Dzibilchaltun Cenote (CC photo by Jonathan Blundell courtesy of Flickr)

“Place where there is writing on stones”, that’s what Dzibilchaltun means. These spectacular archaeological ruins connect a direct line from Mexico’s rich history to modern times. The site offers the Temple of Seven Dolls and can be found a mere 15 minutes outside of Merida. While the ruins are stunning, what draws many to the area is the amazing cenote, Xlacah, just waiting to refresh and cool visitors in crystal clear water.

Fish at the cenote (CC photo by Jonathan Blundell courtesy of Flickr)

The Xlacah cenote is a gorgeous watering hole that locals enjoy mostly on Sundays when admission is free. The perfectly blue water holds an amazing collection of colorful fish that are best enjoyed up close with the help of snorkeling gear. The cenote is perfect for families as one end is very shallow and then drops to a deep 140 feet.  Some 30,000 artifacts have been retrieved from the water so keep on eye out for possible finds.

Lily pads at the cenote (CC photo by Jonathan Blundell courtesy of Flickr)

The site is a photographer’s dream with amazing shots of both water and land. The cenote remains fairly open during the week and visitors can enjoy the peace and quiet during this time. This is the perfect place for candid shots of Mexico’s beautiful wilderness and the natural beauty of the country. Even the simplicity of lily pads adrift become shear photographic poetry in the serenity of Dzibilchaltun.

Gorgeous clear water (CC photo by Jonathan Blundell courtesy of Flickr)

The cenote is located eight kilometers north from Merida. You can take Progresso road to the turnoff, which is well marked, and travel another four and a half kilometers to the site. Many choose to take a taxi out to the site from Merida which can be accomplished at a reasonable price. It is definitely the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon.