Photo by @CristinaMittermeier // The ancient Mayans believed that cenotes, or freshwater sinkholes, like this one near Tulum, were passageways to the underground world of Xibalba, which roughly translates as “place of fear”. @PaulNicklen and I worked #onassignment for @NatGeo to document the mysteries of these sinkholes. This cenote, known as Las Calaveras, or The Skulls, is the final resting place of 128 individuals, who were arguably sacrificed to the gods a couple of thousand years ago. Today, modern Mayan people still hold these places as sacred, but for a few pesos, they are happy to show tourists around.
**SOURCE ** NATGEO TRAVEL