Jardin del Eden is an affordable cenote that provides cool, clear waters, approximately twenty-foot diving cliffs, and beautiful scenery. Cenote is the Spanish word for a sinkhole that results from a collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes the groundwater underneath. But Jardin del Eden and the other cenotes south of Cancun are everything but your ordinary swimming holes. With waters from the Riviera Maya, they create some of the most beautiful swimming holes I’ve ever seen. The water is so crystal clear that you can see every detail of the limestone rocks that lay beneath the water’s surface. One of the things I enjoyed at Jardin del Eden was swimming with the many different schools of fishes. The rich colors, plethora of aquatic life, and underground caves, make it attractive to scuba divers and snorkelers as well. There is something exciting for any age when it comes to swimming in these impressive cenotes.

Recommendation: Bring snorkeling gear if you’d like to see more of the limestone and fish underwater.