If you have never been swimming in a cenote before then you are in for a treat. Cenotes are freshwater inland pools that were sacred to the Mayans. In the Yucatan Peninsula and Quintana Roo regions there are more than 6000 cenotes. Formed when sea water seeps through the ground and collects in a pool, cenotes are communal places deeply rooted in the culture of these regions. If you Google things to do in Tulum or Cancun, cenotes near Cancun are one of the first ones to pop up.
Planning a trip to Cancun soon? Checkout my guide to The Top 14 Things to do in Cancun, Mexico.
Is visiting a Cancun cenote worth it?
YES. I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life while visiting Mexico. I was traveling solo through the Yucatan Peninsula and I stumbled upon Cenote Caracol while trying to hike a cave nearby. This underground cenote is lit up by fluorescent lights that let you see deep into the water. As shallow as the water of the cenotes look, they are extremely deep. The perceived shallowness is just an effect of how clear the water is.
I gingerly made my way down into the hole in the ground wearing my swimsuit and a life jacket that I had tightly tied around my waist. It wasn’t too bad as I was standing on the platform and watched people swim by. But right then the tour guide for the group came to collect them and I was left all alone in the dark.
I admit I had to talk myself into getting into the water. Imagine being in a deep water filled hole in the middle of a jungle with no one around, it’s kinda scary. But once inside the water, my heart beat began to calm down and I swam towards one of the caves with the pretty lights.
The cave ceiling is very low but you can fit through easily. The water looks so mesmerizing and ethereal. Imagine looking down into absolutely clear pink water that you can’t see the bottom off. I splashed around for a little while before climbing out and hunting for a ride back to the main road.
Cenotes in Cancun are a complete adventure in themselves. Whether you visit one of the big ones or go to a smaller one or an even smaller one that no one has heard off, cenotes add a twist of adventure to your trip.
Are there cenotes in Cancun?
Yes there are cenotes in Cancun that you can easily access if you don’t want to make the trip to see cenotes further away. Cenote Cauich and Cenote Chac Mool are two of them. These Cancun cenotes though have been developed and aren’t nearly as beautiful as cenotes in the jungles that have been preserved. It is not recommended that you go to these. All the pretty cenotes are a couple hours away from Cancun, south towards Tulum or west towards Valladolid. These are the ones you should aim to visit.
Are cenotes sacred?
For the Mayans, cenotes were a central part of life – both for practical and spiritual reasons. They were the only source of water in the dry peninsula. The Mayans believed that cenotes were the gateway to the afterlife, to another world called Xibala,. They believed the Water God Chac lived in the cenotes and made sacrifices to please him.
The Sacred Cenote at Chichen Itza was used for this purpose. Spiritual ceremonies offering gold, jade and even human sacrifices were made to the god. It was probably the most important site in this part of Mesoamerica. Artifacts were excavated from the bottom of this cenote that suggest the same.
PS. It is said that Mayan performed human sacrifices in cenotes but some archaeologists disagree saying this is just propaganda introduced by the Spanish.
How do I get to the cenotes?
Most cenotes are located outside the cities and you have to find a way to get to them. Small vans called collectivos run between cities in most of Mexico. I personally used the collectivos running between Cancun and Playa del Carmen and Playa del Carmen and Tulum. If your cenote falls on this stretch of road (Dos Ojos, Caracol) then you can just ask the driver to drop you off at its location.
Be aware that cenotes are a little ways from the main road so you might have to walk a few kilometers to get to them. If the cenote is near Valladolid (Ik Kil, Suytun) then you will have to take a proper bus to Valladolid from Cancun. There are no collectivos between Cancun and Valladolid. In this scenario it is better to spend the night in Valladolid because the city itself is one of the top places to visit in the Yucatan Peninsula.
If the cenotes are anywhere near Tulum then you can easily rent a bike in Tulum and bike down there or take a taxi. Finally you can book a tour where they take you to the cenotes and have you back by the evening.
I personally hate tours because you will arrive with all the other crowds and the cenotes are no fun with so many other people. You are also on a timer and the feeling of anxiety while trying to enjoy a place is terrible. Reserve tours only for Chichen Itza and so on.
