The creation of a tourist attraction in the Xocén cenote, whose vault partially collapsed a few months ago, is a project that is intended to be carried out in the current administration, after being authorized by a town council, said Mayor Homero Novelo Burgos.
It is worth remembering that a few months ago the neighbors who live around the cenote were scared due to the noise caused by the collapse of a part of the cenote’s vault at the Xocén community, which also swallowed a ceiba tree that remains in the cenote bottom.
The mayor reported that it was proposed to create a tourist attraction in the cenote, for which it was necessary to talk with the town’s inhabitants.
The decision to approve it was made by a council made up of 25 sergeants and 40 corporals (as the members of the community council are called), who are responsible for making decisions in the community.
The mayor explained that in that community customs and traditions prevail, where the commissioner on duty is not the one who makes the decisions, but rather a council of sergeants and corporals, who meet to decide what is best for their community.
Progress has already been made in this regard, but in January or February the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) will have to intervene to carry out a study of the cenote, as there could be elements of interest for this institution, although the residents assure that there are no vestiges. Mayans, as some think.
Once the INAH reports on the situation, the body of water will be cleaned and dredged, since it is known that there is a lot of sediment that must be extracted so that the waterhole is clean.
The next step will be to request support from the State government, through the Board of Trustees of Cultural and Tourist Services Units of the State of Yucatán (Cultur), to begin the development of the attraction.
The construction must have stairs, which will allow the cenote to be a new tourist attraction.
The initial project does not consider the construction of a restaurant on the site due to lack of space, since the cavity is surrounded by streets.
In addition, it is likely that the vault will be demolished to open the cenote and build a perimeter fence as a protection measure. The project aims to be a factor to improve the community’s economy, since the parador will allow the sale of crafts made by the inhabitants themselves, including the women who make hipiles.
TYT Newsroom
