Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
One among my favourite issues to do in Mexico is swim within the stunning cenotes of the Yucatan. Listed here are suggestions for visiting a cenote in Mexico, and easy methods to take pleasure in them responsibly.
Cenotes in Mexico are tremendous cool! The Mayan individuals used cenotes to produce their historic cities (like Chichen Itza) with contemporary water, in addition to a sacred place to conduct sacrificial choices to their gods.
Historical artifacts and even human bones have been found in lots of.
Choices had been made to the Mayan god Chaac, the god of rain, when drought threatened the realm. The Maya additionally believed these underground wells had been entrances to the afterlife.
Regardless of their barely creepy historical past, as of late cenotes in Mexico are loved by foreigners and locals alike as refreshing jungle swimming holes and cave diving hot-spots. No journey to Mexico is full with out swimming in a cenote!
Right here you’ll discover particulars about Tulum cenotes, in addition to cenotes close to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Valladolid too.
After spending years residing in and repeatedly touring to Mexico as a digital nomad, I needed to place collectively a useful information to my favourite cenotes all through the Yucatan Peninsula.
Mexico Cenotes Map
HOW TO USE THIS MAP: Above you’ll discover a map of cenotes in Mexico. Click on on the highest left of the map to search out separate layers marking the route and factors of curiosity. You’ll be able to conceal and present completely different layers, or click on icons on the map to see the names of locations I point out on this journey information. “Star” the map to put it aside to your individual Google Maps, or open the map in a brand new window for a bigger model. Take pleasure in!
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Finest Cenotes In Mexico
What Precisely Is A Cenote?
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is legendary for its superb cenotes — pure swimming pools of contemporary water situated in limestone caves. These swimming pools are related to one another by means of the world’s largest underground river system.
Rain water seeps by means of the porous limestone, accumulating underground.
Cenotes themselves are created when the limestone floor collapses, making a cave opening into this river system. Some cenotes are “open air” which means the roof has utterly collapsed, whereas “cave cenotes” could have most or all of their roof nonetheless intact.
Many cenotes in Mexico are house to a wide range of fish and flowers, some even have turtles!
There are supposedly over 6000 completely different cenotes situated in Mexico. Some have been was swimming holes for vacationers, others are used for technical cave scuba diving, and lots of extra are merely inaccessible – hidden within the distant Mexican jungle.
Finest Cenotes In Tulum
Casa Cenote (Cenote Manatí)
One among my favourite Tulum cenotes, Casa is an open-air cenote that appears extra like a river than a typical cenote. Jungle vegetation go proper as much as the sting of it, and it’s a great place for snorkeling. It’s slender however VERY lengthy, so that you would possibly need to use a life jacket (they’ve them) when you’re not a powerful swimmer.
Locals name it “Cenote Manati”, as a result of there was a inhabitants of Manatees residing in it. Whereas they’re now not there, a pleasant crocodile named “Panchito” does typically make appearances to swim with vacationers. I wouldn’t pet it, however in any other case there’s nothing to be afraid of!
Entrance Payment: 150 MXN ($7 USD)
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
Dos Ojos
Dos Ojos Cenote is among the coolest cenotes close to Tulum. It’s highly regarded for scuba diving, attributable to its “two eyes” (sinkholes) separated by a 400m lengthy underwater tunnel. However it’s additionally enjoyable for snorkeling, as there are many caves to discover which can be simply above the water line.
As a result of Dos Ojos is among the most well-known cenotes within the Yucatan Peninsula, it may well get crowded quick. It’s truly a part of an enormous cenote complicated, and there are numerous completely different ones you’ll be able to go to within the space.
Entrance Payment: 350 MXN ($17 USD)
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
Gran Cenote Tulum
Gran Cenote (aka Nice Cenote) is among the closest cenotes to Tulum. The truth is it’s potential to experience a motorbike right here if you wish to. It’s not tremendous massive, however has two cool chambers separated by a cave tunnel. In addition they have a mini turtle sanctuary!
A pleasant cenote for swimming and snorkeling, additionally they have showers and restrooms on web site. It’s grown in recognition through the years, and might see enormous crowds typically.