Can I swim or dive?
Yes! Cenotes are popular places for swimming, cliff jumping, diving and snorkelling. Some of the cenotes have underwater caves that are great for diving like Dos Ojos where the two eyes connect by a cave that is underwater. Diving is only allowed with a proper certified instructor.
If you get stuck in the caves you might very well die because the water fills up quickly so be very careful when choosing companies to go with. Snorkeling equipment and life jackets can be rented from the front desk of all commercial cenotes.
What else to know?
- Buy yourself water shoes now. If you are going to Mexico you will be stepping in water filled with stones, reef and walking over all kinds of terrain.
- Water shoes are great both for swimming and walking which is why I carry mine everywhere. They protect my feet from any kind of underwater surface I can’t see or any glass in the water that could potentially hurt me.
- Always keep some extra cash with you to purchase tickets at the front offices. It will be hard to find change in the middle of nowhere.
- Go early in the morning or right before closing. Midday is when the tours from all the cities arrive and the crowds are terrible. It is impossible to get a good picture at this time.
- Buy a snorkeling kit. I prefer to have water shoes instead of fins because they protect my feet better and I can walk on ground or in water. I SWEAR by them.
- This isn’t a complete list. There are so many other cenotes you should also visit. Check out the list of the best cenotes to visit in Mexico.
Top 10 Best Cenotes near Cancun
Cenote Suytun
Cenote Suytun is probably the most photogenic cenote near Cancun. In the summer seasons, the sun shines directly onto the circular podium which makes for an incredible view. It’s easy to see why cenotes were revered by the Mayans here.
Being so picturesque, the cenote tends to be crowded all day long. Crowds begin arriving as soon as the gates open which makes getting the perfect shot a little hard – but nothing that photoshop can’t fix.
The cenote is also cheap at 70 pesos per person ($3.50 USD). If you want to visit a cenote to admire it’s beauty then Cenote Suytun would be my top choice.
The cenote is situated near the city of Valladolid than Cancun. To visit the cenote you can do a day trip from Cancun or Tulum or better yet, stay a night at Valladolid and do your own tour. If you are planning to visit Chichen Itza (also near Valladolid) then it will be in your best interests to stay the night here and get to the cenote early and then do a Chichen Itza trip.
Cenote Calavera
The gorgeous Cenote Calavera or the Temple of Doom pretty much feels like a pool on the moon with 3 crater-like openings on the surface. Calavera is a ‘Cántaro’ or jug type of cenote where the roof of the cenote has collapsed, revealing the water below.
The pool you see is only the part of the cenore. The actual underground cenots snakes out for kilometers in the surrounding Mayan jungle. This part is great for diving. The cenote also displays the halcyon effect which is very cool. This is where the clear and saltwater mix and a clear line can be seen between them. One of the spookiest and coolest natural phenomena ever.
The biggest hole, the one with the bamboo ladder is the main entrance. But the fun lies in jumping straight into the water through one of the smaller holes. You will see a bright pink sign next to the opening saying “JUMP HERE”.
There is no ground to stand on once inside the cenote. The depth at the jumping point is around 5-6 metres which is safe for diving. To get out you have to use the bamboo ladder.
If you are diving, at the end of your dive you will come to an altar with Mayan pottery and bones. Koox Diving is one of the best companies in Tulum for tours to Cenote Calavera. As mentioned, the cenote is very deep and you don’t want to lose your Gopro to it’s depths so a good floating handle is very essential.
From Tulum it takes 5 mins in a car and 10 min on a bike to get there. The cenote is just a short walk away from the highway car park.
The charge for swimming is $7 and for diving $10. The cenote still flies under the radar because the bigger Gran Cenote is close by.
Cenote Dos Ojos
Dos Ojos meaning two eyes is a set of two larger pools connected by an underwater tunnel. If seen from above they look like two blue eyes. Dos Ojos is perhaps the most famous cenote near Cancun.
The stunning blue waters, hanging stalactites, opportunities for diving and the good commercialization of the cenote gives easy access to all those that want to visit.
