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.