Both Marc and I have always wanted to go spelunking. What better way than to do it in an underground river? Our tour guide mentioned that they had just discovered this place three years ago and had just recently opened to the public in the last 6 months. We felt so privileged to visit such a new discovery. To get there, we had to ride a van across a road-less jungle. Translation=off-roading. The 45 minute bumpy ride was definitely worth it. We were greeted by the pouring rain and the friendly staff who instructed us to strip down to our swimsuits. Following that, we had to run across a wet jungle towards fresh-water showers. With both the rain and the cold shower, we were like icicles by the time we made another dash across the jungle to get our wet suits. But once we made our way down through the collapsed entrance of the cave, not a hint of wind or cold air could be felt. All the hassle proved to be worth the splendor we would experience underground. My favorite part was going to the deeper pools (about 7 feet deep) and floating on my back as I admired the natural crystal-looking ceiling above.
Don't be fooled by the lighting. Without our headlamps and random flashlights placed throughout the caves for photo-opps, it was pitch-black inside!
Thank goodness for a personal photographer and portable flashes spread throughout the caves.
I accidentally kicked Marc as I was startled by a catfish that swam by.
In the dark.
The two pictures above show us participating in a Mayan ritual of observing complete silence. We had to turn off all lights and observe the sounds around us. Nothing could be heard except for the drops of water coming from above-ground. Then when the lights came on, we marveled at the beautiful stalactites above and rubbed our hands with the sulfur below. It was like a personal spa treatment!
Somehow, I lost a leg in the cave. Not quite sure how. Ricky, our tour guide, is on the right in the black wetsuit.
I learned that the stalagmites and stalactites would cease to form once touched. As a result, we had to be very careful when walking through the caves. This experience made me more aware of the true meaning of conservation and preservation. I would be really sad if my children would not be able to experience this one day due to our carelessness. On a brighter note, if you're ever in the Riviera Maya, you must visit Rio Secreto. It definitely is an adventure of a lifetime!
