Many centuries ago, in the east of the Yucatán peninsula, there was a Maya city called Zací, which means “white hawk.” Today, in that same place, stands the city of Valladolid. In Zací, two rival families competed for power: the Cupules and the Cocomes. In the center of the city there was a cenote, and above its vault lived the town healer, a wise and powerful woman who protected the Cocom family.

The healer had an orphaned granddaughter named Sac-Nicté, which means “white flower.” She was a sweet and very beautiful young woman. One day, Sac-Nicté met Hul-Kin, which means “ray of sun,” the son of the cacique Halach-Huinic, of the Cupul family. The two young people fell deeply in love, but their love was impossible: their families were enemies. So they met in secret.

When the cacique discovered the secret romance, he was furious. To separate the lovers, he sent his son to the south, to marry the princess of another territory and form a political alliance.

Sac-Nicté, who was expecting Hul-Kin’s child, learned of the wedding. The night before the wedding, full of sadness, she tied a stone to her long hair and threw herself into the waters of the cenote.

That same night, far from Zací, Hul-Kin felt a sharp pain in his chest, like a premonition. He returned to Zací that very night. When he arrived, he discovered what had happened. In despair, he threw himself into the cenote too, to die beside his true love.

The old healer came to the edge of the cenote and threw a white flower into the water, saying that her promise was fulfilled. Then, full of pain and rage, she put a curse on the cenote: every year, when the green blanket of its waters turned dark, the cenote would take one life as a sacrifice for that great forbidden love.

Today the Cenote Zací lies in the center of Valladolid, Yucatán. It is an enormous, partially collapsed cavern, about forty-five meters across. Many visitors swim in its green waters, but those who know the legend remember Sac-Nicté and Hul-Kin, and watch the color of the water with respect.