There’s no rejecting that the Riviera Maya, covering from the preferred coastlines of Cancun to Playa Del Carmen and all the means to the stunning white sands of Tulum, consists of a few of the best sand and sea sights in continental North America.

What you might not understand is the Riviera Maya and Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula itself likewise include thick forests and a few of the best cenotes you’ll discover anywhere in the globe.

What’s a cenote?

Since sedimentary rock bedrock can be discovered all throughout the Mayan Riviera, over the years a number of these locations of permeable rock have actually developed right into below ground rivers. These freshwater below ground rivers normally create caves of crystal clear water as the sedimentary rock filters and detoxifies the water normally.

Eventually, a number of these caves have actually fallen down and have actually opened themselves approximately the skies, prepared to be discovered. These sedimentary rock sinkholes are called cenotes and there are essentially hundreds of them discovered throughout this Mexico area, with brand-new ones still being discovered today in the Riviera Maya.

What this suggests for you, is that despite where you go in the Mayan Riviera, you’ll likely discover among these welcoming cenotes to invest your day. Whether you’re there simply to swim, embark on the bordering high cliffs or perhaps there to go snorkelling and diving in, cenotes use a wonderful means to discover the Riviera Maya’s covert globe far from the coastline.

Coming from the Mayan word “dzonot” or “tsonot,” which basically converts to “well” in English, cenotes (obvious “say-no-tays”) likewise hold a historic worth to the area. The old Mayans recognized that these big wells might provide sufficient freshwater to maintain whole towns and also bigger old cities like Chichen Itza counted on cenotes to make it through.

Some of these swimming pools were taken into consideration spiritual and whatever from gold to burn out to stunning mommy of pearl fashion jewelry have actually been discovered over the years consisting of the bones from old sacrifices the Mayans did to acquire an abundant period. While the spiritual swimming pools stay shut and have actually been maintained, the remainder of the Riviera Maya’s cenotes are open for site visitors.

Types of Cenotes in Riviera Maya

There are basically 4 sorts of cenotes discovered in Riviera Maya. This consists of outdoors cenotes, semi-open cenotes, cavern or semi-closed cenotes and below ground cenotes.

Open air cenotes have a tendency to appear like tiny fish ponds or lakes with the substantial bulk of the water conveniently obtainable. Though they can typically have high sides, they’re relatively usual to discover and use simplicity of gain access to vs the various other cenote designs. These are best for households as whatever is within website and accessibility to the water is normally the most convenient.

Semi-open cenotes are cenotes with rough overhangs. Often an excellent part of the cenote is taken into consideration outdoors with edges that are partly obstructed from the skies. They have a tendency to include darker locations that are enjoyable to discover with snorkeling equipment. Generally they’re great for households also.

Cave cenotes are usually cenotes with a little opening resulting in the skies. It is typically darker while swimming right here and you typically require to take a ladder to come down to the water itself. Not suggested for smaller sized kids, they possibly include a few of the best high diving you’ll discover if you’re a journey hunter.

Underground cenotes are precisely as they seem. These swamped cenotes are blocked from above and can just be discovered by diving and normally just with a well-informed overview. Also just suggested for specialist cavers.

Why see a cenote in Riviera Maya?

While sunlight and sand produce a wonderful trip, often it’s nice to take a look at something brand-new. With cenotes discovered near a lot of the significant locations in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, reaching one typically just takes a brief journey. Some are likewise beside preferred archive websites or make a wonderful quit when seeing various other locations of the peninsula.

So, if discovering crystal clear, freshwater swimming pools in a normally developed sedimentary rock establishing seem like an ideal day far from the salt and sand of the Mayan Riviera (it truly is), continue reading as we have a look at the best cenotes in Riviera Maya.

Cenote Cristalino

Cenote Cristalino is among the initially cenotes our household ever before discovered in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. Interestingly, Cenote Cristalino is likewise among the initial cenote messages we ever before created on this website back in 2010 so it still holds an unique area in our hearts.

