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| Entrance to Las Grutas de Loltún |
The Grutas de Loltun is a truly amazing place. They are ancient Maya ritual caves beneath the limestone shelf of the Yucatán Peninsula. It takes about an hour to walk the 1,000 meters through the true cave system that was dark enough in a few places that my iPhone flashlight really helped. Most of the system has colored lights though.There are some slippery floors and a little climbing, but it's really not that difficult.
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| Walking in Cave |
The Loltún cave has the longest sequence of human occupation in the Northern Yucatán Peninsula. It's been used for more than 10,000 years, dating from early Paleo-Indian foraging societies.
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| Further into the Cave |
Also found here are remains of Pleistocene mammals such as bison, mastodons, camels and horses, all extinct more than 14,000 years ago.There are remains of pottery dating from 1,000 BCE until 1,250 CE. There are also barricades built by Maya rebels who sheltered there during the Caste War.
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| Loltún Head |
Still in place is the "Loltún Head", a carved Olmec style head found during the first map survey done in 1959 to 1960. Another artifact not to be missed is the "Haltunoob", a carved container cut into the rock to collect water.
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| Haltunoob |
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| Dry Cenote Near End of Cave |
You must have a guide to see these Maya Caves, and the best is the famed Pablo. He's a wonderful person who knows the caves from years of exploration and he has many things to show and tell about Loltun. Pablo is highly recommended for an English tour of the caves and remember, at the end of the trip it's customary to give your guide a tip. 600-800 Pesos is a good tip for 2 people and it's definitely worth it.
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| Path Leaving Cave |
Grutas de Loltun is a highly recommended site to visit.
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