These are some of the other cool cenotes worth checking out when you are in Tulum. Coming from Tulum on Carretera 109 towards Coba, youll find Cenote Carwash on your left after a 10-minutes drive. Alternatively, you can rent a car or take a taxi to Akumal, a taxi should be about $70 one-way, max. 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. The Cenote Trail: Caves Visit and Bike Tour will bring you to Gran Cenote, Cenote Escondido & Cenote Cristal all in one day to quench your cenotes thirst. Sac Actun is only 4 km from Tulum but is also easily accessed from Playa Del Carmen as well. Clan-Destino Bar is perfectly located on the main beach strip of Tulum. Its still not a budget option, I know, but Tulum and Riviera Maya are way more expensive than the rest of Mexico. Gran Cenote is a half open-air cenote thats pretty small. Rather, it takes its name from the three sinkholes which open up into it, which from above resemble the eye sockets and mouth of an enormous skull. You might already know that I love glamping, together with luxury treehouse cabins and all that jazz, so when I found out there was a glamping site in Tulum, I knew I had to go and try it out. 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. This means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you click through these links and make a purchase. Coba km 8, Mxico 180D, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. Help maintain the cenotes as beautiful as they are! The glamping spot also features a pool (soooo nice to have one when its Tulum-hot, trust me!) There are some things in the Yucatn that are huge culture shocks when you first move from the States but then become completely normal the longer you stay. You need to understand how they work, but then they are really easy to use and they are your best option if you are traveling on a budget. monkeys and other animals can be spotted in the trees. Other cenotes like Laguna Kaan Luum are only a few feet deep and perfect for non-swimmers. Combine it with Dos Ojos for the perfect day tour from Tulum. Yal-Ku Cenote is 30km north of Tulum, in Akumal. You dont get that in the cave cenotes. Plus, because it is mostly open water, its great for beginner divers who need some practice before they head into the Tulum caves. Check out a few of my favorites hotels in the area. You really dont have an excuse not to buy one when their prices start at only $250 USD! Casa Cenote is an open-air lagoon-type Cenote 20 minutes outside of 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. Gran Cenote. $200 MXN pesos general entry / $250 MXN pesos scuba diver entry, Toilets, life jacket rental at $20-$50 MXN pesos, 9 km (5.6 miles) from Tulum center on the Highway to Coba (Calle Carretera Federal 109) and turning left, $350 MXN pesos general entry fee / $380 MXN pesos scuba diver entry, Shower and toilet. READ THE FULL BLOG POST: Why Youll Fall In Love With Cenote Nicte-Ha. The gorgeous Habitas hotel right on the beach is life-changing, no word of a lie! Decomposing leaves create hydrogen sulfide and it becomes caught between the fresh and salt waters, creating the illusion of a sandy bottom. 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! Theres a nice deck for you to sit on and a few active cichlid fish swimming around the mangroves as well as a resident cayman that I never got the pleasure of meeting. 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. Heading to Mexico Soon? This is a natural phenomenon that happens when freshwater and saltwater meet, and it creates optical illusions. It essentially makes it much easier to get those awesome shots. Kaan Luum Lagoon, 2 Cenotes, Tulum Ruins + Quinta Avenida. Its quite an adventure! warned. There are loads of different types of dive lights out there to choose from but I particularly love headlamps. The Batcave Line is a lot darker and feels more like a cave dive. 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. Its also the best cenote near Tulum Ruins (only 4.5 km), so easily make the two a day trip! Once youre in Valladolid you can walk to Cenote Zaci, its in the town center. This is an essential item to pack with you when you visit a cenote. This is the cenote with a swing and a jumping platform, all surrounded by Mexican jungle foliage; its a great cenote to photograph, thats for sure. The location of this cenote near the, highway 307 going north from Tulum, towards Playa del Carmen. Make sure to bring water shoes so you can protect your feet from the rocks. Cenote Angelita is located on the 307 Highway, approximately 12 minutes drive going south from Tulum. Other cenotes like Laguna Kaan Luum are only a few feet deep and perfect for non-swimmers. Its super clean and right in the center of Aldea Zama; which is an area of Tulum a lot of Ex-Pats live. Update: as of January 2022 Cenote Zaci has been closed for renovations, please check to see if its open again before you make plans to go! It's a draw for divers, as it provides access to the second-largest cave system in the world. It shines where you look, leaving your hands free to play with cameras or do other more important things. Unfortunately, most of the cenotes are not free in Tulum. Sometimes the contaminated tap water is used to make ice in drinks and to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, and then tourists get sick from consuming things like fresh salads and smoothies. The cenote, which resembles a large lagoon, is very big and meets the ocean on one side; make sure you swim there to see the spectacle! It is also believed that some Gods resided in these underwater caves. This means that the water in cenotes is straight from the source and extremely clean. 