Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum are known for their beachside all-inclusive resorts but these cenotes near Playa del Carmen should top your list of things to do in the area. More than white sand beaches and turquoise waters, these destinations have another pristine blue natural phenomenon to offer visitors. With more than just a few to choose from, here are the best cenotes playa del carmen has to offer!
What is a Cenote?
Scientifically, a Cenote is a natural pit created from the collapse of limestone bedrock which exposes ground water underneath. Otherwise known as…a cave full of water perfect for scuba diving, swimming, snorkelling, and the occasional sacrificial offering. Ok well, maybe the sacrifices are a thing of the past.
Cenotes have cool water and visibility so clear that you can see the rocks, fish, stalactites and stalagmites in detail. They are surrounded by jungle which gives visitors an almost romanticized adventure landscape, without having to trudge through the actual jungle. These cenotes near Playa del Carmen are ideal for a fresh water adventurous day trip from Playa del Carmen.
There are more than 6000 cenotes in the Yucatan, so you’ll plenty of options to choose from. It is also pretty easy to travel around the Yucatan to see them all. Here are my recommendations for the best cenotes in Playa del Carmen.
Types of Cenotes
Open Cenote: Natural, open pools. Not covered by any rock formations. Some open cenotes are connected to an underground river passage making them great for diving. An example of open an cenotes is Cenote Jardin del Eden.
Semi-open Cenote: – Some parts of the cenote are exposed letting sunlight in and some parts are hidden by a cave. An example is Gran Cenote
Cave Cenote – A cenote which can be accessed via a land-level entrance. Once you make your way in, it opens up to an underground pool having both shallow and deep areas. An example of a cave cenote is Cenote Dos Ojos
Underground Cenote – These cenotes are completely underground and do not have big openings to the surface. Only experienced divers can access underground cenotes.
IMPORTANT: You should not wear sunscreen, lotions, or creams while swimming in the cenotes as it is dangerous for the fish, plants and other marine life. If you need to wear sunscreen, make sure its biodegradable. This is my favourite biodegradable sunscreen.
7 Best Cenotes Playa del Carmen has to offer!
1. Cenote Azul
Crystal clear and bright blue, the stunning Cenote Azul in Playa del Carmen is by far my favourite in the area. Arriving at and swimming in Cenote Azul makes you feel as if you are swimming in the middle of the jungle in a magical oasis.
There are fish, turtles and water eels everywhere and because Cenote Azul is an open lagoon and well positioned in the sun, the wildlife and plant life have flourished. Playa del Carmens Cenote Azul is the best to snorkel in. The number of fish, the light from the sun and the depth of the Cenote create perfect conditions.
A series of plant lined wooden bridges connect little islands throughout Cenote Azul creating an unarguably mystical scenery. There is a cliff at the far end for adventurers to jump from and you will find the spa fish here, so take a seat on a bridge and get the dead skin eaten from your feet, and prepare to laugh. It tickles. Cenote Azul is one of the best cenotes in Playa del Carmen to visit and should top your list!
Getting to Cenote Azul:
By Car: Rent a car in Playa del Carmen (Car rentals are always a blast) and take highway 307 south towards Tulum for 25 minutes until you see the sign for Cenote Azul. Drive 1 mile down a dirt road and you are there
By Collectivo: If you do not want to rent a car, you can pick up a collectivo (mini bus shared by 10 people that drops you off wherever you ask along their route). Tell the driver you are visiting Cenote Azul. Collectivos can be found on Calle 2 between 20th and 25th avenues.
Cenote Azul Important Information:
Cost: 150 MXN ($9USD)
Hours: Open Daily from 8:30am to 5:30pm
Parking: Free
Food: There’s a small food bar on site but you can bring your own snacks
Bathrooms and change rooms: available on site
Best time to go: Early in the morning or late afternoon, its busy during the day
Rentals: you can rent life jackets and snorkeling gear on site, fins are prohibited
Alcohol/Smoking: absolutely not
Cash only. Specifically Mexican Pesos. They will accept dollars but it’s less of a hassle to use Pesos.
