Yucatan's Cenote Guide

A few tips

Wear comfortable clothing

You must wear comfortable clothes for a day of visiting cenotes. Something that can protect you from the sun but at the same time keep you fresh is recommended. Taking a hat is also a good option for some extra cover from the sun. Regarding your footwear, I recommend a closed shoe that you don't mind getting wet. Many times at cenotes, there would be bikes to ride, a traditional rail cart called "truc," or simply rough paths; all of these are better off done when wearing closed shoes.  Finally, it is not a piece of clothing, but don't forget to take a towel with you. A quick-drying one is recommended. 

Respecting Nature

It goes without saying that we shouldn't be doing any damage to the surroundings of the cenotes. Pick up all trash you might have after you leave a place; do not subtract anything natural from the area; do not hang from tree roots; avoid damaging the walls and geological formations. It is also important to remind you to skip sunblock or bug repellent as they might have chemicals harmful to the environment. Finally, where available, take a shower before entering the cenote with the intention of removing other chemical products. 

Always take enough cash

Most of the cenotes only accept cash as a payment method for visiting. Always check the prices of the cenotes you wish to visit and take the money needed for the number of people visiting. A little extra is also never bad, as you might want to buy snacks, drinks, or souvenirs at the locations. Utilizing Mexican pesos is also much better and always accepted; other currencies might not be accepted, and if they are, you will pay a higher price.

How to get there

Getting to cenotes can be tricky if you do not have a car. Public transportation is unreliable and will certainly make the trip more challenging to plan. If you are in Valladolid, it might be easier as you can ask for a taxi to take you to nearby cenotes, once inside you can arrange yourself personally with the driver for the taxi to pick you up later on.

For visiting cenotes, there is no doubt that renting a car is very useful. You get the freedom of visiting as many cenotes as you want in a day and for you to reach even those that are further away. Just be careful and go slow when entering dirt roads leading to cenotes; with this in mind, most roads will be fine. 

Finally, if you don't feel like experiencing the hassle of taking public transportation, driving a car, or arranging a ride, joining a tour is your best option. 

Tours you might take

Tours are a good alternative if you wish to take a relaxed approach to your day of visiting cenotes. Remember, this is the most expensive option for getting to know these incredible geological formations. Always check with your hotel if they have any available tour options, as they might get discounts or better deals. Ultimately, I provide three options for tours to cenotes: one from Merida, one from Valladolid, and one for Cenote Diving. 

Valladolid Cenote Tour

premieradventures.com.mx

Poseidón Centro de Buceo en Cenotes en Mérida y Yucatán

www.poseidon.mx

Cenotes from Mérida

Cenote Xlacah

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Cenote Xlacah is located inside the Archeological Zone of Dzibichaltun. It is an open-air cenote with both a shallow and a deeper part, essentially working as a natural pool. To visit, you must pay for your entrance into the Mayan ruins. It can get crowded during the hotter months of the year as locals look for a place to beat the heat. Furthermore, it would be best to consider that there are no additional services for the cenote, like lifevests or changing rooms.

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Cenote X'batun

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X'batun is an open cenote that you reach through a natural slope of approximately 20 meters. It is suitable for swimming and cave diving. It is famous for the surrounding vegetation and tree roots hanging over the cave entrance, giving the place a unique look. It is also relatively small, and because of that, space can be tight if there are lots of visitors. It has two rest palapas, parking, a camping area, a campfire area, an interpretive trail that surrounds the cenote area, and guide services for people from the community. The last time I was there, it was 80 pesos to get in. It is located 49 km from the city of Mérida, on the Muna-Uxmal highway, on a dirt road near the San Antonio Mulix hacienda.

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Cenote Kankirixche

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You enter Kankirixche through a ladder, going into a cave next to the roots of a tree. A cenote with crystalline waters for swimming, snorkeling, or diving, it is stunning thanks to the roots of the trees and stalactites. Expect to pay between 60 and 80 pesos. That allows you to enter the place and use its facilities, such as the parking lot, restrooms, and palapa. You can reach the cenote through a short dirt road, about an hour away from the city of Merida.

