Cenote

A cenote is a natural sinkhole filled with water, a hole in the limestone bedrock that drops down to underground rivers, found almost exclusively in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. There are over 6,000 of them on the peninsula. The ancient Maya considered them sacred portals to the underworld and made offerings into them. Today luxury hotels in the Yucatán have made the cenote a signature: Banyan Tree Mayakoba has one in its spa, Chablé Yucatán built its spa around a sacred cenote, Hacienda San José integrates one into its property. Swimming in a private cenote at sunrise, the water is freshwater, surreal turquoise, surrounded by stalactites and limestone, is the kind of experience the Maldives can't offer. Yucatán's secret weapon.