Entrance Payment: 180 MXN ($8 USD)
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Taak Bi-Ha
This cenote hidden within the jungle of Tulum is a particular one. A full on cave cenote, it’s lit with led lights, however nonetheless stored wanting pure, which I really like. The water is tremendous clear, and snorkeling right here makes you are feeling like a cave diver. Which, by the best way, you’ll see lots scuba divers disappear into the abyss past.
It’s typically one of many less-crowded cenotes in Tulum, partly attributable to its steep worth to enter in comparison with others.
Entrance Payment: 500 MXN ($24 USD)
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Automobile Wash (Aktun Ha)
The Automobile Wash Cenote is situated proper off the street from Tulum to Coba, and was the place locals would wash their vehicles! Now it’s a correct Tulum swimming cenote the place you’ll see tons of fish, water lilys, iguanas, and even some turtles on occasion.
Automobile Wash has a number of wood leaping platforms, a rope swing, and is one other cave diving spot. There are a variety of downed timber on the backside too, making for a singular underwater world to view whereas snorkeling round.
Entrance Payment: 200 MXN ($10 USD)
Opening Hours: 9am – 4pm
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Calavera (Temple Of Doom)
Cenote Calavera will get its title from the looks of a cranium, with three openings into the bottom. It’s a really deep cenote in Tulum which cave divers love. Excellent for leaping from the perimeters (there’s even a slender opening you’ll be able to drop into).
It’s typically known as The Temple Of Doom by skilled scuba divers. There’s a swing, in addition to a climbing rope. They’ve lounge chairs for sunbathing too.
Entrance Payment: 250 MXN ($12 USD)
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Choo Ha
This shallow water cave cenote is situated subsequent to the ruins of Coba (about 45-minutes from Tulum). It boasts crystal clear blue water and lots of stalagmites hanging from the ceiling. It’s a dramatic wanting cenote, and certainly one of my favourite cenotes close to Tulum.
The shallow water makes this an awesome cenote to go to with a household or small children, though the steps down are fairly steep and slippery. So simply be further cautious! Choo Ha is definitely certainly one of 3 cenotes situated round Coba, and it’s potential to purchase a ticket that covers all of them.
Entrance Payment: 100 MXN ($5 USD)
Location: Click on For Map
Kaan Luum
Laguna de Kaan Luum is a transparent shallow lake with vibrant blue water which encircles a deep cenote (sinkhole). With a depth of roughly 262 ft, the waters of this cenote supposedly have magical properties.
Kaan Luum can also be excellent for scuba diving or freediving with the deeper space cordoned off to forestall entry to swimmers. There are water hammocks, swings, and small tower which you could climb for an awesome view of the entire space.
Entrance Payment: 300 MXN ($15 USD)
Opening Hours: 9am – 4pm
Location: Click on For Map
Tulum Cenotes Tour
Want a guided tour? Discover a few of Tulum’s stunning cenotes in addition to some Mayan ruins.
Finest Cenotes In Cancun
Cenote La Noria
One of the best cenotes close to Cancun are situated alongside the Ruta De Cenotes (Cenote Route) simply exterior the town of Puerto Morelos. La Noria was my favourite of those cenotes. It boasts milky blue water, some rope swings, a leaping platform, and dramatic cave stalactites hanging from the roof.
Entrance Payment: 300 MXN ($14 USD)
Opening Hours: 9am – 4pm
Location: Click on For Map
Verde Lucero
Cenote Verde Lucero is a enjoyable one, with completely different cliff leaping spots and even a zipline! A highly regarded cenote that many excursions cease at. In addition they have kayaks to hire right here. In case you are staying at a resort in Cancun, these are among the closest cenotes to go to.
Entrance Payment: 300 MXN ($15 USD)
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Sol & Luna
Cenote Sol y Luna is the primary cenote you’ll encounter on the Ruta de Cenotes. It’s a giant complicated, that includes the cenote itself, in addition to a pool, waterslides, temazcal sauna, ATV rides, and extra. The cenote is giant and inexperienced, with enjoyable zipline and a few leaping platforms. Lifejackets are offered (and required) right here.
