Looking for tips for visiting cenotes in Mexico? You’re in the right place
These breathtaking natural sinkholes, filled with crystal-clear water, are hidden gems scattered across Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.
Formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock, cenotes create a magical world of underground rivers and caves perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and exploration.
Whether you’re an adventurer seeking the thrill of diving into the unknown or simply looking for a serene spot to relax and cool off, visiting a cenote is an unforgettable experience.
To make the most of your experience, here are my top 5 tips for visiting cenotes in Mexico.
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1. Visit the cenote early (or late)
A beautiful view of the central platform in Cenote Suytun.
If you want some Mexico cenote time where you’re the only (or, one of the few) people in the cenote — you’ll have to plan your visit strategically.
The best time to visit cenotes is early in the day, within 1-2 hours of them opening, or later in the day, within 1-2 hours of closing.
Most cenotes, especially those “on” the beaten path and popular with tour groups, will see the peak number of visitors during the day.
2. Cenotes are often cash only
The vast majority of cenotes are cash only. Even those that take credit cards at the entrance may not take cash inside if you need to buy food, rent a locker, life jacket or snorkel equipment.
In short — bring cash and store it in your waterproof phone holder with your cell phone.
3. Cenote prices are subject to change
The cenotes are privately owned, and these private land owners can change their pricing and hours of operation at any time.
Since most don’t have websites (or updated websites, for that matter), it’s really hard to know anything until you show up.
4. Sunscreen is prohibited in cenotes
Instead of packing sunscreen, pack a long-sleeve bathing suit and a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
As the oils and ingredients in sunscreen can harm the cenote, you can’t wear sunscreen of any kind — including eco-friendly sunscreen and reef-safe sunscreen.
In fact, most cenotes make you rinse off in the shower before you enter, so putting any on is actually a waste.
If you burn easily, opt for a long sleeve bathing suit and wide-brim sun hat.
When you get out of the cenote, you’re free to apply sunscreen, and this Bullfrog anti-bug sunscreen is great for sun and mosquito protection.
🚫🦟 These anti-mosquito bands are another great option.
5. Don’t swim? Most cenotes have life jackets
Most, but not all, cenotes offer free life jackets or rent them for about 50 pesos ($2.50 USD). If you don’t swim, you’ll want to do individual research for that specific cenote to double-check what they offer.
One of my favorite cenotes, Cenote Ik-Kil
Ik-Kil Cenote is the most popular among the so-called Chichen Itza cenotes located near the famed Mayan ruins.
💧 Best for: Photos, Quick Swim | 💰 Cost: $80 pesos ($4 USD) | 📍 Location: Valladolid
Considered among the best cenotes in Yucatan, the Ik Kil Cenote is a bucket list destination in Mexico for many visitors.
It is only about 10 minutes from Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins and is very popular with tour groups that make stops at both.
As you might imagine, this Yucatan cenote gets very crowded! As with all cenotes, the best strategy to beat the crowds is early in the morning or later in the day.
Cenote Ik Kil isn’t very big, so even if you can only visit for an hour, it makes a nice stop to see this gorgeous cenote.
Ready to Book Your Mexico Vacation? Here Are Some Resources To Look At:
Mexico is a large country—the 14th largest on Earth by size—and it’s also the 6th most biodiverse country in the world.
Though it’s mostly known for beaches, there’s a lot more to Mexico than that. Check out these Mexico articles to discover parts of the country you never knew existed.
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