10 must-see cenotes near Tulum, Mexico
Come with me to explore the most beautiful cenotes near Tulum! Cenotes are unique water-filled natural sinkholes in the ground and are amongst the must-see places for every traveler visiting Tulum and the Yucatan peninsula.
We spent four weeks in Tulum exploring everything inside the city and all around it including the most famous and beautiful cenotes near Tulum.
In this post, you will find the best cenotes near Tulum with descriptions, photos, and locations on Google Maps. We traveled everywhere by our rental car but most can be reached by taxi, bus, or by joining guided tours.
Tip! Not all cenotes accepted card payments so bring cash with you!
Read more » 10 spots for the best tacos in Tulum, Mexico
1. Cenote Atik Tulum
Cenote Atik Tulum is one of the most gorgeous cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula. It is actually more than a cenote and features a jungle park filled with hidden sculptures, art objects, and photo spots.
Cenote Atik Tulum is one of my favorite cenotes near Tulum – located only a 15-minute drive from Tulum downtown it is the perfect place to go to spend a day in the jungle swimming in turquoise water.
Entrance to Cenote Atik Tulum was 350 pesos per person which is something you get used to near Tulum – prices here are higher! But you get extra value – besides all the necessary facilities you also get to visit fun objects in the jungle.
We visited Cenote Atik Tulum right before closing time so we did not get a chance to swim in the cenote. But it looked wonderful – like an oasis. It is an open cenote surrounded by high walls and a waterfall in one of the corners.
If you look deeper there are other stairs where you can enter the water apart from the obvious stone staircase from the entrance side. To get to the secret stairs you have to walk a jungle path along many sculptures and art objects.
There were walls covered with skulls, fountains, a pool with a large bust above it, and many more unique objects for unique photos. If you are looking for a gorgeous cenote near Tulum – look no further! This is it!
Location: Cenote Atik Tulum
2. Cenote Ik Kil
Probably one of the most iconic cenotes near Tulum and in all of the Yucatan peninsula is Cenote Ik Kil. Located just a 5-minute drive from the famous Chichen Itza, it makes for the perfect day trip from Tulum to both of these bucket list destinations!
This cylindrical cenote stands out with its circular shape and 26-meter walls covered by hanging plants and tree roots. The cenote itself is 40 meters deep and served as a place for sacrifices for ancient Mayans a long time ago.
Pros and cons. Pros of this cenote – water is refreshing, it is gorgeous, and large, not too expensive. Cons – it gets verrry crowded during the day.
The cenote is located within the territory of a hotel and a restaurant so you can not only go for a swim here but buy a combined ticket that offers a buffet-type catering. That’s why it is a popular place amongst tour buses. Arrive early to avoid them!
Did you know? Ik Kil from Mayan means ‘place of the winds’.
We visited Ik Kil Cenote on the same day we went to Chichén Itzá. The entrance fee to the cenote was 200 pesos per person. At first, you can observe the cenote from above and then descend 90 steps through a tunnel to the water. It was gorgeous!
Location: Cenote Ik Kil
3. Cenote Taak Bi Ha
Cenote Taak Bi Ha is located a 30-minute drive North of Tulum in the direction of Playa del Carmen. There is a special area dotted with gorgeous cenotes many of which are connected by underground cave systems and thus are popular among divers.
There are many popular cenotes in this area like Cenote Dos Ojos or Cenotes Sac Actún but we opted for Cenote Taak Bi Ha and did not regret this decision one bit.
Cenote Taak Bi Ha is a gorgeous underground cenote boasting crystal clear turquoise water as well as large rock formations – stalactites and stalagmites. You can jump into the water from a stone platform built above the water.
We visited this cenote on Sunday morning. At first, we were the only ones in the cenotes but soon many small group tours arrived but they all quickly disappeared snorkeling in the many hidden corners of the cenote.
After a short while their tours ended and they all drove away leaving us the only ones inside the massive cenote. It was magical! Entrance was 350 pesos per person with life jackets included in the price. They also have showers, toilets, and changing rooms.
