This cenote is located on Highway 307 going south from Tulum. Best for: swimming, snorkeling, diving. There are also multiple amenities available, including changing rooms, two actual swimming pools, and a restaurant, so its very family-friendly albeit a little less natural than the others on this list. The snorkeling and diving are somewhat separated and both incredible in their own right. 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. It depends! You can find me doing headstands on the edges of cliffs, chasing down baby goats or perched in anuncomfortableposition trying to get thebest photo. This is a natural phenomenon that happens when freshwater and saltwater meet, and it creates optical illusions. Cenotes were highly significant as they were one of the only sources of water, plus they were also used for sacrifices to please the Gods and bring good fortune. monkeys and other animals can be spotted in the trees. Laguna Kaan Luumis a wide, bright green lagoon cenote located just outside of Tulum. It has rubber straps to grip better underwater, it is seriously bright, and you can take it 150-meters underwater. There are many beautiful cenotes close to Tulum that are open to the public, just waiting for you to explore. Clan-Destino Bar is perfectly located on the main beach strip of Tulum. A colectivo is a shared minivan. Keep reading for a complete guide on how to call a United States 1-800 toll-free phone number from Mexico for free! Gran Cenote is among the most popular cenotes in Tulum and serves as the main entrance to the Sisterna Sac Actun caves, with crystal clear, cool waters to swim. It will be a hot ride though take lots of water! Puerto Morelos is halfway between Playa del Carmen and Cancun, If you want to go via public transit you could take a Colectivo or bus to Puerto Morelos (if via Colectivo youll need to transfer in Playa if youre coming from Tulum). Cenotes are a natural geological marvel that are only found in the Yucatn Peninsula, and a must-see if youre planning a trip to Quintana Roo. 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. Budget Tip: Just renting a towel, snorkel, flippers, and life vest at this cenote will cost over 500 pesos ($25), if you want to save money bring your own snorkel and beach gear! The water is always clean and warm. 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. 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. My picks would be either Cenote Calavera, Gran Cenote or Casa Cenote by bike. Its a bit steep to get in (300 pesos) but Caleta Tankah is one of the only places in Tulum with a (small) seaweed-free beach. What is a cenote, and why is everyone obsessed with them? laguna kaan luum, 77760 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. You simply rock up to the place, pay the entrance fee (and other amenities you might want), and then you are free to explore! Theres a complex with hammocks outside the cenote and the water is very clean. They can be more or less deep, depending on which cenote you go to. 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! THE BEST CENOTES FOR SNORKELING NEAR TULUM, Casa Cenote (Cenote Manati or Cenote Tankah), My Tips for Visiting the Cenotes of Mexico. It essentially makes it much easier to get those awesome shots. The treehouses at Azulik feature an incredible design & mosaic hot tubs on the terrace with jungle views. Youre able to cruise under the wetland mangrove roots, through a limestone passage and face-on with interesting fish. Decomposing leaves create hydrogen sulfide and it becomes caught between the fresh and salt waters, creating the illusion of a sandy bottom. Its all walking in a dark cave in waist deep water and there is only one section of the tour you will have to swim maybe 20 feet or so but they do supply life jackets and the guide will help you if you are nervous. MORE:See more travel gear I love and use! Cenote Triple Tour in Tulum Casa Cenote, Gran Cenote and Temple of Doom, Request to visit Cenote Angelita on this cavern diving tour, Dos Ojos Cenote Private Tour with Mayan lunch, Request to visit Cenote El Pit on this cavern diving tour, Tulum Ruins and Grand Cenote Tour from Playa del Carmen, Cenote Trail Bicycle Tour (including Grand Cenote) from Tulum, 5 PLACES ONE PRICE! If you want to take a peek at Tulum underwater caves this is the place to do it! The bio-diversity in cenotes is fragile and the ingredients of most sunscreens and insect repellants can severely damage the cenotes and harm the fish. Entry fee: US$3 (50 MXN) for swimmers, and US$6 (120 MXN) for divers. This means that the water in cenotes is straight from the source and extremely clean. Free Diving: Never lose sight of the cave entrance unless you are following a line. Carretera A Tulum Carrillo Puerto KM 200, Tulum, Q.R., Mexico, RELATED ARTICLE How To Swim With The SeaTurtles In Akumal. If youre planning to visit a few cenotes in a day, the taxi cost will add up pretty quickly. The Calavera Cenote used to be quite unknown and both times I visited, there were only 4 or 5 people. I read recently that sometimes this cenote is blocked off from the public due to an ongoing ownership dispute. 