Cozumel Mexico; Jade Caverns and the Legends of Caves and Cenotes in Mayan History.

Cozumel Mexico is fantastic if you love the outdoors. If the thrill of driving in the jungle and exploring unique natural areas turns you on, this adventure is for you!

Once you reach the Jade Cavern the staff will explain about this unique Cenote named "Chempita" and then you will walk down the path to the cavern. The water is a beautiful jade color with stalactites hanging above you as you float in the refreshingly cool water. There is a 20 foot cliff from which you can jump into the water and swim under the formations.

Outdoor showers are available to rinse off the layer of dirt that will accumulate on you from the dirt road. It takes about 30 minutes to get to Jade Cavern by off road vehicles known as "ATX rails". And Cozumel Mexico is the only place that you can find these custom off-road vehicles. The staff is extremely accommodating and will make the excursion a very memorable experience.

Some history of Maya cave sites:

Caves used by the Maya civilization of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica had religious status associated with them. Certain beliefs connected with cave sites are also maintained among some contemporary Maya communities. Many of these cave sites are understood to have served religious purposes rather than utilitarian ones (although they did serve as a source of fresh drinking water as well). Archaeological artifacts found within caves tell a story of Mayan religion and society.

Association with settlement:

A desire to be near the sacred influenced Mesoamerican settlement. Caves were important elements in Mayan myths. Mesoamerican belief systems liken water to fertility. It's no wonder that Cozumel was home to the goddess of fertility (Ixchel), Accordingly, these natural features were considered sacred and were sought out by Mesoamerican migrants looking for a new home.

Architectural landscapes and themes:

Artificial landscapes often mimicked sacred landscapes. Sometimes these doorways were Witz monster mouths. In the Yucatán many Late Postclassic temples had Spanish churches built on top of them after the conquest and so caves and cenotes can still be found near these places today. In fact at El Cedral Cozumel, which is near Jade Cavern, there is a church directly next to a Mayan Ruin.

Entrances to the Underworld:

Caves are also associated with the watery Maya underworld. For many Mayans, life and death occur at liminal zones between this world and the otherworld. Caves were associated with life and death; when something emerges from the underworld, that something lives, and when something descends into the underworld, that something dies. Caves were seen as birthplaces where humans and group ancestors were born (and live) and the Maya of the Yucatán even thought that the sun and moon were born out of the underworld.

Associations with sex and fertility:

There is a strong association between caves and sweat baths. The picture you see here is an actual sweat bath that is used to this day! Caves are often perceived as female and are likened to the womb. Hence they are a symbol of fertility. Like caves, sweatbaths have also been associated with human fertility and both have strong sexual connotations.

Associations with natural forces:

Caves are linked with wind, rain, and clouds. The Mayans of the highlands believe that lightning came from caves. The Yukatek and Lacandon believe that caves and cenotes were where rain deities reside and the Yukatek of the sixteenth century sacrificed humans to appease the gods.