Pros for this cenote – it is large and doesn’t get crowded, has a jumping platform, and snorkeling options plus the water is refreshingly chill. Cons – it is a remote place and you’d need a car or a taxi to get there. But it is 100% worth it!
Location: Cenote Taak Bi Ha
4. Cenote Suytun
Cenote Suytun is one of the most iconic cenotes near Tulum and in the whole Yucatan peninsula. Nowhere else you will find a stone pathway leading into the middle of a large underground cenote with a hole in the ceiling right above it.
If you time your visit right, there will be a light beam shining through the hole and illuminating the whole place. Or maybe it will shine right onto the stone platform. We arrived in the morning so we did not see the light beam.
Cenote Suytun is one of the most iconic Instagram spots in the Yucatan Peninsula. The famous view of the stone platform and a large stalactite hanging from above is a sight you have probably seen all over the internet, haha!
Entrance to the cenote was 250 pesos per person when we visited. It is part of a building complex that includes a hotel, a restaurant, different facilities, and also another cenote (we did not visit the other cenote).
Once you enter the cenote there is a guard that meets you and asks you to leave your shoes before you walk on the stone pathway. We were alone there but I have heard that time for taking photos is limited if there are other people waiting in line.
Pros – it is large, beautiful and photogenic, there are all the facilities you need for swimming. Cons – it gets very busy later in the day with people lining up to take photos.
Tip! We visited this cenote on March 9th and the stone platform was dry. However, the water level can be higher or completely cover the platform after rainy periods. The best way to make sure how it looks is by checking recent reviews on Google Maps.
Location: Cenote Suytun
5. Cenote Tankach-Ha
Cenote Tankach-Ha is one of three cenotes near the Coba archaeological zone – in case you are planning to visit the Mayan ruins I recommend paying a visit to Cenote Tankach-Ha just a 10-minute drive away.
Cenote Tankach-Ha is an absolute gorgeousness – it is an underground cave cenote where you basically walk inside an underground cupola that resembles the dome of a medieval European cathedral.
The cenote has multiple jumping platforms at different heights and deep see-through blue water with some fish swimming around. As I entered the cenote I remember saying to myself – Now this is a cenote I would definitely want to swim in!
But wait, here comes the best part – the entrance to this underground swimming pool was only 100 pesos! A total bargain compared to the steep prices closer to Tulum. And a life jacket is optional.
There are three cenotes near Coba archaeological zone and after visiting all of them I have to say that Cenote Tankach-Ha was the most beautiful and best for swimming out of all three cenotes. Highly recommend!
Location: Cenote Tankach-Ha
6. Cenote Saamal
Cenote Samaal is one of those gorgeous semi-open cylindrical cenotes with crystal clear cool water and even a waterfall coming down from the top of the walls. Perfect place for a refreshing dip into the water!
It is located a 1h 30min drive from Tulum and only 5 kilometers from Valladolid so it is very easy to get to even if you don’t have a car – you can get to Valladolid by bus and then literally walk there on foot or easily get there by taxi or bicycle.
Cenote Samaal is located within the grounds of Hacienda Selva Maya – a building complex of a rural estate that includes souvenir stores, a buffet-type restaurant, tequila tasting, and even a zip line. We paid 200 pesos per person for the entrance.
Overall this place felt like a magical garden – a jungle oasis. Just bear in mind that this cenote is a popular stop for tour buses just like other nearby cenotes – Cenote Oxman, Cenote Hubiku, and others. Arrive early to skip crowds!
Location: Cenote Saamal
7. Cenote Choo-Ha
Cenote Choo-Ha is another one of the Coba cenotes near the Coba archaeological zone. This one is located right next to the gorgeous Cenote Tankach-Ha.
Cenote Tankach-Ha is located underground in a deep beautiful cave. The cenote is quite large and features massive stalagmites and stalactites. There is also a stone platform in the center of the cenote where you can leave your belongings.
