Mayan Underworld | JONATHAN BIRD'S BLUE WORLD
In this spooky underwater adventure, Jonathan travels to Merida, in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, to explore cenotes that were used by pre-Columbian Mayans for human sacrifices. Reaching the cenotes requires rappelling down into the Earth and lowering all the gear. The underwater exploration requires advanced cave diving techniques and the cinematography in this environment is extremely challenging, particularly the lighting. This beautifully shot adventure will leave viewers on the edge of their seats!
Warning: this segment contains graphic images of human bones. Thanks to Jeff Shaw and Freedom Divers, Merida.
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66 million years ago, an enormous asteroid tumbled through space. Travelling ten times the speed of a rifle bullet, this celestial missile was on a direct collision course with Earth.
It smashed into Earth with such force that it triggered powerful earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The impact threw a cloud of dust into the atmosphere, cooling the planet and killing the dinosaurs.
The impact crater is located just north of the Yucatan peninsula, in what is now Mexico. Around the outer ring of the crater, cracks formed in the limestone, allowing groundwater to flow through, eroding into caves. When a cave ceiling gets too thin and falls in, you get what is known as a cenote. The word cenote was derived from the Mayan word ts’onot meaning “sacred well”--A source of water, and an entrance to the caves.
Fast forward to 2,000 years ago, the Maya civilization dominated central America. They built their cities near the cenotes so they had access to fresh water from what are essentially super clean underground rivers.
Thanks to that asteroid, there are more cenotes in this area than anyplace else in the world--thousands of them running along the rim of the ancient crater. It’s an incredible place for some underwater exploration!
At last we reach cenote Sha-An and the guides start setting up. Looking inside the cenote, I can tell you this, I would not want to fall in there by accident. The surface of the water is 50 feet down and the only way out would be climbing a tree root! But it’s absolutely breathtaking.
I lead the way into a gorgeous passageway that almost looks like a miniature riverbed, with pebbles paving the floor. The white limestone walls reflect my video lights, making beautiful illumination.
Cenotes were also believed to be entrances to the underworld--and therefore pathways to the Gods.
In pre-Columbian times, the Maya people ruled Central America. They built staggering cities, which included massive step-pyramids as temples to the Maya gods. They performed rituals that they believed would keep the gods happy--to insure their good fortune.
The Mayans would often throw offerings into the cenotes to please Chaac, the rain God. Sometimes those offerings included human sacrifices.
We arrive at Cenote San Antonio. This tiny opening was once an important place to the Mayans. So important that we had to get a special permit to dive here.
The walls are made of sedimentary rock formed from an ancient seabed. All kinds of shells are stuck in it, including this perfectly-formed sea urchin skeleton.
As we drop further, I focus my camera on a jawbone. It’s the jaw of a horse, which probably fell in here by accident and drowned. Nothing can escape this watery trap.
Near the jaw, I find my first trace of a human presence—a broken piece of pottery. I have to get my head around the fact that this is a pre-Columbian artifact more than a thousand years old.
Moving away from the walls and out into the middle of the cenote, I find a bone. This is no horse bone—it’s a human tibia, the lower leg bone. And near it, the femur. Humans are buried here.
Not far away, a ghostly sight—a human skull resting peacefully next to a perfectly intact earthen bowl.
At this depth in fact there are human remains almost everywhere I turn.
Of course we don’t touch or disturb anything. Not only is this a gravesite, it’s part of an ongoing archaeological study. We can look but we definitely cannot touch.
Nearby, a jaw with molars that have cavities. What can be learned of the ancient Mayans from clues like this?
But not everything down here is about death. This cenote has some of the most prolific cave fauna I have ever seen, including many blind cavefish and a species of cave isopod I have never seen before.
5 Must Do Adventures in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is famous for Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, world-famous destinations attracting millions of visitors each year with their picture-perfect beaches and high-class resorts. But since we came to Mexico for it’s nature and culture, we were looking for adventures off-the-beaten-path in Yucatan. Today, we’d like to share our top 5 experiences with you.
01:09 Punta Laguna – head into the jungle with a local, Mayan guide, observe spider monkeys in the wild, kayak and zipline over a lively lagoon, spot some caimans and let them lower you into a hidden underground cenote.
02:43 Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve – known for it’s natural beauty and sustainable tourism, the reserve contains a beautiful stretch of beach with a off-shore coral reef and lively mangroves where you can spot birds, caymans and manatees.
