20 Cenotes Near Tulum to Visit in Mexico & Map
If you’re planning a trip to Mexico’s Riviera Maya, visiting the cenotes near Tulum should be high on your list. These natural sinkholes, filled with crystal-clear freshwater, are not only beautiful, but also offer some of the best spots for swimming, snorkelling, and diving.
The tricky part for first-time visitors is figuring out which cenotes are worth your time. With so many to choose from, each offering a slightly different experience, it can be overwhelming to decide where to go, where they are, and what the entry costs are.
Having explored a few of the cenotes on our last visit in and around Tulum, I’ve put together a guide to help you narrow it down. I’ve included all the ones I know about, along with a pinned map so you can plan your route with ease.
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Map to Find the Cenotes near Tulum
Getting to Tulum’s gorgeous cenotes from the city centre is a breeze, and I have a Map featured below to help you with directions! While some are closer than others, you can choose which suits your needs best, whether it’s time, budget, or facilities that concern you most.
(Please click here for my specially pinned map of the ones mentioned today)
There is a range of transport options available to help you get there, either by car or hired taxi or tours, while others may require some more effort to reach.
➡ Search for Tulum Hotels HERE with Booking.com.
20 Cenotes Near Tulum to consider visiting!
Conveniently, you have organised Day trip tour options from Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum. These are definitely worth it if you don’t have your own vehicle.
This will cover the Quintana Roo region and a few of the more popular cenotes to visit. Some of these will come with Hotel pickup, and others will have a meeting point in the city.
➡ Search Cenote Tours HERE with Viator, Or HERE with GYG.
Either way, you can browse through the different packages and decide which one suits your needs. Filtering by your pickup city will be your best start to rounding down your choices.
All prices are in Mexican Peso’s and you can convert into your currency here.
1. Grand Cenote
The Grand Cenote is about 10 minutes from Tulum and is estimated to cost 500 MXN per person.
➡ Find Grand Cenote HERE with Viator, or HERE with GYG.
2. Calavera
Cenote Calavera is about 7 minutes from Tulum and is estimated to cost 250 MXN per person.
3. Casa (Manati)
The Casa Cenote is about 20 minutes from Tulum and is estimated to cost 200 MXN per person.
➡ Compare prices for Casa Cenote HERE with Viator
4. Dos Ojos
The Dos Ojos Cenote is worth seeing and one of the most popular, as you can both Dive and Snorkel. Additionally, the diving has 2 different lines, bringing some variety to what you can see.
It has a large side opening that you can walk up to and jump in, unlike other cenotes in Tulum with lots of Stairs. There is also a lot of natural light, which is relatively shallow and thus an excellent place for everybody to enjoy.
The visibility through the water is fantastic, and the temperature is ideal at a constant 24-25 degrees Celsius throughout the year. It costs about 400 MXN to get into Dos Ojos and swim, but it differs if you want to dive.
➡ Compare prices for all Dos Ojos Tours HERE with Viator
We managed to do two dives at “Dos Ojos,” and it only took a few hours to complete. I loved how easy it was to access, and plenty of people were swimming around by the time we got back. But, of course, like any popular spot, early mornings and late afternoons will have fewer people.
5. Azul
Cenote Azul is 30 minutes from Tulum and is estimated to cost 180 MXN per person.
6. Cristalino
The Cenote Cristalino is 30 minutes from Tulum and is estimated to cost 200 MXN per person.
7. CarWash (Cenote Aktun Ha)
Cenote Carwash is about 15 minutes from Tulum and is estimated to cost 300 MXN per person.
8. Escondido
It takes about 10 minutes from Tulum to Cenote Escondido and is estimated to cost 200 MXN per person.
9. El Pit
The El Pit cenote is about 35 minutes from Tulum and costs 600MXN per person. However, for us booking with a dive company, it cost us around $135 USD for 2 dives plus an entrance fee.
El Pit is an attractive cenote for divers and is not really appropriate for snorkelers. However, there are a few steps to get into the opening of the cenote with a platform to organise your gear.
The biggest draw card for any diver to this cenote is the unbelievable light beams that shine through at the peak of a sunny day. The Cenote is deep and wide, so the light shines down 40 metres through the crystal clear waters.
It can be eerie, but around 25 metres, there is a smoky layer of hydrogen sulphide in the main cavern, which you can dive under. Alternatively, it has delicate and gorgeous Stalactites gripping to the edges of the overhangs.
It’s recommended to be certified as Advanced Open Water or higher for the “El Pit” Cenote. This will help you get the most out of your dive. We only did one dive here, which was worth it. Alternatively, for those not afraid of heights, there is a platform you can jump off into the pool below.
