Tulum cenotes are among the finest on the earth. identified for his or her crystal blue waters, ultimate for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving – These cenotes close to Tulum should be in your itinerary!
Cenotes are pure sinkholes which are fashioned when the limestone bedrock collapses exposing underground water typically within the type of a fascinating pure pool.
Cenotes are distinctive to this a part of Mexico, and Tulum itself is house to the biggest underwater cave system on the earth. Tulum is likely one of the finest locations to discover cenotes as a result of there are greater than 200 cenotes close to Tulum.
They have been thought of sacred swimming pools in Mayan tradition and at present a standard Tulum attraction by locals and vacationers alike. They’re such distinctive and delightful pure phenomena that they are surely a must-do whereas in Tulum.
Tulum Cenote Excursions
For those who don’t have a rental automobile and need to see a number of nice cenotes, we recommend becoming a member of this Tulum cenote tour, which visits three cenotes.
In case you are up for extra journey and seeing much more wonderful cenotes think about renting a automobile, earlier than you say no, try our full information on renting a automobile in Mexico.
In regards to the Authors: (Hannah & Adam) – We visited our first cenote in Mexico in 2010, and since then have visited almost 100 cenotes. We’ve got lived in Playa del Carmen as ex-pats, and spend not less than a number of months per yr in and across the Tulum space.
Our household likes to discover cenotes which are new to us and go to a few of our favourite Tulum cenotes. This can be a first-hand record, we’ve really visited every certainly one of these cenotes and lots of extra that didn’t make the highest 10 record.
Finest Tulum Cenotes
With a whole bunch of cenotes close to Tulum to select from, we put collectively this record that can assist you determine which cenotes to go to. Listed below are a few of our favourite Tulum cenotes.
1. Calavera
5 minutes from Tulum – Closest Cenote to Tulum
For those who ask us, the perfect cenote close to Tulum is Cenote Calavera. It’s so completely different than different cenotes in Mexico.
The title Calavera straight interprets to the cranium. It refers to its form, consisting of three separate sinkholes that seem to type two eyes and a mouth when swimming within the cenote trying up.
This cenote has a enjoyable 13-foot drop from the limestone cliff right down to the water. There are additionally two small holes within the rock large enough for just one particular person at a time to leap down (tremendous enjoyable).
For those who’re not within the thrill of a plunge, it’s additionally good to take the protected (and Photogenic) route and climb down the ladder. Whereas nonetheless standard that is nonetheless a comparatively much less busy alternative when visiting cenotes in Tulum regardless of being simply accessible.
There’s a rope swing to sit down on within the picturesque pit, and the entire thing is ideal for photograph ops.
It’s ultimate for adventurers, because it affords such a singular underground setting and loads of methods to play within the idyllic pool. Surrounded by jungle foliage and daylight streaming in by openings above, it feels off the crushed path and immersed in magical Mexican surroundings.
Diving in Cenote Calavera is at present not open, which is simply too dangerous as a result of it was certainly one of our favourite cenotes to dive. Adam dove it again in 2018 and loved it. Rainbow-colored rocks type prehistoric fossils, and small altars on the partitions create an ethereal atmosphere for divers.
- Hours: 9 AM to five PM
- Cenote Calavera Worth | Entrance Payment: 250 pesos
- Life jackets & snorkel gear for hire if wanted
- Pairs nicely with Gran Cenote
2. Gran Cenote
5 minutes from Tulum
Only a few miles outdoors of Tulum city is Gran Cenote. These with no automobile can simply hire a motorbike in Tulum or take a neighborhood collectivo.
Generally known as Grand Cenote, this open air cenote has a river-like high quality and connects to a set of caves and caverns. It’s such a fantastic cenote regardless of the way you discover it, whether or not it’s an in-depth dive or a easy swim. Stalactites and stalagmites abound right here, in addition to shallow tranquil swimming pools of aqua-colored water.
There’s a charming wood boardwalk that weaves its means by all of them and is shrouded in lush and tranquil terrain. There’s a snorkeling space on both facet of the cenote, the place you possibly can spot some native wildlife.
Be able to encounter some crowds when visiting, as its reputation is ever-increasing with the rise of Instagram explorers, and for a great purpose.
Professional tip: you should definitely arrive not less than half an hour earlier than closing time, otherwise you received’t be let in. Carry your individual water & snacks, as there aren’t any on the market.
