Swimming in a secret cenote in Mexico

Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula is famous for many things: beaches, ancient Maya ruins, food and nightlife and of course, cenotes. You may have seen snaps of these bright blue or green natural waterholes on Instagram, and with good reason: they’re darn beautiful. Cenotes are formed when limestone bedrock collapses and groundwater fills the sinkhole. The ancient Mayans used them for water and as sites of sacrifice as it was believed they were gateways to the spiritual underworld. These days cenotes are often crowded with tourists – especially those easily accessible from Tulum or Cancun such as Gran Cenote or Cenote Azul – unless, of course, you’ve got some insider intel. An Intrepid local leader can hook you up with access to quieter (but equally gorgeous) cenotes, just like the ones in this video. Ready for a swim?