I hope this post has helped you choose the best cenote in Tulum for your needs. Chiringuito Tulum: Im in love with the white design that reminds me of Mykonos or Santorini. Theres also a part of the cenote which is covered by a small rock overhang, allowing you to feel like a real explorer as you make your way through the dark to discover what lies inside. Follow the directions for Cenote Dos Ojos. In the summer, a layer of algae tends to form on the surface, and although it reduces visibility, it does trap a lot of heat from the sunshine to warm the cenote up considerably- its almost like a natural bubble bath! You will be able to snorkel or dive with a guide at both Casa Cenote and Cenote Dos Ojos. 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). If you plan to dive, youll want a dive light in the cenotes! Since most Mexico cenotes are located on private land and the owner of the land decides their own cenotes prices. Cenote Manati is an open cenote that connects a long underwater cave system (Nohoch Na Chich) to the sea. Visiting is only available through a guided tour because diving is the only option at Cenote Pet Cemetery. Yal-Ku Cenote is a great option for snorkeling, as its waters are spectacularly clear and there are plenty of colorful fish to swim with. For example, Casa Cenote has a small crocodile called Panchito which they consider a mascot that is very friendly to tourists. READ: The ULTIMATE GUIDE to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Sure, what youre seeing isnt as clear and you cant breathe underwater, but They are done with this awesome contraption called a dome. The dive light is a way of adding colours back into your picture is by using artificial light. From the ADO Bus Terminal in Tulum Town, drive for 5 minutes and youll find it on your left, right in front of Cenote Cristal. Cenote Dos Ojos is truly beautiful. This tour gets raving reviews! Facilities: Bathrooms, change room, lockers, restaurants, snacks. Keep reading for my six picks for the very best cenotes to visit near Tulum: make sure you see at least one them all! A relatively recent discovery that the Dos Ojos System was connected to the Sac Actun system, gave Sac Actun the title of the worlds largest flooded cave system. Follow the directions for Cenote Dos Ojos. 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. A cenote is a natural pit or sinkhole that has been forming for several centuries or thousands of years. Kaan Luum is a locals secret and if you go in the afternoon, youll probably have the whole place to yourself. Unfortunately, most of the cenotes are not free in Tulum. Toilet (sometimes). You will have to cross the highway via an overpass if youre coming from Cancun via bus. And with a sandy bottom and sunbathing decks, it's also a favorite with swimmers and those looking to relax in the sun. The cenote is right across the street from Barcelo Hotels. If you have a scooter you can easily drive it to Laguna Kaan Lum from Tulum. The visibility is incredible at this cenote, you can see about deep into the crystal clear water, even from the surface! Some cenotes that offer life vests: Cenote Oxman Cenote Suytun Cenote Zaci Cenote Saamal Cenote Oxman This is a list of the essential items you need to bring with you when you visit a cenote in Tulum. 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. They rent life jackets and the denote also has stairs to enter and exit the water. The open cenote is mainly for fun. The Cenotes are still sacred to the Mayan people today, meaning most cenotes are closed off from public use. If you are looking for famous cenotes in Tulum, the Dos Ojos system has featured in an IMAX Film Journey Into Amazing Caves, the 2006 BBC/Discovery Channel series Planet Earth and parts of the Hollywood movie The Cave were filmed in Dos Ojos. Mexico is a water-lovers paradise and it would be a shame not to capture all your special memories made in the cenotes. The water is always nice and warm, and a lots of light comes through those eyeballs, coloring the water of the most beautiful turquoise. Have you seen those amazing half-underwater and half-above-water photos? We did this and think it is the best way if you love cenotes. While living in Mexico, my local friend took me to all of the best cenotes near Tulum. The tropical weather, sandy beaches, great Mexican food and ancient Mayan ruins are enough reasons to buy a plane ticket and visit Tulum ASAP. Even