If you are planning a trip to Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen or any of the surrounding areas, I suggest you reserve time for an exciting adventure at Rio Secreto; the Secret River. Adam and I arrived in Cozumel on the Disney Wonder and boarded a ferry to travel to the main land. We arrived in Playa del Carmen a half hour later and met our tour guide at the dock. We walked through the small village to the tour vans near the main road. The cobblestone walkways in the city were charming and lined with classy stores and rugged booths packed with merchandise that only tourists would consider buying. Men and women sat in chairs in front of each booth prepared to lure each visitor into their shop. My suggestion is to know the exchange rate and exactly what you pay if purchasing an item from a booth. The locals only provide the total price for your purchase in pesos and are not the most honest people. In fact, many expect a tip from you and will increase the total to receive that tip. They are known to increase the price without your knowledge. One man tried to do so with Adam before he questioned the price in pesos and took out his calculator to test the man’s integrity. Doing so scared the man into changing the price to the agreed total.
Arrival and Preparation for our Secret River Adventure
Our adventure began when we arrived at the tour van near the main road. When we reached the Yucatan Jungle, our guide pointed out wildlife along the road while traveling along the dirt path. Heavy vegetation surrounded us and often hit the sides of our van. When we arrived at the small facility, hidden in the middle of the jungle, we met our guide. She was a small French woman who had traveled to Mexico three years prior to visit and learn some Spanish. She fell in love with the area and decided to stay. Now, she is fluent in Spanish and loves her new office in the secret river. It was clear that she is a woman in love with her life in Playa del Carmen.
Our guide fitted us for wet suits, water shoes, life vests and helmets. Before putting our gear on, each of us changed into our swim suits and rinsed our bodies with water to remove any lotion, perfumes and such. Our guide explained that since the river is a natural, fresh water reserve, the guides do their best to preserve its original habitat.
Our group laughed at one another doing our best to pull the wetsuit over our bodies. It isn’t as easy as it looks. Thereafter we gathered to take a picture of the group with our guide before walking deeper into the Yucatan Jungle to the secret river. Rain began to fall when we left the facility. We walked in a single line along a narrow trail. The sound of thunder and rain filled our ears. I remember looking back at Adam; grinning from ear to ear. “This is so cool,” he said often.
Before Entering the River – Say a Little Prayer
Before entering the secret river, our guide led us to a small hut. An old man sat on a chair in the middle of the hut with a large cup and a small fire. We were instructed to gather around him in a half circle. Our guide explained that the man wished to say a prayer for us prior to entering the river so that we will return safely. The man spoke in his native language; a prayer we didn’t understand. He lit the contents in his cup, which created a sweet smell in the hut and heavy smoke. Individually, he blew the smoke on us then wished us good luck and a safe return in English.
Walking, Falling and Swimming in the Underground Secret River
We walked further into the jungle for a few minutes before we reached the entrance of the secret river. The view was incredible; much like a large hole in the earth coaxing us to enter and discover its secrets. Our guide shared some facts about the river before we entered:
- The secret river was discovered in 2007 and was originally named Pool Tunich.
- The river is the longest within the Yucatan Peninsula and is flooded in some portions.
- The river is semi-sunken, meaning that some portions of the caves are dry and can be viewed by a walking path.
- Only 10% of the river is open to tours in effort to preserve its natural habitat.
- There are 15 outlets to the river.
- The caves are home to bats, catfish, spiders, and crabs.
- Some admirers of the river have chosen to host their wedding within a dry cave.
We walked down a gradual decline to a small pool of water. We could see catfish through the clear water. Our guide led us further into a cave where the cool water met our feet. Eventually, we were knee deep in the water, walking slowly to avoid falling over the uneven surface. Our guide instructed us to look, but not touch the millions of stalactites and stalagmites surrounding us in effort to preserve the natural order of the cave.
Together, we walked deeper into the cave, letting the water reach our chin before forcing us to swim to the next incline. The lights on our helmets were the only source of light in the cave allowing us to see only 10-15 feet in front of us. Our guide pointed out the difference between the stalactites and stalagmites around us and how they form. She shared that stalagmites form from the floor of the cave by an accumulation of material that drips from the stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling. As for stalactites, they form from the cave ceiling and are a collection of material that looks much like icicles. Some stalagmites and stalactites form quickly, while others may take thousands of years to form. Such is the reason we were urged to only look and not touch.
The view was breathtaking. Our photographer stopped us periodically through the cave to take photos of everyone in our group. Midway through the cave, our guide asked us to sit down in the water and turn our lights off. She explained that she wanted us to experience the natural view and listen to the natural condition of the cave. We sat in darkness for a few minutes; listening to the dripping water. Adam whispered in my ear, “This is so cool.” I later told him how eerie it was sitting in darkness 80 feet underground and thinking about the bats, fish and spiders that have made the cave their home. Our guide asked us to put our hands in front of our face. “Do you see anything?” she asked. Everyone said no. After minutes of sitting in darkness, our eyes never adjusted.
Cheers to a Safe Return
We explored the caves for 90 minutes. When our guide announced that our exit from the cave was approaching, we gathered for a final group photo and took a good look around. The beautiful formations, clear water and the quiet solitude of the cave was an unforgettable experience. We helped one another through the uneven ground and gradual incline out of the cave. We walked in a single file line back to the facility in the light rain and gathered under a small structure. Our guide handed each of us a shot glass of tequila, shared a toast and we all drank to our safe return.
After returning our gear, we changed and were asked to join our guide for lunch; a Mexican buffet. The food was delicious. Our photographer shared the photos she took of us during our adventure. We chose to purchase a CD of our photos; however there are other packages available for purchase.
I Highly Recommend Visiting the Rio Secreto
Walking through the cave reminded Adam and I of the many beautiful secrets that are near. We feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience what lies beneath the Yucatan Jungle. My hope is that all who visit the Yucatan area take the time to visit Rio Secreto as it is an unforgettable experience for the whole family that would be cherished and shared.
What are the best off-the-beaten-path adventures in the Yucatán Peninsula?
There is much to do in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. My favorite half-day activity was the Rio Secreto (the underground secret river). I wrote all about my experience and added some fun facts and photos on my weekly travel blog. You can view my post at…