18 Secret Cenotes in Cancun That Will Blow Your Mind

Ready to get to this epic list of the 20 best cenotes near Cancun?! Let’s get to it — and after seeing the cenotes, don’t miss the Cancun cenotes FAQ and cenotes map at the end of the article so you have enough info to visit confidently.

best Cenotes in cancun mexico

Best Cancun Cenotes Tours

Unless you’re renting a car in Cancun, the best way to visit the cenotes in Cancun Mexico is on a tour.

Even if you do have a rental car, the tours are great because all you have to do is show up, and enjoy!Below, you’ll find the best cenotes tours in Cancun:

20 Best Cenotes in Cancun Mexico

1. La Ruta de los Cenotes

La Ruta de los Cenotes, meaning the Road of Cenotes or the Route of Cenotes, are the best cenotes near Cancun.

They are all along one road, which is located just off the main highway (Carretera Cancun-Tulum, Highway 307). You will take this road after heading west from the beach town of Puerto Morelos.

🤔 Wondering, What’s the closest cenote to Cancun? It’s Cenote Sol y Luna, the first cenote you’ll pass on the Ruta de los Cenotes.

In total, there are about 50 cenotes and cenote parks along the Ruta de los Cenotes.

Below, you’ll find a description of the three best ones, but if you want to visit others, check out Cenote Kin Há, Cenote Las Mojarras, Cenote Verde Lucero and Cenote Boca del Puma.

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2. Cenotes Zapote EcoPark

💧 Best for: Swimming, snorkeling, ATVs, ziplines | Cost: $40 USD | Hours: 9am-8pm | Facilities: Restrooms, showers, life jackets, lockers

Parque Cenotes Zapote is an eco-park with four different cenotes, including two open cenotes and two cave cenotes.

At each cenote, you have different activities like jumping platforms, ziplines and snorkeling, but you can also enjoy ATV rides on the ATV Tour. For adventure travelers, this is a must on your Cancun itinerary.

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3. Cenote Siete Bocas

💧 Best for: Swimming, snorkeling, diving | Cost: $300 pesos ($15 USD) | Hours: 9am-4:30pm | Facilities: Restrooms, life jackets

Cenote Siete Bocas means seven mouth cenote because it has seven different access points that you can enter from.

You can climb down through a ladder into its underground caverns, zipline in, or jump in from a cliff. This is a deep water cenote, popular with divers and swimmers.

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4. Cenote La Noria

Best for: Swimming, snorkeling
Cost: $200 pesos ($10 USD)
Hours: 9am-4:30pm
Facilities: Restrooms, life jackets
Driving Distance from Cancun: About 30 minutes

Cenote La Noria is a beautiful, natural cenote, with crystal clear water so you can see the little fish swimming beneath you. It’s in a cave, so you can admire the stalactite rocks hanging above.

This cenote is located down a dirt road, so keep that in mind if you have a compact rental car.

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5. Cenote Azul

💧 Best for: Swimming, snorkeling, photos | Cost: $120 pesos ($6 USD) | Hours: 9am-5pm | Facilities: Restrooms, showers, life jacket rentals

Azul Cenote (Blue Cenote) is commonly grouped in with the so-called Playa del Carmen cenotes. It is one of the most beautiful cenotes in Playa del Carmen, and popular with locals and visitors alike.

To avoid the crowds, head there early when they open, 1-2 hours before closing, or on a weekday.

Note: There’s are two places called Cenote Azul — one near Cancun and one in Bacalar, Mexico, five hours south of Cancun. You’ll want to make sure you’re looking at info for the correct Cenote Azul!

This cenote is popular because it has the perfect crystal clear blue, and the cenote is surrounded by lush plants and jungle vegetation. It’s as popular for swimming and snorkeling as it is for taking great cenote photos.

There’s also a jumping platform, for those who want to dive in.

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6. Cenote Jardin Del Eden (AKA Cenote Ponderosa)

💧 Best for: Swimming, snorkeling, photos | Cost: $200 pesos ($10 USD) | Hours: Sunday-Friday, 8am-5pm | Facilities: Restrooms, snack bar, life jacket rentals

If I had to pick my favorite of all cenotes near Cancun, it’s this one! Jardín del Eden Cenote, which means Garden of Eden Cenote, is just like the name says — an otherworldly secret garden paradise located in the Yucatan jungle.

It’s just as beautiful as popular Cenote Azul, but with half as many people and a larger swimming area.

