Adventure exists all over the world, especially in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. In the summer of 2007, my family and I decided to take a break and travel to Tulum, a small town on the Mayan Riviera famous for it's ancient pyramids and beautiful beaches. We stayed in a bungalow on the beach, relaxed, and took in some of the local activities. During my vacation in Tulum, I had many wonderful experiences that changed my opinion of what fun really is.
Two activities that I found very exciting were four-wheeling and snorkeling in a cenote near some Mayan ruins. This took place on a scorching hot afternoon in the middle of July, deep in the verdant jungle of the Yucatan Peninsula. Surprisingly, this was actually only a short drive from our hotel. Following a quick lesson from our instructor, Hector, on how to operate an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV), we were on our way into the jungle on a rocky, dusty trail. It was the first time I had operated an ATV all by myself, so, despite the dust, bugs, and exhaust fumes, I felt free and independent.
After a challenging ride through the jungle past some ancient ruins, we arrived at the mid-point of the trail. From here, we hiked down a more narrow path, crowded by trees, vines and underbrush - a little spooky! At the end of the walking path, we came to the gigantic cenote, which is a sinkhole filled with crystal-clear water. Hector said, "just dive right in and see how refreshing the water is!" So, we grabbed our snorkeling gear and quickly jumped in. Almost immediately after my skin touched the sparkling water, I realized Hector's true definition of "refreshing" - COLD! Ignoring the frigid temperature, I put my face into the "refreshing" water and my eyes were filled with amazement. I could see stalagmites and stalactites, plus all sorts of fish and plants. It was like a huge aquarium. We swam all around and explored this underground cave, and, just when my toes were turning blue, Hector informed us that it was time to head back. After some quick pictures, we hiked back to the ATVs and rode back to the starting point. All the way back, I was thinking about how great the afternoon had been.
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