This cenote looked stunning. The water isn’t that deep here but is exactly enough for swimming. There are showers, changing rooms, and toilets on the site. Basic but has everything you need.
Here is the best part about this cenote – it was only 100 pesos per person! Those cenotes closer to Tulum usually cost like 350 pesos or even 500 pesos per person so this was a pleasant surprise for our holiday budget, haha!
Location: Cenote Choo-Ha
8. Gran Cenote
Gran Cenote located just a 10-minute drive from the center of Tulum downtown is one of the closest cenotes to Tulum. And over the years it has become one of the most popular ones as well.
The beautiful Gran Cenote boasts gorgeous turquoise water and different swimming areas all connected in one big crystal clear pond. There is one part out in the open but there are also two cave tunnels that lead to other swimming areas.
Here comes the best part – there are small turtles that live inside the cenote! Part of the cenote is restricted where you are not allowed to swim because turtles usually live there. But sometimes they wander off and I got to swim together with a turtle!
Another great thing about Gran Cenote is that a life jacket and snorkeling gear are included in the price which comes in handy if you wish to explore the see-through water. You must shower (and wash your hair!) before swimming.
Entrance to the cenote was 500 pesos per person. We visited more than 30 cenotes around the Yucatan Peninsula and this was the most expensive cenote out of all but this is what you get near Tulum – prices are quite steep.
Is it the most beautiful cenote ever? No. But it is beautiful enough to be worth a visit. If you are short on time, I recommend coming here (come in the morning!) but if you can travel, I recommend going to some of the cenotes mentioned above!
Location: Gran Cenote
9. Cenote Calavera
Located just a 5-minute drive from Tulum downtown Cenote Calavera is not only one of the closest but also one of the most popular cenotes near Tulum.
It got its fame on social media thanks to its unique looks – a big circular hole in the ground with stairs and a swing. Next to the big hole, there are two smaller ones where you can jump through and get inside the water.
Calavera means a skull in Spanish and this cenote supposedly resembles one. The big hole is meant to be the mouth and two smaller ones are supposed to be the eyes. See it for yourself! There might be some truth to it!
Cenote is well maintained – there are all the facilities you might need for a day of water activities including showers, toilets, a bar with drinks, and a resting area with chairs and hammocks.
The biggest downside to this cenote is that it is rather small. There simply isn’t enough space for too many people but it does get crowded during the day. If you want to truly enjoy it then come here in the morning. It might not be worth it afterwards.
Entrance to the cenote was 250 pesos per person which is actually one of the cheapest prices amongst cenotes near Tulum. However, considering the small space for jumping into the water it seems rather adequate.
Location: Cenote Calavera
10. Cenote Multum Ha
Cenote Multum Ha is the third of the three Coba cenotes near the Coba archaeological zone. This one is the furthest of them all located deeper in the jungle. Entrance to the cenote was 100 pesos per person.
Cenote Multum Ha is an underground cenote in the shape of a large dome. You can access it by an almost-vertical staircase that seemed like it wouldn’t end.
Once you climb to the bottom you walk inside the cenote on a wooden platform where you can leave your belongings and jump inside the clear blue water.
It is not the biggest cenote, but it is rather deep and quite beautiful. Biggest pros – with its 100 peso entrance fee it is one of the cheapest cenotes near Tulum and also one of the remotest so a big chance there won’t be many people when you visit.
Location: Cenote Multum Ha
Happy exploring!
We stayed for four weeks in the hustle and bustle of Tulum exploring everything this famous destination had to offer including the mysterious Mayan ruins, secret cenotes in the jungle, tropical beaches, and the rich local food scene.
Besides our stay in Tulum, we also spent a couple of months traveling around the Yucatán Peninsula, including the states of Yucatán and Quintana Roo, and exploring all the corners of this beautiful peninsula.
From white-sand beaches to dark underground cenotes, and ancient pyramids – there’s just so much to see! I hope you enjoy your time there as much as we did and I hope you get some travel inspiration from this blog post for your travels! Happy travels!
PIN FOR LATER!