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. It depends. If you can split the cost with a few other people, its the way to go IMO. 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. Some popular cenotes will even require you to shower before entering because of the oils on the human skin. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Cenote Carwash. Read our huge guide to find out which ones! And what caves! The cenote is off the Carretera Federal 307, 25 minutes drive north of Tulum. This was one of my most frequently used GoPro attachments in Mexico! Since cenotes are sinkholes that are usually small and deep, theres not a large crocodile issue, since theres nowhere for the crocs to bask in the sun. Some will stop, some wont. You will be able to snorkel or dive with a guide at both Casa Cenote and Cenote Dos Ojos. Re: Cenote Sac Actun for Non-Swimmer 5 years ago Save If you don't swim I would suggest Riu Secreto . Since most Mexico cenotes are located on private land and the owner of the land decides their own cenotes prices. Zen Divers are the only dive center I can wholeheartedly and without any doubt recommend when diving in Tulum! But theres a lot more to Cenote Calavera than first meets BOOK IT HERE. 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. While living in Mexico, my local friend took me to all of the best cenotes near Tulum. There are many cenotes near Cancun and Tulum that not only offer life-vests butrequirethem for all swimmers. TOTALLY WORTH IT! It is famously calledPet Cemeterydue to the animal skeletons found inside that can still be seen when scuba diving today. It's not . The water is always nice and warm, and a lots of light comes through those eyeballs, coloring the water of the most beautiful turquoise. There are life jackets to rent at most cenotes. Cenote Escondido and Cenote Cristal just south of Tulum pueblo on the highway toward Carrillo Puerto (again, just outside the pueblo, very close to Tulum). Cenote Dos Ojos is a good example of this and is the perfect cenote to do your first cavern dive. Want to take it a step further and stay at a cenote hotel in Tulum? You can also find a nice organic restaurant serving healthy food, Flow Restaurant. Having this unbelievable local feature means youll be sure to find the best cenotes around Tulum. I hear you ask Roughly 226 cenotes! 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? and meet the fish that will nip on your feet when you sway them slowly in the water. the eye. people have got lost in the many tunnels and drowned inside. If you have been to any of the cenotes in Mexico, you will know that there are a variety of cenote types: Open Cenotes Open cenotes are like natural, open pools. Want to travel to the cenotes near Playa del Carmen pictured above? Quintana Roo 109, 77796 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. The roads are safe in the day and easy to drive. This unassuming yet impressive cenote is usually pretty quiet, especially in the mornings, since it is usually more popular with divers than it is with swimmers or snorkelers. Check it out on our Cenote Map Tulum below! Life jackets and snorkel are included in the price, North of Tulum 17 km (10.5 miles) down Carretera 307 and then taking a left hand turn at Casa Tortuga, There is nowhere to put on dive equipment inside the cenote so divers must walk the short distance while kitted up. This is the number one list of best cenotes in Tulum, Mexico youll find on the web. The Private Tour to Cenote Taak Bi Ha and Nicte Ha offers transportation from Tulum, as well as lunch and snorkeling equipment. Its very easy and quite cheap to rent a car in Mexico. This is a newly discovered Cenote near Kaan Luum. to and thought were the best are marked with a heart. On the road out to Dos Ojos, you can also drop into the quieter Cenote Nicte Ha which is part of the Dos Ojos park and included in your entrance fee. Laguna Kaan Luumis a wide, bright green lagoon cenote located just outside of Tulum. 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). Dos Ojos Cenote Complex has 5 cenotes; Dos Ojos, El Pit, Jaguar, Nicte Ha, & Los Monos. Report inappropriate content Some of the less popular cenotes are set amongst the jungle with more rustic facilities. If youre into a bit of adrenaline, there are small cliffs from where you can jump into the water, and you can also practice snorkeling (the crystal-clear waters are perfect for this!) Cenote Pet Cemetery is part of the same group of cenotes. Traduzioni in contesto per "Cenotes" in inglese-ucraino da Reverso Context: The cenotes emerged in caverns after the roof collapses of one or more caves. It depends! It comes with five output modes, up to 170 hours of burn time and you can even buy a rechargeable version of this torch! Read More How to Call a 1-800 Number from Mexico for FREE! The water is always clean and warm. Cave Cenotes Cave cenotes can usually be accessed via a land-level entrance with a staircase. The last know price was $350 MXN pesos with a guide, North of Tulum 25.5 km (14 miles) down the highway to Playa del Carmen (Carretera 307) and turning left onto Cenote Jaguar Road, Every day 8:10 to 4:45 pm (last entry 4:15 pm), Toilet, shower and change rooms. It