We advise becoming a member of this cenote tour if you wish to go to a number of cenotes. It visits three cenotes close to Tulum, together with Gran Cenote, Cenote Zemway, and Casa Cenote. In case you are exploring by yourself, be sure to additionally go to Cenote Calavera, which is up the highway 2kms, a few 7-minute bike experience, is Cenote Calavera.
In case you are touring to Tulum on a finances, think about going to Cenote Calavera as an alternative; the doorway charge is half the value. Nevertheless, the Gran Cenote value features a lifejacket and snorkel gear.
- Hours: 8 AM to 4:45 PM
- Gran Cenote Worth | Entrance Payment: 500 pesos (money solely)
3. Cenote Azul
half-hour from Tulum
Situated midway between Tulum and Playa del Carmen, Cenote Azul is spacious, open-air, and is tons of enjoyable. The title means blue in Spanish, so it’s straightforward to guess what the hanging shade of those waters will likely be. There are two separate swimming sections with a boardwalk in between.
One facet is shallow, which makes this among the finest Tulum cenotes for youths and households with young children. The opposite facet is far deeper, with a cliff proper perched above, which is enjoyable to leap off of and into the glowing floor under.
Cenote Azul is one the perfect cenotes close to Playa Del Carmen and Cancun, which signifies that it could get tremendous busy throughout the day, particularly on the weekends. My recommendation is to move there very first thing within the morning to take pleasure in a barely extra serene setting. Additionally keep away from weekends if doable, and particularly Sundays if you wish to keep away from the crowds.
There are eating places and picnic areas round, making it a pleasant place to spend a part of the day. The pedicure fish are additionally a pleasant shock at this cenote in Tulum for an added spa-like expertise. Although phrase to the clever, it may be tremendous ticklish.
We advise visiting the close by Cenote Jardin el Eden and Cenote Cristalino. You may simply go to these three cenotes in a single journey.
- Hours: 8:30 AM to five PM
- Cenote Azul Worth | Entrance Payment: 180 pesos for adults, 120 pesos for youngsters 4-7 years previous
Associated Article: Finest Household Resorts in Tulum
4. Cenote Jardin del Eden
half-hour from Tulum
With a reputation that actually interprets to Backyard of Eden – This is likely one of the most awe-inspiring settings of all of the cenotes in Tulum. It’s additionally typically known as Cenote Ponderosa (this title is usually related to diving), which implies highly effective.
Situated proper subsequent to Cenote Azul and Cristalino. It’s well-known for its hanging and sapphire-colored swimming pools.
At one finish of the huge pit, there’s a cliff edge with a platform for daring dives into the depths. There are a number of locations the place you possibly can bounce into the lagoon from timber and rocks, some which are as much as 25 toes above the water. Within the middle is a grouping of boulders that make for excellent hangout spots.
Our favourite a part of Cenote Jardin del Eden are the massive downed timber submerged below water that you may discover and take some distinctive pictures.
Moss-covered stones and tropical foliage full the tropical scene that looks like its personal hidden oasis. There’s much less wildlife to identify on this atmosphere, apart from the occasional fish. The visibility is wonderful, and lots of nonetheless come to snorkel and scuba, exploring the deep underwater cave system.
There’s a small snack bar, in addition to life jackets and locker leases. It’s straightforward to identify from the principle highway. When you pay, you must drive (or stroll) down the gravel highway to the place the cenote is situated and a big parking zone. This is likely one of the extra standard close to Playa del Carmen however nonetheless very a lot value visiting from Tulum, as it’s only half-hour away.
- Hours: 9 AM to five PM
- Jardin del Eden Worth | Entrance Payment: 200 pesos for adults, 100 pesos for youngsters
Associated Article: Finest Household Resorts in Playa del Carmen
5. Dos Ojos
25 minutes from Tulum
Dos Ojos is the preferred cenote close to Tulum and may be very well-known. It does stay as much as all of the hype, however it could get actually busy. So we recommend going early or later within the day.
It’s situated between Playa Del Carmen and Tulum, and it’s fairly straightforward to get there. You may go to by yourself, with a bunch tour, or we recommend this VIP personal tour.
It’s named after its two massive oval or eye-shaped swimming pools. The 2 swimming pools are linked by boardwalks. Some folks name them the black eye and blue eye and so they couldn’t be any extra completely different.
