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Playa del Carmen resident exploring backyard hole finds opening to large gruta

Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — A Playa del Carmen woman investigating a backyard hole found an entrance to a popular cave. After several weeks of mapping with help from area experts, the woman learned her backyard hole was connected to one of the largest cave systems in Playa del Carmen.

What started as a curious hole lead to an underground cavern system.

Mapped in 2019, Yaxché is an urban cave (gruta) located in a residential area of Playa del Carmen. It runs under housing complexes and is filled with narrow ducts, vaults and galleries with an average height of about two meters.

In other areas, the cavern has bodies of water and stalactites, which were seen by the PDC resident as she explored the Yaxché gruta hole from her yard. The backyard hole was eventually dug larger and a ladder lowered for exploration purposes.

The woman is seen here in the company of professionals exploring the cavern from her back yard entrance.

The Yaxché urban cave is part of the extensive network of cenotes and caverns in Playa del Carmen and around the state. It has become known for its geological characteristics and its connection to the ancient Mayan civilization.