Entrance Payment: 350 MXN ($15 USD)
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Boca de Puma
An excellent enjoyable cenote to go to close to Cancun is known as Boca de Puma (Mouth of the Puma). It’s truly comprised of two completely different cenotes, one in a cave, the opposite open-air. In addition they have a zipline course right here, in addition to a handful of rescued spider monkeys who roam free within the jungle, however aren’t afraid of individuals in any respect. One among them wouldn’t go away Anna’s aspect!
Entrance Payment: 400 MXN ($20 USD)
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Ojo de Agua
This cool cenote known as Ojo de Agua has a number of openings (eyes) into the crystal clear water under. There are leaping platforms as much as 20 ft excessive, and swimming by means of the caves under is tremendous enjoyable. It’s a must to bathe earlier than getting in, and there’s somewhat place to purchase lunch right here too.
Entrance Payment: 250 MXN ($12 USD)
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Journey Tour
Go to 4 completely different cenotes on a guided tour from Cancun. Contains kayaking, zip-lining, rappelling, and extra!
Finest Cenotes In Playa Del Carmen
Backyard Of Eden Cenote
Cenote Jardin del Eden (Backyard of Eden) is a big open-air cenote simply exterior Playa del Carmen. It’s fairly fashionable with locals and expats, with numerous shady timber, a number of decks for leaping or sunbathing, and loads of little fish swimming round. An ideal spot for snorkeling!
Relying on the time of 12 months, and time of day, it may well get crowded right here. Nonetheless as a result of it’s massive, there’s often loads of room to unfold out.
Entrance Payment: 100 MXN ($4.75 USD)
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Azul
Positioned proper subsequent to Backyard of Eden, Cenote Azul has beautiful blue water. The “blue” cenote boasts a pleasant small cliff you’ll be able to leap from, a wood boardwalk, and some shaded areas to hang around.
There’s numerous small fish on this cenote too, who will nibble in your useless pores and skin when you put your ft within the water. A pure Mexican fish spa! Ensure to stroll the jungle path that circles the cenote too, it’s tremendous cool.
Entrance Payment: 100 MXN ($4.75 USD)
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Yax Kin
Cenote Yax Kin is an excellent cenote in Mexico for households and youngsters. This is because of its giant shallow areas, one thing that the majority cenotes don’t have. In addition they have lounge chairs, and pathways that take you to much more cenotes which can be a part of the identical complicated.
There are grills and campsites obtainable to hire too. Preserve a watch out for all of the HUGE iguana lizards who like to hold round this cenote! Typically they chase one another up timber. It’s fairly entertaining.
Entrance Payment: 150 MXN ($7 USD)
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
Finest Cenotes Close to Valladolid
Ik-Kil Cenote
Cenote Ik-Kil is an excellent fashionable cenote close to the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, and is commonly included as a cease on guided bus excursions. As such, it’s typically filled with individuals. Large vines stretch right down to the water, making it look very dramatic. Whereas cool, as a result of crowds, it’s not my favourite cenote within the space.
Entrance Payment: 350 MXN ($17 USD)
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Zaci-Ha
Cenote Zaci is situated proper within the coronary heart of the Mexican city of Valladolid, and a straightforward bike experience from wherever on the town. It’s not fairly as fashionable as others, however has a number of completely different cliff jumps, some massive black fish swimming round, and typically somewhat waterfall.
Entrance Payment: 30 MXN ($1.50 USD)
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Suytun
One of the crucial photogenic cenotes within the Yucatan, Suytun Cenote has grow to be an Instagram sensation. Daylight streams down from a gap within the ceiling, making for a really dramatic scene. Attributable to its recognition, it may well get fairly busy as everybody waits in line for a photograph on the round walkway.
Every particular person will get a couple of minute to pose on the walkway for photographs, earlier than they blow a whistle and let the following particular person in line get their flip. Makes an exquisite photograph, however is just not a really magical expertise like another cenotes will be. A little bit of a vacationer lure.