2. Cenote Jardin del Eden (Ponderosa)
Jardin del Eden is one of the most popular cenotes for locals and visitors. Cenote Jardin del Eden is an open cenote with clear and refreshing water surrounded by lush jungle and is arguably one of the most beautiful cenotes in Playa del Carmen. It is a sizeable cenote with a cliff to jump off of on one end and a deck to catch some sun on the other. This is one of the busier cenotes in Playa del Carmen.
If you are a certified diver, you can dive in Cenote Jardin del Eden and enjoy the rock formations on a more personal level. If you are an adrenaline junkie, there are cliffs and decks to jump from. The cenote is big enough to enjoy snorkelling and splashing around without feeling like you are interrupting others. There are areas to picnic and relax with lifeguards on duty as well.
An absolute treat found here is that some of the fish in the cenote are the same fish used in spas to eat dead skin from your feet. So if you sit still the fish will come and work on your feet like a kind of odd spa treatment. Cenote Jardin del Eden has something for everyone making it one of the best and most popular cenotes Playa del Carmen has to offer
Getting to Cenote Jardin del Eden:
By Car: Rent a car in Playa del Carmen and take highway 307 south towards Tulum for 25 minutes until you see the sign for Jardin del Eden. Drive 1 mile down a dirt road and you are there.
By Collectivo: If you do not want to rent a car, you can pick up a collectivo (mini bus shared by 10 people that drops you off wherever you ask along their route). Tell the driver you are visiting Cenote Jardin del Eden. Collectivos can be found on Calle 2 between 20th and 25th avenues.
Cenote Jardin del EDEN IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Cost: 200MXN ($12.50 USD) adults, 100MXN ($6 USD) children
Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm, closed on Saturday
Parking: Free
Food: There’s a small food bar on site but you can bring your own snacks
Bathrooms and change rooms: available on site
Best time to go: Early in the morning or late afternoon, its busy during the day
Rentals: you can rent life jackets and snorkeling gear on site, as well as spa Cabanas
Alcohol/Smoking: absolutely not
Speakers: Prohibited, preserving the natural sounds are important
Cash only. Specifically Mexican Pesos. They will accept dollars but it’s less of a hassle to use Pesos.
3. Cenote Cristiano
Cenote Cristaliano is significantly less crowded and commercialized than its sibling cenotes, Cenote Azul and Jardin del Eden, which are next-door and on the same Ponderosa system. It is an open cenote so its like a giant open air pool surrounded by mangroves, with cliffs to jump from, and loads of swimming space.
With an average depth of 13 feet (4 meters), and deepest point of 19.5 feet (6 meters), Cenote Cristaliano is ideal for families with kids as it is fairly shallow. There are portions of the cenote that are hidden beneath a rock which forms a mini-cave with stalactites and stalagmites which is very fun to explore
This cenote is popular with both locals and tourists, so enjoy your day swimming with everyone! Completely surrounded by vegetation, Cenote Cristalino is a natural gem. Its crystal clear refreshing waters, set against its seemingly untouched vegetation makes this cenote near Playa del Carmen look rustic while still featuring numerous facilities.
Getting to Cenote Cristaliano
By Car: Rent a car in Playa del Carmen and take highway 307 south towards Tulum for 25 minutes until you see the sign for Cenote Cristaliano. Drive 1 mile down a dirt road and you are there.
By Collectivo: If you do not want to rent a car, you can pick up a collectivo (mini bus shared by 10 people that drops you off wherever you ask along their route). Tell the driver you are visiting Cenote Cristaliano. Collectivos can be found on Calle 2 between 20th and 25th avenues.
Cenote Cristaliano Important information:
Cost: 200MXN ($12.50 USD)
Hours: 8:00am to 6:00pm
Parking: Free
Food: There’s a small food bar on site but you can bring your own snacks
Bathrooms and change rooms: available on site
Best time to go: All day, far less crowded than other Cenotes in Playa del Carmen
Rentals: Locker rentals and sun loungers
Lifejackets: Free, you just need to ask for one
Alcohol/Smoking: absolutely not
Diving: No
Cash only. Specifically Mexican Pesos. They will not accept dollars
Finding this helpful?Planning a trip to Mexico? Here’s some other helpful posts to check out!
worth it or not? Does Chichen-itza really live up to its hype?