Just a rocks discard from Playa Del Carmen (10 kilometres south of Playacar correct) and a very easy Taxi Riviera Maya adventure to arrive, it’s not as preferred as a few of the larger cenotes on this listing nonetheless we’ve constantly delighted in the times we’ve seen it. Almost throughout the roadway from Barcelo Maya Beach All Inclusive, it’s couple of open clear water swimming pools full with munching minnows make it a welcoming cenote to see.

It’s likewise much less touristy than a number of this listing as the location is much less established. The last time we existed a couple of years back, it likewise hadn’t been gotten by a larger business so it still preserves a rustic beauty. You can discover an area to get treats and transforming areas feed on website. There’s a little day-to-day charge to obtain in.

Cenote Azul

Cenote Azul is a great open cenote that attract households and those searching for a stress-free day out. Its superficial locations are ideal for kids, while much deeper areas please snorkelers and those intending to swim a couple of laps. The bordering rock developments use places to leap from for the a lot more daring site visitors.

Walking range from Cenote Cristalino, it supplies a lot more solutions such as showers and washrooms. There is a little charge to make use of the solutions there nonetheless it’s just a 10 min adventure from Playa Del Carmen so produces a very easy trip if you’re remaining in the area.

Cenote Dos Ojos

One of the most renowned cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula, Cenote Dos Ojos, or “Two Eyes Cenote,” flaunts 2 linked sinkholes looking like a set of eyes. Its crystal-clear waters and considerable undersea cavern system make it a heaven for snorkelers and particularly scuba divers as it includes an fairly considerable maze of swamped caverns to discover. The light infiltrating the openings likewise develops a wonderful ambience, ideal for undersea digital photography.

The day we mosted likely to Cenote Dos Ojos, we saw much more scuba divers than swimmers. Since the water in this bright blue cenote can be rather deep, it’s certainly not tailored in the direction of more youthful households though ours were great with the lifejackets we brought that day and the cave part is rather amazing to see.

Geared a lot more in the direction of scuba divers that swimmers, there are transforming areas, shower rooms, storage lockers for rental fee and also a dining establishment on website. Cenote Dos Ojos can be discovered about 22km (13 miles) north of Tulum on Carretera 307.

Gran Cenote

A brief 10 minutes drive from Tulum correct up QROO 109, Gran Cenote is a semi-open cenote bordered by rich plants. Its clear, blue-green waters are home to turtles and tiny fish, making it an exceptional area for snorkeling. Numerous wood systems and staircases supply simple gain access to for swimming and taking in the calm elegance of this all-natural swimming pool.

While it’s much quieter than Doj Ojos, Gran Cenote is a little bit a lot more pleasant in the direction of households and is a fast journey from Tulum. There are open caverns you can conveniently swim right into and great deals of the cenote bases have sand you can base on. While you can’t remain right by the water, you can expand over the cenote location. As the name suggests, Gran Cenote itself is rather big.

One of the greatest attracts to Gran Cenote in Maya Riviera are the turtles and the brief range to Tulum. There are showers, shower rooms, storage lockers and also hammocks you can make use of. Day costs at Gran Cenote are around the 200 peso variety.

Cenote Zacil Ha

Just down the roadway from Gran Cenote, Cenote Zacil Ha is an additional cenote fave for those remaining Tulum. Cenote Zacil Ha includes a really outdoors sensation and also consists of a little zipline you can make use of to get involved in the long swimming pool.

Cenote Zacil Ha makes a wonderful (and affordable) revitalizing quit when returning from the preferred Coba ancient website. At under 100 pesos, it includes shower rooms and transforming areas.

Cenote Aktun-Ha

Another cenote near Tulum and simply a couple of hundred meters from Cenote Zacil Ha, Cenote Aktun-Ha (“water cave”) is a large outdoors cenote in Riviera Maya. It likewise nicknamed Cenote Carwash as the regional cab driver made use of to make use of the water to clean their cars.

With lots of turtles and fish in the cenote, it has an optimum deepness of around 18m or 60ft so you’ll see the periodic scuba diver down below also. There are washrooms, transforming areas and systems you can make use of to gain access to the water. It likewise includes a 10ft (3M) diving system

Cenote Ik Kil

Located near the extremely amazing and preferred Chichén Itzá, Cenote Ik Kil is an outdoor cenote with significant vine-covered high cliffs and plunging waterfalls. The round form of this cenote and the hanging origins getting to down in the direction of the water surface area develop a magical ambiance.