Entrance Payment: 150 MXN ($9 USD)
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote X’Canche
X’canche cenote is subsequent to the Mayan ruins of Ek Balam, and a part of the archaeological web site. It’s fairly cool, and appears like a round crater within the floor with steep sides. It’s a couple of mile (1.5 km) stroll from the Mayan ruins, however additionally they supply bicycles to hire.
To get right down to the water itself, you’ll want to stroll down a few very steep wood staircases. The water is much less clear than another cenotes, so there isn’t a lot to see with snorkeling gear. There are some leaping platforms, a free rope swing, plus ziplines & a rappel that you simply do for an additional payment.
Entrance Payment: 70 MXN ($3.50 USD)
Opening Hours: 8am – 3:30pm
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Palomitas
This cenote in Mexico is a bit off the overwhelmed path, about 30-minutes from Valladolid. It doesn’t see as many vacationers as others do. It’s truly a part of a 3-cenote complicated. It’s an enormous cave cenote, with a single gap within the high that permits daylight to stream in. There’s additionally a knotted rope hanging down for climbing!
Entrance Payment: 150 MXN ($7 USD)
Opening Hours: 8am – 4:30pm
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Sac-Aua
One of the crucial distinctive cenotes I visited in Mexico, Sac-Aua has a large island in the midst of it, making a doughnut form. They hire kayaks right here, so you’ll be able to cruise across the island. There’s additionally a leaping platform, and a bunch of iguanas hanging round. In addition they have a cavern (cave) you’ll be able to go to, and can cook dinner a conventional Mayan meal for lunch too.
Entrance Payment: 345 MXN ($17 USD)
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
Cenote Secreto Maya
There’s tons to do at this cenote close to Valladolid. A 22 meter leaping platform, 10 meter rope swing, caves to discover, and if you enter, you’re handled to a conventional Mayan blessing. There may be additionally meals, a swimming pool, hammocks, and an enormous colourful mural to take pleasure in if you’re achieved with the cenote. Cherished this one! It wasn’t too crowded both.
Entrance Payment: 200 MXN ($10 USD)
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm
Location: Click on For Map
How To Go to Cenotes
Rental Automobile
One of the best web site to guide a rental automotive in Mexico is with Uncover Vehicles. They search each native and worldwide automotive rental corporations that will help you discover the absolute best worth. That is the simplest approach to hire a automotive and drive in Mexico.
Renting a automotive provides one of the best flexibility for exploring and visiting among the extra distant cenotes across the Yucatan Peninsula. It’s my favourite approach to get round! You need to use my Mexico cenote map on the high of this text that will help you discover all of them.
Take A Guided Cenote Tour
There are a number of tour choices for visiting cenotes leaving from Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum. Some are a part of Mayan Ruins excursions, whereas others mix cenote visits with ziplining, ATV’s and different journey actions. One fashionable choice leaving from Cancun is the Xenote Expertise.
Bicycle Or Taxi
A number of the Tulum cenotes will be reached by bicycle, in addition to some cenotes close to the city of Valladolid. For many others, until you’ve gotten your individual rental automotive, you’ll want to rent a neighborhood taxi to take you. Typically taxi drivers will provide you with their enterprise card, permitting you to name them if you’re achieved visiting the cenote to get a experience again into city.
Ideas For Visiting Cenotes In Mexico
- To keep away from polluting the water in cenotes, most locations require you to bathe earlier than getting into. Please don’t use sunscreen both, as it may be dangerous to wildlife.
- Many cenotes in Mexico present life jackets for people who find themselves not robust swimmers. Most cenotes don’t have a shallow space — they are often tremendous deep.
- Some cenotes embody rope swings, leaping platforms, zip strains, and can hire you snorkeling gear.
- Cave divers frequent some cenotes, so ensure to offer them loads of room, and watch out the place you leap!
- Some cenotes can get very crowded, relying on the season and time of day. In case you arrive at a cenote and see a bunch of tour buses, it may be price in search of one other if you wish to keep away from crowds.
- The water in most cenotes is fairly chilly, as they’re fed from underground sources.
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