Cenotes with children: adventure and safety

Without a doubt, no one can visit Yucatan and leave without having been to a cenote: unique, sacred, enigmatic places, with crystal clear waters, which can be open, closed, shallow, deep, calm, with slight currents, sometimes extreme. and a long etcetera that you will want to take into account if you are traveling with children. This, with the sole purpose of anticipating certain situations, for your safety and theirs, and above all to make this experience a great adventure.

Access to the cenotes

Before visiting a cenote, inform yourself well about the conditions in which it is located; The first thing you should find out is if it is easy to access, if it has stairs and if they have a railing. Even so, always go ahead of them when they come down; If they slip or stumble, it is easier to avoid a serious fall.

Make sure they wear the right footwear

The best way to protect the little ones' feet is to wear special shoes for immersion in water: they will help them walk without fear of the pebbles hurting them or the verdigris in the water frightening them, and to have better grip when going down stairs. Plus, you won't have to worry about taking them off and putting them on every time they want to enter the water. Avoid “sayonaras” or houndstooth flip flops at all costs; Upon contact with water they can become a slippery slippery slope that, in the best of cases, will give them a huge scare.

Consider the depth and let them gain confidence

This is a very important point. Under no circumstances should you risk putting your children in if they do not know how to swim and without protection; My grandmother always said that misfortunes happen in seconds, so take into account whether the cenote you are thinking of visiting has enough life jackets for children (that fit them well) and/or trained personnel to help you in an emergency. Now that, even if your children already know how to swim, it doesn't hurt to always be aware and stay close to them in case they need help. Never force them to enter the water if they do not want to, much less push or push them; Doing so can cause a very bad experience. Don't ruin their vacation or yours; Better give them the confidence that they can do it and that the most important thing is that they enjoy it.

Nails and temperature

If your children like to dive, they can do it as long as the cenote allows it or has the conditions to do so. These usually have cement or wooden platforms and depending on the depth of the water is the height at which they are located.

Make sure your children have the ability to jump in and stay afloat without problem. Never throw them or force them to; A bad fall can be fatal. Also make sure you are in the water and close to where they are going to come out once they submerge to help them if necessary; If the Red Bull high diving team does it, why not you?

Another thing to take into account is the water temperature, which ranges between 24 and 25 degrees Celsius. It may seem very cool in the Peninsula's climate, but if children are dry and hot, the sudden change in temperature can cause their lungs to naturally fill with air and make them feel like they can't breathe, scaring them; For them, it will always be better to enter the water gradually and not in one dip.

Discovering new worlds

If they swim, enhance their experience with a snorkel mask and a water lamp. If there is a world outside, there is also a world under the water! You will be able to appreciate the fish that live in the cenotes, the rock formations, caves and tunnels that there could be. You can also make them look up and observe the different vaults full of stalactites (if the cenote has them); There are endless shapes and colors that you can discover and that I am sure will spark your imagination.

Hydration and energy

Hydration is also important. Although we are surrounded by water and cooling off in it, it does not mean that we do not have to drink it. The waste of energy and dehydration that a visit to a cenote implies is almost the law, so always hydrate your little ones with water, give them a small snack (fruit, sandwich, peanuts) and, why not, even a “pen” (frozen) pineapple, coconut, peanut (my favorite), mango or some seasonal fruit; Sellers of these delicacies are almost always present outside the cenote.

Respect, safety and conservation

Although for children going to the cenote could be an adventure without limits, it is important that you mark them: let them know the importance of respecting and conserving these places, of not destroying, touching, hanging from roots and stalactites, throwing objects, rocks and much less trash. Remember that these activities are the seedbed for many actions that may or may not be repeated in the future.

Obey (and make sure your little ones obey) the signs and instructions of the lifeguard or cenote guardians. Don't let children climb or hold on to the stones, as they could slip, damage them, encounter a small animal, or, worse yet, touch bat droppings or other vermin.

Always try to rinse before entering the water. Lightly scrub your arms, legs, face and armpits to remove cream, sunscreen, deodorant, etc. If you are visiting an open cenote, forget about using sunscreen and instead invest in a shirt with UV protection; This way you will keep them safer for longer and, if they have to wear a vest, goodbye chafing! And they will also contribute more effectively to the conservation of the cenotes.

Some options

You may want to start with a cenote that has a hostel (that is, services such as changing rooms, restaurant, small shops, etc.); If so, consider options such as Santa Bárbara, Hacienda Mucuyché, Tsukán, Cenote Pueblo Fantasma, Sac Aua, Palomitas, Agua Dulce, Kikil or Hacienda Kampepén. If your children are more adventurous, Suhem, Noh Mozon and San Ignacio are also good options. You can also consult our cenote guide to see more options in different categories.

Now, are you ready? Well, take to the water, ducks! Marvel and enjoy what each cenote has for you, whether big, small, rustic, touristy...