though Casa Tortuga means Turtle House in Spanish, dont go looking for turtles because its unlikely youll see one; the name is a bit deceiving on that end! I jumped from the high platform and its the most fun I had in all of Mexico. You like all the cenotes in Tulum and dont know which one to choose? Where to find cenotes - Mexico's amazing natural swimming holes Not spectacular, but a nice place to cool off and to escape the harsh Mexican sun and the only cenote bar Tulum has to offer. Make sure that you wear something that will enable you to swim with ease and to make the most of the natural pool. With the profit they make, part of it goes to maintaining this natural wonder and making it better and more accessible for everyone. If you need any help or have anything to say, feel free to comment them below! Cenotes are natural swimming holes formed by the collapse of porous limestone bedrock, which reveals a secret subterranean world of groundwater pools. You have to go at 9 AM because its very small, we were the first ones there but by 10:30 there were so many people it was impossible to swim in. This is an essential item to pack with you when you visit a cenote. Snorkeling gear or mask is what you need to make this possible. Im addicted to getting the most out of life and would love to take you along for the ride. Snorkel Mask or Goggles: The crystal clear waters of the cenote will make you want to take a closer look at what lurks beneath the surface of the water. Coming from Cancun or Playa you could get a bus or Colectivo to Tulum and then transfer. Because its not commercialized theres no set address or hours I would recommend getting there no later than 9 AM because its so small that even one other group there is too many, and by 10 AM usually its pretty crowded, and it stays that way until sunset. The center of the cenote is fenced off because it is REALLY DEEP (80 meters deep, actually). Casa Cenote is one of the best cenotes near Akumal if you are thinking of combining activities into a day trip. This includes access to the Oxman cenote only. This place is cool! READ: Visit My Favorite cenote in Mexico. Cenote Calavera might be my favorite cenote in Tulum! Packing light and dont want to bring too much baggage? Wondering if Be Our Guest is worth it? Although I have not personally been, I know that there is a magical gas layer 30 meters deep called halocline. Gran Cenote Gran Cenote 4,303 Reviews #23 of 85 things to do in Tulum Nature & Parks, Caverns & Caves, Bodies of Water Quintana Roo 109 | Located on the Highway to Coba, Tulum 77796, Mexico Open today: 8:00 AM - 4:45 AM Save The best adventure in three cenotes with lunch and transportation included 2 Book in advance from $95.00 per adult Want to travel to the cenotes near Playa del Carmen pictured above? I went to about five different ones at that time. Cenote Corazon is a bit too far to bike from Tulum, but you could take a scooter or a cab which should be about $10 each way. Bring food and at least 2L of water per person, expect to spend at least 1 hour per Cenote + the half-hour bike ride there and back. Gran Cenote is a half open-air cenote thats pretty small. These are some of the other cool cenotes worth checking out when you are in Tulum. Cenote Azul is located on the 307 Highway, about 40km north of Tulum toward Playa del Carmen. Try and use a refillable water bottle to reduce the consumption of plastic! Thank you! (Restaurant Review), 3 BEST Supermarkets in Tulum, Mexico in 2023, 5 Disadvantages of Living in Mexico as a Foreigner, bike tour that visits three cenotes in Tulum, all-inclusive tour that visits Tulum Ruins, Coba Ruins, and a cenote, Guide To Visiting Alas Harum Agrotourism In Bali, If youre not a strong swimmer, go to a cenote that offers. Unfortunately, over-tourism and pollution mean thats not always the case. Its suitable for both snorkelers and advanced divers. Its important to remember that there are a lot of things in Mexico that can make tourists sick. updated. I There is a bar and restaurant on site. Super deep, 100% underground, people jump from dedicated platforms. You can get to quite a few really good cenotes with a bicycle. Biodegradable Sunscreen: Please make sure not to apply regular sunscreen before entering a cenote. The Calavera Cenote used to be quite unknown and both times I visited, there were only 4 or 5 people. What is a cenote, and why is everyone obsessed with them? You can buy tickets