Feel Young Again! Conquer your fear in Mexico. Cenote Maya Rappelling and a Shaman Blessing.

Written by Christy Landrum | December 25, 2022| Thetraveler365.com

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I turned fifty a few weeks before going to Cancun with my husband and sister. Where ever I go, I always want to get out and explore away from the area where we are staying. I always go through the hotel to book outings without knowing the area. I feel that is the safest way to go until I have researched and visited a place enough to know. We stayed at Westin Laguna Mar in Cancun and felt confident about their suggestions. I wanted to see the ruins, so I booked a tour that included the ruins and Cenote Maya. I will be honest. I had no idea what Cenote Maya was and what we would do there. I focused on the ruins and knew we would have dinner at Cenote Maya, so I booked it.

What is a cenote?

A little history about Cenote Maya: a cenote is a sinkhole in the limestone where the top layer has collapsed and exposed groundwater. Cenote Maya is the largest vaulted cenote in the Yucatan Peninsula. Today the Yucatan Peninsula is still home to the Maya people and people of Mayan descent.

Sacred Ground

When we arrived at Cenote Maya, a Shaman performed a ceremony. Cenotes are considered sacred places by the Mayan people where the aluxes (small mythological people that are invisible) and supernatural beings hide; basically, it is a ritual to bless us and request permission to enter this place. The Shaman passes by each one during the ceremony with incense asking for permission to enter the cenote, as well as our safe journey back home.

Dinner time

We were treated to a lovely dinner, and I believe it was during this time I found out that we would be repelling. The dinner was delicious and included someone making homemade tortillas. After finding out we were rappelling, I decided that a glass of wine and a shot of tequila was something I should do for me to continue. I always say I am scared of heights, but it is the fear of falling. Oh, by the way, the tequila was so smooth I wished I had gotten the name of it. It was a different taste than I had before, and it didn't burn going down as a side note.

The real adventure is before me.

I must say I had always wanted to rappel when I was younger. I had an opportunity to take a class in college that would have taught me to rappel, but I never took the course. My sister rappelled before with her job, my husband was in the military, and Australian rappelled (face first, if you are wondering), so I was scared to death. I wanted to be last. I didn't want anyone to see me lose it. Before it became my turn, I cheered on the scared ones. All the while thinking, if they can do it, I can. Many thoughts crossed my mind. I always talked myself into doing some things by telling myself, "Conquer your fear. Conquer your fear." which doesn't always work. What did work for me this time was saying to myself, "Girl, you are 50; you may never get this opportunity again. Just shut up and do it." My husband and sister kept saying you can do this and were supportive.

My sister, who is sixteen years older than me and who has been retired from work for a few years with the biggest smile on her face. No fear for her.

My husband is very comfortable doing this. Look at that smile.

As I was getting hooked up to go down (I did not look over the edge or down). As the tour guide, Aldo gave me instructions, he said, "Look into my eyes, focus on my eyes, you can do this, you are fine" He instructed me to sit in thin air, and when I did, I came away from the platform for just for a moment and was instructed to put my feet on the ladder. At this point is when the above picture was taken. My family laughs at this picture as they know what this look is, and I know you can also imagine. I was scared to death but..... moments later...I was just fine.

No turning back

At this point, there is no turning back. I went slow and concentrated on what I was doing. I was so focused. I had no idea that I was rappelling 85 feet down. After a few minutes passed, I started to look around, and I would have cried with joy if I had not been so focused on getting to the water. It was so beautiful. It was nothing like I had ever seen or experienced. I kept talking to myself, telling myself, "you are almost there; you are doing it; look at you." I was feeling so accomplished at this moment. I am fifty years old, and I am doing it.

Full of Emotions

I was so full of emotion by the time I got to the bottom. I got to the water, which was so cold I refocused on what I was doing. I swam to the platform (they give you a life jacket). I could not believe my eyes. I almost couldn't take it all in. You could see these big fish swimming around; the others were swimming and laughing. They also have a zip line, and everyone was enjoying this wonderful place.

Conclusion

I cannot believe I almost did not go through with this. I am so happy I didn't read the details about the tour. This experience was one of the best experiences after turning 50 and a confidence builder for me. I did manage to conquer my fear. I told myself to shut up and do it, and I felt accomplished and proud. I felt energized and felt like I could do anything. I still have limits and things I will not do, but I would do this again and want to do it again. Rappelling the Cenote Maya truly did make me feel young again.

Thank you

Thank you to Aldo from Alltournative Lifetime Experience for an experience of a lifetime! If you are in Mexico and have the opportunity, look up this company. Aldo took excellent care of us, educated us about the culture and the sights, and took us off the beaten path to Cenote Maya. He encouraged me and believed in me when I was afraid.

Challenge

No matter your age, whatever the season is, I challenge you to go out and do something you have always wanted to do or go to that place you have always wanted to go. Don't let fear conquer you.