Some cenotes have diving platforms or zip-lines as well. There are steps to access the water. Ask your hotel concierge or tour guide. https://vivalatravelista.com/the-best-playa-del-carmen-cenotes Many seem to be local … In the case of Cenote Angelita, this cenote is further inland than many of the cenotes near Tulum and Playa giving it a deeper halocline. https://travelyucatan.com/ruta-de-los-cenotes-puerto-morelos-mexico It played an essential role in supplying water to Chichen Itza back when the site was occupied by the Mayans. They are absolutely magical, stirring the imagination. Must See Cenotes Near Tulum. The best way to visit the Riviera Maya cenotes is to take a cenote tour or to rent a car. This Merida cenote is the closest popular, public cenote to the city. Learn about some of our top choices: 10 Amazing Hacienda Hotels In The Yucatan. Cenote Agua Dulce is a huge, deep underground cave cenote near Valladolid, with a long spiral staircase down. One of the larger open cenotes, Las Mojarras provides two zip-lines and a platform jumping tower with two different heights to test your courage. Kin Ha is incredible! On-site restaurant. Our guide was nice enough to take pictures of us in all three. Many tree roots and stalactites hang down inside. Merida Cenotes: Cenote Xlacah at Dzibilchaltún. Valladolid is a Spanish colonial city in the heart of the Yucatan peninsula – about 50 minutes east of Chichen Itza. If you have done any research into visiting cenotes whilst in Merida or the Yucatan area, you most certainly would have noted that there are hundreds (possible thousands) of them spread out throughout the region. 36. Disclaimer: This article contains some commission generating links. Whether cave, open air, or hybrid, the water is always fresh, and a perfect escape from the sweltering heat. Take the stairs or a ladder down through the rock formations until you find yourself in a scene from Jurassic Park! Beautiful cavern cenote near Coba. Both routes have 2 good cenotes and one that is sub-par (in my opinion). But note that some are not as fond of our little friends and would prefer to forego that experience. For snorkelers like us, we thought they were just ok. Too many restrictions on where we can/can not go without a guide. The Best 3 Cenotes to Visit Near Merida (at Cuzamá) By Tim. Another extremely popular cenote close to the main highway between Tulum and Playa del Carmen is Cenote Dos Ojos. Cenotes near Cancun Zapote Cenote. This cenote definitely provides a different feeling from any other cenote along the Route, with a few other surprises. While the Tulum ruins are fascinating, some of the most noteworthy ruins are reachable within a couple of hours of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Make Merida your base to explore the Yucatan Cenotes. There are actually a quite few cenotes in Merida city itself. It is not for swimming, just for photos. A close second for me. A little different from Las Mojarras, these cenotes are mostly underground with only a few open pools. NOTE:  The water here is refreshing and deep, but not crystal clear like many of the other cenotes mentioned in this article. Mole, edible insects and Mezcal!! January 6, 2021 January 30, 2021 by Chelsea Messina. With its two man-made swimming pools, multiple platforms to jump from, a restaurant, and a zip line above the cenote, Cenote Zacil Ha is one of the most family-friendly Mexico cenotes. It’s one of our personal favourites because it is a perfect example of the open to cylindrical style cenotes. This enabled us to go south to cenotes near Tulum, and work our way north before calling it quits and heading for the hotel when we were ready. The easiest way to visit the cenotes near Playa del Carmen and Tulum is by driving or renting a car. Many cenote parks allow you to bring your own packed lunch with beverages. Quantity is not always quality though… I’ve listed 3 of the best of the Homun cenotes below. https://2traveldads.com/best-cenotes-near-cancun-yucatan-mexico Yucatan Cenotes: Cenote X’batun at San Antonio Mulix. From either Cancun or Playa del Carmen, take Federal Highway 307 to Puerto Morelos. Contact the cenote directly for best quiet times to visit. X’batun Cenote (above)– This open but shady cenote has great colour and amazing reflections for photography. The Yucatan Peninsula is home to the worlds most impressive natural swimming holes called Cenotes (Say-No-tehs). This beautiful town will amaze you with culture and the incredible must see cenotes. Here are a list of just a few that you might be interested in adding to your vacation plans. Cenote Bolonchoojol (above) – An underground cave cenote with a small opening directly above the middle of the cenote. Cenotes Hacienda Mucuyche – Man Made Channel, Cenotes Hacienda Mucuyche – Man Made Pool, Cenotes Hacienda Mucuyche – Natural Cave 1. A change of clothes and a towel are a great idea to keep you comfortable as well. With the experiences being similar, you don’t need to visit them all. Cenote Choo-Ha Choo-Ha , the second one, closer to the entrance, has a different shape and a maximum depth of only 10m; you cannot jump from here as the ceiling is quite low, but it has a beautiful configuration with a stalagmite