Cenote Ka' Kutsal — Attraction in Mérida

One of the most unusual experiences... visiting a gorgeous cenote at a Costco carpark. I doubt any other carpark in the world would have such a sensational attraction. 😅

It's only about 300m from the Grand Mayan Museum.

A cenote is a natural limestone sinkhole which exposes otherwise hidden groundwater and connects the surface to subterranean water bodies. This cenote is called, in the Mayan language, Ka' Kutzal, which means 'rebirth' or 'back to life'.

Before Costco's construction, a factory once stood here that manufactured fibres out of the henequén (agave fourcroydes or sisal) plant, a mainstay of the Yucatan’s industry which produced twines, rope, paper, cloth, footwear, hats, carpets, geotextiles and dartboards. The factory was owned by the Cordemex company, the world’s largest sisal products manufacturer.

When the factory was demolished and its floor removed, beneath a 15-centimeter layer of cement, a surprising find awaited and this natural sinkhole was rediscovered. Formed from the collapse of an underground cave, likely thousands of years ago, above a freshwater reservoir which was then exposed to the open, this cenote extends underwater in several directions into caverns and tunnels for tens of meters.

The “Costco cenote,” as the sinkhole is also known, had a garden built surrounding it in its small “island” in the middle of the asphalted parking lot. Considering that the Cordemex factory closed in 1991 and Costco’s store wasn’t opened until 2015, Ka’ Kutzal’s rediscovery has certainly made it worthy of the “returned to life” name.

Having visited Chichén Itzá's Sacred Cenote and Cenote Xtoloc as well, I must say / dare I say that the Costco Cenote is much better maintained than that of...

Hermoso cenote situado justo en el parking de una infraestructura grande empresarial. La verdad, que no esperaba encontrarme esto aquí, y de paso que iba…

Me ha encantado, conectar en medio del caos de la ciudad en un espacio tan lindo y bonito, de forma natural, entre todo lo pavimentado.

Es curioso leer el cartel informativo, tiene mucha más profundidad de la que se puede observar…

He leído en otros comentarios que estaba sucio, etc. En este caso, hoy, estaba completamente limpio, reluciente, hasta vi tortugas en el interior del cenote… Espero que se mantenga así siempre.

Lo único que me dio curiosidad, es de bajar a investigar, ya que me dedico al mundo de las actividades en el medio natural, siendo amante del rápel, escalada, descenso de barrancos o espeleología.

No duden en pasar a verlo y a leer el cartel informativo, ¡no te...

The Costco cenote is an usual experience for a parking lot, and we were impressed with how well it is taken care of. The water is crystal clear but no entry or swimming, just...