Last week I was lucky enough to attend a press trip to The Hard Rock Hotel in Riviera Maya. The hotel was generous enough to take our group for a daytrip to the world-famous cenotes in the area. Scuba divers from all over the world flock to the area for the amazing coral reefs and natural beauty. Next to the Great Barrier Reef, the area is one of the grandest reef locations in the world, so believe the hype. Our group began our journey through the cenotes of Riviera Maya with headlamps, helmets and life preservers to swim and snorkel through the freshwater-filled cave, known more commonly as a cenote. This cave was rare, being one of the largest and only freshwater-filled caves in the area. As we swam, we could see and feel the sardines and catfish swim beneath us. Our guide explained the caves are filled with limestone and hold no nutrients for the fish to live off of, so they survive with help from the bats above. Straining our heads upward, our headlights shone on the dozens, possibly hundreds, of bats hanging above. I have never seen so many bats in one place in my life, so the audible shock, and screams, that came out of the group around me was understandable. The bats awoke and flew around us, dipping low and turning back through the dark cave ahead. I was looking forward to the cenote experience since I heard about the world-famous snorkeling, and the experience definitely lived up to my imagination. The history lesson was also right up my alley as our guide explained the ancient Mayan belief that the cenotes were a cleansing, soul-purifying experience because they believed them to be the opening to the underworld. In the Mayan culture, it was believed the underworld was the beginning of the circle of the afterlife, meaning everyone would first have to pass through the underground, pay their dues to the gods and eventually find their way up into nirvana where their souls would be free. This explains not only why Mayans were buried with their valuables, to pay the gods, but also why they feared and revered the cenotes so much. Overall, the daytrip was a great adventure and something unique to the area. I would highly recommend it for anyone who is looking for a fun experience and doesn’t mind a few hundred bats. — Angelique Platas, assistant marketing and sales coordinator