For more information on how to download maps for offline use,click here. With a depth of 60 meters, Cenote Angelita is great for diving. the eye. You are 100% NOT ALLOWED to wear normal sunscreen in the cenotes in the Riviera Maya. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and other affiliated sites. If youre into a bit of adrenaline, there are small cliffs from where you can jump into the water, and you can also practice snorkeling (the crystal-clear waters are perfect for this!) Theres cliff jumping and its half in a cave half out. 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. The tropical weather, sandy beaches, great Mexican food and ancient Mayan ruins are enough reasons to buy a plane ticket and visit Tulum ASAP. No trip to Tulum is complete without the cenotes. The color of the water is simply amazing, and you could spend hours snorkeling through the cenote caves. You can view dramatic rock formations, play with schools of fish and watch under the crystal-clear waters as the divers cruise through the caves. Youll have time to swim and snorkel in both cenotes with an expert guide. Its so much fun to cliff-jump at Cenote Calavera, but if theres more than a handful of people there you wont be able to jump into the main (mouth of the skull) hole because it will be clogged with a loooooong line of people getting the iconic shot sitting in the swing that this cenote is known for. Coming from Cancun or Playa via public transit youll have to transfer in Tulum. Cenote Siete Bocas (7 Mouth Cenote) runs along the famous Rutas de los Cenotes outside Puerto Morelos. Be aware that if you bring professional photo equipment, like a GoPro or a drone, they may charge you extra. The Cenotes are still sacred to the Mayan people today, meaning most cenotes are closed off from public use. Theres a nice deck for you to sit on and a few active cichlid fish swimming around the mangroves as well as a resident cayman that I never got the pleasure of meeting. He took us to three lesser-known but seriously incredible cenotes, helped us perfect our buoyancy and had really nice diving gear. Cenote Escondido and Cenote Cristal just south of Tulum pueblo on the highway toward Carrillo Puerto (again, just outside the pueblo, very close to Tulum). Cenote Carwash Entrance Fee: 100 MXN for swimmers, 250 MXN for divers.Cenote Carwash Opening Times: 8 AM to 6 PM daily.Best For: Swimming / Snorkeling / Diving. 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! Take the 307 Highway toward Playa del Carmen and turn right on Reforma Agraria. In Tulum, Idived with Jean-Claude atZen Diving. They provide snorkel gear, life jackets, and a guide is included in the price. Sac Actun is only 4 km from Tulum but is also easily accessed from Playa Del Carmen as well. Even if its different from others on this list, its one of the best cenotes in Tulum. At Cenote Azul, you just have to dip your feet in the water and get in, as you would in a swimming pool! The 2019 horror movie 49 Meters Down: Uncaged popularized the idea that there are man-eating sharks in Cenotes. If you are looking for famous cenotes in Tulum, the Dos Ojos system has featured in an IMAX Film Journey Into Amazing Caves, the 2006 BBC/Discovery Channel series Planet Earth and parts of the Hollywood movie The Cave were filmed in Dos Ojos. Best Snorkeling Cenotes Best Scuba Diving Cenotes Best Cave Cenotes Best Free Cenotes Playa del Carmen Cenotes, Tulum Cenotes Map Getting to Cenotes in Tulum Cenote Packing List Where to Stay in Tulum. Actually, this is a white gas layer, which is caught between the salt and fresh waters. Cenotes Casa Tortuga is on the 307 Highway, about 20 minutes north of Tulum. No toilet, shower or restaurant, 3 km (2 miles) from Tulum town center on the Highway to Coba (Carretera 309) and turning right. This is my second choice for a waterproof headlamp. and meet the fish that will nip on your feet when you sway them slowly in the water. One is 3 meters high and one is about 10. Tulum is home to the largest underwater cave system in the world. Some cenotes will require you to shower before entering and you may also like to get a biodegradable sunscreen. This custom map of cenotes near Tulum includes all of the This tour gets raving reviews! 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. It boasts milky blue water, some rope swings, a jumping platform, and dramatic cave stalactites hanging from the roof. Are Cenotes Safe For Non-Swimmers? I did not personally visit this cenote, but I have included it because of all the raving reviews in person and online. Water Bottle: Mexico has tropical weather so you can expect it to be hot and humid. Its quite an adventure! It has two diving sites frequently explored by snorkelers, scuba divers, and the occasional sea turtle. Want to travel to the cenotes near Playa del Carmen pictured above? . Make sure to bring water shoes so you can protect your feet from the rocks. Youll get to visit this and other two cenotes, where youll be able to snorkel, free-dive and cliff-jump into the fresh waters. Cave Cenotes Cave cenotes can usually be accessed via a land-level entrance with a staircase. Cenote Zacil Ha is relatively small its like a pit with very blue water. Book your stay at Wakax HaciendaON THEIR WEBSITEor onBOOKING.COM. Mayans settled villages around these spiritual wells and believed that . But its not as easy as saying that cenotes are underground sinkholes and thats it. 