online in advance, but if you wish to pay on arrival, make sure you bring cash as other forms of payment are not accepted. Cenote Azul Cenote Azul is a favorite among tourists because of its shallow waters and the well-lit open roof letting in an abundance of sunlight. BOOK IT HERE, Dos Ojos & Casa Cenote Adventure from Tulum All Inclusive No matter if you are a snorkeler or scuba diver, you can join this tour that caters to both. Next to the ruins there will be a place for you to rent bikes they charged us 85 pesos per bike the bikes are old and my friend got a rather busted one, you can alternatively take a cab there (but unless you pay for them to wait for you theres no way to get back) so the best way is to bike it. Heading to Mexico Soon? Cenotes are all connected to underground freshwater springs, which means cenote water should be crystal clear and some of the cleanest in the world. Entrance Fee: 300 MXN ($14 USD) Other cenotes like Laguna Kaan Luum are only a few feet deep and perfect for non-swimmers. 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. Plenty of fish can be found in the water, and if youre lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you feel about it! This is my ultimate list of cenotes in Tulum, complete with current prices and the facilities found at each cenote. Your Guide to Tulum's Best Cenotes - Be My Travel Muse Im addicted to getting the most out of life and would love to take you along for the ride. A tour guide leads you to visit two cave cenotes and an open cenote. Required fields are marked *. Cenote Oxman in Valladolid! Entrance fees and opening times info for this list of cenotes in Tulum were updated in February 2022. Absolutely visit the cenotes. This means that when you scuba dive there, you can follow the edge around past rainbow-colored rock formations, a prehistoric fossil and have fun swimming through the halocline. A little further down the road in the Biosphere Reserve, there is a platform over the lake with hammocks, which are even better to watch the sunset from if you want to make an afternoon of it. Some popular cenotes will even require you to shower before entering because of the oils on the human skin. Cenote Pet Cemetery is also part of the Sac Actun (White Cave) system that we talked about above. As cenotes in Mexico get increasingly popular, locals see this as an opportunity to make more and more money from tourists. North of Tulum 11 km (7 miles) down Carretera 307 and then taking a right hand turn towards Tankah Bay, $650 MXN pesos entry fee (guide and gear included), There is a shower, toilet and restaurant on site. Theres also a bar and hammocks to hang out as well as a pool. They are quite popular among the tourists, although they arent as crowded as other cenotes in Tulum such as Cenote Dos Ojos or Gran [], Cenote Calavera, Tulum: Swimming In The Temple of Doom, [] part of all? Cenote El Pit is part of the same group of cenotes. For more informationreadour Driving around the Riviera Maya is actually pretty easy. ktij 3 yr. ago Just returned from Ik Kil! It shines where you look, leaving your hands free to play with cameras or do other more important things. best cenotes in Riviera Maya as well as cenotes in Tulum that I didnt go to Learning some Spanish will definitely help you barter, but sometimes, you just have to accept that you wont be paying nearly the same price as the locals. Rental usually costs $180 MXN pesos per day from various hotels. Pick up is included from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, the resorts along the Riviera Maya, and Tulum, so its pretty much a great option for anyone whos looking for an introduction to Tulum! Always take pictures/video of the car before you leave the rental office to avoid scams (they can happen anywhere, not just Mexico). Others like the Coba Cenotes, are almost 100% underground and get no sunlight heating up the water. I always book my bus trips ahead of time with Busbud.com because they accept international credit cards. This cenote is located right next to Cenote Escondido and most tourists visit both of these cenotes. Request to visit Cenote El Pit on this cavern diving tour. Are Cenotes safe? You dont get that in the cave cenotes. There are multiple cenotes tours where you can visit more than one in a day, but these three in my opinion offer the best value for your money. If youve got snorkeling gear, then youll be able to gaze in wonder at the vast