An Underground Lake, the Island of Women, and Caribbean Pirates

In the morning we go swimming in one of Valladolid’s cenotes, natural underground lakes formed by the region’s vast system of subterranean rivers. These cenotes are found everywhere across the Yucatán Peninsula, making them a unique feature of the landscape.

On the way to Cancún, our bus suddenly blows a tire with a loud series of bangs. Fortunately, another bus driving behind us quickly stops and picks us up, so the journey continues without much delay.

We decide to skip Cancún, the famous party destination popular with American tourists, and instead take a ferry directly to Isla Mujeres, which translates as “Island of Women.” In ancient times, the island was considered a sanctuary of the Maya fertility goddess.

When we reach the Caribbean Sea after dark, we notice a pirate ship already waiting nearby—fittingly named “Captain Hook.”

The ferry ride itself is wonderfully calm. There is almost no wind, and we gently sway on the deck while admiring the lights of Cancún and Isla Mujeres reflected on the water, along with the stars shining above us.