All about Grutas de Lol-Tún in Mexico

Grutas de Lol-Tún is the largest and most important cave system in Yucatán, 110km southwest of Mérida at the end of the Ruta Puuc. The earliest human settlement in Yucatán was at Loltún.

Inside the cave there is evidence that humans occupied it at some point in history - such as fossil bones of mammoth or bison from the Ice Age. The cave contains also 145 ancient paintings and 42 petroglyphs attributed to the Maya from the Late Preclassic Era (400 BC - 100 AD).

In the cave you will also see an Olmec cult place, marked by an Olmec style stone head and corresponding symbols. Among the Mayas, caves were considered the seat of the gods and they worshipped Loltún. The last traces date back to the caste war in 1847. During the war, the cave was used as a hiding place by the Mayas.

The cave is several kilometer long. Part of the caves is illuminated and can be visited. However, the entrance is only possible with a guided tour, which lasts about one hour and leads about 2km through the cave.

Wait, "Loltún"?

After the entrance area you come to "Sala de Visitantes", the hall of the visitors with a fresh water spring. This is followed by "La Catedral", a hall more than 20m high, where there are two tall limestone columns that bear the names Lol and Tún.

Wait, that sounds familiar? Right, that was the inspiration for Casa Loltún. You will realize the age of the cave when you know that stalatites only grow about 1 cm per 100 years.

Entrance fee and additional costs

The entrance fee is relatively cheap, but the guide is not included (and you are not allowed to enter the caves without a guide).

You can book a private guide (around 1,200 pesos) or join a group, in which case the costs are shared depending on the number of participants. A tip for the guide is, of course, customary and appreciated as recognition for their efforts and expertise.

Important tips

You should find out in advance at what times the guided tours start (the last tour is at 4:00 pm.). They only take place every 1 to 2 hours and if you have to wait longer, there's not a lot you can do.

The tour takes about an hour and you walk about 2km into the cave and 70m down. At the exit of the caves, there are exactly 76 steps that will take you back to the top.

The caves are large, well-lit and there are good paths. However, it is also very slippery in places (the air inside is cool and damp), so you should definitely wear suitable shoes (preferably trekking boots).

Some areas with narrower paths are a little more difficult to walk for older people or small children. The caves consist of several large chambers. There is good lighting, but having your own flashlight is an advantage. A headlamp would of course be perfect. Comfortable clothing and a small water bottle won't hurt.

Photos are allowed, a good flash or - even better - a tripod is a great advantage. If possible, you should avoid visiting the caves on weekends or public holidays, as the crowds are much bigger then. This is also due to the fact that prices are cheaper for Mexicans on Sundays. A parking lot is available for a fee and there are also toilets.

Cave systems on the peninsula

The Yucatán Peninsula is home to some of the world's largest underwater cave systems. These caves are not only geologically significant, but also archaeologically valuable. Artifacts from the Mayan culture and the remains of extinct animal species such as giant sloths have been discovered in them time and again.

The formation of these cave systems is due to the dissolution of limestone by acidic water, which over millions of years has formed these impressive underground landscapes with stalactites and stalagmites.

The Sistema Sac Actun, for example, stretches over a mapped length of 378 kilometers and is connected to the surface by 228 cenotes. It is considered the longest known underwater cave system in the world. Another important system is the Sistema Ox Bel Ha, which has a length of 269 kilometers and includes 142 different cenotes.

In Quintana Roo, a total of over 358 underwater cave systems with a total length of around 1,400 kilometers have been documented. These impressive figures illustrate the geological uniqueness and complexity of the Yucatán Peninsula.

The world of archaeology

As already mentioned, the cave systems and especially the cenotes are closely linked to the Mayan culture. Here are some interesting figures about Mayan archaeological sites on the Yucatan Peninsula:

We have more background information on Mayan archaeological sites.

Alternative: Grutas de Calcehtok

Like the Grutas de Lol-Tún, the Grutas de Calcehtok (which are located about 75km to the northwest of the Grutas de Lol-Tún) were also used by the Maya as religious sites and as a refuge during the caste war when they rebelled against the rule of the Spanish colonizers.

The caves are also home to stalactites, there are iridescent quartz fields and many bats. The Grutas de Calcehtok are also very extensive and different routes for exploration are offered.