10. Yaxmuul
It takes about 20 minutes to get to Cenote Yaxmuul and is estimated to cost 700 MXN per person.
11. Jardin Del Eden (Ponderosa)
The Jardin Del Eden cenote is about 30 minutes from Tulum and is estimated to cost 200 MXN per person.
12. Encantado
It takes 30 minutes to get from Tulum to Cenote Encantado and is estimated to cost 100MXN per person.
13. Maya Park at Ek Balam Ruins
Cenote Maya is one of the largest domes in the Yucatan Peninsula and is about 2 hours from Tulum (cost around 500MXN).
I visited this cenote on a day tour from Playa Del Carmen that included visiting the Ek Balam Mayan Ruins near Valladolid. It has been set up almost like a fun water park that can be enjoyed for hours.
The best part is how you get into the Cenote! If you’re afraid of heights, taking the stairs might be an excellent option. However, for everyone else, it’s an abseiling experience directly into the water.
➡ Find Ek Balam Ruins & Cenote Maya Tickets HERE with Viator
This Abseiling alone made the Cenote Maya totally worth visiting.
It was the most incredible adventure I did on my whole trip, but over too quickly. It took about a minute or 2 to slowly make your way down, and the water was freezing due to the cenote being in the shade.
After that, you can enjoy all the other activities like a Flying Fox, High jump Area, or just swim around the dome. For this occasion, we took a tour that picked us up from our Hotel, including the Maya Park, Ek Balam ruins & Lunch, and cost about $90US per person.
14. Cristal
Cenote Cristal is about 10 minutes from Tulum and is estimated to cost 200 MXN Per person.
15. Zacil-Ha
It takes about 15 minutes to get from Tulum to Cenote Zacil-ha and is estimated to cost 300 MXN Per person.
16. Nicte-Ha
It’s about 25 minutes from Tulum to Cenote Nicte-ha and is estimated to cost 380 MXN Per person.
17. Sac Actun (Cenote Pet Cemetery)
The Cenote Sac Acton is about 35 minutes from Tulum and is estimated to cost 450 MXN per person.
18. Ik Kil (Near Chichen Itza)
The Ik Kil cenote is about 2 hours from Tulum and is estimated to cost 220 MXN per person.
➡ Find Chichen Itza Ruins & the Ik Kil HERE with Viator
19. Xcanche at Ek Balam Ruins
Cenote Xcanche is about 2 hours from Tulum and costs an estimated 180 MXN per person.
20. Suytun (Valladolid)
The Suytun cenote is about 1.5 hours from Tulum and costs an estimated 280 MXN per person.
What is a Cenote?
A cenote is a sinkhole resulting from the collapse of the ground above that exposes underneath. As well as surface connections to subterranean water bodies.
Some of the well-known cenotes are open, large pools measuring metres in diameter. Then there are other smaller sites that don’t have any exposed water on the surface.
That being said, there are over 6,000 different cenotes in the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico alone. Interesting that sometimes they were used by the ancient Maya for sacrificial offerings.
Can you visit without a tour?
Yes, you can absolutely visit them without a tour! If you have a car or can rent one, it’s easy to find many of them nearby.
➡Find your favourite brand & compare prices for your Rental Car HERE
However, if you don’t want to worry about renting a car, there is still plenty to explore. Many cenotes can be visited with the aid of public transport too.
Are they safe to swim?
Yes, cenotes are very safe to swim in! They are natural bodies of water that are calm and protected from elements such as wind and waves.
With crystal clear, cool water and no absorption of harmful UV rays, these natural pits are the ideal place for swimming.
Do you need waterproof shoes?
Believe it or not, you actually don’t need waterproof shoes for cenotes. At least not for swimming, that is. Instead, opt for a cool and dry pair of canvas sneakers, Flipflops (or thongs), to protect your feet from rocky surfaces. Ultimately the best shoe is whatever works best for you and your individual preferences.
Why are they so cold?
The answer lies in their source of fed by underground rivers that come from local aquifers. The water has minimal contact with the outside environment, so it doesn’t absorb much of the sun’s heat like in other places. This makes it typically colder than other bodies of water since it has less exposure to the sun and because these underground rivers run over porous rock.
Wrap up!
Ultimately, when you arrive at those sparkling blue lagoons surrounded by lush jungle foliage, it’ll be worth every second of the journey!
Thanks for reading this blog post today and discovering the Cenotes Near Tulum to Visit in Mexico. I hope you found the information you were looking for, but if you’re still researching, please find other Mexico Based articles here for planning.
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