The abyss lies a few meters down. Your life is attached to a 10-meter rope you go down to reach the bottom. Once you get there, there's no going back. You're entering the millenary cavern of Xoxafi .
According to Otomi legends , Xoxafi was formed after a lightning struck the hill of Temptha, in the town of Santiago de Anaya, Hidalgo .
Now you have to turn on the helmet lamp to move across – and through – the narrow passageways of the cave. Some of them are so tight you'll need to hold your breath to cross them.
The light may upset some of the dwellers of this place: bats . Xoxafi is a natural reserve housing five bat species but don't worry, they're vegetarian, so you can continue on your way and stop worrying they might try to feed on your blood.
If you take a couple of steps more you'll reach the main vault. Stalactite and stalagmite decorate the "Room of Triumph." This is how guides have named this whimsical rock formation, shaped thousands of years ago by water filtration.
“Now, get down!” the guide says, and you get to crawl for five minutes between solid and protruding rocks which sometimes bump your helmet. Yet it's nothing serious.
“We recommend people to wear worn jeans and shirts because there'll be tears,” cautions Daniel, one of the guides in Xoxafi.
Walking this underground labyrinth will take you 105 meters deep below the surface of the Earth just before you find the second part of the walkthrough: two zip-lines which, together, will move you forward 300 meters.
(Photo: Courtesy of Xoxafi)
This underground “flight” is done almost in complete darkness as the lamps don't cast enough light to see the surroundings clearly. This part of the experience includes the chirps of the bats hiding in the cavern.
Once you reach solid ground again, prepare to walk across a hanging bridge which will take you to other vaults: the Hallways of the Organs, the Room of the Snake, and Leopard's Skin, a place which got its name due to the many holes contrasting with the sparks caused by minerals in the rocks.
The final stretch comes after spending two hours deep underground. It's time to emerge from the bowels of the Earth. The guides will then ask you to use the cavities and straps to climb 12 meters and reach the surface.
Once you find no more holes to use as steps, you'll have to hold onto a rope with knots and keep climbing – the strength of your arms and legs is put to the test again.
You're almost there but a final challenge awaits you. The guide asks you to reach a platform and from here you have to do a Tarzan swing to get to the other side.
If you're into extreme tourism, this tour has an extra: another zip-line but this time on the surface. The first 300 meters you'll get to cross the two peaks of the hill. The trip back is longer – 800 meters – but you'll be traveling in a Superman pose.
(Photo: Courtesy of Xoxafi)
In order to regain your strength and as a reward for your courage, Otomi cooks will welcome you with a banquet and will tell you the stories told by their elders, about the origin of Xoxafi, which means “lighting which struck” in Ñañú.
If you want to keep getting further in, you can do an additional walk through another tunnel while you listen to the legends of how this cavern was formed, approximately 340 million years ago .
And if night falls upon you, you can always stay in Xoxafi, as there are camping areas and firewood available. You can also sleep in rustic cabins (with beds, toilets, and hot water) for eight and four people.
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