Enjoy a beach day at Casa Cenote
The Riviera Maya is the chosen destination for many families wanting to enjoy a vacation together, and Sac-Be tries to take the opportunity to tell our readers about excellent beach opportunities for the whole bunch. I figured, if your family is anything like mine, there are so many different interests among the group, it is hard to get them all met.
From a snorkel-and-dive-crazy father to a mother who would rather spend her vacation relaxing, reading, and sipping on a margarita under a palm tree, I kept these elements in mind when considering what sort of location I ought to let people know about, if they don’t already! I wanted a place where there is sand for playing, the snorkeling is divine, a restaurant is located on site, and the bar drinks are just an order away. So, I take you to the beaches of Tankah. Situated atop an outstanding geological phenomenon, Casa Cenote is a place that can meet all of your beach needs.
Directly in front of the enormous beachfront palapa restaurant lie the brilliant blue waters of the Caribbean Sea rimmed with a strip of white sand and palm trees. What sets this particular spot aside from any other is the ‘Ojo del Mar’ (Eye of the Sea) located just off shore. Casa Cenote gets its name from the fact it is nestled right between the ocean and the emerald green gem of Cenote Manatee. The restaurant actually sits atop a cave joining the two together, and the Ojo del Mar is an enormous opening in the bay leading down into the cave providing an exquisite opportunity to snorkel in a mainly salt-water environment that receives incredible fresh water flow depending on the tide. Be prepared to witness a spectacle of several huge schools of fish gathering in the fresh water outflow. Also, since manatees require fresh water for drinking, there have been sightings of these peaceful marine mammals in front of Casa Cenote.
And, since snorkeling can often leave your hungry, the restaurant on sight is a nice place to grab a snack. Personally, I can’t get past the nachos…but there is a nice sized menu from which to choose.
Spend your afternoon lounging in the chairs on the beach and try to squeeze in one more snorkel in the cenote behind the restaurant. Fresh and exhilarating, the cenote is lined with mangrove trees whose roots extend into the water. Within the clusters of roots, a myriad of baby sea critters can be found. Mangroves are considered to be the nursery for a number of sea critters, and Cenote Manatee offers calm, clear waters to experience your sea-life examination. Don’t be afraid to snorkel up the little river, it is safe and beautiful! There is a small fee for swimming in the cenote.
With so many places to choose from, Sac-Be tries to inform our reading audience of places that feature a variety of available activities, and Casa Cenote is located on one of the most unique pieces of coastline that I have ever seen. So, take your whole family. Leave the non-aquatics in the restaurant or on the beach, take the aquatics on a grand adventure, and complete your day with the sand, sun, and FUN!