Chances are, if you’re planning a trip to Cancun or Riviera Maya, you’ve seen photos or heard of cenotes. If you haven’t – now you have and you’re going to want to see at least ONE of the best cenotes in Mexico!
Keep reading for all the info about the best cenotes Riviera Maya and the Yucatan have to offer. And why going to one is definitely an experience you should add to your trip to Mexico.
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Related Post: 4 Amazing Mayan Ruins Near Cancun You’ve Never Heard Of
Table of Contents
So, what is a cenote anyway?
Basically cenotes are underground pools or lakes, filled with crystal clear, refreshingly cool water. The pools are created when the roof of a limestone cave collapses – so you can pretty much stumble into one by accident.
The limestone earth is also the reason why the lakes and rivers are underground in the first place. Limestone is porous, so over time water seeps through the ground creating the cenote basins and underwater river systems.
There are different types of cenotes in Riviera Maya and Yucatan. Anywhere from being completely underground caves with little access, to being completely open and close to the surface.
In the Yucatan area, there are no lakes or rivers on the surface, only underground rivers flowing into cenotes.
With these being the only fresh water source, cenotes in Yucatan Mexico were extremely important for the Mayan people. So important, that they became a part of their religion. The cenotes were used for rituals, sacrifices and ceremonies.
These days, cenotes are an awesome place to cool off in and chill out at. With the water being so clear, you’ll find it’s a popular spot for snorkelling too.
Are There Facilities At Cenotes In Mexico?
Some of the cenotes in Mexico have been built up for tourism. So these will have stair access, ladders and sometimes ropes used to rappel down below. You’ll see some that have swimming platforms and ziplines too.
These cenotes will have an entrance fee and usually have bathrooms, outdoor showers and a restaurant or shop onsite. Just don’t forget to wear or bring your bathing suit, towel and snorkel!
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Most of the best cenotes in Mexico will have snorkelling equipment available to rent, but it can be kind of expensive for one time (around $20 USD). To be honest, it’s probably not the most hygienic either.
So if you do plan on snorkelling at other Riviera Maya cenotes or elsewhere in the Yucatan – or you’re not really the biggest fan of sharing saliva, you’re better off buying your own.
You can get a set from one of the stores in town or bring your own from home. (Amazon has some good ones) It’ll cost around the same to own a set as renting will.
Can You Wear Sunscreen At Cenotes?
Well, sort of…
Please remember that it’s important use the outdoor showers to rinse off any sunscreens or lotions before entering the cenote. The chemicals in them are extremely damaging to the underwater ecosystem.*
If you’re scared of getting sunburnt, many of the Mexico cenotes are covered anyway so you won’t be too exposed to the sun. If you do really need it, biodegradable sunscreen is the only type allowed to be used BUT not all cenotes will allow even this type.
So, best practice is to not wear any sunscreen or lotion if you know you’re going to a cenote as they don’t all have showers to rinse off with.
*(This is the same rule for some marine parks as the chemicals are damaging to the coral reef system. While not enforced in most areas, it is strongly encouraged to use biodegradable reef safe sunscreen only. Especially if you know you’ll be entering the ocean, using reef safe sunscreen helps to conserve these fragile ecosystems.)
With over 6000 cenotes in Yucatan Mexico, there’s no shortage of options to visit. Some cenotes are more popular and easy to find and get to – and some might require a bit more work. They’re hidden way in the jungle, waiting to be discovered by someone new.
Getting to see cenotes in Riviera Maya is a totally unforgettable experience that not everyone does or gets to do.
They are beautiful, unique places, with tree roots falling into the open roof and sunlight filtering through. Stalactites and stalagmites surround you underground and some cenotes are deep enough to dive through tunnels in an underground river.
How Do You Get To The Cenotes?
You can easily find cenotes tours in Cancun or the other resort areas. These are usually combined with visiting a mayan ruin site and lunch.
Expect most of these cenotes in Mayan Riviera to be busy since excursion groups tend to arrive at similar times. However, there are some companies that bring you during off peak periods as well.
Another way to see the best cenotes in Mexico is to taxi or hire a driver take you for the day. Some of the cenotes are easier to access as they aren’t far from the highway, mainly located between Tulum and Playa Del Carmen.
You can also take an inexpensive colectivo ride to some of the Riviera Maya cenotes near the highway – just as long as you don’t mind a bit of walking.
