The underground river and cave system of Sac Actun in Tulum (Sac Actun) is one of the most incredible wonders of Mexico. The second longest cave system in the world (after Mammoth in the USA), Sak-Actun has more than 300 km of caves, tunnels and passages, of which only 5 km are not flooded with water. The ringing silence of the cenotes, the crystal clear mineral water of underground rivers, fantastic stalactites and stalagmites, artfully illuminated by beautiful illumination, and at night by the wavering light of the moon — all this is the otherworldly world of Sak—Actun, where even the most pragmatic tourists are ready to agree with the Mayans, who believed that we were all once born in the cenotes.
What to see
Visiting the underground river and the Sak-Actun cave system is a popular sightseeing trip from Tulum. Tourists are invited to explore several partially filled cenotes and take a snorkeling dive. Diving in completely flooded caves is possible only for those who have an advanced cave diving diver certificate.
There are about 170 exits to the surface in the Sak-Actun cave system, but not all of them are available for visiting. Before the start of the tour, tourists put on rescue equipment and receive tubes and masks, as well as undergo a brief briefing. Under the guidance of a guide (there are Spanish and English speakers), the tourists descend to the first cenote, from where they move along a chain of underground corridors to the next. Each cave is unique — the depth and quality of the reservoir and its bottom, the shape of stalactites illuminated by skillful illumination. Some caves have an open exit to the top, others are completely hidden in the bowels of the earth. Cenotes are inhabited by bats of various species, which often break off the walls and sweep over the heads of visitors.
Guides often turn off artificial lighting in caves, so that visitors remain for several minutes in absolute black darkness and silence, interrupted only by the sound of drops falling from stalactites.
There are no living creatures in the Sak-Actun River, as the water contains a large amount of minerals. Nevertheless, there is a real expanse for snorkeling: the underwater landscapes are amazing!