Location: 7 km Southwest of the Valladolid
Open: 8am- 5pm
Price: US $2.5, child US $1.5, video cameras US $30
Cenote Dzitnup or Cenote Xkakah is situated 7 km Southwest of
the Valladolid and 33 km East of Chichen Itza in Mexico.
"Dzitnup" or "dzonot" is actually the word that was later
adopted by the Spaniards as “cenote”. Mayan priests often
associated these sink holes with the entrance to the underworld.
Offerings and even human sacrificed were made at the entrance of
Cenote Dzitnup. The legends states that this cenote was
discovered by the local farmer who lost his pig that fell
through the sinkhole, an opening in the ceiling of the
underground cavern. Locals later build stairs to take a swim in
a turquoise waters of the cave of Cenote Dzitnup.
The
ceiling of Cenote Dzitnup is adored with stalagmites that make
this cave magical. Small bats settle in the grooves in the
limestone cave. Cenote Dzitnup is especially beautiful in the
middle of the cave when the light ray falls directly inside the
cave around noon time. However this is also the busiest time
then most of tourist visit the site. You are allowed to swim
here. The water of Cenote Dzitnup is fresh and fairly cool. At
76 degrees Fahrenheit or 25 degrees Celsius it offers a good
escape from the heat above. If you want to avoid crowds come
early to enjoy this underground cavern.