If you feel comfortable renting a car, this is probably the best way to get out and explore some cenotes. You’ll be able to get off the beaten path to explore and potentially find some hidden gems.
Here Are The Best Cenotes In Mexico
Cenote Ik Kil
It’s one of the most photographed and visited cenotes in Yucatan Mexico – and for good reason. Cenote Ik Kil is stunning.
Picture lush green foliage growing down limestone walls and long tree roots hanging down into the cool blue water from the ceiling up above.
This cenote is near Valladolid and in close proximity to one of the new seven wonders of the world, Chichen Itza. Because it’s so close, you can imagine that also makes it a very popular spot.
Tours to the famous mayan ruins regularly make stops at Cenote Ik Kil. That means it does get busy but it also means it’s easily accessible. Usually tour groups are only there for a short time, so if you ventured there yourself, there’s a good chance you will get time on your own or with few others around.
Walk 85 feet down the staircase to water level and jump or dive into the cenote from one of the platforms. You can also enter the water from a ladder at the bottom of the stairs if you’re less than thrilled with heights.
The best time to visit Cenote Ik Kil, if you’re not travelling on a tour is in the morning before 10am. Later in the afternoon around 4 or 5pm is when most of the tours will be leaving so it’s generally a good time too.
Admission is 80 pesos and is open from 9am – 5pm daily. There are lockers and life jackets at Cenote Ik Kil available to rent and a restaurant on site. It’s approximately a 2.5 hour drive from Cancun or 2 hours from Tulum.
Cenote Azul
Located south of Playa del Carmen, Cenote Azul is a beautiful, open cenote surrounded by jungle. Around the cenote there are places to sit and dry off in the sun and shallow areas to enter the water, making it great for families.
This cenote is good place to snorkel because there are lots of fish to see. If you feel like jumping in, there is a 15 foot cliff above deep enough water to do so.
Cenote Azul is one of the best cenotes near Playa del Carmen and is open daily. It’s best to try to go during the weekdays and in the mornings to avoid the crowds. They tend to be more on the weekends and afternoons.
Admission is 70 pesos, paid at the entrance to the cenote. There is a bathroom and small store on site for food, and life jackets are available too. If you’re staying in Playa del Carmen or Tulum, the best way to get to the cenote is by colectivo or taxi.
You can get the colectivo to stop right at Cenote Azul and there’s a parking lot if you’re driving yourself. The drive is about 30 minutes from either Tulum or Playa del Carmen.
Read Next: 4 Amazing Mayan Ruins Near Cancun That Are Off The Beaten Path
Cenotes Dos Ojos
One of the best cenotes in Tulum, especially for divers, is Cenotes Dos Ojos. The snorkelling is also good here as the stalagmite and stalactite formations underwater are especially beautiful.
This cenote is actually part of an extensive underwater cave system that spans 93 kilometers in the Yucatan Peninsula.
More recently in 2018, researchers found that the Dos Ojos cave system is connected to the larger Sac Actun System of 262 kilometers. Dos Ojos has now been added to the Sac Actun System, losing its original name.
This huge underwater system is actively explored by both researchers and tourists.
Depending on the time of day, you can see light streaming through the water making for an amazing experience. There are viewing platforms around the cenote for those who want to see it but like to stay dry. Snorkelling equipment is available for rent as well as flashlights to see in the dark underwater.
The name Dos Ojos means “two eyes” in spanish. It got its name because Dos Ojos is actually two cenotes connected by an underwater tunnel.
As one of the more popular cenotes near Cancun, they have all the basic facilities. The entrance fee though, is quite a bit more than other cenotes at around 350 pesos.
For the best experience at Cenotes Dos Ojos, it really is best to scuba dive! There are many reputable dive shops in the Riviera Maya that can take you on a guided dive like these.
If you only want to snorkel, there are actually much better cenotes for that. They have less expensive admission too – like Gran Cenote and Casa Cenote.
Cenotes Dos Ojos is open daily from 8am – 5pm and easily reachable by colectivo or car. The location is off of Highway 307 about 30 minutes from Tulum or 50 minutes from Playa del Carmen. It’s a 15 minute walk into the jungle to reach the cenote after paying your 350 peso admission.