It’s a prominent area, so take into consideration seeing very early in the early morning to stay clear of groups or remain for a couple of days at one of the cabins on website. Cenote Ik Kil consists of shower rooms, adjustment areas and also has a dining establishment on website. Prices are in 100 Peso variety for grownups and 50 Peso for kids.

Cenote Zací

While not in Riviera Maya itself, situated in the heart of Valladolid, Cenote Zací is a semi-open cenote that supplies a practical break from city expedition. Its huge open cavern includes a little island with rich plants in the facility, and its waters are home to unusual eyeless black fish. The on-site dining establishment offers a unique eating experience with sights of the cenote.

Located in between Cancun and Chichen Itza, Cenote Zaci is likewise a wonderful quit if you’re discovering the damages that day and intend to cool down prior to driving the remainder of the back to Cancun. Though the waters in this cenote aren’t the clearest, swimming in the large cave of Cenote Zaci is a memorable experience. It has shower rooms, transforming areas and a dining establishment on website. Prices are around 60 pesos for grownups and 30 pesos for kids.

 Cenote Escondido (Mayan Blue) and Cenote Cristal

Cenote Escondido, nicknamed Mayan Blue by the citizens, and Cenote Cristal are both big, al fresco cenotes near Tulum. Both attribute forest setups along with have high cliff leaping (12ft or 4m) and a rope swing.

These 2 cenotes are both possessed by the exact same business and are ideal beside each various other. Both use adequate vehicle parking, commodes, showers and transforming areas. Each cenote sets you back 150 Pesos as an access charge. If needing to choose in between one or the various other, many people suggest Cenote Escondido over Cenote Cristal. With a lot more location to discover, Cenote Escondido is larger, and nearly seems like you’re swimming in a river than a regular cenote.

Tips for Visiting Cenotes in Riviera Maya

• Bring Eco-Friendly Sunscreen: To shield the fragile community of the cenotes, make use of eco-friendly sun block nonetheless keep in mind that numerous cenote proprietors highly dissuade any type of sun block in all to decrease the effect creams carry the system.
• Wear Water Shoes: Many cenotes have rough bases, so water footwear can aid shield your feet.
• Bring Mask and Snorkel: While numerous websites use snorkel services, the top quality can be suspicious and spending for each usage can accumulate with time. Better to bring your very own and, if area is limited in your bag, leave the fins in the house and simply bring along your mask and snorkel.
• Respect the Environment: Keep the cenotes tidy by not leaving any type of garbage behind. Each cenote is an all-natural paradise full with a fragile community. Make certain to decrease your impact when seeing.
• Check for Entrance Fees: Most cenotes bill an entryway charge, which is made use of for upkeep and conservation.
• Make certain you don’t obtain scammed: The most costly cenotes bill up to 150 pesos for a grown-up yet numerous fee just 50 or 60 each.
• Leave belongings in the house: Small burglary around particular cenotes is a trouble. Leave your belongings at the resort or rent out a storage locker on website if you have points you don’t desire leaving.
• Extra expenses for electronic cameras and drones: A couple of business have actually recognized they can have an upcharge for individuals bringing in pricey electronic cameras and drones and have actually made a decision to bill added for it. Depending on the cenote, the expenses can equate to the entryway charge. If you don’t require it, leave it behind.

Whether you’re a passionate cavern scuba diver, a snorkeling fanatic, a high cliff jumper or merely searching for an attractive area to loosen up, the cenotes of the Riviera Maya use something for everybody. Each cenote has its one-of-a-kind beauty, welcoming site visitors to discover the covert prizes of the Yucatan’s below ground globe.

With something one-of-a-kind to see at each cenote, from stalactites and stalagmites to vivid turtles and a lot more vivid fish, you’ll never ever obtain a possibility to experience such a huge variety of cenotes anywhere else on the earth.

We’ve created loads of short articles concerning Mexico over the years and typically take into consideration the Riviera Maya and Playa Del Carmen to be our 2nd home.