Bull SHARK DIVING IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN
hOW TO SPEND 12 HOURS ON COZUMEL
4. Cenote Chikin-Ha
Cenote Chikin-Ha is part of a larger nature park complex, so you actually get to visit 3 separate cenotes all for the price of one! This cenote is very well developed but still does not get as crowded as some of the others in the area making it a very attractive choice and one of the best experiences near Playa del Carmen
Upon entry, there are clean showers, bathrooms, a place to grab snacks, and tables for dive gear as well as a place for equipment rentals. A pleasant manicured path leads visitors through the jungle to all 3 cenotes offered within Chikin-Ha.
Cenote Ta’ak Bil-Ha
The first is a small cenote called ‘Ta’ak Bil-Ha’. While it is not swimmable, it is full of small fish and insects, and is shadowed by a cave with lush vegetation surrounding it making it more than picturesque. This cenote is mainly used for ceremonies honouring ancient Mayan traditions.
Just a short walk on a well marked path from cenote Chikin-ha, a set of stairs takes you down to the semi-open cenote Ta’ak Bil-Ha. Transparent blue water surrounds trees and their roots and its recommended to stop by and see it because it is both beautiful and serves cultural purpose.
Cenote Xtabay
The second cenote titled ‘Xtabay’ is an open aired lagoon which means there is no cave to swim in for non scuba divers. However, it is decently shallow in places and there is beautiful vegetation surrounding it, making for a great location to relax in the sun for an afternoon. You can also zip-line across it if you are feeling adventurous.
Cenote Chikin-Ha
The third cenote, Chikin-Ha, is a half moon shaped cenote with an undercut cave and crystal clear waters. It is full of fish and is perfect for snorkelling. There are two entrances into the cenote, one on each end so you can swim from one to the other. The cenote is decently deep and has an entrance to a scuba friendly cave system. Don’t forget to bring your mask, for this cenote is exceptionally clear and blue.
Getting to Cenote Chikin-Ha
By Car: Rent a car in Playa del Carmen and take highway 307 south towards Tulum for 20 minutes until you see the sign for Chikin-ha. Drive 1 mile down a dirt road and you are there.
By Collectivo: If you do not want to rent a car, you can pick up a collectivo (mini bus shared by 10 people that drops you off wherever you ask along their route). Tell the driver you are visiting cenote Chikin-ha. Collectivos can be found on Calle 2 between 20th and 25th avenues.
Cenote chickin-ha important information
Cost: 650 pesos ($40USD). Admission to Cenote Chikin-ha is included in the entrance fee to the eco-park. This price includes access to the park, guided tours, access to the zipline and snorkeling gear. While at first glance this seems high, but if you add together the value of 3 different cenotes (usually $10 each) plus the zipline and snorkeling gear. It is actually a great value.
Hours: 8:00am to 6:00pm
Parking: Free
Food: There’s a small food bar on site but you can bring your own snacks
Bathrooms and change rooms: available on site
Best time to go: All day, there’s enough to do to spend the day
Rentals: Locker rentals and sun loungers
Lifejackets and snorkeling gear: included with entrance fee
Alcohol/Smoking: absolutely not
Diving: Yes
Cash is preferred but not necessary
5. Cenote Dos Ojos – The Bat Cave
Cenote Dos Ojos might be the most famous Mexican cenote in the world and is therefore one of the most developed cenotes near Playa del Carmen. Within the Cenote, there are a few restaurants, change rooms, bathrooms and showers, as well as areas to nap or just relax on hammocks.
This cenote’s caves are of the more popular locations for scuba diving and snorkelling tours so you can find outlets for these types of activities here, available for every level. Blue water and incredible rock formations, this cenote looks like another planet.
