Rio Secreto - A stunning window into an underground world

Elaine Vanderwerf (Playa Del Carmen, Mexico): Unique Mayan Riviera experience blends eco-tourism with adventure.

Imagine stepping into another world, another time. That is the magic of Rio Secreto. Literally translated as the "secret river", this fascinating underground experience is indeed a secret hidden beneath the busy tourist area of the Mayan Riviera.

“Recently named one of Mexico’s most distinct and alluring nature reserves.”

Just minutes from the resort town of Playa Del Carmen, south of Cancun, Rio Secreto is a breath-taking underground river tour. It involves hiking and swimming through a 1 km route through crystal clear, turquoise pools past stalactites and stalagmites - illuminated only by headlamps.

It is a surreal experience to observe natural history in the cave's dramatic mineral formations dating back millions of years. At one point in the tour, the group of ten is asked to swtich-off their headlamps and float in complete darkness and true silence. The experience is so calming it is almost spiritual.

Río Secreto could very well be one of the great world wonders. Experience this stunning underground river with thousands of dramatic stalactites and stalagmites. It's like stepping back in time to witness something mysterious and truly spectacular.