Perfect for those of you who arent in the market for a 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. Request to visit Cenote El Pit on this cavern diving tour. Cenote Azul is located on the 307 Highway, about 40km north of Tulum toward Playa del Carmen. One of the best cenote caves in Tulum (and probably Mexico), Dos Ojos is named so because two 70-meter sinkholes connect by a 400-meter passageway, which gives the appearance of two eyes. 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. $50 MXN pesos for a locker and $150 for a kayak. He obviously loves his job cenote diving and goes out of his way to ensure his customers have the best day diving of their lives diving some of the best cenotes Mexico has to offer! So if youre going in the warmer months and want to escape the Sargassum, this beach club has a Cenote that lets out into the ocean and naturally filters the seaweed. A cenote is a natural pit or sinkhole that has been forming for several centuries or thousands of years. Azulik: Ever dreamt of staying in a luxury treehouse? Cenote Zacil-Ha is an open-air cenote that looks like someone built a swimming pool in the middle of the forest! 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. You dont need to be driving a car, as there are quite a few transportation options that are easily available. Dont worry about knowing the price in advance, its always pretty cheap (most times a couple of dollars). Carretera A Tulum Carrillo Puerto KM 200, Tulum, Q.R., Mexico, RELATED ARTICLE How To Swim With The SeaTurtles In Akumal. But the outside area is shallow and most people could stand up. Gran Cenote is only 5 kilometres away from Tulum town centre, on the Carretera 109 towards Coba. Gran Cenote is a 20-30 minute bike ride outside of Tulum past Cenote Calavera on Highway 109. Its also the best cenote near Tulum Ruins (only 4.5 km), so easily make the two a day trip! If you do swim in a cenote and wind up with a stomachache in the following days, it might be due to the ice in your drink rather than the cenote you visited! You cant get closer to the beach than this!Check out prices and availability for Zamas Hotel.CHECK OUT A FULL REVIEW OF ZAMAS HOTEL. Its also one of the cheapest hotels youll find in Tulum. have found a tiny pair of Goggles just as useful for exploring the cenotes. From Valladolid youll need to take a taxi to Cenote Oxman because its on the outskirts of the city our taxi cost 125 pesos ($6), and we were able to arrange it with the driver to pick us up via Whatsapp for another 125 pesos so we didnt need to pay someone to wait for us. To open this cenote Tulum map in Google Maps simply tap the small square icon on the top right-hand side of the map. Follow me foradventures, tips and a travel show! 300 pesos to get in, 200 if youre a Mexican citizen. But when it does, there isnt much that you can do as a tourist. Shop around a bit before settling for a driver, and ask your hotel receptionist for recommendations. It has rubber straps to grip better underwater, it is seriously bright, and you can take it 150-meters underwater. 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. In 2014 there was a whole lake in Oregoncontaminated with the virus that got 70 people sick! I will talk about all of your options below. If you look up Aldea Zama Cenote on google maps theres a marker. 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. Trying to decide where to base yourself? Carretera Tulum Coba Km 1.7, 77796 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. Its right in the middle of all the action; they sell good burgers and round-the-clock alcohol and the young guys who run Clan-Destino Tulum are fun and upbeat. GoPro underwater cameras are so cheap now and you can use them for loads of different types of photography, not just water. The entrance is easy to miss, so be on the lookout for the orange Clan-Destino sign on the roadside. Cenote Zaci is 1.5 hours from Tulum, 2 hours from Playa del Carmen, and 2 hours from Cancun. Cenote Xunaan-Ha . I hope this post has helped you choose the best cenote in Tulum for your needs. At about 30-meters deep, divers can see what looks like the sandy bottom with an eerie branch sticking out from it. 