The name ‘Dos Ojos’ means ‘two eyes’ and it is given this title because of the two sinkholes sitting side by side which measure 70 meters in diameter and are connected by a 400 meter long passageway. This is one of the largest and deepest underwater cave systems in the area reaching depths of 118 meters.
The Bat Cave Snorkeling Tour: Part of the cenote is nicknamed ‘the Bat Cave’ due to the fact that it is a large open cave with a small entrance in the top where bats tend to live. You can arrive here via snorkelling tours. Snorkelling tours last about 45 minutes and provide wetsuits, flippers, snorkels, masks and underwater flashlights. The tour takes you on a detailed exploration of the cavern meaning every few meters you stop for an explanation of what you are seeing. Because this place is truly a maze, you definitely do not want to enter without a guide, and yes, there will be bats.
There are also a number of other cenotes in the Dos Ojos area that you can visit and swim in along the way. However Dos Ojo’s is truly the star.
Getting to Cenote Dos oJOS
By Car: Rent a car in Playa del Carmen and take highway 307 South towards Tulum for 40 minutes until you see the sign for Dos Ojos. Drive 1 mile down a dirt road to the welcome center.
By Collectivo: If you do not want to rent a car, you can pick up a collectivo to Tulum (mini bus shared by 10 people that drops you off where you ask along their route). Tell the driver you are visiting Cenote Dos Ojos. Collectivos can be found on Calle 2 between 20th and 25th avenues.
Cenote dos ojos important information:
Cost: 350 pesos ( $21.50 USD) to enter. Snorkelling and scuba diving prices vary within the cenote.
Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Parking: Free
Food: There are two restaurants on site! You can bring your own snacks too
Bathrooms and change rooms: available on site
Best time to go: in the morning, crowded in the afternoon
Rentals: Lockers and snorkeling gear, you can bring your own snorkeling gear
Lifejackets: Free, you just need to ask for one
Alcohol/Smoking: absolutely not
Diving: Yes
Cash only. Specifically Mexican Pesos. They will accept dollars but somehow it will be cheaper in pesos
6. Gran Cenote
Gran Cenote is one of the most popular cenotes near Tulum. It is made up of a collection of caves, caverns, and open-air cenotes connected by a wooden boardwalk and surrounded by lush green jungle. With crystal clear waters, facilities, and a uniquely visible underground world, Gran Cenote is popular with swimmers, divers and snorkelers.
Gran Cenote is partially covered and sports two open sections. There is a tunnel you can swim through traversing from one open section to the other. Although the cenote is quite shallow reaching only 10 meters in depth, the visibility is outstanding, making quite a show for divers interested in cave formations.
There are many fish and even turtles living here making it great for snorkelers. It is large, open, perfect for swimming, and is well lit throughout. Gran Cenote remains one of the best cenotes in Playa del Carmen.
Due to the popularity of this cenote, arriving early in the morning when there are less people is an advantage.
gETTING TO gRAN cENOTE
By Car: If traveling from Playa del Carmen- Rent a car and drive south down 307 to Tulum, upon reaching Tulum, turn right on 109 and drive 4km until you see the obvious ‘Gran Cenote’ sign.
By Collectivo: You can also take a bus or collectivo (found on Calle 2 between 20th and 25th avenues) from Playa del Carmen to Tulum and grab a taxi from here to Gran Cenote. If you are staying in Tulum, a taxi or renting a bicycle can get you to this cenote.
Gran Cenote Important Information:
Cost: 500 MXN ( $30.50 USD) adults, 250 MXN ($15 USD) children
Hours: 8:00am, last entry is at 4:15pm and closing at 4:45pm
Parking: Free
Food: There is a small food stand on property. You can bring your own snacks too
Bathrooms and change rooms: available on site
Best time to go: in the mornings during the week
Rentals: Lockers 30MXN, snorkeling gear 80 MXN, lifejackets 50 MXN
Alcohol/Smoking: absolutely not
Diving: Yes
Cash only. Specifically Mexican Pesos. They will accept dollars but somehow it will be cheaper in pesos
7. Cenote Ik-Kil
This Cenote is a little far away from Playa del Carmen/Tulum to count on this list, but if possible, it should not be missed as this is by far the most famous of them all. This is the cenote often used in advertisements for Mexico, you know in the hostel world videos. It is also the cenote included in tours to Chichen-Itza. Cenote Ik-Kil could not be more grand and should be on your list of Cenotes to visit in Playa del Carmen.