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Cenotes Hacienda Mucuyché

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Mucuyche is the most expensive of the cenotes in Yucatan; it also has among the better, if not the best, facilities of all cenotes. Located at a former Hacienda Henequenera, your entrance fee is valid for two cenotes, a hacienda tour, and the surrounding area, including a pool. The first cenote, Cenote Carlota, is semi-open and has depths of up to 7 meters and crystal-clear waters. This cenote was enlarged through a connection to an artificial canal for which the place is famous; take the camera out. You enter the second cenote, Cenote Azul Maya, right as you exit the canal. It is a rather deep cenote, which has the particular detail of having its depths illuminated so you can see the bottom of the cenote. You are provided snorkel equipment to do so. While most cenotes you can expend a couple of hours of time at, you can make a day of a visit to Mucuyche. Other services include lockers, showers and restrooms, a restaurant, and the already mentioned pool, where you can relax after your cenote visit is over. The town of Mucuyche is an hour away from Merida, easily reachable from two different highways. The cost of visiting the cenote is 650 pesos. I advise making a reservation through their official sites.

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Cenote Nah Yah

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The first cenote on this list in the Cenote Ring Geohydrological State Reserve, Nah Yah is a cheap option to add for a day of visiting various cenotes in the area. It is semi-open, surrounded by nature, and has various areas to carry out a large number of activities, such as hiking. People often use it for diving expeditions. The entrance fee is just 40 pesos.

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Cenote Noh-Mozon

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A winding dirt road leads into this off-the-beaten-path cenote. Of the semi-open variety, it is a refreshing place to swim and relax in its cool waters. Like other cenotes around the small town of Pixyah, it is used mostly for diving. If you decide to come here, you will be rewarded by the tranquil setting. The cost is 40 pesos.

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Cenote Xtojil

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This cenote is part of a tour around a set of 4 cenotes in the Homun-Cuzama surroundings, a region famous for its abundance of cenotes. Xtojil is accessed through a tour in a traditional "truc" pulled by a horse. The cenotes in the route are mostly closed or semi-open; getting to the water is mostly done by wooden ladders. The price for the tour is around 350 for up to 4 people.

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Cenotes Santa Bárbara

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Cenotes Santa Barbara is an excellent sample of the cenotes in Yucatan. It is located between Homun and Cuzama, two towns renowned for their cenotes. Here, one payment offers you access to 4 different cenotes, all differing in type. One fun part is that you can decide your transport for the visiting route around the cenotes. You can use a bike or jump on a Truc, a traditional rail cart pulled by a horse. You can spend as much time as you want in each cenote, but keep in mind that the place might be full of people depending on the hour. As the place expanded and its fame grew, it became a really visited place. Know that if you are looking for something off the beaten path, this is not it. One of the main reasons is the price. To get into four cenotes for under 250 is a deal. To have that and lunch for under 400 is just great. Their restaurant with regional cuisine has good quality from my previous visits, so it is a good option for right after when you are tired of swimming for most of the day.

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Cenote Caliskutz

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A bright blue color, remarkably when hit by sunlight, is one of the recognizable features of this cenote—a great option for a day of visiting various cenotes, especially if you have your own vehicle. As with most closed or semi-open cenotes, you enter through a wooden staircase. On-site, you have restrooms, showers, and palapas available for use. The entrance fee is 70 pesos.

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Cenote Yaxbacaltun

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Another option when visiting the town of Homun for a day of cenotes is Yaxbacaltun. A good thing about this cenote is that it has both a shallow part to enjoy the water and a deeper one for those wishing to swim. To get in, you descend a staircase for 15 meters and reach a platform where you can leave your things when going in for a swim. While it might not be the prettiest of cenotes, a quick visit is okay as it costs under 100 pesos to get in.