The cenote has bathrooms, changing rooms, outdoor massages, lifeguards and picnic area with hammocks. Definitely a good idea to bring a packed picnic or you can purchase food from the restaurant.
Included with the ticket is your life jacket. You have to pay for snorkeling gear at the entrance which is 50 pesos without fins. You can put your personal belongings in a locker while you are in the water.
The cenote is way more expensive than other cenotes with each ticket costing $18 but it’s definitely worth it. The best time to visit it is early morning at 8am or around 4pm after the crowds have left. I prefer the latter because it had better lighting for pictures.
The cenote is located on the road between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. You can easily take a collectivo from the city center of Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum and just tell the driver to drop you off at Dos Ojos. If you rent a car, it is a 20 min drive from Tulum.
Cenote Caracol
My favorite cenote on the trip was Cenote Caracol. Thankfully not many people know about this cenote which is precisely why it was my favorite.
Cenote Caracol lies on the road between Tulum and Cancun which is accessible by collectivos but the actual cenote is 6 kilometers in the jungle from the highway.
I got lucky and managed to convince a tour going in to let me ride with them and going out hopped on the ATVs of some guys coming out. But unless you have my skills ???? and get a ride like I did both ways it isn’t recommended. You can rent a car and drive all the way up to the cenote or take a tour.
The cenote area has a cave that you can descend into and walk inside. It is lit up with fluorescent light and literally looks like you stepped onto Mars. Considering I was the only person there it was spooky as well as totally mind blowing to explore the cave.
To reach the pool there is a long descent down into the cenote cave. The actual cenote is huge and snakes underground into the surrounding jungle for miles. Since it is dark the water is lit up which makes it so magical.
You can follow the lights into tiny caves and crevices as far as you are willing to go. It is almost a 20 minute swim until the cave goes underwater and you can’t follow it anymore.
This was the only cenote where I was the only person in the cenote and I absolutely loved it.
Cenote Oxman
Cenote Oxman (pronounced osh-mon) is an underground cave style cenote similar to Ik Kil. The collapsed cave roof opens up to the sky with hanging tree roots cascading right down to the cenote waters. It is said that tree spirits guard such cenotes.
The cenote is part of the Hacienda San Lorenzo complex which also has a pool and a restaurant. Once an agave plantation, it is now a chill place to hang out for the afternoon.
You have access to changing rooms, bathrooms and outdoor showers (no icky sunscreen that can change the chemical composition of the cenotes). The cenote entrance is for 80 pesos ($3.84 USD).
You have to walk down the stone steps to the bottom of the pit where you can jump in using a rope or use a wooden staircase to get into the water. The rope is especially fun and this is probably the only cenote which has one.
Cenote Oxman is near the town of Valladolid. You can get a taxi for 70 pesos from the city center or take a collectivo from Valladolid which is much cheaper. Taking a tour isn’t the way to go because there are too many people at this time.
This cenote is best explored away from the crowds. Stay a night in Valladolid and explore the region with your own rental car.
Cenote Ik Kil
Ik Kil is another underground cenote with hanging tree roots and gorgeous views of the open sky. It was made famous by its proximity to Chichen Itza and has become the preferred stop for most tours which is why your timing is very important.
You should preferably get here at 8am and enjoy the peace before the tours start to roll in at noon. The entrance free is 70 pesos ($5 USD).
You have access to changing rooms, bathrooms and outdoor showers (again – no icky sunscreen that can change the chemical composition of the cenotes).
You have to descend 26 metres into the ground to get level with the water. Be careful while descending because the steps are very slippery and I saw 3 people fall.
In the water you can see black catfish swimming alongside people and tiny fish might even nibble at your feet.
Ik Kil was a sacred sacrificial site where Mayan performed human sacrifices to the rain god. Bones and jewellery have been found at the bottom of the cenote.
You can get a collectivo from Valladolid to the cenote which takes about 40 minutes each way. They are much cheaper and quicker than the taxi and buses. You can stand at the entrance of Ik Kil and just wave your hand when you see a white minivan come towards you (never thought I would use those words).
