10 of the best cenotes to explore in Yucatán

20.12.2024 - 15:51 / lonelyplanet.com

Dec 20, 2024 • 9 min read

What’s perhaps the strangest thing about the Yucatán Peninsula? That this rain-rich, jungle-clad region of Mexico features a complete lack of rivers.

Rather than pooling in streams, the water that falls here seeps through the peninsula’s base of permeable limestone.

The result is an underworld of interconnected subterranean rivers and semi-submerged caverns – a unique geographical calling card that has spawned millennia of myths, and which continues to intrigue to this day.

Over the centuries, many of these cavern roofs have collapsed, exposing the underground water to the sky – forming Yucatán’s famous cenotes, ideal spots for swimming, diving and beating the brutal heat.

Since thousands of these watering holes dot Yucatán, we’ve suggested a few of the best ones to add to your list – 10 reasons why the peninsula is a place of singular natural wonders. 

Overall planning tip: Unless stated otherwise below, most cenotes can only be accessed by car or by taking a tour. Prices start at around M$80 (US$4) per person, but can rise to 10 times that when including guided tours and equipment rental. 

Best for a full Maya experience
8 miles north of Tulum

Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich (or “giant bird cage” in the Mayan language) is located on land owned and operated by a Mayan family – a parcel locally known as Rancho San Felipe.

Although you can visit the cenote solo, with your entry fee including rental of a life jacket and a snorkel, we highly recommend guided snorkeling tours of the cenote and caves.

This way, you can explore the stalactite- and stalagmite-covered caverns that aren’t accessible to general visitors.

These spaces are just about accessible with a snorkel, thanks to the sliver of air at the top of the caverns, which form part of the Sistema Sac Altun, thought to be the world’s longest underwater cave system at 229 miles (369km) long.

You can also take in a traditional Maya purification ceremony and buffet that includes typical Maya dishes such as panuchos and papdzules.

Planning tip: As with all swimmable cenotes on this list (unless stated otherwise), you’ll need to bring your own towel, bathing suit, sandals or similar, along with some money (cash is the best option) for renting lockers and buying refreshments.

Best for snorkeling
11 miles north of Tulum

The jungle surrounding Cenote Dos Ojos (“two eyes”) is packed with hundreds of small cenotes, which in turn attract plenty of wildlife in the early morning and evening.

The main pool at Dos Ojos consists of a “pupil” of rock in the center, around which sits an azure “iris” of crystalline water, partly exposed to the sky.

Such a configuration makes it ideal for snorkeling. More-adventurous visitors may want to swim deeper into the caves