is also known as The Temple of Doom possibly due to the appearance of small altars in the wall of the cave, one that contains pottery and bones. These were my favorite cenotes in Mexico because theyre touristed less frequently and the water is crystal clear. It can be accessed from the same entrance as Cenote Dos Ojos and El Pit, so it is possible to do these cenotes on the same trip. I love adding venture, art, good wifi & even better coffee. You can visit Sac Actun by joining the Dream Underground World with pick up from Tulum. They were taken at 8 am, right after opening time, and by 8.15 there were already quite a few people, so make sure you get here early: theres nothing better than floating in this turquoise water immersed in the silence. Gran Cenote is beautiful, but can get very crowded, so make sure you come early in the morning or right before closing time to avoid the big crowds. Youre able to cruise under the wetland mangrove roots, through a limestone passage and face-on with interesting fish. memories! It got its name because its only a minute or so off the road, so many taxi drivers would stop by to clean their cars in hot, dusty weather. Cenote Sac Actun: Most Popular Cenote in Mexico 8. Yes! In this winding underwater cave system, both diving and snorkeling are stunning in CenoteDos Ojos(Two Eyes Cenote). Below, I have posted some of my favorite photos from the cenotes near Playa del Carmen. Its all walking in a dark cave in waist deep water and there is only one section of the tour you will have to swim maybe 20 feet or so but they do supply life jackets and the guide will help you if you are nervous. 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! Cenote Calavera translates to skull cenote in English, and the reason it is called this is that the sunlight that pours in through the holes of the cenote looks exactly like a skull at certain angles of the dive. guide in the cenotes of Tulum so you dont get lost. Similar to Caleta Tankah the open-air cenote gives the feeling of a beach without having to deal with any seaweed, but Laguna Yalku is much larger than Caleta Tankah. 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. We had already paid the 100 pesos entrance fee and couldnt get a refund. 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. 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. For advanced divers, its one of the best cenotes in Mexico to do cave diving because all of the bones and fossils are still in their original position, and the spectacular caves are highly decorated with delicate white rock formations. Small shop on site. There are quite a few bike rental places both in Tulum Town and Tulum Beach. If you look up Aldea Zama Cenote on google maps theres a marker. You really dont want to travel to Mexico without a top underwater camera. Water Bottle: Mexico has tropical weather so you can expect it to be hot and humid. The opening of the underwater cave is partly covered by giant submerged trees, and with the odd diver darting in and out of the cave; the snorkeling at Car Wash Cenote is some of the most impressive of all! 2023 NEW MENU: Is Be Our Guest Restaurant in Disney World Worth It? Restaurante Dos Ojos and Restaurante Juanita near the entrance, North of Tulum 22 km (13.5 miles) down the highway to Playa del Carmen (Carretera 307) and turning left onto Cenote Jaguar Road, $150 MXN pesos general entry / $200 MXN pesos scuba diver entry. You could always rent a car and drive yourself, or hire a driver for the day: Cob is 45 minutes from Tulum, 1.5 hours from Playa del Carmen, and 2 hours from Cancun. BOOK IT HERE, The Cenote Triple Adventure Tourtakes you to three cenotes to free-dive, snorkel and cliff-jump, as well as explore the various rock formations underwater. A Tulum cenote tour is an activity that combines sightseeing, swimming, snorkeling, ziplining, and Mayan history all jam-packed into an affordable, full-day package. A sturdy waterproof torch with a lifetime warranty. If you want to visit multiple cenotes and maybe other attractions in Tulum in one day, consider getting a private driver to make the most out of your time. After extensive time exploring countless cenotes, I have compiled a list of items you really should not forget to take. The Sac Actun System is home to the best cenotes Tulum has to offer for scuba diving. It has rubber straps to grip better underwater, it is seriously bright, and you can take it 150-meters underwater. READ THE FULL BLOG POST:Cenote Calavera, Tulum : Swimming in the Temple of Doom. I visited both Gran Cenote and the Tulum Ruins this past spring and enjoyed both of them! On the dive, you can hover above and dip below the gas layer if you feel comfortable. READ ALSO: 30 Best Things to do in Tulum The Ultimate Guide. Read More 3 BEST Supermarkets in Tulum, Mexico in 2023Continue. By using these links youre supporting my blog so I can keep traveling, and I only feature products I believe in and use myself. Take a Colectivo to Akumal from Tulum or Playa del Carmen for 35-50 pesos, and then from Akumal bus stop its about a 30-40 min walk or you can hail a taxi from Akumal Beach (less than 10 min walk from the bus stop) for around 150 pesos. These Playa del Carmen cenotes are located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, about 20-30 minutes driving down the main highway (Carretera 307). Cenote Siete Bocas (7 Mouth Cenote) runs along the famous Rutas de los Cenotes outside Puerto Morelos.