Cenote Dos Ojos

Cenote Dos Ojos or “two eyes” is located a little over 9 miles north of Tulum on highway 307. This cenote was named Dos Ojos because it is actually two circular cenotes. This is a world famous cenote and there is a large cave system below where divers can explore almost 500 meters of the underwater world in the immediate area. IMAX filmed part of their film “Journey into Amazing Caves” here. 

There are areas for swimmers, snorkelers as well as scuba divers, be sure to bring or rent a strong underwater flashlight or you might be able to piggyback a long with a scuba or snorkeling group because it can get dark, spooky and a lot of fun. You will get to see some impressive formations you don’t get to see otherwise. 


The water crystal clear and was delightfully cold for me, I spent four hours snorkeling and was comfortable the entire time but others thought it was too cold. For those people you can rent a wetsuit. I recommend going to the first cenote first and then on to the second, the order is important once you go, you will see why that is true. 

 
 

This cenote was the most expensive one at M$150 so far, I recommend going to the Gran Cenote first at M$120 then to the Dos Ojos Cenote you will be even more impressed.

Bacalar on Laguna Bacalar (Bacalar Lagoon)

This town is an old Spanish settlement here before Chetumal and now is a little local resort; with an old fort in the heart of town called “Foerte de San Felipe Bacalar”. 

 

Bacalar as it turns out is quite a nice little town located just north of the Belize border on Hwy 307 between Chetumal and Cozumel, Mexico. It has everything you need; ATM, hospital, bars, restaurants, street vendors, souvenir shops, one campground that is right on the lake, hostels, hotels all on a great seven color lagoon. The lagoon is big enough for motorboats, water-skiers, jet-skies, sightseeing watercrafts, sailboats and much more.

 

This fresh water lagoon is known as “Las Lagunas de Siete Colores” (The Lagoon of 7 Colors) and is landlocked. It is very shallow with a light reflecting bottom that changes colors depending upon time of day and lighting conditions. It is an excellent place to swim and camp. 

The water is beautiful, clear and with colors changing from white to the deepest blue. At this location there are special live formations called Stromatoites that date back some 3,500,000 years. At night the moonlight prances on the water like thousands of fireflies were dancing on it. An added bonus is right now there are not many mosquitoes or other biting insects to spoil the night’s enjoyment. 

 

Cenote Azul (Blue Sinkhole) is separated from Laguna Bacalar only by a narrow strip of land but entirely different and reported to be more than 175 feet (57 meters) deep. For M$10 you can access this great swimming hole through the restaurant. Spending a hot sunny day in a cool deep blue sinkhole is great way to spend time and have a bite to eat.

  

Sinkholes here are caves of soft limestone that collapsed and exposed the freshwater rivers within. There are more that 6000 of them and are unique to the Yucatan peninsula; the freshwater within is considered to be sacred waters. The Mayans thought that the underground rivers and streams that are found in these cenotes are gateways to Xibalba or the underworld. Another theory is that some 65 million years ago the Chicxulub meteor impacted the area and a huge proliferation beginning at a radius of more than 100km (62 miles), but looking at a map the cenotes are not in that area. This meteor is the one that is thought to be the start of the ice age and causing the extinction of the dinosaurs. 

My first plan was to stay for just a few days then head on up to Cozumel where I had planned to sell my two scuba tanks and maybe a wetsuit to one of the dive shops. That would have given me some extra cash then I could afford to snorkel with the whale sharks ($150US) and do a few other things, but that has fallen flat. Now I am planning where to go next. 

The Balneario Cocalitos Campground is $7.50US per night for me; it is lovely and right on the lake. I need to stay a bit longer to balance out my month and money, and then I will be on the road again.

Belize gas prices were $6US per gallon and I got bad gas millage too. Mexico gas is run by the government so it will be the same price throughout the country at $3.80 per gallon, I can sure use a price break.

I am very much looking forward to getting back home…the grass being greener as they say.

Caye Caulker-Belize City, Belize

This is one of the many islands off the coast of Belize. 

I drove my own car into Belize so I had to store it for the days I was on the island and I did at Cucumber Beach Marina (Old Belize Shipyard) at 5.5 Miles Western Hwy (at the police check point), Belize City (www.oldbelize.com) email marketing@oldbelize.com. You might be able to stay in you RV overnight there too. They have bathroom, showers, saltwater pool, restaurants, and laundry for your use. I was charged Bz$15/7.50US per day. I rode the local bus for Bz$1.50 (that pick me up right in front of the shipyard) that takes you into town, about a 20 minute ride to the end at the terminal and for Bz$7.00 you can take a taxi to the water taxi. The Caye Caulker-Belize City Water Taxi round trip ticket cost me Bz$45. This was an enjoyable ride for about 45 minutes and then I was there. I took the local tuk-tuk for Bz$5 because I did not know just how to get to the Bella’s Hostel. After that I walked everywhere around the island. 

 

This little island town is a quiet laid back village with an ATM/bank, a clinic, many bars and restaurants, grocery and souvenir stores and street merchants. Your choice of places to stay are from hostels to hotels, and tuk-tuks for getting around if you don’t want to walk (no cars on the island); but you can walk around the island in about 30 minutes.

I snorkel the reef via a tour; I was hoping for the freedom to see the reef on my own but that is not allowed anymore. Because it seems that a hand full of people last year ruined it for the rest of us. They took lobsters, to small and out of season, along with many other things; they in effect rape the coral reef here. Tourist!!!! What are you thinking! This is not yours to do with as you please, that is true for the whole world; people from all over the world have a right to see undisturbed what is here; so take all the photos you want, but leave everything alone for the next person to enjoy along with the sea creatures that call this place home. 

 

After going on the Caveman Tour (Bz$130); I believe it is the best way to go. The Caveman is very good, knowledgeable on the sea creatures and proud of this coral reef. The rules here are strict in order to protect this section of the second largest coral reef in the world and the largest in the northern hemisphere, not to mention all the sea creatures that call it home; as it should be. I got to see a manatee, two different kinds of turtles, sting rays, sharks, and many other fish, a shipwreck, Hol-Chan Park, seahorses, and fed the Tarpon (large endangered protected fish). The Caveman is #1 on Trip Advisor too.

It was well worth the money for the day’s excursion, but if you are going to do this please be sure to wear a hat, T Shirt, bring an underwater camera (you can rent one on the island), and sunblock; but only put it on when the tour guide say it’s OK to, again to protect the coral reef.

Enjoy the underwater world it is amazing.