The Cenote Trail

The Cenote Trail

  • Chac Mool (Claw of the Jaguar)
    Location: 22 km south of Playa Del Carmen – almost opposite Puerto Aventuras.
    There are two cenotes with beautiful views of the jungle from inside
    Open: 10-5 daily
    Facilities: Bathrooms & Restaurant
    Snorkeling: Yes
    Entrance Fee: Yes
    Ponderosa (El Eden)
    Location: 3 km south of Puerto Aventuras.
    The Coral Cenote has a large island in the center and is exceptionally beautiful
    Open: 10-5 daily
    Facilities: Bathrooms
    Swimming: Very easy access with a tree that can be climbed to jump into the cenote
    Snorkeling: Excellent. One of the most popular snorkeling sites with unlimited visibility. You will find a wide variety of fish, eels, turtles & aquatic plant life.
    Entrance Fee: $5 US.
  • Chikin Ha
    Location: 5 km south of Puerto Aventuras just before Xpu-Ha and opposite the Barcelo Maya Hotel. It is quite a long way down a bumpy road
    A footpath through the jungle will take you to a group of cenotes – one is big & almost dry with lots of fossils.
    Facilities: None
    Swimming: You can swim through tunnel to underground air chamber
    Entrance Fee: Yes
  • Kantun Chi
    Location: Just past Chikin Ha Cenote.
    There are four cenotes (Kantun Chi, Zaskaleen, Uchil Ha, Zazil Ha) along a series of light jungle trails. The most remote one has an ancient looking Mayan temple next to it.
    Facilities: Restaurant, bike rentals, horseback riding, small zoo
    Swimming: Not very inviting
    Snorkeling: Yes. Rental equipment available.
    Entrance Fee: $10 US.
    Cristalino
    Location: Just past Kantun Chi
    Beautiful but very primitive & never crowded. Mainly visited by the local people
    Facilities: None.
    Swimming: You can dive into the cenote from a tall ledge.
    Entrance Fee: 25 pesos
  • Azul
    Location: Just past Cristalino Cenote/Close to highway.
    Situated in a light jungle setting with more open air and sunlight than Kantun Chi, which creates more algae.
    Facilities: Snackbar.
    Entrance Fee: 30 pesos.
  • Taj Mahal
    Location: 26 km south of Playa Del Carmen/5 km south of Puerto Aventuras/Just south of Xpu-Ha.
    Description: 4 interconnecting cenotes.
    Open: 10-6 daily
    Facilities: Bathrooms, Restaurant.
    Snorkeling: Need to be an advanced swimmer as you need to swim 5 m underwater under a rock wall before you come into a large open cave that has light shining through from above
    Entrance Fee: 40 pesos.
  • Dos Ojos (Hidden Worlds)
    Location: 48 km south of Playa Del Carmen south of Xel-Ha on the right. Then 4 km down a dirt road.
    This is part of the Nohoch Nah Chich cave system was the location of filming for Imax Journey into Amazing Caves documentary.
    Open: 10-5 daily
    Facilities: Bathrooms, restaurant.
    Snorkeling: Superb snorkeling with stalactites & stalagmites everywhere
    Entrance Fee: $10 US/$25-40 US for snorkel tours.
    Temple of Doom (Calavera/Skull)
    Location: 2 km from Tulum on road to Coba on right down a very rugged jungle path
    There are three holes in the ground – one is 30 ft & two are 4 ft in diameter – creating the shape of a skull, hence the name
    Facilities: None
    Swimming: Great for swimming with a 10 ft drop down into the cenote. There is a rope swing & a ladder
  • Gran (Sac Aktun/White Water)
    Location: 5 km from Tulum on road to Coba on right.
    Ladder steps lead to half moon shaped cenote decorated with small passages & openings. One of most popular sites as it is good for all ages as it is shallow on one side. It is famous for brilliant speleothem decorations & crystal clear water.
    Open: 10-5 Daily
    Facilities: Bathrooms
    Snorkeling: Fun. Fantastic. Spectacular. Paradise.
    Entrance Fee: 50 pesos.
  • Cristal (Naharon)
    Location: 4 km south of Tulum on right.
    Facilities: Bathrooms
    Swimming: Great
    Snorkeling: Great
    Entrance Fee: Yes. Includes entrance to Escondido across the street.
    Escondido (Mayan Blue)
    Location: 4 km south of Tulum on left/Across from Cristal Cenote/2 km walk in Jungle.
    This place is one of the least known and really beautiful and secluded.
    Facilities: Bathrooms
    Swimming: Good
    Snorkeling: Good
    Entrance Fee: Included in Cristal entrance free.

Nicestream