Here we go with spots #2-4!! Two of these happened recently, as early as 2019! Cheers to great adventures even after kids!

LOCATION #4

The trip to Mexico was our most recent adventure! Our desire to sit on a plane for 12 hours and be jetlagged for half the trip is at an all time low. So we decided Mexico was quick, cheap and still really exciting! Ik Kil Cenote was part of a private 12+ hour tour we took to Chichen Itza. According to Wikipedia, a cenote is “a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. Cenotes were sometimes used by the ancient Maya for sacrificial offerings.” This one was absolutely breathtaking. The water was gorgeous and the greenery unreal. The tourist spots weren’t overloaded because there was civil unrest in Mexico, but we felt super safe the entire time! If you are ever near Cancun, this is worth the private tour cost and 3 hour drive out there!!

LOCATION #3

Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and most recently named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. This was the first pyramid I had ever been to and WOW was it breathtaking. The idea that someone a bagillion years ago actual built these, and that they are still “somewhat” intact today is amazing. It makes you want to somehow make your mark on this planet in the same way, huh?

They don’t let tourists climb the pyramid anymore due to all of the damage and we don’t blame them! Overall, the site was amazing to explore and we were super lucky that we arrived early enough to beat the crowd. Here is the Wikipedia page for anyone thats interested! Again a must see if you are in Cancun!!

LOCATION #2

My photos from this location are SUPER terrible because:

1) My camera in 2012 was crap

2) The weather was unpredictable and it was very hazy outside.

3) They didn’t allow you to take pictures inside the caves if it wasn’t a waterproof camera. The picture I snagged below is from their website and the only way I could show you guys how amazing the inside of the caves were.

The entire experience was extremely nerve wracking and I think he used a lot of scary stories to try and make the experience more exhilarating. Our guide told us it was a good thing that it wasn’t raining because the caves have a tendency to fill up with water and we might be trapped. (Mind you there was rain in the forecast so I was silently freaking out the entire time.) Then he showed us all the rock formations that fell from the ceiling when the region had earthquakes. Again freaking out. At one point we even had to army crawl through a 2’ tall crevice full of water that was 4’ long. Considering I am slightly claustrophobic, that was the longest 4’ crawl of my life.

After all of the scare tactics and hour long hike over deep crevices, we finally made it to the depths of the cave and OMG it was the coolest thing I have ever seen. I made this my number 2 pick because not only was it thrilling, but it was a ridiculously amazing experience to be in the depths of a water filled glow worm cave in NZ.