Tulum cenotes are a number of the finest on this planet. identified for his or her crystal blue waters, ultimate for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving – These cenotes close to Tulum should be in your itinerary!
Cenotes are pure sinkholes which might be shaped when the limestone bedrock collapses exposing underground water typically within the type of a fascinating pure pool.
Cenotes are distinctive to this a part of Mexico, and Tulum itself is house to the biggest underwater cave system on this planet. Tulum is among the finest locations to discover cenotes as a result of there are greater than 200 cenotes close to Tulum.
They have been thought-about sacred swimming pools in Mayan tradition and right now a widespread Tulum attraction by locals and vacationers alike. They’re such distinctive and exquisite pure phenomena that they are surely a must-do whereas in Tulum.
Tulum Cenote Excursions
For those who don’t have a rental automotive and need to see just a few nice cenotes, we advise becoming a member of this Tulum cenote tour, which visits three cenotes.
If you’re up for extra journey and seeing much more superb cenotes think about renting a automotive, earlier than you say no, take a look at our full information on renting a automotive in Mexico.
Concerning the Authors: (Hannah & Adam) – We visited our first cenote in Mexico in 2010, and since then have visited almost 100 cenotes. Now we have lived in Playa del Carmen as ex-pats, and spend at the very least just a few months per 12 months in and across the Tulum space.
Our household likes to discover cenotes which might be new to us and go to a few of our favourite Tulum cenotes. It is a first-hand checklist, we’ve truly visited every one among these cenotes and plenty of extra that didn’t make the highest 10 checklist.
Greatest Tulum Cenotes
With a whole bunch of cenotes close to Tulum to select from, we put collectively this checklist that will help you determine which cenotes to go to. Listed here are a few of our favourite Tulum cenotes.
1. Calavera
5 minutes from Tulum – Closest Cenote to Tulum
For those who ask us, one of the best cenote close to Tulum is Cenote Calavera. It’s so totally different than different cenotes in Mexico.
The identify Calavera immediately interprets to the cranium. It refers to its form, consisting of three separate sinkholes that seem to type two eyes and a mouth when swimming within the cenote wanting up.
This cenote has a enjoyable 13-foot drop from the limestone cliff right down to the water. There are additionally two small holes within the rock large enough for just one individual at a time to leap down (tremendous enjoyable).
For those who’re not within the thrill of a plunge, it’s additionally good to take the protected (and Photogenic) route and climb down the ladder. Whereas nonetheless widespread that is nonetheless a comparatively much less busy alternative when visiting cenotes in Tulum regardless of being simply accessible.
There’s a rope swing to sit down on within the picturesque pit, and the entire thing is ideal for picture ops.
It’s ultimate for adventurers, because it provides such a singular underground setting and loads of methods to play within the idyllic pool. Surrounded by jungle foliage and daylight streaming in via openings above, it feels off the crushed path and immersed in magical Mexican surroundings.
Diving in Cenote Calavera is at present not open, which is simply too unhealthy as a result of it was one among our favourite cenotes to dive. Adam dove it again in 2018 and loved it. Rainbow-colored rocks type prehistoric fossils, and small altars on the partitions create an ethereal atmosphere for divers.
- Hours: 9 AM to five PM
- Cenote Calavera Worth | Entrance Price: 250 pesos
- Life jackets & snorkel gear for lease if wanted
- Pairs properly with Gran Cenote
2. Gran Cenote
5 minutes from Tulum
Just some miles outdoors of Tulum city is Gran Cenote. These with no automotive can simply lease a motorbike in Tulum or take a neighborhood collectivo.
Generally referred to as Grand Cenote, this open air cenote has a river-like high quality and connects to a group of caves and caverns. It’s such a good looking cenote regardless of the way you discover it, whether or not it’s an in-depth dive or a easy swim. Stalactites and stalagmites abound right here, in addition to shallow tranquil swimming pools of aqua-colored water.
There’s a charming wood boardwalk that weaves its manner via all of them and is shrouded in lush and tranquil terrain. There’s a snorkeling space on both aspect of the cenote, the place you may spot some native wildlife.
Be able to encounter some crowds when visiting, as its reputation is ever-increasing with the rise of Instagram explorers, and for an excellent purpose.
Professional tip: you should definitely arrive at the very least half an hour earlier than closing time, otherwise you received’t be let in. Carry your personal water & snacks, as there aren’t any on the market.
