Rio Secreto

Useful Information

Location:	Playa del Carmen
Open:	Only after appointment. [2009]
Fee:	Adults USD 49. [2009]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:
Dimension:
Guided tours:	L=600 m,
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Rio Secreto, SA de CV, Playa del Carmen, Tel: +52-984-877-2377. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

2008	opened to the public.

Description

Rio Secreto is a cave which was discovered inadvertently by the owner of the land, Don Cleo, while chasing one of his animals. The cave is rather exceptional, as its one of very few caves which are nor submerged. Most caves are filled with water, either sweet water or sea water, or both with a halocline. This cave is by chance located at the current level of the ground water. This is really a coincidence, as it was formed long ago by ground water at the same level. Then the cave became a fossil cave with many speleothems and was flooded by the rising sea levels after the end of the last ice age some 8,000 years ago.

Today it is possible to visit theis cave by wading through mostly knee deeep water. There are some places where it is necessary to swim. Actually this is a unique cave, somewhere between a show cave and a cave trekking tour. There are no electric lights and visitors are equipped with helmets with head lamps, and swimming suits. Of course, this visit is more demanding than a paved trail through a normal cave, so visitors must be at least six years old and not more than 120 kilograms.