Cenote Ik-Kil is ominous as one must walk down a 26 meter (85ft) circular rock carved staircase in order to reach the swimming platform of this 60 meter (200ft) diameter and 40 meter (130ft) deep sinkhole open to the sky. There are small waterfalls along the edges, and vines hanging all the way down the cave, adding to its ominous beauty.
This Cenote was sacred to the Mayans and they used it for both relaxation and rituals. The waters of the cenote were considered sacred and the Mayans believed it was home to their rain god, Chaac. They would perform human sacrifices here and archaeologists and speleologists have found bones and jewelry in the waters of the cenote.
Once again this cenote is full of fish (black catfish) and has jumping platforms to swim from. Due to the lack of light there are no dive tours operating here, but there are turtles.
As this is the most popular cenote near Cancun, and due to its attachment to Chichen-Itza tours, this cenote is highly developed. There is a restaurant, a store, a large indoor changing facility, bathrooms, showers, lockers for rent, and even cabins to stay in on-site. There is also a small Mayan ruin available for your exploration nearby.
Getting to Cenote Ik-kil
Cenote Ik-Kil is located on the highway to Valladolid, a short distance from the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. It’s easily accessible by car or tour bus.
Cenote IK-KIL IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Cost: 180 MXN ( $11 USD)
Hours: 9:00am, last entry is at 5:00pm and closing at 5:30pm
Parking: Free
Food: There are two restaurants and a couple of small shops. You can bring your own snacks too
Bathrooms and change rooms: available on site
Best time to go: before 11:30am, thats when all the tour buses show up
Rentals: Lockers 30MXN, towel 30MXN with 70MXN deposit, lifejackets 30 MXN
Alcohol/Smoking: absolutely not
Diving: Yes
Cash only. Specifically Mexican Pesos. They will accept dollars but somehow it will be cheaper in pesos
Things you should pack for a trip to one of the Cenotes near Playa del Carmen + my actual recommendations
Micro Fiber Towel– Small, easy to pack, quick drying. I am a PackTowl girlie
Water Shoes-Walking around the rocks, through the jungle, in the water. These are great
Snorkle/Mask-You can rent these but its nice to have your own quality one. Here’s a solid choice
Biodegradable Sunscreen– This is my favourite brand of reef friendly biodegradable sunscreen
GoPro-Cenotes are beautiful and you want to be able to capture the experience.
Water bottle– Reusable and filtered water bottles will save you money and keep you healthy.
Waterproof Bag–These are amazing and should be on your regular travel gear list!
Snacks-Theres lots of opportunity to buy food at cenotes, but sometimes its nice to dive into a bag of chips
Cash-Mexican Pesos. Lots of places will accept USD but you might have to argue your way into using it and it might cost you more. You should not rely on credit card.
Heading to Mexico? Like this post?! Don’t forget to save it to Pinterest so you can find these cenotes near Playa del Carmen later!
Heather says
These all sound and look wonderful. Will definitely reference this when in Mex.
The Travel Ninjas says
Cenotes are amazing and irresistible places. They are almost too goo to be true. Thanks for covering 7 awesome ones around Playa del Carmen. We’ll try to visit as many as we can on our next visit.
Abhinav Singh says
I am an outdoor enthusiast and therefore loved reading this blog. The jumping picture had me smiling. Looks like you sure had a great time here. The water is so crystal clear. I could spend weeks here.
Tania Mukherjee says
Long time back once I read an article about a certain cenote in Mexico and since then I made ‘Mexico’ a must visit country in my bucket list. It is odd before reading that article I didn’t even knew what are cenotes!!It’s a good thing you have also attached the prices and directions!
