San Gerónimo’s 7 Cenotes: Two Opposite Experiences

Cenotes are often pictured as water-filled holes in the ground with very little difference between them. Though Geronimo’s 7 cenotes are, in reality, just two, the experiences in them are poles apart. Never again will you think all cenotes are the same.

Geronimo’s 7 Cenotes is a Private Adventure

First thing’s first: this tour is not open to the public, it’s a group tour you must book in advance. Your hosts will meet you in Sotuta, a village an hour and a half away from Merida, and drive you to a former ranch. After a warm welcome with coffee, water, and COVID-19 safety protocols, you’ll meet your guide. Then, you’ll get your bicycle and helmet and ride to your first destination, one-and-a-half miles away.

First of all, you have to take a purification bath to eliminate any chemicals from your body and take care of the water in the cenotes. Once this is done, you enter the trails surrounded by vegetation, on a bike. The distance is a little over a kilometer, until you reach the first cenote. If you do not know how to ride a bike, a support vehicle will take you.

Peepen Chooj

The first stop is the Peepen Chooj Cenote, which means “blue butterfly”. The reason becomes clear the moment you lay eyes on the bright-blue shine of the water. This is a semi-open cenote, closer to what most people picture in their minds.

If you’re feeling like it, the Nachi Cocom Jump is a 60 ft. drop to the water—it looks like a much slower bungee jump. If you’re up for it, you should know it has an extra cost.

After the swim and the return trip, you’ll be served a selection of fresh fruit and be given a few minutes to rest before you take off to your next adventure.

Sujuy

This is a completely different experience than the previous one. Walk down a stairway to the entrance to the cenote and say goodbye to the sunlight—you won’t see it for some time. This is a sensorial experience, meaning you’ll be in complete darkness listening to the sounds of the cave around you.

Once your eyes get used to the light again, it’s time to head back.

Dinner at 7 Cenotes

On your return, you’ll find a wide array of different typical dishes cooked on-site. After enjoying the meal, your guide will take you to a 300-year-old ceiba tree and explain its significance in Mayan lore.

Get your tickets at https://www.los7cenotes.com/