Alternatively, you can also join tour groups that bring you to this cenote in Tulum. If you get hungry after your swim, there are a couple of restaurants right next to the entrance to grab a bite.
Cenotes Sac Actun
It’s the longest underground river in the world, Sistema Sac Actun – and the cenotes here are some of the hundreds found in this area. It also happens to be the longest cave system in Mexico at an estimated 347 km.
On a world scale, Sistema Sac Actun is the second longest cave system after Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, USA which is an estimated 643 km long.
That being said, the cenote you’ll experience here is more of a caving experience than other cenotes in Riviera Maya. It can feel claustrophobic at times where the ceiling comes down very low, so if you don’t like cramped spaces it might not be for you.
Cenotes Sac Actun is just a few kilometers further down the road from Cenotes Dos Ojos and you will find it much less busy. It’s also because the cenote is on private land and not open to big tours.
You’ll have to hire a guide to see this one, so the earlier you arrive the better chances of having a small group. $450 Pesos gets you your guide, a snorkel and a mandatory life jacket. The water stays a refreshingly cold 20 degrees celsius year round so if you’re a cold person like me you might want to rent a wetsuit from them as well.
There’s a steep ladder entering a side of the cenote they call Pet Cemetery, where you will climb down into waist deep water. The (kinda creepy) name is due to the animal bones that have been found here and you can see them under the water.
The guide carries a single flashlight and will lead you through caverns of stalagmites and stalactites and at some points immersing you into complete and total darkness like you’ve never seen before.
As you go on, there are times when your feet will no longer be touching the ground and you’ll be glad for having a life jacket to bob along in. Flashlights can be rented or you can bring your own too if you want one. Your tour of the caves will last approximately 40 – 60 minutes and you’ll also see fish and possibly bats and turtles.
Exploration of the Sac Actun Cave System began in 1987. They started from Gran Cenote and found links to many other cenotes in Mayan Riviera. Throughout the system, human remains have been found dating back as long as 13,000 years.
Mastodon have also been found, that went extinct 10 – 11,000 years ago. The mayan people believed that the sistema was a gate into the world of the dead.
It would be pretty easy if you wanted to combine your visit with Cenotes Dos Ojos since it’s located along the same bumpy road off of highway 307. It’s about 24 km from Tulum or 54 km from Playa del Carmen.
The only real ways of getting here are either renting a car or taking a taxi. Cenotes Sac Actun is quite far out and colectivos don’t go there.
Keep driving past Cenotes Dos Ojos and if you get stopped, just let them know where you’re going and they will let you through. Watch for a sign after passing and eventually you will make a left hand turn. Cenotes Sac Actun is open daily from 9am – 5pm, there is plenty of free parking and they also have toilets on site.
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Casa Cenote
Just because Casa Cenote is lesser known, doesn’t mean that it’s not one of the best cenotes in Mexico!
It’s actually one the nicest and best cenotes near Tulum with clear, emerald green water. Besides being a gorgeous place, it tends to not be as busy as other cenotes in Riviera Maya since it’s a little bit off the beaten path.
Casa Cenote is a big open cenote at ground level and very close to the ocean. Its location makes it easy to go to the beach but also gives the cenote a nice sandy bottom.
Looking more like a winding river, this Mexican cenote is part of the Sistema Sac Actun, one of the longest underwater cave systems on earth. With the ocean just across the road, Casa Cenote is actually connected to it through underwater tunnels that go under the street.
Something unique about Casa Cenote is that when the ocean water and cenote water meet – they don’t mix, due to having different densities. The salty ocean water flows under the fresh cenote water and creates an interesting situation underwater called halocline that you can see for yourself.
Because of the connection to the ocean, there are some areas of the cenote that have a strong current and can make it difficult to swim up those parts. It’s not that big of a deal though and it won’t stop you from having an awesome time!
Mangroves surround the Casa Cenote and continue underwater where you’ll see lots of fish swimming around. A long time ago, you would have even seen Manatees as they used to swim here.
This is one of the best cenotes in Mexico for scuba diving and you’ll see divers here regularly. They can swim through mangrove and rock tunnels and sometimes dive all the way under the street, emerging from the ocean.
With depths of around 8 metres and being an open cenote, lots of natural light shines through the clear water and makes it easy to see for both divers and snorkelers.
