We arrived at the Loltun caves in the afternoon after visiting Uxmal in the morning. Our arrival at Grottoes Loltun caves couldn’t have been better just in time to catch the next tour. Guided tours are scheduled, so if you miss a time, you need to wait until the next scheduled tour, which could easily be an hour or longer. Earlier in the morning, we had visited Uxmal just down the road, which we thoroughly enjoyed.
The costs of Loltun caves, parking 30 pesos and the entrance fee 145 pesos each. There is also a fee for the guide, which is discretion; you have to use a guide, English or Spanish. We were very fortunate to have Ricardo, whose English was excellent, and his descriptions and knowledge of this cave were impressive. Our tour consisted of just the two of us, which was nice as you had a more intimate experience.
Loltun Caves, Explored
Our tour started with an explanation of the caves themselves by our guide Ricardo; as a child, he used to play in these caves. Entering into the cave itself is like walking into another world with the large expansion of the cave itself.
Loltun cave itself is lit up with colored lights that add a sense of mystery and highlight the stalagmites and stalactites. Near the cave’s front, a grinding stone was used to grind fruits and seeds for the Mayan diet. Further, into the cave, our Ricardo explains how the Mayans gathered water from it, seeping down through the stalagmites and pooling into cavities on the floor.
Further, into the cave, you come across a hollow stalagmite that vibrates with sound when stuck with your hand; the stalagmite seems to hum “Lol – tun,” which is how the cave got its name. Another part of the cave has boulders piled on the floor (they called Grand Canyon). They lay after the meteor struck the Yucatan peninsula (at Chicxulub) 66 million years ago, causing the dinosaurs’ extinction.
Further, into the cave, the roof has fallen, exposing the real world with rays of sunshine cutting into the darkness, and for a moment, you are pulled away from the underworld. This turned out to be one of the Mayans’ locations to enter and exit using the trees and root systems to climb.
Nearer to the end of the tour, there are several structures (stalactites). One looks like a coyote howling into the darkness. One looks like a lion standing proud, and the last is yet another looking like an owl (imagination is a wonderful thing). YouTube video to Grottoes Loltun Caves
10,000-Year-Old Hand Stencils
Flight + Hotel Deals: Save on Mexico, the Caribbean & more!
This small part of the tour was incredible given a once in a lifetime opportunity to see ancient art over 10,000 years old. Take a moment to think about that. Furthermore, these hand stencils are thought to be hands from a woman as well as children. Explained to us that these prints were called negative paintings. The artist places his hand on the wall and then blows pigment through a hollow tube to create an outline.
Final Thoughts On Loltun Caves
- Unbelievable cave, the lighting effects add to the adventure when walking through this cave. Knowing the history and how the Mayans lived or used this cave add to the awe, but the hand stencils that reach back in time 8000 years is truly astounding. Unquestionably worthy of a visit, half a day would be lots of time.
Our Positives
- Impressive cave and adventure
- Astounding history
- The 8000 old hand stencils, unimaginable link to the past
- Inexpensive
- Knowledgeable and English speaking guides
Our Negatives
- Nothing negative to say, incredible piece of Mayan history
Would have, Could have, Should have
- Not much to add, maybe sightsee the area a bit more?
Next Stop
Well, we are heading back to Progreso; we had a wonderful time seeing new sites, cenotes, Mayan ruins, and these caves. Cindy and I would recommend that you step out and visit these sites; if you are in the area, you will not be disappointed.
Support Our Blog And It’s Unique Travel Content
You can support our site by using the links through our Travel Essential links. If you purchase items through our links to Amazon and others we will receive a small commission on each purchase. There are no extra or hidden costs to you. These commissions assist us in our travel so that we can provide unique content to you through our blog posts. So thank you.
Recommended Travel Essential
Cindy and I call ourselves nomadic so with this lifestyle, we use certain essentials to make this way of life easier and more comfortable. With this in mind, we have composed a list of what we feel are essentials and some tips you might use to plan or take your next travel adventure.
- Travel Packing Essentials to help organize and make this task less stressful
- Travel Safety Essentials to make your life on the road a little safer, giving you peace of mind
- Living Essentials to make life a little more comfortable, be this resting, working, or playing.
Accommodation Options While Traveling The World
- Booking.com is one of our go to’s when we are looking for a place to stay for a couple of days or longer
- Agoda.com we find is best to use when in Southeast Asia, but hey you never know what you might find
- Airbnb.com used to be our go-to but some of their cancelation policies are reasonable, give them a try as well
Travel Insurance
We always travel with some sort of travel Insurance be it just medical or complete trip coverage. We use Heymondo as we find their costs reasonable. Remember don’t travel and without coverage, the savings are not worth the possible costs.
Some links on this page are affiliate links, meaning if you buy a product using our link, we may earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. Disclaimer.