We advise becoming a member of this cenote tour if you wish to go to a number of cenotes. It visits three cenotes close to Tulum, together with Gran Cenote, Cenote Zemway, and Casa Cenote. If you’re exploring by yourself, be certain that to additionally go to Cenote Calavera, which is up the highway 2kms, a couple of 7-minute bike trip, is Cenote Calavera.
If you’re touring to Tulum on a funds, think about going to Cenote Calavera as an alternative; the doorway price is half the worth. Nevertheless, the Gran Cenote worth features a lifejacket and snorkel tools.
- Hours: 8 AM to 4:45 PM
- Gran Cenote Worth | Entrance Price: 500 pesos (money solely)
3. Cenote Azul
half-hour from Tulum
Positioned midway between Tulum and Playa del Carmen, Cenote Azul is spacious, open-air, and is tons of enjoyable. The identify means blue in Spanish, so it’s simple to guess what the hanging shade of those waters will likely be. There are two separate swimming sections with a boardwalk in between.
One aspect is shallow, which makes this probably the greatest Tulum cenotes for youths and households with babies. The opposite aspect is way deeper, with a cliff proper perched above, which is enjoyable to leap off of and into the glowing floor under.
Cenote Azul is one one of the best cenotes close to Playa Del Carmen and Cancun, which implies that it might probably get tremendous busy through the day, particularly on the weekends. My recommendation is to go there very first thing within the morning to get pleasure from a barely extra serene setting. Additionally keep away from weekends if doable, and particularly Sundays if you wish to keep away from the crowds.
There are eating places and picnic areas round, making it a pleasant place to spend a part of the day. The pedicure fish are additionally a pleasant shock at this cenote in Tulum for an added spa-like expertise. Although phrase to the smart, it may be tremendous ticklish.
We advise visiting the close by Cenote Jardin el Eden and Cenote Cristalino. You’ll be able to simply go to these three cenotes in a single journey.
- Hours: 8:30 AM to five PM
- Cenote Azul Worth | Entrance Price: 180 pesos for adults, 120 pesos for youngsters 4-7 years previous
Associated Article: Greatest Household Resorts in Tulum
4. Cenote Jardin del Eden
half-hour from Tulum
With a reputation that actually interprets to Backyard of Eden – This is among the most awe-inspiring settings of all of the cenotes in Tulum. It’s additionally typically referred to as Cenote Ponderosa (this identify is generally related to diving), which suggests highly effective.
Positioned proper subsequent to Cenote Azul and Cristalino. It’s well-known for its hanging and sapphire-colored swimming pools.
At one finish of the huge pit, there’s a cliff edge with a platform for daring dives into the depths. There are just a few locations the place you may leap into the lagoon from timber and rocks, some which might be as much as 25 ft above the water. Within the middle is a grouping of boulders that make for nice hangout spots.
Our favourite a part of Cenote Jardin del Eden are the big downed timber submerged below water that you could discover and take some distinctive images.
Moss-covered stones and tropical foliage full the tropical scene that seems like its personal hidden oasis. There’s much less wildlife to identify on this atmosphere, other than the occasional fish. The visibility is superb, and plenty of nonetheless come to snorkel and scuba, exploring the deep underwater cave system.
There’s a small snack bar, in addition to life jackets and locker leases. It’s simple to identify from the principle highway. When you pay, it’s a must to drive (or stroll) down the gravel highway to the place the cenote is positioned and a big parking zone. This is among the extra widespread close to Playa del Carmen however nonetheless very a lot price visiting from Tulum, as it is just half-hour away.
- Hours: 9 AM to five PM
- Jardin del Eden Worth | Entrance Price: 200 pesos for adults, 100 pesos for youngsters
Associated Article: Greatest Household Resorts in Playa del Carmen
5. Dos Ojos
25 minutes from Tulum
Dos Ojos is the preferred cenote close to Tulum and could be very well-known. It does reside as much as all of the hype, however it might probably get actually busy. So we advise going early or later within the day.
It’s positioned between Playa Del Carmen and Tulum, and it’s fairly simple to get there. You’ll be able to go to by yourself, with a gaggle tour, or we advise this VIP non-public tour.
It’s named after its two giant oval or eye-shaped swimming pools. The 2 swimming pools are linked by boardwalks. Some individuals name them the black eye and blue eye they usually couldn’t be any extra totally different.