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). Combine it with Dos Ojos for the perfect day tour from Tulum. By this time, you could say I was cenote-obsessed and I spent even more time exploring as many off-the-beaten-path cenotes that I possibly could on my very own Tulum cenote tour! Want to take it a step further and stay at a cenote hotel in Tulum? If you need any help or have anything to say, feel free to comment them below! Facilities: Bathrooms, change room, lockers, restaurants, snacks. Visitors can use the pool for free but can only use the palapas and loungers if they purchase food or drinks. Im addicted to getting the most out of life and would love to take you along for the ride. Guide To Visiting Alas Harum Agrotourism In BaliTransportation Guide To Morocco BEST Day Clubs In Ubud, Bali. Cenote Dos Ojos is another one of the most popular Tulum Cenotes and a remarkable vista, to say the least. Im Crystal! No other facilities, North of Tulum 25 km (15.5 miles) down the highway to Playa del Carmen (Carretera 307) and turning left onto Cenote Jaguar Road, Current price unknown. Norovirus is a stomach bug that you can catch by swimming in contaminated water. This is an essential item to pack with you when you visit a cenote. There are several car rental offices in Tulum, and you can also rent cars at Cancun Airport. Both are open-air cenotes; one is inland in the jungle and is very clean (as of 2021) by cenotes near Tulum standards; the water is crystal clear and very shallow. Sometimes, youll even be able to spot the halocline that occurs when the saltwater mixes with the fresh. Stalactites punctuate gorgeous caverns and stalagmites jut out all over the place, making Sistema Sac Actun some of the best diving in Tulum. On your way back youll notice the mesmerizing light beams that dance around in the depths on a sunny day. Keep reading for a complete guide on how to call a United States 1-800 toll-free phone number from Mexico for free! He took us to three lesser-known but seriously incredible cenotes, helped us perfect our buoyancy and had really nice diving gear. 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. Perfect in every way! Cenote El Pit is another popular cenote for Tulum cave diving. For something a bit more popular, we recommend Gran Cenote, which is located only 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the town of Tulum. Frequently Check it out on our Cenote Map Tulum below! You can jump in off the edge and swim around. 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! Its best to buy biodegradable sunscreen at home and bring it because it can be difficult to find and/or very expensive in Mexico. 5 Hour Tulum and Dos Ojos Tour Dos Ojos Cenote Private Tour with Mayan lunch. Yes, it was like that! Buses run directly to Valladolid from Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen. 11. If youre staying in Tulum, then there are so many amazing cenotes in Tulum just a stones throw away, and it would be a shame not to include these incredible natural wonders in your Yucatan itinerary. Some of the open cenotes are also connected to an underground river passage (and they are usually suitable for diving). Though you cannot enter the passage, the eyes are a beautiful place to go snorkeling. With the Visit to 4 Cenotes at Casa Tortuga youll get to explore them with a bilingual guide, and snorkel in all of them with the equipment provided. Its quite well hidden but is a great place to get some quiet time as no one else will be around. No restaurant or life jackets, South of Tulum 16.5 km (10 miles) down the highway to Chetumal (Carretera 307) and turning left, Free, just buy something from the bar/restaurant, There are toilets but no showers. Chiringuito Tulum: Im in love with the white design that reminds me of Mykonos or Santorini. I went to about five different ones at that time. Cenote Zacil Ha is right next to Car Wash Cenote, so follow the directions above. READ THE FULL BLOG POST:Gran Cenote, Tulum A Beautiful Cenote in Riviera Maya. But theres a lot more to Cenote Calavera than first meets From paradise beaches, ancient Mayan ruins, incredible cenotes, eco-friendly hotels & adventures, and a great foodie scene, Tulum offers everything you need [], Cenote Cristal & Cenote Escondido, Tulum: Prices + Info [2023], [] both. The tents are obviously pretty essential, but they are nicely decorated, each with a different theme. Some of the cenotes in this article such as Cenote Dos Ojos and Cenote Nicte Ha are located on highway 307 going north from Tulum, towards Playa del Carmen. Its one of the most unique cenote dives in the area. The crystal clear waters here make it a picturesque spot and a perfect place to spend your afternoon. If you decide to go into the water dry suits, life jackets and professional guides are with you. Camera: Because these cenotes feature one-of-a-kind natural beauty, it is hard to pass up the opportunity to capture them in photos. Cenote (seh-NOH-tay) literally means sinkhole in Mayan. Located between Tulum and Coba, Gran Cenote is one of the most popular cenotes in Tulum and its easy to understand why. Cenote Jaguar Rd, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. There are many cenotes near Cancun and Tulum that not only offer life-vests but require them for all swimmers. This happens as a result of limestone caves collapsing and exposing a natural pool. 