At about 30-meters deep, divers can see what looks like the sandy bottom with an eerie branch sticking out from it. Cenote Xunaan-Ha Entrance Fee: 100 MXN.Cenote Xunaan-Ha Opening Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM daily.Best For: Swimming / Snorkeling / Diving. This means that the water in cenotes is straight from the source and extremely clean. How to Choose the Best Snorkel Gear on the Market! Cenote Oxman in Valladolid! Nope, you wont be able to see them all as there are considering there are thousands of cenotes in Yucatan and Quintana Roo. Sometimes Cenotes are 100% underground, sometimes theyre half in a cave, and sometimes theyre entirely above ground. Yal-Ku Cenote is 30km north of Tulum, in Akumal. Life jacket and snorkel gear for rent. have found a tiny pair of Goggles just as useful for exploring the cenotes. MORE:See more travel gear I love and use! Gran Cenote: Best Cenote for Insta Photos 3. Not only its expressly forbidden in many of them, but its also just really bad for the water and its creatures.If you really need to use sunscreen, only go for 100% biodegradable sunscreen. Car Wash Cenote Car Wash Location: Northwest of Tulum, 10 minutes of drive on Highway 107. Keep reading for a full restaurant review. Since most Mexico cenotes are located on private land and the owner of the land decides their own cenotes prices. Boasting vibrant blue water, unique rock formations, and an ideal spot to go swimming, this is one cenote you do not want to miss! (With precaution of the tides, though), Yal Ku Cenote Entrance Fee: 300 MXNYal Ku Cenote Opening Hours: Daily from 9 AM to 5 PMBest for: Swimming / Snorkeling. The cost will between $20 and $40 MXN pesos. You will have to cross the highway via an overpass if youre coming from Cancun via bus. Water Bottle: Mexico has tropical weather so you can expect it to be hot and humid. Check out some of the shots it took in the cenotes above! This phenomenon sparked one of the first cenote cave explorations in the area, to find out where the suds went. Cenote Zacil Ha is right next to Car Wash Cenote, so follow the directions above. If you do swim in a cenote and wind up with a stomachache in the following days, it might be due to the ice in your drink rather than the cenote you visited! Carretera Tulum Coba Km 1.7, 77796 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. Im happy to report that not only is this 100% false, but cenotes are all freshwater! He obviously loves his job cenote diving and goes out of his way to ensure his customers have the best day diving of their lives diving some of the best cenotes Mexico has to offer! ktij 3 yr. ago Just returned from Ik Kil! Thats not an issue with cenote Nicte-Ha, though- since its a little way off the tourist trail, its the perfect cenote to visit for a bit of peace and quiet. No toilet, shower or restaurant, 3 km (2 miles) from Tulum town center on the Highway to Coba (Carretera 309) and turning right. Clan-Destino Bar is perfectly located on the main beach strip of Tulum. Exploring cenotes seriously quickly became one of my favorite activities in the Rivera Maya, and I am confident they will become one of your favorites too. It shines where you look, leaving your hands free to play with cameras or do other more important things. This means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you click through these links and make a purchase. In my opinion, the cenotes near Tulum are the best ones in the state of Quintana Roo, and it makes sense to come for a day trip from Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Wastewater is reused for gardening, the miniature product are 100% natural and biodegradable, and so on. Swimming/Snorkeling:The oils from human hands and certain elements in lotions and repellents can severely damage this natural growth process and also harm the fish. Cave Cenotes Cave cenotes can usually be accessed via a land-level entrance with a staircase. Dos Ojos (Two Eyes) is the most impressive cenote group in Tulum, named for its two largest cenotes, the Blue Eye (a sparkling, open-air cenote) and the Black Eye (a pitch-dark cavern with stalactites and stalagmites; you'll need a guide and a flashlight to see this one). The Gran Cenote price doesnt include life jacket rental, you will have to organize that at the gate as well as snorkel gear hire and/or locker rental. Theres a rope swing in this open-air sinkhole cenote, you have to wear a life vest because its very deep. The soft sand at the bottom is known to be a great skin exfoliator, but it smells like rotting eggs! The 2019 horror movie 49 Meters Down: Uncaged popularized the idea that there are man-eating sharks in Cenotes. You simply rock up to the place, pay the entrance fee (and other amenities you might want), and then you are free to explore! In fact, some cenotes are the only clean water supply for locals! There are plenty of all-inclusive resorts and luxury boutique hotels in Tulum, but if you want to try something different, glamping in