and stalactite sticking out in the middle of the water. Many of the cenotes are located right off the main highway 307, but for those that are further inland, you will definitely need a car to get to the cenote entrance. https://foodfuntravel.com/yucatan-cenotes-map-chichen-itza-merida-valladolid Special cenotes, tours and adventure activities are normally more. This is the end, beautiful friend, the end. This cenote has more open area with ample sunshine and a small cave area near the back. It’s a non-tourist location and only 40 pesos entrance fee. They have at least 15 cenotes and are opening more. Lunch packages are also available if you want to make a day of it. These help financially support our blog and do not cost you anything. It is open to the public for swimming from 8 am – 5 pm for 80 pesos per person. Cenote Chihuán is 100% underground cave cenote that is accessible from a local farm. About 30 minutes north of Valladolid. Mayan artifacts are still found today in the depths of some cenotes. Merida Cenotes: Cenote Chacsinicche at Cuzama. Places where Mayans would make offerings to the Gods. Cenote Ik Kil is a very deep, but open top cylindrical cenote. First in the list of great cenotes near Tulum is Gran Cenote! The city is worth a visit, or an overnight stay, to explore the architecture and culture, as well as the Valladolid cenotes. Cenote Chacsinicche Cenote Chacsinicche Cenote Bolonchojool If you haven't been doing cenotes you are gonna freak out a bit on the first and third ones. There are a ton of different cenotes near Cancun to choose from, and many offer similar experiences. There are on-site public restrooms, hammocks, a picnic area and camping for those so inclined. Cenote Chelentun (above)– This is a long cave cenote with a collapsed dome at one end, instead of the middle. And despite visiting Tulum, PDC, and the surrounding area over twenty times, I’ve never visited a cenote. Turns out that while we were inside the cenote, they stole my wallet from inside the car with cash, driver's license, and multiple credit cards. Cenote Nicte-Ha. There aren’t any billboards in the jungle! The facts… All Cenotes radiate from the center of what is known as the Chicxulub crater (Chik-shu-lube) caused by the impact of a huge meteor … If you have a car or scooter I bet you can visit up to 5 Valladolid cenotes in 1 day if you feel adventurous. Jump aboard your horse pulled rail cart and get driven to the various Cuzama cenotes. You can hire a bicycle or a bicycle taxi. Last but not least, located near Merida, Cenote Xlacah is one of the best cenotes in Yucatan. In fact, they opened 7 in 2017. Don’t be distracted by a sign for an alternative cenote on your left on the way along the track. This is a very non-touristy option which you will likely have to drive to yourself if you visit. This is a fab post Chelsea! Out of the 2 cenotes in this Tripadvisor listing, we only went to Choo-Ha. Reply. But all of them have that beautiful clear water to swim in! In total it took me 6 days to visit 12 cenotes near Valladolid. Cenote Choo-Ha Choo-Ha , the second one, closer to the entrance, has a different shape and a maximum depth of only 10m; you cannot jump from here as the ceiling is quite low, but it has a beautiful configuration with a stalagmite and stalactite sticking out in the middle of the water. Best Cenotes in/ near Playa del Carmen. There are hundreds of cenotes in the area, and over 5000 on the Yucatán Peninsula, but the most popular cenotes near Tulum are Gran Cenote and Dos Ojos. If you want to spend a day visiting the most offbeat cenotes near Valladolid, you could combine a visit to Cenote SAC-AUA, Cenote Agua Dulce, and Cenote Palomitas – the last two are located within the same complex, only 2 km from SAC-AUA and the village of Dzalbay. Reply. UncontainedLife April 8, 2019 at 8:43 am # Thank you! Enjoy this precious time on the bottom. Cenote Choo Ha 43. 35. About 25 minutes to the west of Chichen Itza, Yokdzonot Cenote is a glorious large open cylinder cenote with blue-green water. Visit hidden subterranean cenote caves, go cenote snorkelling, cenote diving (Scuba), or just take a swim in a bright, open freshwater cenote. The first cenote you reach along the Ruta de los Cenotes in this list is Las Majorras at 12.5 km from the intersection with 307. Recommended by Alejandro from Mi Viaje por el Mundo. This is an underground cenote with perfect crystal blue water. Almost all cenotes have banned the use of ordinary sunscreen because it damages the local ecosystem. To protect your skin you will need to buy Biodegradable Sunscreen before arriving in Mexico – it’s hard to find here. She spends her time writing, doing volunteer work, snorkeling, diving, and travelling throughout Mexico...and occasionally travelling back to Canada to see family and friends! Some walking will be required, which will vary greatly depending on the cenote you choose. There aren’t many cenotes in Cancun that we would recommend. An unforgettable scuba diving…, We had no idea when arriving to the Yucatan peninsula that Yucatan Food & Mayan Food would feature so many unique and interesting dishes. Our family of 6 thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the Santa Cruz