Rob Taylor says
OMG, I can’t wait to go back! I loved swimming and watching the bats darting everywhere in Dos Ojos. Such a cool experience! Must return. Soon.
Selda Eigler says
Great. In the summer I am in Yucatan. Great tip
cengiz says
secret paradise.
sabrina barbante says
I love water and open air travel activities and that’s why this post made me dream and the video made me smile :-) The bat cave looks particularly mysterious and blue… wish I was there now
Fiona Maclean says
Those Cenotes look quite amazing. I’d really love to go swimming in the first one, the colour is so stunning
Hugo Cura says
Cenotes are great fun! What a wonderful list of beautiful cenotes to visit. Great choices.
Claudia says
These look like fabulous swimming holes. Hoping to visit Tulum in the fall, and I’d love to jump into the Cenote Jardin del Eden!
Annie says
First of all, I had no idea there were that many cenotes near Playa del Carmen and I totally missed out the last time I was there! The pictures are inspiring, I’d love to see Chikin-Ha, especially if its a three for one deal.
Sandy N Vyjay says
Cenotes are something so surreal. They are one of the enchanting treasures of nature. The cenotes featured here look really out of the world. Would love to dive into the inviting placid waters of one of these.
Kevin Wagar says
I wish we had spent some more time exploring the cenotes when we were in the regions. We dove Dos Ojos, but I want to see more!
Randy says
This is a great list of cenotes. I still need to check a couple off the list but these are some of the best aspects of visiting the Yucatan.
Anne says
Wow these all look amazing. I love the colour of the water and would be keen to dive in cenotes too
Sreeram says
Such an interesting post on some unheard gem. I am in Colombia making my way to Mexico can’t wait to explore the beauty of these attractions.
Lord says
Cenotes look scary! I would be afraid to swim in one, but those that you listed look so inviting! My favorite is Cenote Azul!
Trisha Velarmino says
I am a fan of nature trips so this post really caught my eye. Thanks for sharing these places of Playa del Carmen. You should visit the Philippines for more nature trips!
Doreen Pendgracs says
Mexico is so amazing! So many incredible natural wonders. The cenotes are a place of magic. Thx so much for sharing this round up.
Guy Crotty says
How cool are Cenotes?!! We were in the area late last year and went scuba diving in Dos Ojos and El Pit. Loved them both. This totally makes me want to go back!
Vicky and Buddy says
I always see photos of these cenotes and always think they are just so cool! I didn’t realize they used to do sacrificial offerings there. Glad that’s over! lol! They look like a lot of fun though. Love seeing the photos of people jumping in.
Mimi and Mitch says
I knew there were some amazing places in Mexico but had no idea on how beautiful these gems are. We are going there in July so now we will schedule these into the plans. Thanks!
Pedro Richardson-Oliveira says
I really need to go back to Yucatan! Even though I had planned it, I didn’t visit any of the cenotes in the area. Great guide!
Mario says
Don’t forget cenote Angelita and Tajma Ha! I agree on Gran Cenote and Dos Ojos, both are great, though Gran Cenote is more for swimming or snorkeling. As for Dos Ojos, this is an “easy” cenote for beginner scuba divers. Angelita and Tajma Ha are both for advanced ones with rewarding views on stalagmite/stalactite-caverns (Tajma Ha) or a halocine of hydrogen sulfide (Angelita) resebeling a greenish cloud :)
drivemyhealth.com says
Cenote Escondido is far from being the most beautiful cenote near Tulum, but it’s really hidden and you can enter for free if you visit Cenote Cristal.
nahima says
Excelente blog, congratulations!!!
You also must visit Cenotes Zapote in the Ruta de los Cenotes in Puerto Morelos, there are many eco parks and cenotes, simply magic!
le.marche says
thank you for share! im about to go to playa del carmen and this helps a lot :)
nahima says
You can also visit Cenotes Route, 40 minutes from Playa del Carmen; ziplining, atvs, mountain bikes, horseback riding tour and uncrowded : )