Tulum is a fantastic option. Perifrico, 97780 Valladolid, Yuc., Mexico. Cenote Siete Bocas is one of the most famous on the route but theres also: Due to their proximity to Cancun, the entrance fees for these cenotes have skyrocketed recently, with each cenote charging 300-500 pesos each to enter. Help maintain the cenotes as beautiful as they are! Many of my readers went on this tour and told me they loved it! Dos Ojos is a famous cenote complex off Highway 307 when youre coming from Playa del Carmen towards Tulum. Request to visit Cenote Car Wash on your own private cenotes tour! Take the 307 Highway toward Playa del Carmen and turn right on Reforma Agraria. It is a well-kept cenote but not too commercialized. But the outside area is shallow and most people could stand up. With the Visit to 4 Cenotes at Casa Tortuga youll get to explore them with a bilingual guide, and snorkel in all of them with the equipment provided. Cenote Cristal Entrance Fee: 150 MXN (includes admission to Cenote Escondido).Cenote Cristal Opening Times: 10 AM to 5 PM daily.Best For: Swimming / Snorkeling / Diving, Cenote Cristal is one of the cenotes you can visit by joining the Cenote Trail Tour, together with Gran Cenote and Cenote Escondido. Snorkel equipment ($80 MXN), life jacket and locker rental ($30 MXN) available, 4 km (2.5 miles) from Tulum town center on the Highway to Coba (Carretera 309), $300 MXN pesos general entry fee (updated 15th June 2021), Toilet only. Youll then turn left (north) and keep going for about 2km. BOOK IT HERE, Snorkeling Adventure Tour in Three Ecosystems In one day, youll be able to snorkel at Casa Cenote + Cenote Sac Actun and the beautiful reef of Tulum for some of the best snorkeling in Tulum experiences. Although I have not personally been, I know that there is a magical gas layer 30 meters deep called halocline. Its quite an adventure! Keep reading for my six picks for the very best cenotes to visit near Tulum: make sure you see at least one them all! However, what the cenote lacks above ground it makes up for it underwater. Free Diving: Never lose sight of the cave entrance unless you are following a line. Located between Tulum and Coba, Gran Cenote is one of the most popular cenotes in Tulum and its easy to understand why. 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There are three really good Playa del Carmen cenotes right near each other, so they would make a fantastic day trip from either Tulum or Playa del Carmen. Theres a small deck for sunbathing and the walk to the cenote is along wooden stumps through the mangroves. Calavera cenote isnt as famous as other cenotes in Tulum, which means you can have an amazing swim all by yourself if youre lucky (get here in the [], A Day Trip To Tulum from Cancun: The Ultimate Guide, [] are many (many!) For snorkelers, the cave inside is lit up by lights, there are bats everywhere and lots of cool crevices to explore. There are no sharks in the cenotes in Tulum (nor in cenotes anywhere else in Mexico), so its perfectly safe to swim in them. Some of the bigger cenotes will rent snorkel gear to you at a price, from my experience at around 50-200 pesos each time you rent. Biodegradable Sunscreen: Please make sure not to apply regular sunscreen before entering a cenote. READ: How to Choose the Best Snorkel Fins for Your Needs. Coming from Cancun or Playa via public transit youll have to transfer in Tulum. BOOK IT HERE, Gran Cenote Entrance Fee: 500 MXN.Gran Cenote Opening Times: 8 AM to 4.45 PM daily.Best For: Swimming / Snorkeling / Diving. BOOK IT HERE, Casa Tortuga Entrance Fee: 650 MXN.Casa Tortuga Opening Times: 9 AM to 5 PM daily.Best For: Swimming / Snorkeling. GoPro right now or just want another awesome way to capture your watery Shabby but cute, Mamas Home has the best backpacker vibes! The visibility is incredible at this cenote, you can see about deep into the crystal clear water, even from the surface! The treehouses at Azulik feature an incredible design & mosaic hot tubs on the terrace with jungle views. You really dont have an excuse not to buy one when their prices start at only $250 USD! THE BEST CENOTES FOR SNORKELING NEAR TULUM, Casa Cenote (Cenote Manati or Cenote Tankah), My Tips for Visiting the Cenotes of Mexico. Most cenotes will offer showers for this reason, and some will require it to keep the cenotes ecosystem safe from pollutants. Stalactites punctuate gorgeous caverns and stalagmites jut out all over the place, making Sistema Sac Actun some of the best diving in Tulum. Follow the directions for Cenote Dos Ojos. The roads are safe in the day and easy to drive. Puerto Morelos is halfway between Playa del Carmen and Cancun, If you want to go via public transit you could take a Colectivo or bus to Puerto Morelos (if via Colectivo youll need to transfer in Playa if youre coming from Tulum). Cenote Cristal is located on Highway 307 going south from Tulum. . Cenote Xunaan-Ha is one of the most picturesque cenotes you will find, and one of the most secret cenotes in Tulum. Option 1 - $70 pesos. With the profit they make, part of it goes to maintaining this natural wonder and making it better and more accessible for everyone. The tropical weather, sandy beaches, great Mexican food and ancient Mayan ruins are enough reasons to buy a plane ticket and visit Tulum ASAP. it still does the job! Passionate baby goat cuddler and part-time adventurer, Crystal can often be found doing headstands on the edges of cliffs, taking photos of abandoned buildings or sleeping on deserted islands with dangerous criminals. Cenote Triple Tour in Tulum Casa Cenote, Gran Cenote and Temple of Doom. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Others such as Cenote Calavera and Cenote Carwash are located on the Tulum/Coba highway, going towards the Coba Ruins. There are many cenotes near Cancun and Tulum that not only offer life-vests but require them for all swimmers. But most of the time the gear is old, crappy and has had other peoples mouths all over it! It is commonly known that Tulum is an important and integral part of Mayan culture in the Riviera Maya. Are Cenotes Safe For Non-Swimmers? disclaimer. A tour guide leads you to visit two cave cenotes and an open cenote. In 2014 there was a whole lake in Oregoncontaminated with the virus that got 70 people sick! Cenote Oxman is 1.5 hours from Tulum, 2 hours from Playa del Carmen, and 2 hours from Cancun. Its sometimes referred to as Pond Cenote due to its peaceful exterior. Get directions on GoogleMaps. This is weird because its a cenote close to Tulum center, and quite easy to get to. Cenote Carwash is easily one of my top 5 cenotes, because not only was it much more peaceful than the more popular cenotes in Tulum, but there is something under the water that makes this cenote more unique than all the others! This custom map of cenotes near Tulum includes all of the Continue. Cenote Siete Bocas (7 Mouth Cenote) runs along the famous Rutas de los Cenotes outside Puerto Morelos. Toilet (sometimes). Yucatan cenotes are usually located on private property, meaning prices can change at any time at the owners discretion. Welcome! Cenote Cristal (dont confuse Cenote Cristal with Cenote Cristalino!) Plenty of fish can be found in the water, and if youre lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you feel about it! BOOK IT HERE, Cenote Nicte-Ha Entrance Fee: 250 MXN.Cenote Nicte-Ha Opening Times: 9 AM to 5 PM daily.Best For: Swimming / Snorkeling / Scuba Diving. Entry fee: US$3 (50 MXN) for swimmers, and US$6 (120 MXN) for divers. Like most of the cenotes in Mexico, its well-known for its crystal clear waters that make it suitable for snorkeling and diving. Its also the best cenote near Tulum Ruins (only 4.5 km), so easily make the two a day trip! Coba km 8, Mxico 180D, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. Though you cannot enter the passage, the eyes are a beautiful place to go snorkeling. There are several car rental offices in Tulum, and you can also rent cars at Cancun Airport. Cenotes are not only safe for swimming but theyre naturesperfectswimming spots free from the dangers of the beach. I hear you ask Roughly 226 cenotes! Great Cenote Just three miles (five kilometers) from central Tulum, the Gran Cenote is very popular with swimmers and snorkelers of all ages, there are 2 main areas to swim, one is better for non confident swimmers. Check out the Snorkeling Adventure Tour in Three Ecosystems. This page may contain compensated links. You can get to Tulum via a 50 pesos Colectivo from Playa del Carmen or take an Ado bus from Cancun or Playa. These Playa del Carmen cenotes are located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, about 20-30 minutes driving down the main highway (Carretera 307). Ill take a hot minute to talk about the snorkeling in Dos Ojos, but if you think youd prefer to dive, make sure you jump down to the scuba diving section to read about diving at Dos Ojos. Carretera A Tulum Carrillo Puerto KM 200, Tulum, Q.R., Mexico, RELATED ARTICLE How To Swim With The SeaTurtles In Akumal. READ: Visit My Favorite cenote in Mexico. Cenote El Pit Entrance Fee: 300 MXN or 500 MXN for a combined ticket with Dos Ojos Cenote as well.Cenote El Pit Opening Times: 9 AM to 5 PM daily.Best For: Diving. Request to visit Cenote Car Wash on your own private cenotes tour! Always take pictures/video of the car before you leave the rental office to avoid scams (they can happen anywhere, not just Mexico). This means picking your transport type is dependant on which cenotes you go to. Follow me foradventures, tips and a travel show! Gran Cenote is among the most popular cenotes in Tulum and serves as the main entrance to the Sisterna Sac Actun caves, with crystal clear, cool waters to swim. The complex cave systems of the cenotes are extremely easy to get lost in, it is not worth the risk. The cenote is sometimes dubbed the underground river because once you are down there, the gas layer coupled with the fallen trees and boulders look like the edge of a peaceful