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. Cenote Sac Actun: Most Popular Cenote in Mexico 8. (With precaution of the tides, though), Yal Ku Cenote Entrance Fee: 300 MXNYal Ku Cenote Opening Hours: Daily from 9 AM to 5 PMBest for: Swimming / Snorkeling. BOOK IT HERE, Cenote Calavera Entrance Fee: 250 MXN.Cenote Calavera Opening Times: 9 AM to 5 PM daily.Best For: Swimming / Scuba Diving. From Puerto Morelos you could rent a bike and bike up and down the route and visit all the cenotes, or hire a private driver in Puerto Morelos to take you to all the different Cenotes. However, things tend to get more complicated if you decide to dive in one of the Tulum water caves, as those might require certifications and a tour guide to lead the way. Follow the directions for Cenote Dos Ojos. The cave system is mapped out by reel lines, helping the first-time cavern-diver like myself feel safe navigating these confusing tunnels. It is one of the BEST diving Ive ever done in my life! Wastewater is reused for gardening, the miniature product are 100% natural and biodegradable, and so on. BOOK IT HERE, The Cenote Triple Adventure takes you to Casa Cenote, Gran Cenote and Cenote Calavera to explore the caverns, cliff-jump, snorkel and free-dive in the crystal-clear waters. Since most Mexico cenotes are located on private land and the owner of the land decides their own cenotes prices. The entrance is steep and narrow but once in the water, it opens up into a huge menacing cavern. However, even though its easily accessible, it rarely gets crowded, so its the ideal spot to come for a swim and relax (even better if you have a heart floatie to play with!). One of the cave cenotes you are led inside where you can see bats and interesting blind cave fish. Gran Cenote is a half open-air cenote thats pretty small. Cob Cenotes: 3 Cenotes, 100 pesos each to enter. READ: The ULTIMATE GUIDE to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Swimming/Snorkeling:The oils from human hands and certain elements in lotions and repellents can severely damage this natural growth process and also harm the fish. You are 100% NOT ALLOWED to wear normal sunscreen in the cenotes in the Riviera Maya. There are platforms to jump off from and hammocks and lounge areas for hanging out. Small shop on site. Cross a boardwalk through the Mexican jungle, visit ancient Mayan ruins, climb a treehouse, and take a speedboat to a natural lazy river all in 4 hours! You can visit Sac Actun by joining the Dream Underground World with pick up from Tulum. Cenote Zacil Ha is not that big, but the cenote has plenty going for it, including a zip line that runs some 10 feet above the surface of the water, the perfect way for thrill seekers to plunge into it. Of course, if you decide to visit in the summer and the cenote is an open-air type, the water temperature will be marginally warmer.Though 77 degrees F might sound quite cold, it is hardly cold enough to cool you down from Mexicos summer heat! This place has a sister bar owned by the same guys, which is on the beach and has some of the best tacos in Tulum, called Taqueria La Eufemia. According toWikipedias cenote definition; A cenote is a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath.. Diffrents circuits conomiques en Cancun Au dpart de Cancun : Visite guide d'une demi-journe : Tulum, plonge en apne et CenoteTulum, Yal-ku et Cenote pour vos vacances. The cenotes in Tulum are very safe for swimming, and some even feature shallow areas that are perfect for small children. Your email address will not be published. Decomposing leaves create hydrogen sulfide and it becomes caught between the fresh and salt waters, creating the illusion of a sandy bottom. Biodegradable Sunscreen: Please make sure not to apply regular sunscreen before entering a cenote. I visited both Gran Cenote and the Tulum Ruins this past spring and enjoyed both of them! If you spend 100 pesos at the restaurant your entrance fee to the Cenote is free otherwise, entrance is 30 pesos. How to Choose the Best Snorkel Gear on the Market! Not all open to the public but the best Tulum cenotes are! The Gran Cenote price doesnt include life jacket rental, you will have to organize that at the gate as well as snorkel gear hire and/or locker rental. Cenote Cristal Entrance Fee: 150 MXN (includes admission to Cenote Escondido).Cenote Cristal Opening Times: 10 AM to 5 PM daily.Best For: Swimming / Snorkeling / Diving, Cenote Cristal is one of the cenotes you can visit by joining the Cenote Trail Tour, together with Gran Cenote and Cenote Escondido. Why not use our find a cenote near me map below? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Coming from Cancun or Playa you could get a bus or Colectivo to Tulum and then transfer. best cenotes in Riviera Maya as well as cenotes in Tulum that I didnt go to Other cenotes, such as Cenote Pet Cemetery, have the remains of ancient animal fossils that can still be seen today. You'll see stalagtites, mites, learn the history and see spectacular sights. A sturdy waterproof torch with a lifetime warranty. 