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Cenote wolpoch

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Wolpoch is an enclosed cenote with amazing artificial illumination and a big area to sit down and admire the cave from inside. The water in the cenote is relatively shallow, and the place gives off a relaxed vibe. Wonderful option when visiting several cenotes in the area, easy access and good price for 120 pesos. There are various amenities you can utilize when visiting the Homunja Ecopark.

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Cenote Canunchen

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A final recommendation for the Homun area: Canunchen is an entertaining cenote to go swimming. It has plenty of space to jump in and even a rope to make it more fun. It is a closed cenote, you reach the water through a spiral staircase with a steep straight section at the top. Outside you can enjoy the palapas and hammocks. The place also offers showers and restrooms. The cost of the visit is under 150 pesos.

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Cenote Yaxalao

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Yaxalao is a lagoon, one of the few places with superficial water in the state of Yucatan. It is part of the Yalahau Lagoons State Park, a really off-the-beaten-path location. Located in the state's central region, approximately 60 km from the city of Mérida, you need to travel 13 km of dirt roads until you reach the main lagoon. The main access road to the park is located at the eastern exit of Homún. It is considered a priority site for the conservation of flora and fauna biodiversity of Yucatan; low deciduous forest vegetation mixes with species of low floodplain forest, tulares, and transitional vegetation. You can visit and swim in the lagoons for free but know there are no services available and that you must respect the rules of the park. Surveillance of the place by authorities is occasional.

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Cenotes from Valladolid

Cenote Zaci

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Cenote Zací is a semi-open cavern about 45 meters in diameter. The color of the water ranges from blue to slightly greenish. The most outstanding thing about this cenote is that, regardless of its size, it is located right in the city of Valladolid. The cave is impressive, which you can feel as you descend the staircase into the water. It offers broad space for swimming and various jumping points. However, following the rules and not jumping from restricted areas is essential. The place has restrooms, changing rooms, and a restaurant overlooking the cenote. Lifevests are available for rent. The price is accessible at 60 pesos, to be paid in cash. Cenote Zaci is a must to complete a visit to Valladolid, especially if doing so for the first time.

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Cenote Hacienda Oxmán

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San Lorenzo Oxman is a hacienda with plenty of space to rest or admire its surroundings. It has a swimming pool surrounded by palapas, chairs for sunbathing, and a restaurant serving regional food. However, the greatest attraction is its sizable cenote. To access it you must descend spiral-shaped stairs. It is surrounded by vegetation and the roots of the trees that fall until they touch the water. It has wooden platforms to enjoy views of the cenote and get in for a swim. At Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman, you can spend a full day without having to move to another place. There are several price points and packages to choose from. If you only want to enter the cenote, the cost is $70 pesos per person, and packages between 100 and 150 pesos offer access to other facilities.

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Cenote Xkeken

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Cenote Xkeken is a closed cenote with a small opening at the top that allows sunlight to enter. It has a deep, bright blue color, with water that is shallow and clear. Its name, in the Mayan language, means “pig” because, according to legend, it was discovered when a farmer followed his pig to this underground cavity. The entrance is narrow, and you descend via stairs, which leads to a comfortable open platform with access to the water. It is open to the public from 8 am to 5:45 pm, with an entrance fee of 150 pesos, plus 50 for the use of a lifevest.

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Cenote Suytun

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A dome encloses Cenote Suytun. An opening on the surface allows sunlight to enter the cave. The sunlight often reaches the platform in the middle of the cenote. The platform is probably Suytun's most famous feature. It is the sought-after place for pictures in a cenote, but expect to wait in line if it is crowded. Also, remember that the effect of light reflected on the platform depends on many uncontrollable factors. The cenote is accessible through a tunnel with stairs, and its color can range from deep blues to vibrant greens. The entrance fee is 250 pesos, 200 if bought online beforehand. There is also a package including food for 350 pesos. Your ticket into Suytun also includes access to another semi-open cenote in the facilities.

