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Tourists love coming to the Mexican Caribbean to connect with sustainability and nature travel. Those are the two main travel themes travelers are constantly sharing about their travels to Mexico.
So, when travelers recently showed up at one of the popular cenotes near Playa del Carmen, they were very disappointed at what they found.
Trashing Puerto Maya
Unfortunately, recent visitors to the Puerto Maya cenote near Playa del Carmen have not been treating the popular cenote with sustainability and nature respect.
Visitors to the Puerto Maya cenote lately have turned the nature destination into a trash heap. Despite the best efforts of the local residents to discourage visitors from throwing trash along the 500-meter trail and around the cenote itself, the waste continues to get worse in the area.
It has really ruined the natural beauty of the area and local residents are saying that if the area can’t be restored and kept clean, it should simply be fenced off from public access.
They claim that fencing would be needed to protect young children and tourists from getting hurt by the discarded metal and glass at the site.
An Unsafe Location
Along with the trash surrounding the area, recent reports about the Puerto Maya cenote claim that it is dangerous for tourists to the area to visit.
The area has been attracting a number of unruly behaviors such as visitors who like to take illegal drugs and get drunk at the site. This has caused a number of incidents at the Puerto Maya site that put tourists at risk.
There have been attacks on people visiting the Puerto Maya cenote and having an encounter with one of these individuals.
Locals say that the lack of floodlighting makes the area even more unsafe because thieves can lurk in the darkness and rob visitors.
The Rapid Downfall of Puerto Maya
The decline of the Puerto Maya cenote near Playa del Carmen appears to have been a recent event. Some reviews posted on the web even two months ago claim that the area was beautiful and well worth the $200 peso ($11.33 dollars) entry fee.
However, there are so many cenotes with similar names that some of the reviews could have been mistaken about the location or the name of the cenote visited.
Some reports claim that the decline at the Puerto Maya cenote really accelerated when the construction of the Maya Train cut a path through the area and made the cenote more accessible to people off of the streets.
Local officials have tried posting signs warning visitors about discarding trash in the area to no avail. The residents in the area have asked local law enforcement to step up patrols of the popular cenote area to help keep tourists safe.
What Visitors Need to Know
Until local officials and law enforcement get control of the Puerto Maya cenote area, it is best for travelers to the Mexican Caribbean to scratch this tourist destination off their list for now.
It is too dangerous for travelers, with questionable activities and the attraction of less than safe people lurking around the area waiting for unsuspecting and unprotected tourists to visit the area.
There are many more cenotes around Playa del Carmen and other surrounding areas that are safer for visitors to the beach resort destination to check out without the risk of running into someone using drugs or getting drunk on alcohol. It also protects tourists from the risk of aggressive assault and robbery.
Once action is taken and efforts are put in place to protect everyone visiting the Puerto Maya cenote in Playa del Carmen, it’s better to head to the beach or another nearby cenote for a truly enjoyable adventure, especially for families.
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