Walking to the Cenote

In the Yucatán, you ask for directions to a natural swimming hole.

You
Buenos días, ¿dónde está el cenote?
BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs, DOHN-deh ehs-TAH el seh-NOH-teh?
Good morning, where is the cenote?
'Cenote' comes from the Mayan word 'ts'onot.' These natural sinkholes filled with fresh water are found across the Yucatán Peninsula.
Local
Siga el camino de tierra hasta la entrada. Está señalizado.
SEE-gah el kah-MEE-noh deh tee-EH-rrah AHS-tah lah ehn-TRAH-dah. ehs-TAH seh-nyah-lee-SAH-doh.
Follow the dirt road to the entrance. It's marked with signs.
'El camino de tierra' means 'the dirt road.' Many cenotes are accessed via unpaved paths through the jungle.
You
¿Y cómo bajo al cenote?
ee KOH-moh BAH-hoh ahl seh-NOH-teh?
And how do I get down to the cenote?
Local
Hay unas escaleras de madera. Baje con cuidado porque están resbalosas.
eye OO-nahs ehs-kah-LEH-rahs deh mah-DEH-rah. BAH-heh kohn kwee-DAH-doh POR-keh ehs-TAHN rrehs-bah-LOH-sahs.
There are some wooden stairs. Go down carefully because they're slippery.
'Baje con cuidado' means 'go down carefully.' Cenote stairs are often steep and wet — this is practical advice you'll hear often.
You
Entendido. ¿Hay que pagar a la entrada?
ehn-tehn-DEE-doh. eye keh pah-GAR ah lah ehn-TRAH-dah?
Understood. Do you have to pay at the entrance?
Most cenotes charge a small entrance fee, typically between 50 and 200 pesos. Some also rent life jackets.