Rio Secreto
Trip Start
Jan 11, 2011
1
6
13
Trip End
Jan 28, 2011
Puerto Aventuras, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Disclaimer: Internet has been up and down for the last couple of days.
Today, the big thing we did was go to RIO SECRETO. As peanut would say from Jeff Dunham, there is a chiqque over the I. It was absolutely amazing. I would recommend this to ANYONE who came down to this area, and has the chance to do it.
First we were given 3 times to go, 7:45am, 9:45am, or 11:45am. We choose the 11:45am. We got picked up relatively close to the determined time. After a 5 minute drive, or there about, it was time to get out of the van, and get separated into groups. After filling out a form, and put into our 10man groups, we were sent back to the van for a rollercoaster ride out to the park. It was not an actual rollercoaster, but the van sure bounced, rolled, ran into branches, tried to miss the bumps that would pop tires, and bottom out. The shocks defiantly needed to be done, and it sounded like the van was going to fall apart.
After we got there, we met our guide, (Alfonzo) and we were taken to the change rooms with lockers. After changing, we had to have a shower, to remove any makeup, sunscreen, deodorant, etc. Then we left everything in the lockers, not even allowed our cameras. (Which is a good thing, as our camera would have gotten destroyed).
After the shower, we were given our water shoes, and helmet with lamp on it. Good thing we had the helmet, as Stacie and a couple others in the group hit their head. After making sure the helmet was on right, were shown how to turn the lights on, and it was off we go. We walked down to the area where we were given out wetsuits and life jackets. After that, group picture in front of the sign showing the trails down there. The cave is 6 years old, and was found by a farmer who was out hunting.
After the picture, it was time to head inside. After a 4 minute walk, it was time to go down the first set of stairs. Alfonzo went over the rules, and we went in. Words can not describe the beauty of the place. It was absolutely amazing down there and I would defiantly recommend people to go, if they come down this way.
We were able to get some pictures, taken (there was a photographer down there that came with us, who was also a guide, in case of emergency). We would stop and look at the formations that nature has created over thousands of years, and it was mind blowing. I know that I will never forget this trip to RIO SECRETO, as it was mind blowing.
We walked for awhile, and there was one part where I had to crouch down as low as I could, along with bending my back in a strange way to get around some of the formations. It is all natural down there, and other than a couple of wood steps, they did not make any trails or anything. We were walking over and around a bunch of formations, but that made it even better, as it was all natural. The roots of the trees would reach down all this way to find water, and there were roots all over the place.
There were parts where we would be walking in little bits of water, then have a large step down into water up to my waist. Other parts, we would float in water I can not stand in, for 10 or 15 minutes down the lake. We stopped at one area, and were told that we were 60 feet underground. That was very cool. One other stop we had, we all got into a line, and had our group picture again, but after that, we were told to turn off our head lights, and to close our eyes. Alfonzo counted down, and when we opened them, it was black. Completely black. I have never seen black like that before. We would put our hand on our nose, and not be able to see it. That was very, very cool. The whole tour took about an hour and a half and if I remember correctly, about 4 miles, but it was absolutely amazing.
After we got out, we took a 10 minute walk or so, went back and removed our wet suit and life jacket, and it was time to look at pictures. Went to the photography place, and Alfonzo poured a shot of licorice liquor. Not sure what it was called, but it was very nice. I drank most of Stacie's, as she is not a fan of licorice. It tasted like sambuca, but was not.
Next we looked at pictures, and was going to buy the mega (all pictures, plus a 26 of that liquor, and a t-shirt) for 99us, but they did not have any. We decided on buying all the pictures, plus 50 other ones came with it, and they were generic ones from outside and inside.
After changing back, and having a snack, it was time to go back to the resort. We decided to go to the Italian restaurant tonight, just Stacie and I. We were waiting till around 7:30, playing cards, reading and drinking outside the tequila bar, before we went for supper. Got up there, and found out it would be and hour and 10 minutes or so, before we got a table. That was ok, as we were not overly hungry. There was a lineup outside, and a bar there with tables, so we grabbed another drink, and sat down to wait. In less that 30 minutes or very close to, we were called, and up we went.
When we sat down, we were given a glass of champagne. We also got a bun, with a tomato mixture on a cracker (but bigger than a cracker, if you know what I mean). The food was amazing. I had minestrone soup, veil with eggplant and tomato, and some sort of desert. It was very good the veil fell apart in my mouth. Stacie had minestrone soup, lasagna, and the same desert. We thought we ordered different deserts, but nope, arrantly not. The food was very close to the best we have had, small portions, but very good. This and the Japanese we would love to come back to, if we have enough tickets. We found out afterwords, that we did not order everything we could have, as you can order from each grouping. Oh well, I believe we are going back
This was the end of the day, and it was an amazing day. Absolutely love it.
Comments
Wow. . . that must have been AMAZING!!!!!!!!
The road sounded like the road to Mole. Good descriptive writing Kyle: felt like we were there. What a great place.
I talked with your Grandfather Son, and he said that reading your blog has brought back a lot of memories as they were there when they were your age. Said that some of the things sound the same, and as you described them, they were wishing they were going back again... Oh, Down Memory Lane eh?"
Sounds like you two are having a blast,,, good for you both for going 60 ft underground! Love you guys lots,