1. Its quite an experience! JC was one of the most professional and friendly dive instructors I have ever encountered. Coming from Cancun or Playa via public transit youll have to transfer in Tulum. Perfect in every way! READ THE FULL BLOG POST:Cenote Calavera, Tulum : Swimming in the Temple of Doom. Your email address will not be published. Some of the open cenotes are also connected to an underground river passage (and they are usually suitable for diving). In English, the name of this cave cenote translates to two eyes- and the reason for that becomes clear as soon as you set eyes on Cenote Dos Ojos, one of the best cenotes in Tulum. Caleta Tankah is about 10 minutes outside of Tulum on Highways 307, you can bike there (like I did, wouldnt recommend) from Tulum or take a taxi and arrange a pickup time via Whatsapp for about $7 each way. Aside from avid divers, it is also frequented by speleologists and geologists who want to study the rock formations and species that can be found here. For something a bit more popular, we recommend Gran Cenote, which is located only 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the town of Tulum. The tropical weather, sandy beaches, great Mexican food and ancient Mayan ruins are enough reasons to buy a plane ticket and visit Tulum ASAP. Nope, you wont be able to see them all as there are considering there are thousands of cenotes in Yucatan and Quintana Roo. We had already paid the 100 pesos entrance fee and couldnt get a refund. In the cooler months though, the temperature of the water in the cenotes is ideal! All of these Playa del Carmen cenotes are of a moderate price range from $100 MXN pesos to $350 MXN pesos. Some will stop, some wont. A wide, pond-like cenote 150 feet across and 10 feet deep on average, Cenote Carwash is one of the best cenotes in Tulum for swimming. The cenote meaning to the Mayan people was so sacred that they believed that cenotes were the crossroads to the underworld. The cost will between $20 and $40 MXN pesos. Super deep, 100% underground, people jump from dedicated platforms. Cenotes form when underground limestone erodes and collapses, creating essentially an underground river. In the other, you are taught about the rock formations and interesting cave geology facts while experiencing slight vertigo caused by the crystal-clear water and the sheer depth of the cave. These sinkholes, which started out as water sources and places for sacred offerings for the Mayans, have in recent years developed into freshwater swimming spots for tourists and locals alike. Even better if you have an underwater camera or GoPro, so you can take it in the water with you. Its still not a budget option, I know, but Tulum and Riviera Maya are way more expensive than the rest of Mexico. I personally think this place is a hidden gem in Tulum. Cenote Azul is a beautiful open cenote, ideal for families with children and those who are claustrophobic and dont like climbing down into a cave to enjoy the fresh waters of a cenote. You can definitely visit the cenotes in Tulum and Quintana Roo on your own, although you might have to rent a car or a driver for the day. There are also no predators like sharks, large crocodiles, or even fish. Cenote Azul is located on the 307 Highway, about 40km north of Tulum toward Playa del Carmen. Cenote Dos Ojos is a good example of this and is the perfect cenote to do your first cavern dive. The Cenote Trail: Caves Visit and Bike Tour will bring you to Gran Cenote, Cenote Escondido & Cenote Cristal all in one day to quench your cenotes thirst. Theres also a bar and hammocks to hang out as well as a pool. 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. Casa Cenote is off the 307 Highway, driving north towards Playa del Carmen (about 20 minutes drive from Tulum Town). Restaurante Dos Ojos and Restaurante Juanita near the entrance, North of Tulum 22 km (13.5 miles) down the highway to Playa del Carmen (Carretera 307) and turning left onto Cenote Jaguar Road, $150 MXN pesos general entry / $200 MXN pesos scuba diver entry. Because its not commercialized theres no set address or hours I would recommend getting there no later than 9 AM because its so small that even one other group there is too many, and by 10 AM usually its pretty crowded, and it stays that way until sunset. Read More How to Call a 1-800 Number from Mexico for FREE! The complex cave systems of the cenotes are extremely easy to get lost in, it is not worth the risk. If youre lucky youll spot a resident turtle swimming alongside you. The Cob cenotes are unique because theyre all 100% underground. disclaimer. Youll start the day with a visit to the Tulum ruins, where youll learn about the history of the Mayan civilization, and then head to the cenotes at Casa Tortuga for a swim. Last I checked Cenote Zacil Ha charged 200 pesos ($10) entrance fee, but cenote prices in