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. There are loads of different types of dive lights out there to choose from but I particularly love headlamps. These Playa del Carmen cenotes are located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, about 20-30 minutes driving down the main highway (Carretera 307). Thank you! Mexico cenotes have cultural and religious significance to the ancient Mayans, who believe that cenotes are passages to the underworld and consider them sacred. It is only waterproof up to one meter for 30 minutes though, so this is NOT a diving lamp. memories! It is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or diving. The cave then drops even further but cant be reached by untrained divers. Always take pictures/video of the car before you leave the rental office to avoid scams (they can happen anywhere, not just Mexico). 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. THE BEST CENOTES FOR SNORKELING NEAR TULUM, Casa Cenote (Cenote Manati or Cenote Tankah), My Tips for Visiting the Cenotes of Mexico. Some cenotes like Casa Cenote and Laguna Kaan Luum are open-air cenotes that get lots of sunlight warming the water. (Restaurant Review)Continue. Carretera A Tulum Carrillo Puerto KM 200, Tulum, Q.R., Mexico, RELATED ARTICLE How To Swim With The SeaTurtles In Akumal. Cenote Pet Cemetery is also part of the Sac Actun (White Cave) system that we talked about above. Ill take a hot minute to talk about the snorkeling in Dos Ojos, but if you think youd prefer to dive, make sure you jump down to the scuba diving section to read about diving at Dos Ojos. 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. There are no cenotes in Playa del Carmen city center, so these are the best (and closest) cenotes if you are coming from Playa del Carmen. The Calavera Cenote used to be quite unknown and both times I visited, there were only 4 or 5 people. The tents are obviously pretty essential, but they are nicely decorated, each with a different theme. There are three really good Playa del Carmen cenotes right near each other, so they would make a fantastic day trip from either Tulum or Playa del Carmen. Go early to avoid our mistake! So what are Cenotes exactly? Sure, what youre seeing isnt as clear and you cant breathe underwater, but Dos Ojos Cenote Complex has 5 cenotes; Dos Ojos, El Pit, Jaguar, Nicte Ha, & Los Monos. Its important to remember that there are a lot of things in Mexico that can make tourists sick. Water Shoes: It can be uncomfortable to walk barefoot on the jagged rocks that surround the cenotes. MORE:See more travel gear I love and use! The cenote has a rope that you can hold onto as you explore, and there are also a few shallow spots for non-swimmers. Casa Tortuga comprises four cenotes of three different types: two open cenotes, a semi-open cenote and a cavern cenote, making it the ideal destination if you want to swim in various sinkholes but have little time. The cenotes in Tulum are very safe for swimming, and some even feature shallow areas that are perfect for small children. Welcome! Cenote Calavera might be my favorite cenote in Tulum! How do I Know So Much About the Tulum Cenotes? In one day, youll be able to snorkel at Casa Cenote + Cenote Sac Actun and the beautiful reef of Tulum. 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! This is the number one list of best cenotes in Tulum, Mexico youll find on the web. Cenote Dos Ojos is one of the best places to go diving in Mexico and perhaps the world, for first-time cavern divers. It got its name from the fact that this is the deepest cenote in the Yucatan 119 meters deep! Since Casa Cenote isnt near an overpass, I wouldnt recommend taking a bus or Colectivo because youll have to walk a distance to cross the highway. Mexico is a water-lovers paradise and it would be a shame not to capture all your special memories made in the cenotes. On Google it says 9 AM 5 PM every day but we got there at first thing at 9 AM and they didnt open the doors until 9:30.. RELATED ARTICLE Guide To Visiting Cenote Aldea Zama. I jumped from the high platform and its the most fun I had in all of Mexico. She has too many awesome stories and helpful tips to keep them all to herself so follow along and in return she will bring you inspiring pictures, travel videos and a whole load of fun! 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. 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. Renting a bike for a day shouldnt cost you more than 200 pesos (around $10). Zamas Hotel: Choose one of the colorful bungalows on the beach at this boutique hotel and wake up to the sound of waves. If you want to know more about these cenotes, just read the article! Keep reading for a complete guide on how to call a United States 1-800 toll-free phone number from Mexico for free! Its one of the most unique cenote dives in the area. Let me help you plan your next trip! Read More How to Call a 1-800 Number from Mexico for FREE! You can also find a nice organic restaurant serving healthy food, Flow Restaurant. When I visited, I had it all to myself! El Pit Cenote: Best Cenote for Diving 6. Well, dont. 