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. Filled with loads of useful information about each cenote, its perfect for helping you find the top cenotes in Tulum for your needs. Cenote Pet Cemetery is also part of the Sac Actun (White Cave) system that we talked about above. 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. Be aware that if you bring professional photo equipment, like a GoPro or a drone, they may charge you extra. Have you seen those amazing half-underwater and half-above-water photos? That is why some cenotes are perfect for diving and snorkeling, but some are just good for swimming. If you are using the map from your phone, the map should save into Your Places > MAPS automatically. people have got lost in the many tunnels and drowned inside. This passage is filled with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites that you come face-to-face with as you cruise past. Its also a great place to go for sunset since the tree-line is low. There are loads of different types of dive lights out there to choose from but I particularly love headlamps. Adorned with colorful rock decorations, stalactites, and the giant fallen trees, this cenote has an eerie, otherworldly vibe! 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 Xcanche at Ek Balam Ruins. . The Cenote Triple Adventure is a great Cenote Calavera tour. Im Crystal! You can jump off into the cenote from a high wooden platform if you like a more thrilling experience. The soft sand at the bottom is known to be a great skin exfoliator, but it smells like rotting eggs! 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. Because the cenote contains both fresh and seawater, both ocean and freshwater fish live here. The word cenote is derived from a Mayan term dzonot. Read More 3 BEST Supermarkets in Tulum, Mexico in 2023Continue. Gran Cenote. Read More How to Call a 1-800 Number from Mexico for FREE! I Please note that some links on my site are affiliate links, including Amazon Affiliate links. Kaan Luum Lagoon, 2 Cenotes, Tulum Ruins + Quinta Avenida. 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. Two years ago I decided to leave NYC and travel the world. I also spent one night in the Grand Suite, and this is a great alternative if you want the privacy of your own bathroom or prefer a more traditional stay. It is possibly the most expensive cenote in Tulum, and most packed with people. This cenote is best for swimming and snorkeling, but flippers are not allowed. Finally, someone made a bar at a cenote! Others such as Cenote Calavera and Cenote Carwash are located on the Tulum/Coba highway, going towards the Coba Ruins. 2023 NEW MENU: Is Be Our Guest Restaurant in Disney World Worth It? READ:How to Choose the Best Snorkel Gear on the Market! 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? While cenotes are certainly beautiful, they can sometimes be a little overcrowded with tourists and visitors, which obviously spoils the serenity of the place somewhat. Driving around the Riviera Maya is actually pretty easy. You can see stalagmites and stalactites, and even swim with small turtles. Others like the Coba Cenotes, are almost 100% underground and get no sunlight heating up the water. On the dive, you can hover above and dip below the gas layer if you feel comfortable. READ THE FULL BLOG POST:Cenote Escondido & Cristal: All You Need to Know. 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. If you plan to dive, youll want a dive light in the cenotes! Actually, this is a white gas layer, which is caught between the salt and fresh waters. These were my favorite cenotes in Mexico because theyre touristed less frequently and the water is crystal clear. Once youre in Valladolid you can walk to Cenote Zaci, its in the town center. The best way to explore the cenote is through a diving excursion. If you do catch Giardia, it can be cleared up with some anti-parasitic pills. Want to travel to the cenotes near Playa del Carmen pictured above? However, what the cenote lacks above ground it makes up for it underwater. This place is cool! Youre able to cruise under the wetland mangrove roots, through a limestone passage and face-on with interesting fish. You can find me doing headstands on the edges of cliffs, chasing down baby goats or perched in anuncomfortableposition trying to get thebest photo. 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. The cenotes range from less than a kilometer (1/2 mile) from Tulum to over 40 kilometers (25 miles) away from Tulum. From the surface, it appears to be two separate sinkholes, each filled with crystal-clear blue water that makes it look as though the Earth itself is peering up at you through two enormous eyes.