the Yucutan are going up constantly. La Noria was my favorite of these cenotes. However, all across the region, there are hidden treasures that predate even the Mayans by thousands and thousands of years: the cenotes. Some cenotes like Casa Cenote and Laguna Kaan Luum are open-air cenotes that get lots of sunlight warming the water. Entrance fee: 350 pesos ($18 USD) per person. Opening times: 8 AM to 5 PM daily at time of writing. Most cenotes have life jackets for rent so you do not need to be afraid of the deep crystal clear waters! Coming from Tulum on Carretera 109 towards Coba, youll find Cenote Calavera on your right after a 5-minutes drive. Its a bit too far to bike but you could take a cab ($10 each way from Tulum, $30 each way from Playa del Carmen). 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. The depth of the cenotes in Tulum varies. I loved the design of the room, you know those white, greatly-decorated rooms that you can find through the pages of design magazines? Even if its different from others on this list, its one of the best cenotes in Tulum. A relatively recent discovery that the Dos Ojos System was connected to the Sac Actun system, gave Sac Actun the title of the worlds largest flooded cave system. 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. Scuba diving here is just as good as the snorkeling. The waters are still and crystal-clear, with wooden paths and boardwalks around the cenote that make for easy access. They rent life jackets and the denote also has stairs to enter and exit the water. You can easily visit cenotes on your own, or you can check out this list of the best cenote tours in Tulum. If you spend 100 pesos at the restaurant your entrance fee to the Cenote is free otherwise, entrance is 30 pesos. You will be able to snorkel or dive with a guide at both Casa Cenote and Cenote Dos Ojos. It is certainly not the most beautiful cenote in Tulum, but Cenotes are natural swimming holes formed by the collapse of porous limestone bedrock, which reveals a secret subterranean world of groundwater pools. But most of the time the gear is old, crappy and has had other peoples mouths all over it! With elegance and style at the very core of its being, this serene guesthouse is located in a beautifully quiet spot deceptively close to Tulum towns main street. Zamas Hotel: Choose one of the colorful bungalows on the beach at this boutique hotel and wake up to the sound of waves. Read More 2023 NEW MENU: Is Be Our Guest Restaurant in Disney World Worth It? Some cenotes restrict part of the cenote for guided tours only. I love adding venture, art, good wifi & even better coffee. memories! It is only waterproof up to one meter for 30 minutes though, so this is NOT a diving lamp. . Sometimes the contaminated tap water is used to make ice in drinks and to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, and then tourists get sick from consuming things like fresh salads and smoothies. I check prices regularly whenever I can but sometimes the price I have listed may not be the most recent. Book your accommodation by using the map belowHere youll find hotels and holiday rentals in Tulum Town; change the location to Tulum Beach if you prefer to stay by the beach. Cave cenotes open up to an underground pool with shallower and deeper areas. 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. There are some things in the Yucatn that are huge culture shocks when you first move from the States but then become completely normal the longer you stay. Cenote Tulum snorkeling may become your favorite thing to do in Mexico! It is all worth it because you can see remains of animal skeletons (if you are into that sort of thing)! In one day, youll be able to snorkel at Casa Cenote + Cenote Sac Actun and the beautiful reef of Tulum. This cenote was first discovered in 1987, and while its more known among divers, snorkelers can enjoy it too. Visit My Favorite cenote in Mexico. You can pay per cenote entrance (200-300 pesos per cenote), or book a guided tour of the park for 600-700 pesos on their website linked here. 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. 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. BOOK IT HERE, Snorkeling Adventure Tour in Three Ecosystems In one day, youll be able to snorkel at Casa Cenote + Cenote Sac Actun and the beautiful reef of Tulum for some of the best snorkeling in Tulum experiences. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Home North America Mexico The Best Cenotes in Tulum (2022 Mexico Expert Guide). Cenote Dos Ojos Opening Times: 9 AM to 5 PM daily.Best For: Swimming / Snorkeling / Diving, Cenote Dos Ojos is on the Carretera Federal 307, km 244.5, 22km north of Tulum, READ THE FULL BLOG POST FOR MORE INFO:Visit Cenote Dos Ojos, Tulum The Most Beautiful Cenote in Riviera Maya. 