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. The PitCenote is the deepest cenote in the state of Quintana Roo. almost perfect circle, with boulders tumbling down the sides. Carretera Tulum Coba Km 1.7, 77796 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. Above the cenote, there is a rainforest walk and spider It is commonly known that Tulum is an important and integral part of Mayan culture in the Riviera Maya. On this tour, you will also be able to experience one of the popular cenotes of this region and spend some time swimming in its waters. READ THE FULL BLOG POST:Cenote Cristal & Escondido: All You Need to Know. La Noria was my favorite of these cenotes. I check prices regularly whenever I can but sometimes the price I have listed may not be the most recent. Take a Colectivo to Akumal from Tulum or Playa del Carmen for 35-50 pesos, and then from Akumal bus stop its about a 30-40 min walk or you can hail a taxi from Akumal Beach (less than 10 min walk from the bus stop) for around 150 pesos. Km. Because of its crystal clear waters (thus, the name), you will be able to swim with tons of small fish. Youve been The Pit is easilyone of the best cenotes for divers, due to the amazing things youll see down there and the fact that its open-water, so suitable for almost all diver certifications. READ THE FULL BLOG POST: Why Youll Fall In Love With Cenote Nicte-Ha. Read More Top 10 Things to Do in OaxacaContinue. Others like the Coba Cenotes, are almost 100% underground and get no sunlight heating up the water. The cenote is sometimes dubbed the underground river because once you are down there, the gas layer coupled with the fallen trees and boulders look like the edge of a peaceful river. Update: as of January 2022 Cenote Zaci has been closed for renovations, please check to see if its open again before you make plans to go! CENOTE DOS OJOS. This cenote would be at the top of the best diving cenotes Tulum recommendation list. Request to visit Cenote Car Wash on your own private cenotes tour! guide in the cenotes of Tulum so you dont get lost. Its totally breathtaking here and absolutely worth the price. Cenotes form when underground limestone erodes and collapses, creating essentially an underground river. Facilities: Bathrooms, change room, lockers, restaurants, snacks. It boasts such crystal clear blue water, that fish and turtles can be seen swimming around without the need of a snorkel! Prices differ between each cenote and are subject to change. They were taken at 8 am, right after opening time, and by 8.15 there were already quite a few people, so make sure you get here early: theres nothing better than floating in this turquoise water immersed in the silence. monkeys and other animals can be spotted in the trees. I chose to do it this way and I was able to visit 6 cenotes in one day. 11. Dont worry about knowing the price in advance, its always pretty cheap (most times a couple of dollars). Cenote Angelita is one of the best cenotes around Tulum for diving. Visiting Casa Tortuga is sort like a cenote tour of a series of three cenotes in a park. 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. READ THE FULL BLOG POST:Cenote Calavera, Tulum : Swimming in the Temple of Doom. Kaan Luum Lagoon, 2 Cenotes, Tulum Ruins + Quinta Avenida. Option 1 - $70 pesos. This is one of the biggest cenotes I visited in the Yucutan, its also frequented mostly by locals. Clan-Destino Bar is perfectly located on the main beach strip of Tulum. Admission Fee: $120 pesos; and $150 pesos for divers Snorkel Gear Rental: $80 pesos (you can also rent scuba diving gear) . Scuba Diving:You MUST dive with an experienced Cenote Xunaan-Ha Entrance Fee: 100 MXN.Cenote Xunaan-Ha Opening Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM daily.Best For: Swimming / Snorkeling / Diving. This hipster town also borders the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve, and the Tulum cenotes are in my opinion the best youll find in the []. Stay with us for the information about the best cenotes in tulum. You can also jump into the cenotes from a certain height, if you dare! In my opinion, the cenotes near Tulum are the best ones in the state of Quintana Roo, and it makes sense to come for a day trip from Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Click on each icon to see more information about the cenote and its entry price. But that just means there will probably be fewer people there and you might have the whole cenote to enjoy to yourself. 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. With lots of space to swim around, this is ideal for the less experienced cavern diver. The opening of the underwater cave is partly covered by giant submerged trees, and with the odd diver darting in and out of the cave; the snorkeling at Car Wash Cenote is some of the most impressive of all!