Cancun day 6: Xcaret

Thursday morning we got up bright and early to catch our bus to head to Xcaret.

It was part zoo, aquarium, cultural center. 

I liked walking through the tunnels. 

The best part was swimming this mile+ long cenote. 

We spent a lot of time just slowing swimming and bobbing along, 

It felt so good in the humid heat to stay cool in the water. It was fun to laugh and go through the tunnels. 

It was so beautiful and my favorite part. I'd do it again, actually, Bryan and Dave did do it again later in the day. 

Waterfall before the tunnel

Skylight from the tunnel

It didn't feel claustrophobic at all. There were lights in some spots and other spots it got kinda dark. There was a rope to hold to guide the way if you needed but we just bobbed along making our way through. 

Bryan, Amy, and Meredith

Bats! We swam through this part of bats a little quicker. lol

Later while walking through another area of the part we came across this stain glass skylight and as we looked down we saw the cenote!

coming out of the tunnel

and in to the jungle. I felt like it was a scene from a movie. Sneaking through the water in swamps. 

Xcaret!

Can you see the leopard hiding in the shade?

We went snorkeling in the bay. Lots of little fish to see swimming around. 

The turtles were fun to see!

sharks

Photo stop

Jaime, Amy, Meredith, and I walked through the butterfly exhibit while Dave and Bryan swam the cenote again. Their feet needed a rest from all the walking and were dying from the heat. I wanted to see other parts of the park. 

This was fun!

So cute!

It was such a beautiful butterfly enclosure. The waterfalls and greenery and plants. Such a pretty place. 

I sprouted wings!

Seeing this reminds me of the enclosures in Jurassic Park. Lol

We took a boat ride.

Masks were only require on this little boat. Go figure. 

At the end of the night we headed to the amphitheater for the cultural show. 

As you walk towards the seating all the dancers were standing out in their costumes to display. 

The costumes were incredible. So much detail. 

And they all wore masks. Even painted.

You can't even tell this guy is wearing a mask!

This owl costume was neat. 

The show was real neat. I'm so glad we got to watch it. 

They showed dances from different countries in South America. 

It was a very long day and night but it was well worth it. The drive back, thank goodness, was not as long as on the way there. We didn't have to make a bus switch and wait 45 minutes for other people to get on before heading to Xcaret. After the show we got on one bus and we were the first stop to get off.