It is an open cenote that’s actually quite big, and you could easily spend an entire day here, between swimming, snorkeling and jumping in off the dive platforms.

Cenote Jardin del Eden is just a few minutes from Cenote Azul, so you can visit both and see which one you prefer.

It’s also next to another popular one, Cenote Cristalino (up next on this list), so it’s worth making the one-hour Cancun to Playa del Carmen trip for these cenotes.

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7. Cenote Cristalino

💧 Best for: Swimming, jumping, diving | Cost: $150 pesos ($7USD) | Hours: 8am-6pm | Facilities: Restrooms, showers, restaurant, life jacket rentals

Cristalino Cenote is another beautiful one located near Cenote Azul and Cenote Jardin del Eden (and also Cenote Kantun Chi, a cave cenote that’s not on this list).

It’s name, cristalino, means crystal clear, and the cool waters here are exactly that.

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8. Gran Cenote

One of the best Quintana Roo cenotes in the state, Gran Cenote gets quite crowded.

Its famous staircase (pictured above) will often have a line of people waiting to take photos on it. If you want a photo here — arrive early. If not, there’s other beautiful photo ops at Gran Cenote.

🚻 Gran Cenote Facilities: There are a few amenities here, including restrooms, showers, changing rooms, and life jacket and locker rentals. There’s also a small shop selling snacks, drinks and a few more things.

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9. Cenote Zacil-Ha

💧 Best for: Photos, swimming, relaxing | Cost: $100 pesos ($5USD) | Hours: 9am-5pm or 10am-5pm (Note: They open at 9am in the Tulum busy season of November to March.)

Located right next to the Car Wash Cenote, Zacil-Ha Cenote is the true definition of a swimming pool/open cenote.

As such, it’s the perfect cenote for a swim! There’s also plenty of places you can dive or jump in, as well as zip lines for the more adventurous.

This is a very popular cenote, not only as one of the only Cancun cenotes with a zip line, but also as a place for all types of travelers (including families with small kids).

After swimming, enjoy the hammocks, two regular swimming pools and lounge chairs by the water.

🚻 Cenote Zacil-Ha Facilities: Restrooms, small restaurant, showers, regular swimming pools, lounge chairs, shaded palapas — this one has it all — even cabanas to rent for the night!

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10. Cenote Dos Ojos

💧 Best for: Swimming, snorkeling, diving, photos | Cost: $350 pesos ($17 USD) | Hours: 8am-5pm

Dos Ojos Cenote (Two eyes cenote) is one of the world’s best dive spots for cave divers.

There are two cenotes here: ojo azul (blue eye), an open cenote with bright blue water, and ojo negro (black eye), a completely dark cave cenote that you need a guide to enter.

While it’s among the best cenotes in Mexico, if you arrive within 1-2 hours of opening, or 1-2 hours of closing, you’ll enjoy this natural wonder in peace and quiet.

If not, expect crowds with everyone from people posing for IG photos, to families with small kids, and groups of divers.

If you can only visit during peak hours, it’s still worth it — because popular places like this are popular because they’re amazing!

The fresh water is crystal clear blue, there’s tons of fish swimming around, lots of underwater rocks, fallen branches, and tree roots.

🚻 Cenote Dos Ojos Facilities: Restrooms, lockers, showers, mask/snorkel rentals, two restaurants (Restaurante Dos Ojos and Restaurante Juanita) — on some days, there’s even massage therapists giving massages!

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11. Casa Cenote (AKA Cenote Manatí or Cenote Tankah)

💧 Best for: Swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking | Cost: $150 pesos ($7 USD) | Hours: 9am-5pm | Facilities: Restrooms, lockers, kayak rentals and snorkeling gear rentals

Casa Cenote is unique in that it’s a mix of freshwater and saltwater. In fact, it used to be known only as Manati Cenote, as manatees once lived there.

They’re all gone now, but there’s a crocodile named Panchito who does live there (he’s harmless, but maintain your distance).

Besides Panchito the crocodile, there’s plenty of other wildlife to see under the water, like fish and turtles.

On land, you might even see an adorable coati, which look like raccoons, walking through the trees and mangroves along the shore at this beautiful place.

This Cancun cenote is a fun one because there’s everything here: swimming, kayakinng (there are onsite rentals), SUP paddle boarding, snorkeling and diving.