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Cenote X'ux Ha

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Another option for a day of visiting cenotes from Valladolid, X'ux Ha is a good option as it is easy to reach and, depending on the time, it is not as visited as other cenotes in the area. A dome with an opening that allows for natural light to come in, giving a bright blue color to the water, is accessed through a wooden staircase. Inside is a platform you can use to jump into the water and an area with some benches to leave your things. They have showers, restrooms, a little snack shop, and lockers. The entrance fee is 150 pesos.

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Cenote Chukum

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An interesting access platform stands out from this cenote, along with the beautiful dome cave with an opening for sunlight. The deep waters of this cenote are accessed by a two-floor platform, with the top floor functioning as a perfect space for taking pictures or simply admiring the beauty of the place. A well-established location with all the services, they have two entrance fees. A cenote visit for 350 pesos and 550 pesos if you add food.

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Cenote Hubiku

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Hubiku is a cenote with deep, crystalline, and fresh water. To access it, you descend through 115 stone steps and reach a platform to take a dip in its waters. Hubiku is a huge cenote with a hole in its vault formed when the roots of a large tree collapsed the roof. The cave's shape is almost circular, with an approximate diameter of 50 m. The facilities include restrooms, a restaurant, a model of a traditional Mayan village, a tequila store, and a souvenir shop. The entrance fee is 150 pesos; for 350 pesos, you add food to your visit.

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Cenote Xcanche

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Cenote Xcanche is the cenote to visit when going to the Ek Balam ruins. A beautiful open cenote accessed through wooden stairs, surrounded by wooden platforms and even a bridge. It is also great for pictures, as it has a waterfall cascading into the cenote. Equipped with restrooms, showers, changing rooms, and lockers, as well as a restaurant, you have everything you might need for a visit to Cenotes. You can also rent bikes, try the zip line or rappelling into the cenote itself. 70 pesos is the entrance fee.

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Cenote Sac-Aua

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Sac-Aua is unusual thanks to the natural island found at its center. The island provides an excellent platform from which to enjoy the waters of the cenote, whether for a swim or for using a kayak around it. This last part is another of the famous particular offerings of this cenote. They also have a restaurant, restrooms, and other activities such as bicycle tours or rappelling. While the island in the cenote is reached through wooden stairs, the whole place is reached by a dirt road about 40 minutes away from Valladolid. The cost is 190 pesos, adding an extra for the use of a kayak or enjoying the other activities.

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Cenote Palomitas

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Palomitas is a closed cenote with underground access through stone steps to reach the edge of its waters; there is also platform space that functions as a panoramic viewpoint to appreciate the cenote. Services in the place are a restaurant, restrooms, lifevest rental, and Kayak Rental. The access cost is approximately 180 pesos per person.

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Cenote Xcanahaltun

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Xcanahaltun is my personal favorite. It is a massive 90 m wide cenote with a dome full of stalagmites and stalactites. At the top is a hole where sunlight passes through, reflecting in the colorful water. To enter the cenote, you will have to walk about 50 meters. You descend through a hole in the ground with spiral-shaped stairs; after that, you go further down other stairs with breathtaking views of the place. Ultimately, you reach a platform through which you enter the water. The location is not among the most visited cenotes, so it won't be crowded when you call. It is about 40 minutes from Valladolid. The entrance fee is 175 pesos. You can also rent a kayak for an additional cost. There is a small restaurant, restrooms, and showers in the place.

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Cenote Zazil Tunich

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Zazil Tunich provides a unique visit to a cenote. The visit includes a tour that explains the cultural significance of these formations for the local culture. In addition to swimming in a beautifully illuminated cenote, which highlights the colors of the water, you can experience a Mayan Purification Ceremony. A reservation is required to visit the place; it can be made through their website. All the most common facilities are provided. A normal visit goes for 399 pesos, but their offerings do not stop there. You can visit at night or even have dinner down in the cenote for further costs.