cenote with Viktor. A Valladolid cenote that is right in the heart of the city. Cenote Azul. Now, below the limestone shelf, underground rivers flow throughout the region. Merida is a beautiful Spanish colonial city, founded in 1542. But cowboy up and head down the damn ladder and you will be amazed at how amazing these are. You could make a whole day trip from Playa del Carmen visiting some of the best cenotes in Mexico. A Day of Cenote Hopping Near Merida, Mexico By UncontainedLife on August 21, 2017 in Blog , Destinations , North America Before our three month stay in Merida, Mexico, I … Yucatan Cenotes: Cenote Dzonbacal at San Antonio Mulix. I love that there are so many options depending on what you are after. Don’t get too hung up on names or “must-see” cenotes. Cenotes are sacred in Mayan culture. My experiences visiting the Valladolid cenotes. Cenote Chihuán is about 50 minutes drive west of Chichen Itza. From the most popular Gran Cenote with its open air cave, to Rio Secreto, a completely closed cave, the amazing cenotes near Tulum are just waiting to be explored. So, if you have mobility limitations or have small children, you may want to check to see exactly what the accessibility is for each cenote. The cenotes near Cancun and Playa del Carmen are more built up around the exterior to make it easier for tourists to visit, but then as you go inland you’ll find cenotes that are much more rugged and surrounded by jungle. Valladolid Cenotes: Cenote Xcanche @ Ek Balam Ruins. Ready to go now? You may be asking, “What is a cenote?” That is a very good question, and the answer is one of Mexico’s best-kept secrets! Please use our links when making bookings, so we can keep creating great content like this. Let me know how high you jumped and how that feels because I didn’t take the leap (Shame on me). This cenote has a unique set up that makes it popular among families and adventurers. More for a combined ticket to visit Ek Balam Mayan ruins too. This impact helped form the cenotes, along with millions of years of erosion, plus rising water levels after the last ice age which causes the caves to flood. But alcohol is not generally allowed. Check with your resort or hotel about their specific travel details. 50 Pesos for Cenote Xcanache. It’s best to get out of the city and explore the cenotes near Merida. You can almost picture the ancient Maya hustling through the jungle, taking advantage of the crystal clear fresh water and the fish that thrive there. The translucent water, the streaks of natural light and the rocky enclosures make for some of the most surreal swimming holes you’ll ever see — no wonder the Mayans once believed them to be portals to the underworld. Cenote Muul Ich. Copyright 2000 - 2020 Travel Yucatan |  All Rights Reserved, Playa del Carmen Real Estate Deals Guaranteed to Improve Beach Time, A Weekend on Isla Mujeres Will Make You Happy, 8 Tulum Hotels that Set the Standard for Eco-Friendly Luxury, 3 Mexico Honeymoon Itineraries Guaranteed To Solidify Your Love. Cenote Chacsinicche (Chak-Zinik-Che) (above) – A semi-collapsed cave cenote. If you are visiting the region, you’ll probably want to take a tour to Chichen Itza. As you approach famous sites like Chichen Itza, the Yucatan cenotes become much more visitor-friendly, such as Cenote Ik Kul (very near Chichen Itza). Most dive guides plan the dive around this feature making a few laps around the cenote at the cloud layer until the group has reached pre-determined tank pressures before accending. Valladolid is the farthest area from Tulum on this list, but it has a few of the best The cenotes and hacienda are on private property and only accessible as part of a paid tour which you need to book in advance by contacting them via their facebook page. Find here the best cenotes near Playa del Carmen. Stay at a beautiful Hacienda style hotel just one minute walk from the cenote – a great base to explore Valladolid and the other Valladolid cenotes too. Route 2: From the center of Cuzama town (Start location on the cenote map): Merida Cenotes: Cenote Chelentun at Cuzama. The old ladies of the town of Yokdzonot decided to bring revenue to the local people by cleaning up the cenote and catching traffic from the main road leading to Chichen Itza. Be sure to bring your waterproof camera and enjoy the experience of a lifetime. Learn how & where to dive the cenotes of Tulum. 50 pesos. Selvatica is an eco-park; probably the largest of the eco-parks scattered along the Ruta de Cenotes. Going to the more remote and private cenotes offer a much better experience because the popular ones do get very very busy. Print a PDF Copy of This Article for the Trip. Locals flock here during the hotter summer months to cool off. This cenote is especially popular with divers as there is a cave connecting the “two eyes”. She fell in love with Playa del Carmen when her family first vacationed here in 2000 and decided to move here a few years later. 