Discovering Rio Secreto -A Mayan Cave

Rio Secreto, or “Secret River,” stretches eight miles and has fifteen natural outlets. Notably, a local landowner, Don Cleofás, discovered it by accident while hunting an iguana. As a result, he literally stumbled into one of the cave openings.

Years later, I explored this cave system during a Rio Secreto tour on a shore excursion in Playa del Carmen. During this experience, I learned how deeply the Mayans connected these caves to the earth and to their gods through folklore and religion. From the beginning, the site carried both natural and spiritual importance.

Preparing to Enter the Cave

Before entering the river, guides required us to rinse off. Specifically, the cold water removed lotion, sunscreen, makeup, and jewelry that could contaminate the cave. Immediately afterward, I put on a wetsuit and helmet and joined the line heading into the jungle.

As we slowly walked through palms and ferns, I imagined life as a Mayan.
Did they travel these same paths? Did they walk barefoot? What did they hunt? Where did they find water? At the same time, these questions raced through my mind.

Meeting the Mayan Shaman

Soon after, we stepped into a clearing and met a local Mayan shaman. Traditionally, communities deeply respect these men for their healing knowledge and spirituality.

For this reason, the Mayans believed, and still believe,  that this underground river is sacred. In particular, they see it as a spiritual place where the rain god, Chaac, visits. Even though the region has dense vegetation, people have always struggled to access clean drinking water. Consequently, this river became essential for survival.

Why the River Was Sacred

Because of this dependence, these waters sustain life. They rarely carry disease or harmful animals. Therefore, their purity made them sacred to the Mayans.

On the other hand, some historians believe the skeletons found in the caves represent human sacrifices. The Mayans often linked caves to the underworld. Personally, however, I prefer to think of the caverns as a connection to Chaac. In comparison, that idea feels less unsettling.

Artifacts and Ancient Markings

Over time, explorers have found many artifacts and human skeletons in the caverns, some nearly 13,000 years old. In addition, they discovered caritas, or “little faces,” carved into the stone near several entrances.

Furthermore, small piles of stones sit nearby. The Mayans used these to mark and decorate the sacred openings. Together, these markings show how intentionally the Mayans honored the space.

Remarkable Discoveries

For example, at one entrance, explorers found a vessel believed to date back to 1000 AD. Experts think it served as a water collection container. Today, it is preserved at the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History.

Similarly, during his first descent, Don Cleofás found another vessel. Historians date it to the Post-Classic period of Mayan history (1000–1697 AD). Altogether, these discoveries highlight the cave’s long-standing cultural and historical significance.