Another great thing about Casa Cenote that you won’t find at most other cenotes is you can also rent a kayak or paddleboard to explore. The rental price is around 100 – 300 pesos and there is a restaurant across the street on the ocean and a store just up the road.
They also have lockers, life jackets and snorkels available for rent onsite. A dive shop is on the road nearby as well.
To get to Casa Cenote, it’s around a 20 minute drive from Tulum and around 50 minutes from Playa del Carmen. The cenote is located along Highway 307. If you have a car, it’s the same way as the walking directions below to reach it.
If you don’t mind a bit of a walk and aren’t renting a car, you can easily take a colectivo. Grab one from the highway, the main street in Tulum or the colectivo terminal on the corner of Calle 2 Nte and 20 Avenida Nte in Playa del Carmen.
Just tell the colectivo driver to take you to Casa Cenote and you’ll be dropped off at the side of the highway by a long gravel road.
Walk down this road and turn left when you reach the entrance to the PavoReal Beach Resort. If you see a guard at this part of the road just tell them where you are going and they will let you through. Eventually you’ll see the entrance to the cenote on your left – about 15-20 minutes down the unshaded road from the highway.
Admission is 150 pesos and lockers are 50 pesos. Daily opening hours are 8am – 5pm.
Gran Cenote
If you’re staying in Tulum, one of the closest and easiest cenotes in Tulum to access is Gran Cenote. Only a few kilometers from the downtown area, the location makes it one of the most popular and well known cenotes near Tulum to see.
Keeping that in mind, it can get very crowded so it’s best to avoid going in the middle of the afternoon.
Gran Cenote is excellent for swimming, snorkelling and even scuba diving. The cenote is made up of two pools connected in the middle by a cave system that you can actually swim through to the other side.
The water in Gran Cenote is so clear! You don’t necessarily need to even snorkel to see the fish and turtles swimming underneath you.
For the most part, this is an open cenote except for the caves. (beware of bats!) There’s swim platforms and shallower areas to hang out when you don’t want to be swimming. The grassy area and hammocks make a nice place to lay out and catch some sun.
A small restaurant and bathrooms/changing rooms are on site and they rent life jackets, lockers and snorkelling gear. Prices vary from 30 – 80 pesos if you didn’t bring your own. Gran Cenote is open daily from 8 am – 4:45 pm and costs 180 pesos or $10 usd.
Read Next: The Best Places To Eat in Cabo San Lucas.
Cenote Maya
For the more adventurous, a visit to Cenote Maya definitely has to be on your list! I mean, it’s not everyday that you can rappel 85 feet down into the dark cavern of one of the best cenotes in Mexico!
Even if you’re not rappelling yourself, you can walk down the stairs into Cenote Maya and watch others coming down as you float around on your inner tube.
Once you get inside the cenote, there’s different levels of diving platforms to jump from and a mini zipline to grab on to. There’s also slacklines in the water to walk across and inner tubes.
Located inland from Riviera Maya, Cenote Maya is about 2.5 hours from Cancun and Playa del Carmen. From Tulum it’s about an hour and 40 minutes.
You can access the cenote on it’s own or with a tour to one of the nearby ruin sites. The grounds are very well kept at Cenote Maya and because of the added features like rappelling, the admission is quite a bit more than at other Riviera Maya cenotes.
This starts at around $40 USD. But it also includes a Mayan shaman ritual before reaching the cenote and a fantastic Mexican buffet lunch afterwards. The mole chicken is amazingggg by the way.
As far as I can tell, the site is run by Alltournative who have several excursions and packages to choose from. Tickets are available to buy from other places too.
With it’s location being quite far, we chose to go to Cenote Maya on a tour that went to the Ek Balam ruin site as well. I’m not sure which tour company we went with to be honest but it was a great experience. We mainly chose Ek Balam because it’s not an overly busy site and you can climb the pyramid!
The hours of operation are generally between 9am – 4 pm and admission also includes a locker, water, towels and bathrooms.
Cenote Jardin Del Eden
Open cenotes that resemble lakes are the prettiest in my opinion! Cenote Jardin Del Eden (aka Cenote Ponderosa) is no exception. With blueish – green crystal clear water and surrounded by lush jungle it’s a piece of paradise.
