Dark and Light at Labnaha
September 20th, 2020
Today we’re making one last stop at a cenote on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. As you’ve learned by now, the region is full of them and each has its own character. Some are deep and intimidating, some are popular shallow swimming holes, some are hidden and mysterious … like Cenote Labnaha.
Labnaha is an actual hole in the ground with a hand-written sign in front of it declaring that life vests are obligatory. Descend the steps and enter a cavern of stalactites over a shallow pool of clear water. Time your visit just right (my timing was lucky) and you’ll see a beam of sunlight entering the cavern from a second smaller hole somewhere at the surface. It’s a stunning sight, revealing the water’s aquamarine clarity and the volume of points hanging from above.
Jump in and adjust to the cool water. If you dare, embark on a cave tour with flashlights — a spooky floating adventure through the labyrinth of Labnaha’s connected caverns. The highlight comes in a small cave half-submerged in water. The guide asks the group to sit on the rock around the edge until the water reaches stillness. Then, he turns off his flashlight.
True, pure darkness envelops you. It is a freaky moment as you think about your location, somewhere underground, in water and stone, with not a single pixel of light to show you the way home.
When the guide turns the flashlight back on, relief arrives. And a new visual, too. The water’s still surface reflects the stalactites above perfectly, in a mirror image, as if the stalactites are over head and underwater too.
The tour continues through a couple more phases and one hold-your-breath-and-dunk-to-the-next-cave moment before returning to the starting point where the real world comes back in to view.
That’s a wrap for cenotes! I trust you’ll seek them out (or not) if this post and others have whet your appetite.
Tomorrow … Chichen Itza.
Until then,
Kelly
Photos of the Day: Adding a bit of light to the darkness as we get through the pandemic together. This series features travel photos from my archives, shared with you while staying close to home.
What a fascinating world we live in! Glad to enjoy this one through your eyes, Kelly 🙂 🙂
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It IS fascinating, Jo! So fun to explore. Thanks for coming along on the journey!
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I knew nothing of this specific wonder (the cenotes) around the Mayan civilization, only knew the temples and the Mayan calendar – this is all amazing to know, I am so grateful to your blogs till now on Mayan civilization. Can only imagine what it must have been when the lights came on again in the underground cave 🙂
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This is what I love about blogging — we all learn so much through the personal experiences of others; things that may not be known or talked about in mainstream travel media. I had heard of cenotes before but it wasn’t until visiting here that I really paid much attention. Now I really want to go back and do the whole visit again! Thanks for the kind words, Deb! 🙂
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The cenotes are so fascinating. Did they require showers before going in and no sunscreen or bug spray? The 3 we visited it was mandatory.
Cheers
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Interesting! Except for one place where we rinsed off, there were no such restrictions. But there should be! Happy to know you came across a few that were being smarter about environmental impact.
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That beam of light is spectacular Kelly. Reminds me of our visit to Antelope Canyon and the beam of light that we were lucky enough to be there for that only appears briefly once a day (https://wp.me/p3gSod-2EE); timing is everything. Happy Monday – Have a great week, and welcome to the official beginning of Fall tomorrow.
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Hi Andrew! Catching up with comments tonight. I remember that post — very similar. You on land, me in the water. 🙂 Thanks for the fall wishes. Looking forward to the colors changing!! xo
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Great captures, Kelly. I’ve been in caves when they turn the lights off. Always impressive. And kind of spooky. –Curt
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Super spooky!! Eeeek!
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🙂
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Beautiful, but not my kind of adventure! (I think I’d be terrified!) 🌞
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Yeah, one cave/water trip was enough for me! Not something I would seek out again.
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This sounds amazing. I know that moment of pure darkness underground. Kind of surreal and freaky at the same time. We did the underground thing at Rio Secreto about an hour or so out of Playa.
Alison
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It was cool and freaky! Probably wouldn’t do it again. Rio Secret sounds interesting…
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That sounds pretty cool, in more ways than one. I think, even more than the ray of light, the perfect cave reflection would have been the highlight.
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I wish I could have photographed it! We had a dry bag with the camera but the whole effect was a surprise — and not to be repeated because I was ready to leave that dark cave!
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You had me at that first photo and then again with the last — what a gorgeous place, one that deserves to be in a movie!! Great finds all around.
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It does feel a little “Indiana Jones!” 🙂 Thanks for enjoying the photos!
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