Blue Eye is an open-air cenote with glowing turquoise waters lined in tropical sunshine. The Black Eye is a closed cenote, a darkish cavern lined in stalactites and stalagmites.
A flashlight is required to navigate this pure marvel. All in all, there are 5 cenotes right here, so that you see numerous distinctive environments.
The others require a guided tour to entry, and extra superior scuba divers can arrange excursions to see the underground areas which are in any other case unreachable by merely swimming and snorkeling. Dos Ojos Park additionally affords some nice services, like lockers, a rest room, showers, snorkel gear to hire, and a restaurant proper on the entrance.
Diving in Dos Ojos
That is the preferred cenote dive round, and for good purpose. There’s a lot to see and it’s a a lot shallower dive than most cenotes with stunning cave constructions to see but spacious passages in comparison with others.
You may e-book this dive tour, which features a two-tank dive in two completely different cenotes at Dos Ojos and contains transportation from Playa del Carmen. Our this Dos Ojos dive package deal from Tulum.
It’s best to pay the doorway charge in pesos. USD and bank cards are accepted, however there’s a bank card. There’s a charge for bringing a digicam with you moreover your telephone.
- Hours: 8 AM to five PM
- Dos Ojos Worth | Entrance Payment: 400 pesos for the doorway park, 800 pesos for a snorkeling tour
6. Zacil Ha
10 minutes from Tulum
Cenote Zacil Ha is a favourite amongst locals and households for its abundance of enjoyable actions. It’s an open cenote, which permits for a zipline to span totally throughout the breathtaking pool.
It’s surrounded by wood platforms for leaping and ladders for climbing into the refreshing depths. The zipline runs about 10 toes above the floor, so dropping down may be exhilarating. For those who work up an urge for food zipping away (it’s about 10 pesos per experience), then there’s additionally a small snack bar on-site.
It’s an amazing choose for anybody looking for extra of a swimming pool expertise. It’s nearly an ideal oval form and appears kinda like a daily man-made pool that’s simply carved from limestone. There are various hammocks to chill in, cabanas to hire for a extra luxurious lounge, and sunbeds for absorbing some rays.
It’s conveniently near Tulum. There’s even a present store for getting that excellent memento from the cenotes in Tulum.
As well as, there are two different regular swimming swimming pools right here to take pleasure in as nicely. It’s ultimate when you’re hoping to indulge in additional facilities and fewer nature.
- Hours: 10 AM to six PM
- Cenote Zacil Ha Worth | Entrance Payment: 300 pesos
7. Casa Cristalino
25 minutes from Tulum
A shocking open cenote with mesmerizing blue water and huge white limestone rocks plunked into the shallow waters. This cenote has nice swimming, some good snorkeling, and a enjoyable 4-meter (12ft) cliff bounce.
Cenote Cristalino is barely much less standard than the encircling cenotes, however it’s not an undiscovered gem both. There may be additional room to unfold out at this cenote since there are a number of cenotes on the grounds of Cristalino Cenote so it could really feel much less busy than others.
It’s situated proper outdoors of the city of Puerto Aventuras, about half-hour outdoors of Tulum Centro. It may well simply be paired with different nice cenotes close to Tulum on a day journey or mixed with a visit to snorkel with the ocean turtles in Akumal (certainly one of our favorites).
In some ways, it’s much like Cenote Azul, with construction and watercolor – that is smart as a result of these cenotes are actually proper subsequent to one another. Whereas they’re each value visiting – in case you are tight on time, you must select one or the opposite between these two since they’re very related.
Additionally close by is Cenote Jardin del Eden, which is once more an open Cenote with some related options however it’s pretty completely different than Cristalino.
- Hours: 9 AM to five PM
- Cenote Calavera Worth | Entrance Payment: 200 pesos and 150 peso
8. Casa Cenote
10 minutes from Tulum
Meandering by the jungles outdoors of Tulum is the one-of-a-kind Casa Cenote. This cenote sits proper on the sting of the ocean, and it’s really linked underground to the ocean.
This distinctive place creates a particular atmosphere with extra aquatic life, with many fish and crops in comparison with different cenotes in Mexico. The partitions of the cenote are fringed with mangroves and energetic.
Like most cenotes close to Tulum, Casa Cenote has crystal-clear water, however that’s the place the similarities finish. This cenote has a construction not like some other we’ve got visited, and that’s what makes this a should go to cenote in Tulum.