Luckily, it’s actually not as deep into the jungle as it feels. It’s one of the best cenotes near Playa Del Carmen and is easily accessed by taxi, car or colectivo. You could even walk if you’re staying at one of the resorts nearby.
Garden of Eden Cenote is located off of highway 307, between Tulum and Playa del Carmen. It’s about 30 minutes either way and next to Cenote Azul. A colectivo can get you there for pretty cheap – around $30-$40 pesos and will drop you off in front of the entrance. From there it’s just a short 10 minute walk down a dirt road to Cenote Ponderosa.
Cenote Jardin Del Eden is an awesome spot to chill out, snorkel and dive. There are lots of fish, shady spots and cliffs to jump from. Big rocks that were once part of the cenote roof sit just under the waters surface and make a nice place to stop at.
This scenic cenote has caverns and caves that are possible to scuba dive and there’s even a tunnel that connects to Cenote Corral. Scuba divers can pass through the tunnel and swim through the glowing halocline. So cool.
The entrance fee is $200 pesos and life jackets and snorkels can be rented for an extra charge. There is a bathroom and cafe are on site. Opening hours are from 7am – 5pm daily, except for Saturdays when they are closed.
Go early and you might get lucky and have the place to yourself – it tends to get busy around noon.
Cenote Cristalino
There’s a few cenotes near Playa del Carmen and Cancun that are worth checking out – Cenote Cristalino is one of them.
Its location is in the same area as Cenote Azul and Cenote Jardin Del Eden and can be quieter than the other two Cenotes. That makes it a great place for families as well.
You’ll probably notice that Cenote Cristalino is a little different from the other two cenotes nearby. Parts of it are covered by a cave, making a nice shady area for hanging out away from the sun.
The water here is deeper too and you might see divers emerging from its depths and swimming beneath you in the clear water.
There’s a fairly high cliff you can jump off of into the cenote, lots of fish swimming around and the water is so clear! When you’re in the water you might even get a weird surprise. The little fish start nibbling at your legs and toes, cleaning your feet for you. It helps to stand or sit still if you do want them to come and nibble you haha.
Being close to the highway makes Cenote Cristalino easy to get to on your own by taking a colectivo. It’s about 30 minutes away from Playa del Carmen or Tulum. Admission is $150 pesos and that includes a life jacket if needed. You can rent sun loungers at the cenote too for around $50 pesos.
There’s bathrooms, change rooms, snorkel and locker rentals and a snack bar that sells things like chips and fresh fruit.
The opening hours are 8am – 5pm.
Cenote Chaak Tun
Although there are plenty of cenotes in Riviera Maya, they each have their own uniqueness. There aren’t many locations where you can explore cenotes and caverns all in the same place like at Cenote Chaak Tun.
While you explore one of the best cenotes in Mexico, you’ll see the most beautiful light. It streams down from the openings in the ceiling and really makes for stunning photos.
This is the type of cenote where you have to tour with a guide to see it. You don’t necessarily have to pre-book with a tour company though, unless you want to. The location is easy enough to get to with a taxi.
Your guide will take you to two different cenotes, leading you through formations of stalactites and stalagmites inside of the caves. You can see how the tree roots reach down into the water from the ground above.
The price for Cenote Chaak Tun is on the higher side for cenotes at $500 pesos but it does include a lot. The admission gets you your flashlight, snorkel, mask, water shoes, wetsuit, locker and guide.
This tour lasts about 1 hour and 40 minutes. But if you don’t like darkness, bats or caves, this is probably not the best cenote for you. Or maybe it’s a good opportunity for you to overcome some fears!
Cenote Chaak Tun is one of the cenotes near Playa del Carmen – only about a 15 minute cab ride away heading inland (approx $200 pesos). Even though it’s closer by than some, it’s surprisingly not very busy as most tour companies don’t come here. Cruise tours do come in though, so it can get busy.
Hours are Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm with the last entry at 3pm and Sunday 9am – 1pm, last entry at 1pm.
Last Things
- In case you’re wondering, Cenote is pronounced like Seh-no-tay.
- Sundays are generally busier as lots of locals are off work that day.
- Bring or wear your bathing suit and bring a towel, water, flip flops/sandals/water shoes, snorkel gear, waterproof camera, gopro, snacks, cash.
- Bring cash, lots of these places only accept cash for payment.**
Have you been to any of these cenotes in Mexico, which is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below 🙂
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