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Cenote Secreto Maya

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A beautiful cenote surrounded by nature, Secreto Maya is a good option for swimming and other activities. The cenote is accessed by wooden stairs, and with 50 meters in diameter, there is more than enough space for a swim to escape the heat. You can enjoy other activities such as diving, hiking, and visiting a nearby small cave. Services provided include restrooms, a hammock resting area, showers, and a restaurant. Being between 45 and 60 minutes from Valladolid, it is not one of the most visited cenotes. You can enjoy the place for 200 pesos, with an additional price for visiting the nearby cave with a guide.

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Cenote Kax Ek

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If you wish to be surrounded by nature while visiting a cenote, this is the one. While Kax Ek doesn't have the vibrant colored waters of other cenotes, its location nestled between trees in the forests of Yucatan more than makes up for it. It is not very frequented by tourists, and you reach the place by a long dirt road where you might be going a little slow. Regardless, the payoff is great. The area offers just that more than the cenote, as you can also join a hiking tour through the jungle of Yucatan. To visit the main cenote, the price is 200 pesos. 300 pesos if you wish to visit a smaller cenote nearby. You can arrange for a hiking tour there at various price points.

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Ik Kil Cenote

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Ik Kil is the cenote most people visit when visiting Chichen Itza because of its convenient close location. That does not take away from the fact that it is a beautiful cenote, with nature reaching into the vibrantly colored water. A cave with a big opening to allow sunlight into its depths has a carved stairway leading down to a swimming platform. You can find a myriad of services at the location. A restaurant, souvenir store, changing rooms, and even a hotel are part of the offerings here. Only a few minutes from Chichen Itza, the place is open from 8 am to 5 pm. The entrance fee is 100 pesos.

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Sacred Cenote

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This cenote is the only cenote on this list you can't get into for a swim. You can only really admire it. It is the sacred cenote of Chichen Itza, so it is actually a part of the visit to the ruins. The Sacred Cenote is an open-type cenote that appears as a circular depression filled with 60 m in diameter, with vertical walls that drop between 15 m and 25 m to the water surface. It is located north of the Kukulcán pyramid and is connected to it by a causeway about 300 m long. Archaeological research has found and removed thousands of objects at the bottom of the cenote, including artifacts made from gold, jadeite, copal, pottery, flint, obsidian, shell, wood, rubber, and cloth, as well as human skeletons. Most of these objects can be found at the Peabody Museum at Harvard University or the National Museum of Anthropology and History in Mexico City.

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Cenote Tsukán - Santuario de Vida

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At Tsukán you can enjoy your time swimming in the beautiful cenote, but you can also enjoy multiple activities related to the local culture. It is a good place to visit if you wish to learn more about Yucatan, while also relaxing in the waters of a cenote. The cenote is accessed through a grand staircase that leads to an entrance door on a side wall. Other experiences include a welcome ceremony with copal in their healing tree, an explanation of a traditional Mayan house, and a workshop to explore the regional flavors and ingredients. They also offer other services such as a souvenir store, a bar, a snack shop, a picnic area, and palapas. The entrance fee is 230 pesos for the experience and 470 pesos if you add food at their restaurant. I suggest making a reservation through their website.

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Cenote Yokdzonot

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An open cenote with tree roots hanging from the sides, it does not seem as if this cenote was in the middle of the small town where it is located. You need to go down some wood and stone stairs to get to the water. Additionally, you can rappel to descend or experience their zip line. Yokdzonot is an excellent option to visit a cenote after Chichen Itza, especially if you want to avoid the surely more packed Ik Kil cenote. It has amenities like showers, restrooms, parking, rest spaces, a small regional food restaurant, a swimming pool, and a camping area. The entrance fee is 100 pesos for Mexicans and 150 for foreigners.

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Cenote Chihuán

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A final option for when visiting Chichen Itza, Cenote Chehuan might not have the imposing looks but the cave setting conveys an air of peace. When you are alone in this type of cenotes, to me, it feels like a hug from the earth. It has all the amenities and is more frequently visited by locals looking to enjoy a refreshing swim. Price is not high, you can expect to spend between 50 and 100 pesos for entrance.

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