Lol-Tun Grottes These caverns, whose name comes from the maya "Lol": Flower and "Tun": Stone, are one of the biggest known from the huge cave system that covers a great territory in southern Yucatan. They are located at 4.3 miles southwest from Oxkutzcab and 15 miles northeast from Labná ruins. They have been arranged for a safe tour that measures approximately 0.62 miles long in its interior by means of illuminated paths.
Here, the visitor can learn the natural and cultural history of the Northern Maya lowlands within a 10,000 years period, from late Pleistocene to contemporary times. In one of its cavities, locally known as "Huechil" (from the maya "Huech": Armadillo), archaelogical excavations were carried out and in one of its lowest levels extinct animal remains were found: mammoth, bison, feline and other animals bones, indicating a colder climate period with a different environment to that of the present. Man made stone tools appeared in a superior level, probably produced by the first Peninsula's inhabitants.
Other material remains have been found in this and other parts of the groute including pottery, marine shells, stone artifacts, basrelief carvings, petrogliphs and mural paintings corresponding to the distinct development stages of the Maya Culture.
From the Formative period (600 B.C. - 150 A.D.) stands out the bas-relief carving known as "The Loltún warrior" located at the entrance of the groutes, presenting inherited traits from ancient Olmecs.
From classic (150 - 900 A.D.) and Postclassic (900 A.D. to 16th.century) can be observed cultural features such as mural paintings representing hands, faces, animals, geometric motifs and inscriptions; "Haltunes" or artificial containers carved in the rock for gathering natural dripping water as well as many petrogliphs, standing out those with flower motifs, which give the name to the cavern. There are also 19th. century barricades constructed by rebel mayas who sheltered in this and other southern Yucatan caves during the so called "War of Castes".
Visitors can admire many natural lime stone formations with capricious and sugestive forms that popular imagination have baptized with peculiar names such as "Cathedral", "Grand Canyon Gallery", "Ear of Corn", "Stalactite rooms", and so on. It is important to notice the "Musical" columns, formed by the union of stalactites and stalagmites, that produce sounds with different tones when they are knocked; or a magnificent gallery with its collapsed ceiling with descending tree roots and sun rays.

Access to the groutes with guide only.
English: 11 A.M. and 2 P.M.
Open everyday.

Source: Cultur servicios.