The 10 best cenotes to visit in Mexico

22.01.2025 - 10:17 / lonelyplanet.com

Jan 21, 2025 • 12 min read

The tourism industry as we know it only arrived in Mexico a century or so ago. Yet some of the country’s most popular draws for contemporary travelers have been hundreds of thousands of years in the making. 

Cenotes take shape over thousands of years as rainwater seeps into the bedrock below the surface. As it pools and seeks its own level, the water creates underwater lakes or rivers, complete with hidden passageways and caves carved in the limestone. Eventually, part of this limestone collapses, opening the reservoir underneath to the daylight above. 

While the precise number is impossible to tally, Mexico boasts between 6000 to 10,000 cenotes – the highest number in the world. Most of these cenotes are located in the Yucatán Peninsula, where the first are believed to have formed over 65 million years ago, when a colossal meteor slammed into the region. (This is the same meteor that killed off the dinosaurs.)

Cenotes provide much of the Yucatán’s freshwater supply, and they also held a historical significance to ancient pre-Hispanic civilizations – specifically the Mayans, who believed they were a portal to the underworld, and used them for sacrificial and religious rituals. 

These days, thousands of tourists visit cenotes to bask in the beauty of their natural rock formations and swim in their cool turquoise waters. You’ll find four types of cenotes: cavern (enclosed and cave-like), open (with the entire top exposed), ancient (cenotes that held significance to ancient civilizations) and semi-open (partially exposed).  

When visiting a cenote, there’s one imperative rule of etiquette: do not enter wearing any lotions, sunscreen or bug spray. If there is a shower on site, rinse off before entering so you don’t introduce damaging chemicals into these delicate freshwater ecosystems. 

Now that you know the rules, it’s time to get planning. These are the 10 top cenotes in Mexico.

Best for avoiding crowds
38 miles from Valladolid

The area surrounding Valladolid is teeming with cenotes (including one smack in the city center). For those willing to go a few extra miles to avoid the crowds, Cenote Xcanahalthun is a tranquil, semi-open cenote that is yet to be added to the tourist bus track. Expect clear turquoise water, stunning stalactite formations and a picture-perfect beam of sunlight shining through the top cave opening. 

What’s more, a local family runs this cenote – meaning the cash-only entrance fee will go directly to the local community. A small spiral staircase leads you down to a wood platform where you can jump off into the water or just dangle your feet over the edge. But beware: the tiny fish that inhabit the water may begin to nibble on your toes.

Once you arrive, you can