Ixchel was the jaguar goddess of fertility, birth, and medicine in ancient Mayan mythology. Along the jungle paths leading to the River, one can find Ixchel’s Gulf, a gem-colored freshwater pool whose cool embrace welcomes visitors seeking a more intimate swimming location.

Carved out by underground waterways over thousands of years, Ixchel’s Gulf winds its way into a small, narrow canyon till an exit is reached on the far bank. As one emerges from this side, it is possible to contemplate the bizarre roots of a Chechem, thrust into the wall of rock, that have been long considered a manifestation of the giant Iguana Guardian, Huh, climbing down the Gulf.