underwater garden that lies at the bottom. I have no idea what this Cenote was like because I didnt get to see it! This word literally means well. Youll find it on your right after passing Cenote Calavera. Cenotes are a natural geological marvel that are only found in the Yucatn Peninsula, and a must-see if youre planning a trip to Quintana Roo. You really dont want to travel to Mexico without a top underwater camera. My picks would be either Cenote Calavera, Gran Cenote or Casa Cenote by bike. The cenotes at Casa Tortuga are ideal for swimming, snorkeling and admiring the stalactites and stalagmites in the caverns. I wouldnt recommend going via scooter unless youre comfortable on the highways. 300 pesos to get in, 200 if youre a Mexican citizen. The most popular route is The Barbie Line which leads divers around the light-filled cavern of the second eye, where divers encounter incredible rock formations, huge columns, and stalactites. They were once upon a time, but locals now know how big of a hit they are with tourists, so theyve decided to start charging to enter the cenotes. READ THE FULL BLOG POST:Gran Cenote, Tulum A Beautiful Cenote in Riviera Maya. You really dont have an excuse not to buy one when their prices start at only $250 USD! Cenote Siete Bocas (7 Mouth Cenote) runs along the famous Rutas de los Cenotes outside Puerto Morelos. This Tulum cave cenote is truly special! This is the number one list of best cenotes in Tulum, Mexico youll find on the web. Gran Cenote This includes access to the cenote and pool area with a $50 pesos food/drink credit. If you rent a scooter in Tulum you can easily reach further out cenotes like Cenote Zacil Ha. READ: How to Choose the Best Snorkel Fins for Your Needs. Km. but have been recommended. 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. Other fabulous options include Cenote Calavera, Cenote Carwash and Pet Cemetery Cenote. There are quite a few bike rental places both in Tulum Town and Tulum Beach. READ ALSO: 13 Incredible Cenotes in Tulum You Can't Miss This page may contain compensated links. Carretera Tulum Coba Km 1.7, 77796 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. Others such as Cenote Calavera and Cenote Carwash are located on the Tulum/Coba highway, going towards the Coba Ruins. 8 Best Cenotes Near Tulum - Renee Roaming 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!) Nope, you wont be able to see them all as there are considering there are thousands of cenotes in Yucatan and Quintana Roo. Theres no set address for Cenote Aldea Zama but its located near Kokoro Tulum: Av Balam Dzakab Copal, Aldea Zama, 77760 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. Youll then turn left (north) and keep going for about 2km. You'll see stalagtites, mites, learn the history and see spectacular sights. They dont charge for cameras but they tried to charge me 200 pesos extra to use my drone. Compare car rental prices HERE or get a quote in the table down below. Wastewater is reused for gardening, the miniature product are 100% natural and biodegradable, and so on. It depends. You can also jump into the cenotes from a certain height, if you dare! Cenote Calavera charges a 250 pesos entrance fee + 300 pesos for photos (and yes! Cenote Dos Ojos Opening Times: 9 AM to 5 PM daily.Best For: Swimming / Snorkeling / Diving, Cenote Dos Ojos is on the Carretera Federal 307, km 244.5, 22km north of Tulum, READ THE FULL BLOG POST FOR MORE INFO:Visit Cenote Dos Ojos, Tulum The Most Beautiful Cenote in Riviera Maya. Book your tour of Chichen Itza ruins + a visit to a cenote . If you bike there from Tulum it will take about 30-45 minutes each way, if you have a scooter or a car it should only be about 10. There are two scuba dive routes that can be taken in Cenote Dos Ojos. It leads around an air-filled bat cave, where divers will actually ascend to take a look at the bats and the stunning cave decorations. Did you know that the deeper you go the more colours youll lose out of your photos or video? I loved the design of the room, you know those white, greatly-decorated rooms that you can find through the pages of design magazines? So what are Cenotes exactly? In 2022 the entrance fee for Gran Cenote is 500 pesos ($25) and then they charge more for snorkel, locker, and towel rental. Book your Tulum scooter rental ahead of time by clicking here. Great! You are 100% NOT ALLOWED to wear normal sunscreen in the cenotes in the Riviera Maya.