Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
17 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
17 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
17 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
17 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Mexico Tulum Pet Cemetery Cenote

Pet Cemetery Cenote

An ancient system of freshwater caves filled with animal bones, including that of species long-extinct.

Tulum, Mexico

Added By
April Fleming
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Sac Aktun Cenote aka Pet Cemetary Cenote   harmonyloves on Instagram
Sac Aktun Cenote aka Pet Cemetary Cenote   harmonyloves on Instagram
Where jungle meets cave   letswalkintothewild on Instagram
Water rose over the years, filling the modern cenote   letswalkintothewild on Instagram
Looking toward the cenotes, found in the midst of thick Mexican jungles   Serge Melki on Flickr
Cenote Sac Actun (Pet Cemetery)   desalvob / Atlas Obscura User
Snorkeling inside the cenote   desalvob / Atlas Obscura User
The walkway to the cenote entrance   desalvob / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The remains of dead animals, tossed into the bottom of a cave away from the light of day who-knows-how-long ago, have resurfaced in a most unexpected way.

Deep in the jungle outside Tulum, Mexico, divers, conservationists, and tourism leaders have combined forces to provide public access to this totally unique section of the world's second-longest underwater cave system. Under continual exploration since its 1987 discovery, the Dos Ojos underwater cave system extends for an estimated 51 miles, filled with crystalline, balmy freshwater accessible via 28 known sinkholes – locally called "cenotes" (say-NOH-tays). 

Throughout the course of these explorations, a team of divers came upon a truly marvelous discovery. Its jaw-dropping rock formations are punctuated by stalactites and stalagmites, with pockets of darkness in which blind cave fish flourish. Most staggering of all, the bottom of the pool has a soft, dune-like surface which, when sifted, revealed unforeseen treasures: the pit was littered with animal bones ranging from ancient to the more familiar, including the lower jawbone of a tapir and the fossilized remains of an extinct prehistoric camel.

Visitors to this site, which was nicknamed Pet Cemetery after these finds, with the proper credentials and training, can still see these skeletons and more, in their original positions. Scientists have pieced together a theory that the sinkhole was used as a disposal pit long ago, before the water table rose and flooded the animals' mass grave. As with all underwater caves, this location is not suited for beginning SCUBA divers, as cavern and cave diving requires specialized training. Fully guided dives are available for those who believe they have proper experience. Snorkeling, however, is an option at the site that allows visitors of all ages and abilities to enjoy the myriad speleothems in this highly decorated cenote. With respect for the fragility and unique nature of the Pet Cemetery Cenote, which is filled with delicate, low-hanging stalactites and other formations, it is requested that interested divers and snorkelers choose their participation method according to their skill level, so as to best preserve the wonder for generations to come. 

Above ground, on the jungle trek en route to the cenote, living ancestors of these animals are on full parade. Spider monkeys are a common sight in the trees above, not to mention more common ground-dwelling creatures of rainforest climes, all of whom prove as equally awe-inspiring to divers above water, as their deceased brethren at rest below the waterline. 

Related Tags

Underwater Rivers Pet Cemeteries Extinct Animals Caves Cenotes Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

Accessible via Cenotes Dos Ojos entrance. Located 48 km south of Playa del Carmen, 10 km south of Akumal, 12 km north of Tulum, and 1 km south of Xel-Ha.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Oaxaca: Markets, Mezcal & Home-Cooked Meals

A Culinary and Cultural Journey Through Oaxaca.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

aprilfleming

Edited By

littlebrumble, raymondwinn1941, Osage, fsaloriofromcr...

  • littlebrumble
  • raymondwinn1941
  • Osage
  • fsaloriofromcr
  • desalvob

Published

January 5, 2016

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.divecenotesmexico.com/pet-cemetery
  • http://www.gocaverndiving.com/caverns/pet_cemetery.asp?DS=pet_cemetery
  • http://www.todotulum.com/cenotes/cenote-pet-cemetery/
Pet Cemetery Cenote
Tulum
Mexico
20.32469, -87.39199

Nearby Places

Cenote Angelita

Chumkopó, Mexico

miles away

Polé (Xcaret Archaeological Site)

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

miles away

Xaman-Há Ruins

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mexico

Mexico

North America

Places 606
Stories 61

Nearby Places

Cenote Angelita

Chumkopó, Mexico

miles away

Polé (Xcaret Archaeological Site)

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

miles away

Xaman-Há Ruins

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mexico

Mexico

North America

Places 606
Stories 61

Related Places

  • Gouffre de Padirac

    Padirac, France

    Le Gouffre de Padirac (Padirac Cave)

    This impressive chasm is one of the longest natural underground cavities in the world.

  • Pertosa Caves.

    Muraglione, Italy

    Pertosa Caves

    Ride a boat through this magnificent underground world, which now doubles as a theater.

  • Cenote Hubiku.

    Temozón, Mexico

    Cenote Hubiku

    This popular cave pool is truly magical, despite the crowds.

  • A view from the entrance.

    Yalcobá, Mexico

    Cenote Palomitas

    Take a dip beneath the stalactites in this amazing cenote.

  • Replica of the horse panel of the Chauvet Cave.

    Asturias, Spain

    Teverga Prehistoric Park

    See replicas of Europe's most famous cave paintings and even some of the animals that feature in the art.

  • The original entrance of the Lummelunda Caves.

    Sweden

    Lummelunda Cave

    This fantastic cave remained unexplored until 1948 when three schoolboys discovered a hidden entrance.

  • The tunnel through the limestone rock.

    San Lawrenz, Malta

    The Inland Sea

    The fishing boats that moor in this small lagoon enter and leave through a tunnel to the sea.

  • The waterfall from below.

    Florián, Colombia

    Windows of Tisquizoque

    A three-tiered waterfall plummets from a mountain cave with amazing views over the countryside.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.