Blue Eye is an open-air cenote with glowing turquoise waters coated in tropical sunshine. The Black Eye is a closed cenote, a darkish cavern coated in stalactites and stalagmites.
A flashlight is required to navigate this pure marvel. All in all, there are 5 cenotes right here, so that you see loads of distinctive environments.
The others require a guided tour to entry, and extra superior scuba divers can arrange excursions to see the underground areas which might be in any other case unreachable by merely swimming and snorkeling. Dos Ojos Park additionally provides some nice amenities, like lockers, a toilet, showers, snorkel tools to lease, and a restaurant proper on the entrance.
Diving in Dos Ojos
That is the preferred cenote dive round, and for good purpose. There’s a lot to see and it’s a a lot shallower dive than most cenotes with lovely cave buildings to see but spacious passages in comparison with others.
You’ll be able to guide this dive tour, which features a two-tank dive in two totally different cenotes at Dos Ojos and contains transportation from Playa del Carmen. Our this Dos Ojos dive bundle from Tulum.
It’s best to pay the doorway price in pesos. USD and bank cards are accepted, however there’s a bank card. There’s a price for bringing a digicam with you moreover your telephone.
- Hours: 8 AM to five PM
- Dos Ojos Worth | Entrance Price: 400 pesos for the doorway park, 800 pesos for a snorkeling tour
6. Zacil Ha
10 minutes from Tulum
Cenote Zacil Ha is a favourite amongst locals and households for its abundance of enjoyable actions. It’s an open cenote, which permits for a zipline to span totally throughout the breathtaking pool.
It’s surrounded by wood platforms for leaping and ladders for climbing into the refreshing depths. The zipline runs about 10 ft above the floor, so dropping down may be exhilarating. For those who work up an urge for food zipping away (it’s about 10 pesos per trip), then there’s additionally a small snack bar on-site.
It’s a terrific decide for anybody looking for extra of a swimming pool expertise. It’s nearly an ideal oval form and appears kinda like a daily man-made pool that’s simply carved from limestone. There are a lot of hammocks to chill in, cabanas to lease for a extra luxurious lounge, and sunbeds for absorbing some rays.
It’s conveniently near Tulum. There’s even a present store for purchasing that good memento from the cenotes in Tulum.
As well as, there are two different regular swimming swimming pools right here to get pleasure from as properly. It’s ultimate in the event you’re hoping to indulge in additional facilities and fewer nature.
- Hours: 10 AM to six PM
- Cenote Zacil Ha Worth | Entrance Price: 300 pesos
7. Casa Cristalino
25 minutes from Tulum
A shocking open cenote with mesmerizing blue water and huge white limestone rocks plunked into the shallow waters. This cenote has nice swimming, some good snorkeling, and a enjoyable 4-meter (12ft) cliff leap.
Cenote Cristalino is barely much less widespread than the encircling cenotes, however it’s not an undiscovered gem both. There’s further room to unfold out at this cenote since there are a number of cenotes on the grounds of Cristalino Cenote so it might probably really feel much less busy than others.
It’s positioned proper outdoors of the city of Puerto Aventuras, about half-hour outdoors of Tulum Centro. It might probably simply be paired with different nice cenotes close to Tulum on a day journey or mixed with a visit to snorkel with the ocean turtles in Akumal (one among our favorites).
In some ways, it’s much like Cenote Azul, with construction and watercolor – that is smart as a result of these cenotes are actually proper subsequent to one another. Whereas they’re each price visiting – if you’re tight on time, it’s best to select one or the opposite between these two since they’re very comparable.
Additionally close by is Cenote Jardin del Eden, which is once more an open Cenote with some comparable options however it’s pretty totally different than Cristalino.
- Hours: 9 AM to five PM
- Cenote Calavera Worth | Entrance Price: 200 pesos and 150 peso
8. Casa Cenote
10 minutes from Tulum
Meandering via the jungles outdoors of Tulum is the one-of-a-kind Casa Cenote. This cenote sits proper on the sting of the ocean, and it’s truly linked underground to the ocean.
This distinctive place creates a particular atmosphere with extra aquatic life, with many fish and crops in comparison with different cenotes in Mexico. The partitions of the cenote are fringed with mangroves and energetic.
Like most cenotes close to Tulum, Casa Cenote has crystal-clear water, however that’s the place the similarities finish. This cenote has a construction not like every other now we have visited, and that’s what makes this a should go to cenote in Tulum.
