Description
 Aktun Chen Natural Park consisting of a spectacular 5 million year-old grotto and an abundance of wildlife, is the first above-the ground cave system in the Quintana Roo State to be open to the public, the name means "cave with an underground river inside," and the main cave ( of three ) is more than 600 yards long, with a magnificent vault. Discreet illumination and easy walking paths make visiting the caves comfortable, without appearing to alter them much from their natural state.
The caves contain thousands of stalactites, stalagmites, and sculpted rock formations, along with a 12 m (40 ft.) deep cenote with clear blue water. Aktun Chen was once underwater, and fossilized shells and fish embedded in the limestone are visible as you walk along the paths. Caves are an integral part of the region’s geography and geology, and knowledgeable guides provide explanations of what you see and offer brief history lessons in the Mayan’s association with these caves.
 Tours have no set times-guides are available to take you when you arrive-and the maximum group size is 20. Surrounding the cave are nature trails throughout the 988 acre park, where spotting of deer, spider monkeys, iguanas, and wild turkeys are common. A small informal restaurant and gift shop are also on-site.
The main attraction on the park is a dry cave, 540 meters in length, which has thousands of stalactites and stalagmites, calcium carbonate columns, and tree roots which penetrate the limestone until they reach the subterranean water level. Inside this cave there is a beautiful subterranean “cenote”, or water filled sinkhole, of crystalline water with a vault saturated with stalactites.
When you go out of the cave you can watch white tail deer, pheasant, wild turkeys, wild boar, parrots, monkeys, etc. All of these species of the region’s wild life can be observed in their natural habitat, without confinement. In this area you can find a Snack bar, where you could enjoy a delicious cold beer, a soda or a Mexican dish.
 This park also has a “serpentario”, snake observatory, the most complete of Mexico’s southeast, with 15 species typical of this region.
Location
You can drive to Aktunchen or take a taxi from your hotel, is only 3 minutes from Xel Ha park, look for the entrance on the highway Tulum-Cancun
Recommendations
Comfortable shoes and long pants
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