Outside Ik Kil you will find men dressed up in traditional Mayan costumes. This is a cool opportunity to get some cute pics and support the locals.
Gran Cenote
Gran Cenote near Cancun is one of the most picturesque and beautiful cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula. It has lush green jungle in the backdrop and turquoise clear water. The cenote is a great place to go swimming and snorkeling.
It has two pools that are connected by a cave and you can swim through it to the other. Snorkeling here is a wonderful experience with underwater stalactites and tiny fish. If you can free dive, this is the perfect cenote for it.
The collection of caverns, caves and pools make it an interesting cenote to explore.
The turtle sanctuary in the cenote is another highlight. You can often spot turtles swimming in the cenote waters.
Being one of the bigger and more famous cenotes, it has amenities like showers and bathrooms. The entrance fee is 180 pesos ($9 USD) which is well worth the site.
From Tulum it takes 5 mins in a car and 10 mins on a bike to get here. The cenote is just a short walk away from the highway car park.
If you are using collectivos – take a collectivo to Tulum and get off at Ave. Coba. Then take another collectivo going towards Coba and get off at the cenote entrance. The second ride just takes 5 mins.
Sac Actun Cenote
Sac Actun is the most loved cenote in Mexico and it is easy to see why. It has everything that you could want in a cenote.
It is made up of the largest underground cave system (347.7km) that you can see on your tour of Mexico. Tours are available at the cenote for 450 pesos ($22.50 USD).
On your tour you will be taken through the cave system and the tour guide explains how the caves were an important part of the Mayan culture. The tour guides also point out the trees that were important to the Mayan people. You will see stalactite formations and snorkel in the refreshing waters.
The tour then heads into the water and swims through the cave system. With stalactites touching your heads in the dark it’s especially exciting.
Everyone that has visited Sac Actun rates it as the BEST cenote they visited on their trip so it must be cool.
Sac Actun can be combined with the Coba ruins as a day trip from Tulum. It lies on the road between Tulum and Playa del Carmen and is easily accessible by any collectivos going between the two cities.
At the front office next to the highway you can hire a cheap taxi to take you to the cenote in the jungle. Most of the crowds you see at the front office are actually going to Dos Ojos which is close to Sac Actun but gets a lot more visitors.
Cenote Zaci
The town of Valladolid is surrounded by gorgeous cenotes. Cenote Zaci is one of those, located right in the middle of the town. The town was built on the ancient Mayan site of Zaci where the main source of water was this cenote.
The cenote is open to the sky and surrounded by sloping cave walls with stairs cut out in stone. The water is cool and refreshing. Small black fish swim in its deep waters.
For those travelers that want to experience a cenote without venturing into the wild, Zaci is one right in your backyard.
In the summer heat you can dive in the cenote and then chill in the sun right next to the cave.
The entrance to the cenote is at Calle 39 right next to some souvenir shops. There is another entrance at Calle 36 leading to the Zaci restaurant.
It is the most easily accessible cenote in the region. If you are staying in Valladolid you can take as many dips as you want, whose stopping you?
There is a very cheap entrance fee of 30 pesos ($1.5 USD) which means your multiple dips wont be hard on the wallet.
Cenote Azul
Cenote Azul near Tulum might have been my second favorite cenote. The shallow blue green waters, the smooth rocks and trees growing like tiny islands made it really beautiful.
Though the cenote is actually one of the deepest cenotes near Cancun, there are several areas with various depths that you can choose depending on if you want to cliff dive or just tan in the sun. A picnic lunch is the best way to spend the day.
The first set of two smaller pools are much quieter than the main pool and the place to be. They have submerged rocks that you can sit on and relax.
There is a tiny shop that sells chips and food fish. The fish are naturally attracted to your feet and you will see them nibbling on your toes.
This part of the jungle is home to 4 different cenotes – Cristalino, Kantunchi, Jardin of Eden and Azul that can all be visited with a single entrance fee of 170 pesos ($8 USD).
The cenote is located on the road between Playa del Carmen to Tulum. You can easily take a collectivo from the city center of Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum and just tell the driver to drop you off at Azul. If you rent a car, it is a 30 min drive from Tulum.