Divers especiall love Casa Cenote because there’s an underwater cave system that goes directly out to the Caribbean Sea!

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12. Cenote Calavera

💧 Best for: Photos, diving, quick swim | Cost: $100 MXN pesos ($5 USD) | Hours: 9am-4pm

Calavera Cenote, which means skull cenote in Spanish, has three holes — one larger hole, and two smaller ones.

When you’re underwater and the sun’s shining in all the holes at the same time, it looks like a skull, which is how this unique cenote got its name.

The larger hole has a ladder and a rope swing (not pictured here), which is perfect for lounging on while the little fish nibble at your toes — known as a Mayan pedicure 🤣

You can jump into the water from all holes, as the water’s deep enough, but be careful jumping in the small hole.

One of the most popular of the Instagrammable Mexico cenotes, if you want to take photos here without a crowd of people in them, arrive early.

This is a smaller-sized cenote, and also the closest cenote to Downtown Tulum, so it’s a popular stop for Tulum travelers, and can get full fast.

🚻 Cenote Calavera Facilities: Restrooms and chairs to sit on, but really, not much here — ie. no lockers, no restaurant, no showers — so come prepared with anything you might need.

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Cenote Suytun is located about 45-minutes from Chichén Itzá Mayan Ruins and Coba Mayan Ruins, and many combine a cenote and Mayan archaeological site on a Cancun day trip.

There are also other less-crowded and beautiful cenotes nearby, like Cenote Chukum and Cenote Xux-Ha.

🚻 Cenote Suytun Facilities: Restroom, changing room, showers, restaurant, life jacket rental

best Cenotes in cancun mexico

14. Cenote Ik-Kil (Chichen Itza Cenote)

💧 Best for: Photos, quick swim | Cost: $80 pesos ($4 USD) | Hours: 8am-5pm

Considered among the best cenotes in Yucatan, Ik Kil Cenote is a bucket list Mexico destination for many visitors.

It is only about 10 minutes from Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins, and very popular with cenote tour groups which make stops at both. With its prime location, 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’re only able to visit for an hour, it makes a nice stop to check out this gorgeous cenote.

🚻 Cenote Ik-Kil Facilities: Restrooms, showers, changing rooms, lockers, life jackets, restaurant, bar, gift shop — Probably the most equipped Mexico cenote of them all

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For those who want to dive Cenote El Pit, you’ll need to be dive certified. However, for cave divers, this is said to be the best place to go cenote diving in Mexico.

🚻 Cenote El Pit Facilities: There’s basically nothing here — not even restrooms — just a wooden staircase leading down into these Cancun underwater caves

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Cenote Carwash is very natural, often called a “pond cenote.” It has clear water like most cenotes, but there’s also lily pads atop the water, fallen tree branches under the water, and plenty of fish and turtles.

There’s even a small, shy and harmless 🐊 crocodile that occasionally appears. (Note: Whileharmless, do maintain your distance).

In short, there’s a whole underwater world here — which makes Cenote Carwash popular for divers and snorkeling.

It’s nice to swim here, but the real magic happens when you strap on a mask and start exploring under the water.

🚻 Cenote Carwash Facilities: There’s not much here beyond the restrooms. However, you can always head to Cenote Zacil-Ha just next door, which has plenty of facilities

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Xkeken Cenote is located underground in a cave, lit up by colored lights for a funky and cool vibe.
Samulá Cenote is also a cave cenote which looks similar to Cenote Suytun, with a single ray of light that shines in through a smaller hole at the top of the cenote.

🚻 Cenote Dzitnup Facilities: Restrooms, showers, restaurant, lockers, life jacket rentals

best Cenotes in cancun mexico

18. Cenote Escondido

💧 Best for: Swimming, diving, snorkeling | Cost: $120 pesos ($6 USD) — Includes entry to Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido | Hours: 8am-5pm

Escondido Cenote (Hidden cenote) is known for its natural look and fun rope swings, so if you want to have a Tarzan and Jane jungle rope swing moment, you can do that at this Cancun cenote!

It has good visibility, so it’s also popular with divers and snorkelers.

Cenote Cristal is located just across the street from Escondido Cenote, so you can also visit both in the same day.

Cristal is the more popular of the two, so visit that one first, and when it starts getting crowded, head to Cenote Escondido.

🚻 Cenote Escondido Facilities: Rustic restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic tables

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For those planning to snorkel with the turtles in Akumal Bay, Yal-Ku Lagoon is located just minutes away from the beach where you’d do that.

