DOS OJOS SNORKELING (Day 6)

After yet another hot (and noisy) night, we awoke pouring rain. We were picked up by a tour bus from Hidden Worlds. Our agenda? To go snorkeling in the Dos Ojos cave system.

At the tour office, we put on wetsuits and got fins, masks and s life vest. Then we climbed onto a cart towed by a tractor. It was a very bouncy ride through the jungle in extremely heavy rain... fortunately we were dressed for it! We stopped in the middle of nowhere and climbed down a metal ladder into a dark hole.

Even with the wetsuits, the water was cold. Underwater lights made the water glow blue. We swam around for a bit then got back out, climbed the ladder, and drove to a second cave where we got to snorkel around some more. This cave had a lot more stalagmites and stalactites, and with the water level being rather high, sometimes they came quite close to our heads.

In the afternoon, we caught a bus to Playa del Carmen. We had trouble finding a room (either all booked up or too expensive), but then we met Bernardo and his yellow dog, Lobo. They led us to Cabana PoPol Vu, a small place off the beaten path where we got our very own quaint bungalow, complete with upstairs loft. It was quite fun but wasn't all paradise... there was mold on the sheets, and the bathroom (which was down the hall) was co-ed and had no toilet seats.

After a short siesta, we walked along the beach. It rained intermittently. I decided to take an evening shower to clean up from snorkeling but the water never got warm and there was almost zero water pressure. I was informed that they turn the hot water off at night. Lesson: only shower during the day time.

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