03:18 Bacalar – not a big secret anymore, but the „Lagoon of Seven Colors“ with crystal clear water in all shades of blue is still worth a visit. Rent a kayak and paddle out to the „Canal de los Piratas“
03:40 Calakmul – one of the largest and most powerful ancient Maya ruins, nestled in the middle of a lush rain forest. Find yourself surrounded by wild animals while hiking through the widespread historical site and climb the highest structures for a spectacular view04:47 Ek Balam – a great alternative to Calakmul is Ek Balam, a Mayan site much more accessible and still less visited than most other ruins in the area
04:56 Cenotes – the natural highlight of the Pensinsula are around 3.000 sinkholes filled with fresh water. They’re an important habitat for plants and animals, considered as the entrance of the Mayan underworld and a perfect place to explore above and below the water surface. Find cliff jumps, rope swings (San Lorenzo Oxman Cenote) and spectacular places for snorkeling and scuba diving (Casa, Carwash, Dos Ojos, …).
If you’re interested in scuba diving the Cenotes or with the bull sharks living close to Playa del Carmen’s coast, check out our previous videos!
Have you been to the Yucatan Peninsula? Which were your favorite destinations there? Did you enjoy the cities, or prefer the natural surroundings as well? Share your experiences with us in the comments!
Stay Curious,
Doris & Matthias
#offthebeatentrack #visitmexico #visityucatan
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Yucatan, Mexico: Swimming in an Underground Lake (Cenote)
An incredible cenote on the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico.
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Gabriel Morris is a world traveler and travel writer who has been adventuring around the world off and on since his first trip to Europe in the summer of 1990. He is author of Following My Thumb, a collection of 26 exciting and hilarious autobiographical travel stories from his worldly wanderings during the 1990s; and of several other books. Visit for lots more info about his travel writing, photography, videos, budget travel tips and much more.
Thanks a lot for watching, and safe journeys!
Yucatan, Mexico: Swimming in an Underground Lake (Cenote)
DANGEROUS Cave Diving!!! Yucatan Peninsula Mexico
Under the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, is a system of delicate underwater caves that hold some of the most important archeological treasures in the world including the oldest human skeletons discovered in the Americas.
Alison Perkins uses her professional cave photography Inspired To Dive to help researchers such as Sam Meacham with El Centro Investigador del Sistema Acuífero de Quintana Roo A.C. (in my last SUP trash post) understand how to protect on of the last fresh water aquifers on earth!
And I got to JOIN them on an adventure deep into the jungle, carrying hundreds of pounds of tanks and equipment to explore a dangerous cave never touched by humans - since the last ice age.
There is so much we can learn from history to protect our future!
Cinematography by Mark Tipple
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Progreso Shore Excursions - Wacko Taco Group Adventure
YucatanCenote .com EcoAdventures presents: Wacko Taco Shared GROUP Adventure offered from the port of Progreso, Yucatan Mexico for cruise ship guests.
Servicing guests from Carnival Cruises, Royal Carribean Cruises, and any other guest cruise lines that are visiting Progreso Yucatan.
VIP pick up on the pier - Easy and no stress. On this excursion you will visit an ancient Church established on the base of a Pyramid, explore the archaeological site of Mayapan where you can climb all of the structures, the view from the top is amazing. Venture into the Yucatan jungle to an amazing open Cenote surrounded by rock cliffs. Jump from a cliff or platform, swing from a rope, swim and have fun in a Jungle Cenote. Enjoy a delicious lunch authentic lunch prepared for you beside the Cenote in the jungle, under a shade grass palapa. At the end of your excursion you will be returned to the ship.
This Cenote Tour will be an experience of a lifetime.
Discover the Best of Yucatan with the best in Yucatan - YucatanCenote EcoAdventures / Progreso Shore Excursions.
YucatanCenote.com, your gateway to the history and mystery of the Mayan empire. Get off the beaten path and away from the tourist crowds. Swim in sapphire waters and explore ancient Mayan ruins. Experience the culture and cuisine of Yucatan Mexico.
Book your private and authentic Adventure with YucatanCenote.com EcoAdventures - Live the Adventure !
Cenotes are Mexico Blue Holes. There is so many to explore in the Yucatan Peninsula with YucatanCenote EcoAdventures.
Reserve it. Book it. Explore it.
