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1. Chac Mool

Cenote Chac Mohol. Photograph by Nguyen Tan Tin. Lic Creative Commons.
 

 

Located in Puerto Aventuras, the Chac Mool has two entrances that lead to their respective cavities, the first one of considerable dimensions and the second one planted with stalagmites. You will love it, because the fact that sweet and salty waters converge in its bed cause the phenomenon known as halocline, in which the layers of different salinities form perfectly delimited columns. Although Chac Mool is one of the cenotes preferred by divers with little practice, it is essential that you respect the danger signs and do not trespass the closed areas for public use, since not doing so can lead to accidents with fatal outcomes.

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2. Xkekén

Cenote Xkekén. Photograph by Razi Marysol Machay. Lic Creative Commons

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This cenote is 3 kilometers from Valladolid, on the road that connects the city with Mérida; so the communications are excellent. Here you will experience a spectacular sensation, because the access to the covered grotto is through a very narrow opening, so when the space opens towards a monumental room, the magic is bewitching. Xkeké is well conditioned for being one of the most tourist cenotes. It has great access, facilities with railings, ropes to go holding you and rest while you swim and travel its wide spaces, platforms to accommodate. The crystal clear waters of an intense turquoise blue and its majestic stalactites will not disappoint you.
 

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3. Cenote Sagrado

Sacred Cenote. Photograph of sheeshoo. Lic Creative Commons.

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Only 5 kilometers from Chichen Itza is this open-air cenote that, in ancient times, was used, like almost all, for sacred purposes. With 60 meters in diameter and cut walls of 15 meters, it is connected to the Kukulcán pyramid through a 300-meter road. Its proximity made it important for the Mayan inhabitants of the area, who used the sacred cenote to launch virgins in sacrifice to please the god of rain. In its background, remains of young women dressed in elaborate clothing have been found. This is the ideal cenote for you to let your imagination fly and meet our ancestors.

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4. Tajma-hál

Cenote Tajma hál. Photograph by MironCaro. Lic Creative Commons.

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This is the local name of the Cenote Taj Mahal, which has taken its name from the famous Indian monument, thanks to the majesty of this natural prodigy. Actually there are four interconnected cenotes 25 kilometers south of Playa del Carmen. It is very well prepared, with bathrooms and restaurant, but to explore it in its fullness you will have to be an expert diver and overcome the wall of five meters deep that allows access to great cavities. The landscape of stalactites and stalagmites will be overwhelming beauty.

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5. Gran Cenote

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Great Cenote Photography by anjči. Lic Creative Commons.

Almost 4 kilometers from Tulum, in the direction of the deposits of Cobá, is the most famous cenote in this part of the country. It has a characteristic half moon shape and is suitable for everyone, since it consists of shallow areas where you can enjoy the practice of snorkeling without difficulties. You can also dive in other areas with depths up to ten meters, a feature to take into account if you are an expert diver. There are good facilities, including parking for cars and diving equipment rental. Its transparent waters alternate a fantastic experience, both in the open sky and in areas covered by stalactites.

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6. Suytun

Cenote Suytun. Photography by simplethrill. Lic Creative Commons.

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Suytun is, in addition to a beautiful cenote, a great complex of rural and natural tourism. It is located 8 kilometers from Valladolid and has accommodation in cabins and a museum with archaeological remains found within the same cenote. As a complement you can enjoy the experience offered by the ranch that is also at this point. The entrance costs just over $ 4 and allows access to a beautiful and imposing underground cave with shallow water and so transparent that you can see the fish.

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7. Ik Kil

Cenote Ik Kil. Photograph by BORIS G. Lic. Creative Commons.

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Around this impressive and beautiful cenote, an eco-park has been created, in which, apart from its exuberant forest and many birds, it is possible to spend the night in one of its high-class cabañitas, in the purest Mayan style, but with jacuzzi. There are no restaurants and shops where you can buy souvenirs. Cenote Ik Kil is one of the most spectacular places in Yucatan, only 3 kilometers from Chichén Itzá. You must not miss it.

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8. Ponderosa

Ponderosa Cenote Photograph by Curtis & Renee. Lic Creative Commons.

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This cenote of Quintana Roos is also known as Cenote Eden. As soon as you arrive, the reasons for your name will be very obvious, since the environment in which you are, open to the sky, is wonderful. The vegetation of this huge natural pool, with a depth of about 15 meters, falls on the sides of its walls. The waters are a crystalline green that will allow you to see the species that live in this ecosystem. You'll see how nice the turtles and eels are.

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9. Dos Ojos

Cenote Two Eyes. Photograph by Alex Berger. Lic Creative Commons.

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We enter one of the cenotes favorite for lovers of underground diving. Its discovery is quite recent, in the decade of the 80, and still they continue exploring kilometers and kilometers to discover, with more than 6.700 meters already investigated. At some points, the Dos Ojos cenote reaches up to 120 meters deep, so it is very important that you have a lot of experience to practice sports in this flooded cave. If you do not see yourself with enough capacity, it is best to hire the services of qualified monitors who will accompany you during the dive.

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10. Cenote Samula

Cenote Samula. Photograph by Frank Kovalchek. Lic Creative Commons.

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Before entering this beautiful cenote, you have to enjoy its fabulous accesses and its picturesque local craft stalls. Then you must go down some narrow stairs carved in the stone. We advise you to stop a little on this first floor and contemplate from here the captivating beauty of this flooded cave. Then you can follow the descent by wooden stairs to the floor of the Samula cenote. Here there are platforms where you can rest, leave things and prepare to swim. It is also the ideal place to contemplate the long roots of a tree that hang down to the bottom of the cenote. If you want to dive, you can rent the equipment outside.

 

Data of interest:

​​Hours: Most cenotes open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm

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Prices: Although there are cenotes with lower prices, the entrance price of the most visited is between 75 and 155 pesos MXN. Hiring a snorkel tour with qualified personnel costs between 400 and 650 MXN pesos.

 

Tour cenotes: If you want to take advantage of the time and visit several cenotes during your stay in the Riviera Maya, there are specialized companies that offer you a tour starting at 1500 MXN pesos. In these cases they usually offer a tour of four cenotes and include activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, zip lines, abseiling and picnic.

 

It is important to consult before hiring if you have health problems (asthma, heart, diabetes, pregnancy ...), since some activities may be discouraged.

 

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