34 Best Cenotes Riviera Maya: Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Tulum (Opens in new window), Love this post? All are located at different points on the Cenote Route near Puerto Morelos. Everybody knows where it is, taxi drivers and collectivo drivers alike, but I have put a map at the bottom of this page that will give you directions to this and all the other cenotes. Access is down a steep wooden ladder. Cenotes provide a lot of fun options to spend your time while you’re visiting the Yucatan! On the way back up. If you take a Chichen Itza with cenote tour, chances are this is the cenote they will take you too. Cenote Canunchen – One of Homun’s newest cenotes that has recently been opened. Cenotes are sinkholes through the limestone, leading to flooded caves and beautifully blue freshwater pools. From…, Travel Freedom Podcast (Location Independence), Food Fun Travel Shop – Get Your Travel Essentials, 20+ Best Travel Gifts For Men – Travel Gift Ideas For Men, 17 Best Food Gifts For Men – Cooking Gifts For Him, Cenotes Riviera Maya: Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, Mayan ruins of Coba – and some cenotes nearby, 10 Amazing Hacienda Hotels In The Yucatan, 34 Best Cenotes Riviera Maya: Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, Mexican Haciendas - Best Luxury Yucatan Resorts, Merida Mexico: Ultimate Merida Travel Guide (Yucatan), Cenote Dives: 10 Best Sites For Cenote Diving Tulum Mexico, Yucatan Food & Mayan Food Mega Guide: 50+ Unmissable dishes. But don’t let that tiny pool fool you – it’s 45 meters deep under the surface. Here you’ll find an underwater lily garden! https://www.peterpantraveler.com/cenotes-near-playa-del-carmen And just for the fun of it, you may want to take the zip-line that runs just 6 feet above the water surface; giving you the opportunity to flip, twist and turn as you splash into a water landing. for visitors to the Yucatan & Riviera Maya. We’re going in January. You could also take a taxi but it will be more expensive and may be difficult to flag one down for the return trip. Location: Quintana Roo 109, 77796 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. It’s one of the quintessential Yucatan experienced to stay overnight at a Hacienda. Cenote Dos Ojos. It has perfect blue water, rather than the greenish water the open to cenotes sometimes have. Cenotes near Chichen Itza Cenote Ik Kil. It’s a vibrant city with colorful nightlife featuring Cuban/latin live music all over the city and a compelling restaurant culture. This cenote is popular with bus tours – we arrived Thursday midday and a big bus was just leaving. Cenote Agua Dulce is a large cave cenote with beautiful stalactites hanging from the roof. The word Cenote comes from the Mayan word “D’zonot”. James April 6, 2019 at 12:15 pm # Great photos and article! Picture yourself lying on your back, floating in the cool fresh water and looking up at your window to the sky. The Yokdzonot Cenote near Chichen Itza is just a 20-minute drive from the UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you’d think it would be overrun with tourists. Playa del Carmen for example is also a good starting point. Dzitnup is the name of the nearby town but the 2 cenotes are often referred to as Cenote Dzitnup in many guides. On the west side of the highway you will see a very detailed map showing the location and km markings of the various cenotes. Cenote Xlacah is part of the Dzibilchaltún Mayan Ruins site just north of the city of Merida. Head down the long, straight stairs to access the platform where you can leap into the cenote’s inviting water! Merida Cenotes: Cenote Tzapakal at Cuzama, Cenote Tzapakal (above)– This tiny cave cenote has a thin body of water at the bottom of multiple wooden ladders. Dos Ojos Cenote complex near Tulum has quite a bit of colllection of cenotes to explore. Your Mayan Riviera vacation will likely include a visit to some ancient ruins. There are several cenotes near Playa del Carmen and ever more cenotes in Tulum only 45 minutes away. Any prices mentioned below are in Pesos, but are often changing, so are just as a rough guide. It’s certainly worth a visit, if you arrive before 11am you can beat the crowds. Cenote Dzonbacal (above) – This open fronted cave cenote is not particularly exciting, but you may have the whole place to yourself at least while everyone else is enjoying X’batun. Older Comments. Why does the Yucatan have so many cenotes? Cenotes K’aak (Fire), Lu’um (Earth), Lik’ (Wind) and Ha (Water) Cenotes near Coba 40. Great for a swim. It’s been lit with artificial colored lights. There are 2 main routes, each with 3 different stops (though stops might vary, so it’s best to take the list of names below and ask which you will visit. The cenote is 2 Km from the parking lot. Cenote 7 Bocas 39. Another unique cenote experience can be found here at Chilam Balam. If you are staying at a resort or hotel, they can make travel arrangements for you. Colourful fish and bright blue water make for a beautiful and peaceful place to spend a couple of hours of your day. Cenotes Near Mayan Ruins. More information on these are below! All 4 of our kids, aged 8, 11, 14 and 17 said this was their favourite outing of our trip to Akumal. Cenote Yax Bacaltun – Massive collapsed top cave cenote with a rope swing. Gran Cenote, Mexico is a gorgeous cenote that is actually made up of a couple of different cenotes all connected by walkways and underground tunnels.
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