At one time you have been capable of dive from the cenote out into the ocean, however that has been stopped for security causes. This cenote nonetheless makes a terrific diving cenote, and with an intensive but shallow river-like construction, you may have a really lengthy and rewarding dive.
This non-public cenote tour visits Casa Cenote, and this group tour visits three cenotes together with Casa Cenote.
On our final go to, they have been charging further for cameras and GoPros. We advise renting a kayak at Casa Cenote, it’s a enjoyable strategy to discover. The workers isn’t the friendliest and can push onerous fo you to purchase their snorkeling tour.
- Hours: 8 AM to five PM
- Casa Cenote Worth | Entrance Price: 150 pesos
9. Cenote El Pit
half-hour from Tulum
If you’re a complicated diver, this is among the finest cenotes for diving close to Tulum. It’s one among Adam’s favourite cenote dives. The rock formations and underground caverns are so distinctive.
We even have an in-depth evaluate on diving El Pit.
El Pit is the deepest sinkhole in your entire state of Quintana Roo. The intense blue waters are so crystal clear right here that the visibility is tough to prime if there hasn’t been many divers. El Pit is a part of Dos Ojos Park, it’s a couple of 10-minute drive via the jungle.
It’s one of the best place to dive down and uncover the underwater world of cenotes. El Pit has just a little little bit of the whole lot that makes cenote diving so magical.
Even from the floor, you may get fairly a clear view of the subterranean surroundings. The way in which in is steep and slim however properly definitely worth the problem. It shortly opens up into a formidable huge cavern that’s nearly 100 ft deep.
It’s so clear that you just even assume you may see the particles cone surrounded by a cloud of hydrogen sulfide. The halocline can also be one other lovely characteristic in El Pit the place the recent and salt waters meet and the place the whole lot will get briefly blurry on the descent.
Nevertheless, nothing actually compares to the beams of sunshine that dance deep into the water, let in by the slim opening on the prime of the cenote.
This place is simply pure magic.
- Hours: 8 AM to five PM
- Cenote El Pit Worth | Entrance Price: 600 pesos
10. Cenote Angelita
25 minutes from Tulum
Cenote Angelita is a scuba diver’s dream. Set in the course of the jungle, it’s probably the most fascinating Tulum cenotes. Named little angel, it’s additionally typically known as the underground river for its jaw-dropping aquatic panorama.
The pure phenomenon of the white fuel layer, comprised of hydrogen sulfide, is the principle magical draw right here. Large lifeless timber poke up via the misty clouds making an other-worldly expertise. Swimming above, under, and thru the hazy part makes for a fascinating ambiance all its personal.
For those who aren’t diving cenote Angelita, we advise skipping this cenote and heading to one of many others on our checklist. It’s a extra rustic cenote setting, so it’s finest to be ready for a definite lack of amenities on-site. Nevertheless, the sheer depth of this cenote is attractive, with a formidable attain of just about 200 ft.
- Hours: 8 AM to five PM
- Entrance Price: 350 pesos
What to Pack When Visiting Tulum Cenotes?
- Water shoe/aqua sock – Cenotes are sometimes rocky when getting into, and the ladders/rocks are slippery. I like these aqua socks. They’re light-weight, simple to pack, and CHEAP.
- Swimsuit
- Fast Dry or Small Towel
- Mineral Sunscreen/ Reef-safe Sunscreen (many cenotes have a no-sunscreen rule)
- Water Bottle
- Underwater Digicam or Go Professional – You will have a digicam that’s good for journey actions that may get moist. If you’re into pictures, think about getting a dome for enjoyable over/below photographs. *Some cenotes cost a further price to usher in digicam tools.
- Dry bag – Carry a bag to hold all of your stuff and hold it dry in case it rains
- Waterproof telephone case – in the event you plan on bringing your telephone in for images
- A dry pair of garments – I wish to rinse off cenote water and alter right into a dry pair of garments after getting all moist and driving/driving again to our resort.
There are tons of cenotes in Mexico to select from, and this checklist is simply a fraction of these within the Yucatan peninsula. We hope we impressed you to discover just a few in your journey to Mexico!
Exploring these distinctive and otherworldly wonders is well one of many finest issues to do in Riviera Maya. Remember to take a look at the remainder of our guides to assist plan your subsequent journey to Mexico!