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YUCATAN PENINSULA, MEXICO JAN 2009: Part 2
This video features the Ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, Kabah, and Uxmal. It also highlights the Cenotes (sink holes) of Ik-Kil and the 3 Cenotes at Cuzama
Yucatan of Mexico by Adventure Motorcycle
I spent a week riding an adventure motorcycle (a modified DR650) around the Yucatan peninsula on a guided trip with Ko'oX Moto. We visited the Mayan ruins of Edzna, Uxmal, Kabah, and Sayil, we swam in too many cenotes to count and lastly, we visited the LolTun caves. The Yucatan peninsula of Mexico was amazing!
Mexico & the Chichen Itza Adventure!
Me and the lady took a well needed break from it all and took a vacation in the Yucatan! Enjoy!
Mexico - Yucatan
MEXICO - YUCATAN
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YUCATAN
is a famous tourist destination. Old Maya cities, cenotes and the clear Caribbean Sea characterizes the Yucatan Peninsula. Tulum was one of the last cities inhabited and built by the Mayas. Chicken Itza and Coba are really worth a visit, too. While the Tulum ruins face directly to the breathtaking Caribbean Sea, Coba is located in the middle of the jungle. Yucatan is a great destination also if you like to combine adventure with relax.
Yucatan Beaches
Yucatan Peninsula has plenty of nice Beaches. Some are more touristic as Cancun and Playa del Carmen and the area around Tulum is more quiet and closed to plenty of historical sights.
30 minutes from Tulum closed to Akumal there the best resorts as the Grand Palladium Resort & Spa. An amazing all-inclusive resort where you can relax in the in & outdoor Spa as well as on the long white sand beach. Right in front the resort, it is also great for snorkeling and kayaking as you will have the possibility to see plenty of rays. You can also book a 20 minutes boat tour to Akumal where you can get in touch with plenty of beautiful Turtles.
One of the nicest beaches is Playa Paraiso south of Tulum, where there are fewer facilities but you get in touch with an amazing nature, beautiful palms, white fine sand and crystal clear water. This area is also a great place for kitesurfing. If you do not need plenty of facilities and all-inclusive, the right place to stay is La Vita é Bella Bungalows, located directly on the beachfront.
Yucatan Sights
Maya Ruins of Tulum
Xel- Há, a natural aquarium park considered the largest aquarium in the World
Cenotes, caves that attract many visitors and divers
Akumal. snorkeling with turtles in the open Carribean Sea.
Sian Kaan Natural Reserve
Coba, old Maya ruins in the middle of the jungle located 40 km from Tulum.
Chichen Itza, biggest and most important Maya city located 160 km from Tulum.
You can reach these great sights by booking a group tour directly in your hotel or discover them on your own by renting a car. You have just to watch out the precarious roads, but that is adventure too.
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Diving Yucatan - GoPro - Mexico
Diving Yucatan - GoPro
A trip to Mexico
Here’s the film of our Yucatán holyday. Mayan sites, diving and Free-diving
Temples Maya, plongée et apnée au Mexique
Dive sites :
Around Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel island
Cenotes : Gran Cenote & Aktum Ha (car wash)
Whales sharks : Isla Mujeres
Mayan sites :
Chichén Itzá - Cobá – Uxmal - Tulum
Shot 100% with GoPro Hero4 Black Edition
My Facebook page (video and photography) :
Diving with Phocea Mexico – Playa del Carmen
A film by Nicolas Thiou & Gabrielle Ruocco
Music:
The Three Corners of The Earth - The Fire Shall Devour Us
Journey into the Sacred Mayan Undergroud - Dream Gate Cenote
Journey into the Sacred Mayan Underground Dream Gate Cenote Downstream, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico with Samih Fadli, Jason Renoux and M Constança Duarte Gonçalves.
Dreamgate was the location for much of the underwater footage used in the filming for the BBC Planet Earth Documentary Series Caves episode as well as the BBC Natural World Documentary Secrets of the Maya Underworld.
Dreamgate is located 1km south of Dos Ojos on Highway 307. From the turnoff a very rough 4km dirt road leads out into the jungle. The Cenote has 2 permanent Cavern lines one which leads upstream and one downstream both of which can be dived in either direction (clockwise or anticlockwise). The two Cavern dives are markedly different from one another. Dive gear must be lowered by rope and pulley.
The upstream Cavern line begins and ends at the platform and can be dived either clockwise or anticlockwise. Although not a very large cavern zone it is one of the most highly decorated with an abundance of beautiful, delicate formations so go slowly as there is so much to see.
