern that has a limited natural flow with an aquifer system due to the collapse of the ceiling. Guests can explore this emerald green cenote by ziplining and cliff jumping.

 

• Lu’um – Brave adventurers can rappel the “earth cenote” that connects to an aquifer through tunnels and caves.

 

Xcaret tours are family-friendly and open to travelers as young as six years old. Visitors can explore through assisted rappel, zip-lines, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling and much more. It’s great for nature lovers of all skill levels seeking something truly different, with no need to be an experienced swimmer. The small-group excursion costs $119 USD a person and includes roundtrip transfers, a certified guide, a snack of soft drinks and seasonal fruit, a jungle picnic for lunch including wine and beer, lifejackets and all necessary equipment to enjoy the cenotes.

 

Grupo Xcaret is a world leader in pairing ecological sustainability and social responsibility with tourism projects, and emphasizes unique cultural experiences representing the best of Mexico throughout all its parks and properties.

 

For more information visit www.xenotes.com and www.xcaret.com

 

 

Grupo Xcaret Parks and Tours

 

Grupo Xcaret Parks and Tours are a benchmark for sustainable recreation in Mexico and around the world. The parks and tours specialize in offering visitors unique and unforgettable experiences, through unparalleled products and services that highlight the best of Mexico and are respectful of the environment. Grupo Xcaret is the leader in sustainable and socially responsible tourism in the Mexican Caribbean. Operating since 1990, Xcaret, the original park, contains more than 40 attractions surrounded by the jungle, coves and underground rivers. It offers exciting shows, as well as cultural activities that promote Mexican traditions. The other parks and tours are: Xel-Ha, an ecotourism aquatic park; Xplor and Xplor Fuego, parks featuring ziplines, ATVs and underground rives; Xenses, a sense-themed amusement and activities park; Xoximilco, an attraction that pays homage to Mexican culture, traditions and gastronomy; Xichen, a tour to archaeological and cultural sites in the Yucatan peninsula, including the Chichén Itzá pyramid;  Xenotes, a nature tour in the Mexican jungle to visit cenotes; and Xavage, the latest addition to the Grupo Xcaret portfolio, an adventure park set to open in the summer of 2019. This year, four of Grupo Xcaret’s eco-friendly parks and tours, Xplor, Xoximilco, Xenotes and Xichen, have been recognized on TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame as a result of being awarded the Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years.