The lagoon makes a great place to visit after swimming with the turtles, as you head back north to Cancun from Akumal.

🚻 Cenote Yal Ku Lagoon Facilities: Restrooms, showers, palapa rentals, snorkel, mask and fins rentals, snack bar — and even cabins you can rent for the night

best Cenotes in cancun mexico

20. Cenote Taak Bi Ha

💧 Best for: Cave exploration, swimming, snorkeling, diving | Cost: $350 pesos ($17.50 USD) | Hours: 9:30am-5pm | Facilities: Restrooms

Taak Bi Ha Cenote is an underground cave cenote, located near popular Cenote Dos Ojos.

If you’re headed to the Dos Ojos Cenotes Park area, make sure to plan for a visit to Cenote Taak Bi Ha as well — especially if you’ve never been inside a cave cenote.

Once inside, you’ll feel like you’re in another world! There are beautiful white-colored stalactites and stalagmites rock formations, extending from the ceiling above to the water below.

This is a privately-owned cenote and it’s kept well lit, so visitors can see and enjoy all the subterranean beauty.

You can go on your own through the cave — up to a point. There will come a time when you’ll need a guide with a flashlight to take you into the deeper parts.

If you want to explore the entire cave, ask for a guide at the entrance; guides are just $50 pesos ($2.50 USD), and 100% worth it.

best Cenotes in cancun mexico

Cenotes in Cancun Map

🤔 Wondering, What are the best cenotes near me right now? If you’re currently visiting Cancun — you probably are, which is why I made this handy Cancun Cenotes Map.

Many cenotes are hidden in the Yucatan jungle, sometimes down dirt roads and off the beaten path. Check out the map of the Cancun cenotes below to find the closest cenotes to you.

On the map, you’ll notice there aren’t cenotes in Cancun itself. However, all the best centoes in Yucatan are located 30 minutes to two hours from Cancun. The best way to visit is by getting a Cancun car rental, and driving.

best Cenotes in cancun mexico

Cancun Cenotes: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Cenote?

The definition for cenote from the Merriam Webster dictionary is “a deep sinkhole in limestone with a pool at the bottom that is found especially in Yucatan.”

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, in the southeast part of the country, has the largest concentration of cenotes found anywhere on Earth.

Q: How many cenotes are in Mexico? A: There are about 6,000 cenotes in Yucatan!

This word “sinkhole” describes the process of how the cenotes came to be. At one time, all cenotes were encased in the Yucatan Peninsula’s native limestone rock.

Over time, some rock sunk in, eroded and collapsed to reveal the water beneath — which is the cenote water we can swim in.

The cenotes aren’t individual pools; they have the same water source, which comes from massive freshwater rivers flowing beneath the entire Yucatan Peninsula.

In fact, some cenote water comes from Systema Sac Actun, the largest underground river on Earth, at 215-miles-long (347 km).

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What are the 4 types of cenotes in Mexico?

Of the (approx.) 6,000 cenotes in Yucatan, there are four distinct types of cenotes: open, semi-open, cave and diving cenotes.

Q: How do you pronounce cenote? The cenote pronunciation is sen-no-tay, and two or more cenotes are sen-no-tays.

Each type is unique and beautiful in its own way, so make sure to visit as many types of cenotes in Cancun cenotes as you can.

💧 Open Cenotes

You may see these called swimming pool cenotes, as they are completely open and look like a natural pool.

These are the best for photos because they get the best lighting being above ground, and are often surrounded by lush vegetation — like Cenote Azul.

💧 Semi-Open Cenotes

These cenotes will be semi-encased in the native limestone rock.

This type of cenote will have large walls surrounding the pool itself, and a large hole in the top of it so some sunlight gets in when it’s located directly overhead — like Cenote Ik-Kil near the colonial city of Valladolid.

💧 Closed Cenotes in Caves

Cave cenotes are located underground in a cave, and you’ll have to access them by going down some stairs.

Many closed-off cenotes will have a single ray of light (or a few rays) that gets in through cracks in the rock above, giving them a magical look — like Cenote Suytun.

💧 Dive Cenotes

The final type is also located in a cave, but the deep water makes these ideal cenotes for diving.

With clear water in the cenotes, divers get incredible visibility, even as much as 165-feet (50 m) in some cenotes — like Cenote El Pit, one of the best diving cenotes Cancun has.