The shallow water and very fragile nature of the decorations mean that excellent dive skills are a must, particularly buoyancy control. In many places Soda Straw formations can be seen. These are the preliminary stage in the growth of stalactites. These formations are very fragile and even diver's exhaust bubbles will break them so please stay close to the guideline and view them from a safe distance to avoid any damage to this irreparable natural wonder.
There is an air dome in the center of the cavern zone and many of the stalactites from the ceiling pass through the water surface and are reflected in it.
Yucatan Adventure Part 1 of 3
John Brad Brian in the yucatan April 6th - 15th 2007
Lost on the Yucatan Peninsula | Belize & Mexico
May 2015
CENOTE AZUL HD 2016 RIVIERA MAYA CANCUN
Ven y conoce uno de tantos maravillosos cenotes en Quintana Roo , el cenote donde se grabo la pelicula Casese quien pueda con Martha Higareda esta rumbo a Tulum llamada Cenote Azul, a una hora de Cancun, una maravillosa alberca con Cara de cenote.LOS HORARIOS ABREN DIARIO DE 9 A 6 CON UN COSTO MUY ACCESIBLE 80 PESOS POR PERSONA
Descending into a Mayan Cenote Where Time Stands Still
A cenote is an underground cavern (or sinkhole) formed initially from the great coral beds that covered Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, and which over the millennia became limestone. The cenotes of the land of the Maya are also enormous underground sources of freshwater; and it was to these life sources that the ancient Maya had access in their ecologically-rich tropical world. There is still today a mystery and sense of spirituality in a cenote, which also lies at the heart of Mayan culture. One does not go into or ascend from a cenote without a sense of reverence. Sarah is a student of travel and tourism from Germany who has come to the Yucatan to work as a volunteer for the Kanché organization ( Speaking impeccably fluent German, Spanish, and English she (along with Jesús Mesa, Director of Communication) accompanied us into the heart of Mayan culture and life. This video is brought to you by The Philosophical Traveller (
Adventure in Mexico - Yucatan and Quintana Roo
September 2018 - Mayaland Resort, Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, Valladolid, and Cozumel, Mexico.
Cenote Hubiku Mexico - Riu Yucatan Playa del Carmen Mexico - Most Beautiful Cenote in Mexico
Find out more in my blog: lturok.com
We visited Cenote Hubiku during our trip to Chichen Itza by Tui Tour from our hotel resort Riu Yucatan at Playa del Carmen in Mexico.
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We recorded this video on GoPro Hero5 Black & Canon 70D
Edited in iMovie at iPad
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Discover the Yucatan and the Mayan World in Yucatan, Mexico | Carnival Cruise Line
Join this excursion for a cultural tour that will both educate and delight you as you witness how history has shaped the lives of the modern Mayan people. Begin the excursion with a trip to Xcambo, a significant city due to its Mayan trade route. In Xcambo, you will see amazing archaeology and restored pyramids.
The tour continues on to Dzemul, a town where Mayan palapas (sort of like a chickee or tiki hut) sit next to Spanish influenced buildings. Afterwards, hop on the bus to an exclusive beach resort where you'll be able to relax and enjoy a lunch buffet before heading back to the ship.
Sound like an adventure you'd like to be a part of? For more info go to:
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Carnival Cruise Line isn’t just the most fun you can have at sea. It’s the most fun you can have, period. With 24 ships leaving ports around the country and 3-day, 5-day and 7-day cruises to destinations like the Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico, the Carnival fun doesn’t stop! All for fun, fun for all! Subscribe to our channel on YouTube for your fix of fun facts, how-tos, behind-the-scenes footage and everything else you could ever want to keep the fun flowing. Until your next cruise, that is...
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Discover the Yucatan and the Mayan World in Yucatan, Mexico | Carnival Cruise Line
Adventures in Yucatán - Tulum Cenote
So many adventures to be had in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Cenotes, caves, the Caribbean ocean, ruins, pyramids, jungles and so much nature to explore. We are hosting a weeklong adventure excursion this summer. To join, become a Givebackpacker on Givebackpaackers.org and email Lindsay@Givebackpackers.org
Road trip Mexico and Yucatan
Our 1st month road trip in Mexico.
We hope you will enjoy it ! Do not hesitate to subscribe to our Chanel Youtube.
You can follow our adventure on Instagram and Facebook @vagazur.
vagazur.com is a travel blog international of a young couple.