At one time you have been capable of dive from the cenote out into the ocean, however that has been stopped for security causes. This cenote nonetheless makes an amazing diving cenote, and with an intensive but shallow river-like construction, you could possibly have a really lengthy and rewarding dive.
This personal cenote tour visits Casa Cenote, and this group tour visits three cenotes together with Casa Cenote.
On our final go to, they have been charging additional for cameras and GoPros. We advise renting a kayak at Casa Cenote, it’s a enjoyable solution to discover. The employees isn’t the friendliest and can push onerous fo you to purchase their snorkeling tour.
- Hours: 8 AM to five PM
- Casa Cenote Worth | Entrance Payment: 150 pesos
9. Cenote El Pit
half-hour from Tulum
In case you are a sophisticated diver, this is likely one of the finest cenotes for diving close to Tulum. It’s certainly one of Adam’s favourite cenote dives. The rock formations and underground caverns are so distinctive.
We even have an in-depth overview on diving El Pit.
El Pit is the deepest sinkhole in your entire state of Quintana Roo. The brilliant blue waters are so crystal clear right here that the visibility is difficult to prime if there hasn’t been many divers. El Pit is a part of Dos Ojos Park, it’s a few 10-minute drive by the jungle.
It’s the perfect place to dive down and uncover the underwater world of cenotes. El Pit has a bit little bit of all the pieces that makes cenote diving so magical.
Even from the floor, you will get fairly a clear view of the subterranean surroundings. The way in which in is steep and slender however nicely well worth the problem. It shortly opens up into a formidable huge cavern that’s nearly 100 toes deep.
It’s so clear that you simply even assume you possibly can see the particles cone surrounded by a cloud of hydrogen sulfide. The halocline can also be one other stunning function in El Pit the place the recent and salt waters meet and the place all the pieces will get briefly blurry on the descent.
Nevertheless, nothing actually compares to the beams of sunshine that dance deep into the water, let in by the slender opening on the prime of the cenote.
This place is simply pure magic.
- Hours: 8 AM to five PM
- Cenote El Pit Worth | Entrance Payment: 600 pesos
10. Cenote Angelita
25 minutes from Tulum
Cenote Angelita is a scuba diver’s dream. Set in the course of the jungle, it’s probably the most fascinating Tulum cenotes. Named little angel, it’s additionally generally known as the underground river for its jaw-dropping aquatic panorama.
The pure phenomenon of the white fuel layer, created from hydrogen sulfide, is the principle magical draw right here. Large lifeless timber poke up by the misty clouds making an other-worldly expertise. Swimming above, under, and thru the hazy part makes for a fascinating environment all its personal.
For those who aren’t diving cenote Angelita, we recommend skipping this cenote and heading to one of many others on our record. It’s a extra rustic cenote setting, so it’s finest to be ready for a definite lack of services on-site. Nevertheless, the sheer depth of this cenote is engaging, with a formidable attain of just about 200 toes.
- Hours: 8 AM to five PM
- Entrance Payment: 350 pesos
What to Pack When Visiting Tulum Cenotes?
- Water shoe/aqua sock – Cenotes are sometimes rocky when coming into, and the ladders/rocks are slippery. I like these aqua socks. They’re light-weight, straightforward to pack, and CHEAP.
- Swimsuit
- Fast Dry or Small Towel
- Mineral Sunscreen/ Reef-safe Sunscreen (many cenotes have a no-sunscreen rule)
- Water Bottle
- Underwater Digicam or Go Professional – You will have a digicam that’s good for journey actions that may get moist. In case you are into images, think about getting a dome for enjoyable over/below photographs. *Some cenotes cost a further price to herald digicam gear.
- Dry bag – Carry a bag to hold all of your stuff and preserve it dry in case it rains
- Waterproof telephone case – when you plan on bringing your telephone in for pictures
- A dry pair of garments – I prefer to rinse off cenote water and alter right into a dry pair of garments after getting all moist and driving/driving again to our lodge.
There are tons of cenotes in Mexico to select from, and this record is barely a fraction of these within the Yucatan peninsula. We hope we impressed you to discover a number of in your journey to Mexico!
Exploring these distinctive and otherworldly wonders is well one of many finest issues to do in Riviera Maya. Make sure to try the remainder of our guides to assist plan your subsequent journey to Mexico!
