Rio Secreto -Secret Underground River

I had an opportunity to explore the amazing series of caverns connected by underground waterways. We started in the morning from the Cozumel , an island in Mexico, on a ferry to the mainland. After the ferry there was a short ride into the jungle to the Rio Secreto nature reserve.

An expert guide , Alondra, took us through the nature reserve. We were outfitted with a wet suit, life vest, water shoes, helmet with headlamp. It is said that this site was under the sea 2.5 million years ago. Before we started , a Mayan prayer was conducted by a Mayan priest by sprinkling some weird things into the fire in a bowl and spelling some mantras in Mayan language. Then as the smoke erupted it was shown and waved to everyone and all of us inhaled it. It smelt like incense. It was strikingly similar to the sacred rituals conducted in indian temples.
As we entered into the caves the darkness fell upon us. We switched onto our headlamps and carefully walked and swam through the caves and waterways. We were not allowed touch anything. The water was cold but bearable, the stalactites, the calcium formation hanging down, and the stalagmites, the formation going up formed spectacular sites and we were amazed. At some places they touched each other and formed curious shapes.
Bats flew above our heads. There were bones on the rocky structures , reportedly the bear bones left by the jaguars after eating the bear. There could be some jaguars hiding in the crevices. We passed through the river with lots twists and turns, and emerged through another hole to the sunny bright open space. And there we felt the world is so beautiful and peaceful. Though the Underworld is really stunning but scary.




Even though the cave has connections to the sea, the water was surprisingly fresh and was potable. Once upon a time Mayans used to this place to hide themselves from the enemy tribes and also used for prayer. Only the priests had access to the these caverns as they did human sacrifices and did rituals. Normal people were afraid of the caves, as we do now.
However now it was a serene place where one can connect to the universe in the deathly silence, ( until a jaguar comes and eat you, kidding, jaguar are afraid of man).
There is a lot to experience from the underworld. As above so below. The Creation is fantabulous.