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! The only cenote where you may find, if youre lucky, a small resident crocodile is Cenote Carwash. You might already know that I love glamping, together with luxury treehouse cabins and all that jazz, so when I found out there was a glamping site in Tulum, I knew I had to go and try it out. Even in a 100% underground cenote, the water is a refreshing temperature to swim in after being out in the Mayan Riviera heat. Im addicted to getting the most out of life and would love to take you along for the ride. Learning some Spanish will definitely help you barter, but sometimes, you just have to accept that you wont be paying nearly the same price as the locals. You can visit Sac Actun by joining the Dream Underground World with pick up from Tulum. Cenote Angelita resembles an underground river, but its due to the effect of the halocline. 233+400, Mxico 307, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. Use the pier to enter the water. Its located in Chemuyil village, half way between Tulum and Akumal, and is known as the fourth largest underwater cave system within Riviera Maya. Quintana Roo 109, 77796 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. If you plan to do any cenote snorkeling or diving, anywhere in this area, you will be asked not to wear normal sunscreen. Coniugazione Documents Dizionario Dizionario collaborativo Grammatica Expressio Reverso Corporate. Cenote Xunaan-Ha Entrance Fee: 100 MXN.Cenote Xunaan-Ha Opening Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM daily.Best For: Swimming / Snorkeling / Diving. Yes and no. have found a tiny pair of Goggles just as useful for exploring the cenotes. Cenote Calavera: Best Cenote for Cliff Jumping 4. 4. There is also a wall of lily pad leaves that are fun to explore with a snorkel mask too! Snorkeling gear or mask is what you need to make this possible. $200 MXN pesos general entry / $250 MXN pesos scuba diver entry, Toilets, life jacket rental at $20-$50 MXN pesos, 9 km (5.6 miles) from Tulum center on the Highway to Coba (Calle Carretera Federal 109) and turning left, $350 MXN pesos general entry fee / $380 MXN pesos scuba diver entry, Shower and toilet. Cenotes are all connected to underground freshwater springs, which means cenote water should be crystal clear and some of the cleanest in the world. Partially submerged tunnels connect the cenote's open-air sections. READ: How to Choose the Best Snorkel Fins for Your Needs. If you dont have a car you could take a taxi from Tulum Centro (shouldnt be more than 100 pesos) and then hail one off highway 109 when you want to go back. The location of this cenote near the Tulum Mayan ruins is perfect to combine a cenote with an historical tour. Guide To Visiting Alas Harum Agrotourism In BaliTransportation Guide To Morocco BEST Day Clubs In Ubud, Bali. Follow the directions for Cenote Dos Ojos. It just had a menu update for 2023 so we checked it out! Visiting Casa Tortuga is sort like a cenote tour of a series of three cenotes in a park. In fact, some cenotes are the only clean water supply for locals! One of the cave cenotes you are led inside where you can see bats and interesting blind cave fish. Try and use a refillable water bottle to reduce the consumption of plastic! dipping the phone under. Hell, you may even discover your own favorite cenote Mexico has to offer in this very guide! This is a newly discovered Cenote near Kaan Luum. It is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or diving. Cenote Calavera might be my favorite cenote in Tulum! Perfect for those of you who arent in the market for a North of Tulum 11 km (7 miles) down Carretera 307 and then taking a right hand turn towards Tankah Bay, $650 MXN pesos entry fee (guide and gear included), There is a shower, toilet and restaurant on site. Finally, someone made a bar at a cenote! Cenote Dos Ojos is located on Carretera Federal 307, which takes about 20 minutes to drive to from Tulum, and is open from 8 am to 5 pm daily. Cenote Angelita is a deep cenote located to the south of Tulum. The journey takes around 35 minutes. Even though Casa Tortuga means Turtle House in Spanish, dont go looking for turtles because its unlikely youll see one; the name is a bit deceiving on that end! It's a draw for divers, as it provides access to the second-largest cave system in the world. 10 min outside Tulum, this huge lagoon (which is actually a giant open-air cenote) is great for relaxing. El Pit Cenote: Best Cenote for Diving 6. Its a bit pricey at 300 pesos just for entrance and then more to rent towels, snorkel, flippers, etc, but completely worth it. Small shop on site. Cenote Oxman in Valladolid! There has never been a confirmed case of Norovirus associated with a cenote, but there are a lot of anecdotal stories online from people who swam in cenotes and got funny tummies in the following days. I did not personally visit this cenote, but I have included it because of all the raving reviews in person and online. Great! Help maintain the cenotes as beautiful as they are! People particularly loved to wash their cars here because each new day, all the soapsuds and cleaning products would magically disappear from the cenote!