Cenote Ik Kil is one of the several cenotes that are located around Valladolid in the Yucatan Peninsula. This natural freshwater basin is surrounded by a dense tropical jungle and is part of the Ik Kil Archeological Park near Chichen Itza.

A cenote is a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater. The regional term is specifically associated with the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, where cenotes were commonly used for water supplies by the ancient Maya, and occasionally for sacrificial offerings. The term derives from a word used by the lowland Yucatec Maya—tsʼonot—to refer to any location with accessible groundwater.

The cenote is open to the sky with the water level about 26 meters below ground level. There is a carved stairway that leads down to a swimming platform. The cenote is about 60 meters in diameter and about 48 meters deep. Ik Kil was considered sacred by the Mayans who used the site as a location for human sacrifice to their rain god, Chaac. Bones and pieces of jewelry were found in the deep waters of this cenote by archaeologists and speleologists.

Small waterfalls flow along the side walls of the huge opening of Cenote Ik Kil. The beautiful walls of this cenote boast beautiful green leaves and vines. The latter can reach down to the water below, which gives off a unique appearance. However, as stunning as these vines are, visitors are recommended against touching the vines to preserve the place’s natural beauty. The water level is around 30 meters or 90 feet lower than the surface. The walls of the cenote go down to the bottom at 50 meters below the surface. It is an underground paradise, illuminated by sunlight and accompanied by the singing of hundreds of wild birds.

In order to reach the diving platform you have to go down a relatively comfortable staircase carved into the stone. Remember that jumping from the top is a strict no-no, and security guards are present in the area to ensure it. The site is open every day of the year from 8 AM in the morning to 5 PM and in addition to offering a security service, it has a point for the rental of life jackets and everything else that can be used for a safe swim. It is an oasis from every perspective offering spectacular shows of light and shadow, a unique place of unimaginable beauty in the heart of the Yucatán jungle.

According to Wikipedia/Internet