river. The water is always nice and warm, and a lots of light comes through those eyeballs, coloring the water of the most beautiful turquoise. Filled with loads of useful information about each cenote, its perfect for helping you find the top cenotes in Tulum for your needs. Its more like a lagoon/freshwater swimming hole last I checked it was 80 pesos to get in but prices are going up fast in Tulum! Even in a 100% underground cenote, the water is a refreshing temperature to swim in after being out in the Mayan Riviera heat. The Cenote Triple Adventure is a great Cenote Calavera tour. I have no idea what this Cenote was like because I didnt get to see it! guide in the cenotes of Tulum so you dont get lost. Cenote Zacil-Ha is located on the Highway going to Coba about 8.5 km (5.2 miles) from Tulum or less than a 15-minute drive. Trying to decide where to base yourself? BOOK IT HERE, Cenote Triple Adventure Tour This Tulum cenote tour will bring you to three different cenotes in half a day, where youll get to snorkel, free-dive and cliff-jump, as well as marvel at the surroundings of each. Camera: Because these cenotes feature one-of-a-kind natural beauty, it is hard to pass up the opportunity to capture them in photos. El Pit Cenote: Best Cenote for Diving 6. This is a newly discovered Cenote near Kaan Luum. Youll have time to swim and snorkel in both cenotes with an expert guide. This hipster town also borders the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve, and the Tulum cenotes are in my opinion the best youll find in the []. If youre not, then dont worry- theres a ladder you can climb down instead! Its quite a bit deeper than the other cenotes listed above, which makes it the perfect place to try the legendary Yucatan sport of cenote diving (as in jumping) if youre feeling brave enough. Cenote Escondido is across the road from Cenote Cristal. Cenote Calavera might be my favorite cenote in Tulum! In pretty much any body of fresh water in the Yucatan Peninsula youll be able to find a croc, but they prefer large bodies of shallow water. When there are crocodiles in cenotes, its usually well-known. Sharks only live in salt water, so you never have to worry about sharks while swimming in a cenote. It is certainly not the most beautiful cenote in Tulum, but Alternatively, its less than a 10-minute drive to Gran Cenote. Adorned with colorful rock decorations, stalactites, and the giant fallen trees, this cenote has an eerie, otherworldly vibe! Well, you have multiple options. The Pet Cemetery Cenote (or Cenote Sac Actun) might sound creepy but it is actually one of the most beautiful cenotes in Mexico. No trip to Tulum is complete without the cenotes. However, nowadays its a pretty popular one, so get here early in the morning to avoid the crowds. 10 min outside Tulum, this huge lagoon (which is actually a giant open-air cenote) is great for relaxing. There are loads of different types of dive lights out there to choose from but I particularly love headlamps. 4. Dos Ojos Cenotes and Tulum Ruins Tour from Cancun. Cenotes were highly significant as they were one of the only sources of water, plus they were also used for sacrifices to please the Gods and bring good fortune. 11. BOOK IT HERE. Its a bit too far to bike but you could take a cab ($10 each way from Tulum, $30 each way from Playa del Carmen). READ THE FULL BLOG POST: Why Youll Fall In Love With Cenote Nicte-Ha. On this tour, you will also be able to experience one of the popular cenotes of this region and spend some time swimming in its waters. A sturdy waterproof torch with a lifetime warranty. However, even though its easily accessible, it rarely gets crowded, so its the ideal spot to come for a swim and relax (even better if you have a heart floatie to play with!). On your way back youll notice the mesmerizing light beams that dance around in the depths on a sunny day. It got its name from the fact that this is the deepest cenote in the Yucatan 119 meters deep! On my first trip to Mexico, I bought a top-of-the-line snorkeling kit and I did not regret it. I loved the design of the room, you know those white, greatly-decorated rooms that you can find through the pages of design magazines? Aside from avid divers, it is also frequented by speleologists and geologists who want to study the rock formations and species that can be found here. Cenote Azul Cenote Chaak Tun Note: the bike ride to the Cenotes is HOT and theres no place to buy water or food on the way or once youre there. One of the most popular cenotes in Tulum, or should I say one of the most Instagram famous cenotes in Tulum, Gran Cenote (Grand Cenote or Great Cenote) is a large connection of a series of smaller caves more than one giant cenote (as the name suggests). There are two scuba dive routes that can be taken in Cenote Dos Ojos. Getting sick from cenote water is considered a bit of an urban legend, but every time you swim in fresh untreated (meaning unchlorinated) water you do run the very real risk of contracting Norovirus.