This cenote is incredible, right? I think so too. There are thousands of cenotes like this across the Yucatán Peninsula and in my opinion, after exploring cenotes for years, some of the very best are found in the centre of the peninsula, around the beautiful colonial city of Valladolid. In this article you’ll find only the very best cenotes (Valladolid area)!

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But you’re here for cenotes so let’s get on with it…

What is a cenote?

Cenotes are natural sinkholes that exist in the Yucatán limestone bedrock. Basically, there are 4 different types of cenotes:

➡️ Open Cenote – these are the most ancient cenotes and often resemble lakes and ponds or even wild swimming pools. They are generally near ground level.

➡️ Semi-Open Cenote – these cenotes may have already lost most of their cave roof or may still be caves but with openings in the roof through which beams of light illuminate the water below.

➡️ Deep Open Cenote –  where cave roofs have fallen in, leaving the cenote walls and water exposed.

➡️ Closed/Cavern Cenote – these are the youngest of all cenotes and they offer full cave experiences with deep blue or emerald green waters

Most cenotes have extremely deep water although there are some that are shallower (and therefore more suitable for nervous swimmers or kids). Many cenotes are linked by underground rivers – remember, there are no above ground rivers on the Yucatan peninsula.

What can you do in a cenote?

Most people visiting the Yucatan peninsula want to experience swimming in the crystal clear waters of a cenote. And to be fair, it is absolutely one of the best things to do while on vacation in this part of Mexico. 

Swim – anyone can swim in a cenote. You’ll generally be required to wear a life jacket, which is good because as we said, the water can be extremely deep. Please don’t let kids in cenotes in play rings (yes, I’ve seen it). They need well fitting life jackets too.

Snorkel – there can be fish or even small turtles (terrapins) in cenotes as well as interesting underwater rock formations and shafts of light you’ll want to see. Some cenotes offer snorkel rental but it’s better to take your own if you’re not sure. If you plan to snorkel, my homrecommendation is to ensure your mask is clear, not coloured so that you have the best chance of seeing anything. 

Dive – there are many tour options for cenote diving. I’ve never done one but I’ve seen them many times. 

How to reach the cenotes (Valladolid)

🚗 If you have your own car, obviously you’ll have an easier time than if you’re relying on public transport as you can get right to the cenotes and then spend as long as you need in them.

➡️ Check rental car options now ⬅️

🚌 Public transport – this generally means taking colectivos (combi vans) into the pueblos from Valladolid and getting dropped off close to the cenotes.

🚲 Some of the cenotes around Valladolid are actually close enough that you can cycle to them. Would I do it myself? Maybe.

🛵 If you’re a scooter fan, why not rent a scooter and bike yourself around the region.

👣 Cenote Zaci is handily located slap bang in the center of Valladolid so it’s perfectly possible to walk there from your hotel.

📍 Tour – there are many local tour guides offering to take people to cenotes and Mayan ruins on day trips – ask in your hotel or tourist information for details if you’re interested in taking tours.

Cenote costs

💰 Cenotes are not as cheap to visit as they were a few years ago but the cenotes around Valladolid remain cheaper than those around Playa del Carmen and Tulum purely because there are fewer international visitors to Yucatán than Quintana Roo. 

🛟 You will generally have to pay to rent a life jacket as well as the entrance fee.

💳 It’s best to have Mexican pesos on you whenever you travel in Mexico. You’ll have to pay in cash to visit cenotes.

➕ Some of the grander cenotes, generally those with facilities will offer a kind of day pass that allows you to spend all day at the cenote and will include a buffet lunch and even access to a pool. 

Where are the best cenotes (Valladolid)?

This section is split into four sections to try and help you with your planning. None of the cenotes are far from Valladolid and really, most of them could be paired with any of the three ruins. 

📌 Cenotes around Valladolid

📌 Cenotes very close to Chichen Itza

📌 Cenotes very close to Ek Balam

📌 Cenotes very close to Coba ruins

Cenotes around Valladolid

Cenote Zaci

This is the first cenote to recommend near Valladolid since it’s located right in Valladolid’s city center. It’s very popular with locals and visitors. Cenote Zaci is a delightful open cenote with a big platform access into the water.

There is a restaurant on-site and its facilities were upgraded in the last few years.

Cenote Oxman

This beautiful open cenote is located on the grounds of Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman. As well as the gorgeous cenote, the hacienda offers access to the gardens, a delightful swimming pool surrounded by palapas and there’s a restaurant on site that serves traditional Yucatecan food. 

To reach the cenote you enter via a spiral staircase through a hole in the rock. At the bottom you’ll find steps down to a platform from which you can enter the water to enjoy swimming in the refreshing water with long vines hanging over the edge of the cenote.

How to get to Cenote Oxman

It’s just a 5km trip from Valladolid to Cenote Oxman 

🚗 / 🚲 Calle 54 south from Valladolid until you see signs for Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman.

🚌 look for minibuses heading to Dzitnup Pueblo and ask to be dropped off at the entrance to Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman. 

Cenote Suytun

This is one of the most famous cenotes in the whole peninsula. It’s a semi-open cenote, which means there’s a shaft of light that enters through a small opening in the cenote’s roof for most of the day. 

📸 You’ve probably seen photos of this cenote on instagram. This is where people go if they want to take the famous photo of them standing on the concrete platform with the sun’s rays illuminating them.

The best time to take this photo is between 12 – 1 pm (or if you’re like me, the best time to avoid visiting is between 12 – 1 pm)

Access is via a stone spiral staircase. The water here is not especially deep, reaching around 5m at its deepest. It’s good for swimming but of course, since most people are here for the famous photo they might get mad at you for ruining it if you’re splashing around! (this, um, may have happened to me when I took my noisy, splashy kids here 😂)

How to get to Cenote Suytun

🚗 It’s an easy 15 minute drive from Valladolid

Cenote Samula and Cenote Xkeken

These two cenotes are both located in the village of Dzitnup (you’ll sometimes see them named together under the title of Cenote Dzitnup)

Samula is a semi-open cenote that’s accessed by a gentle slope, followed by a set of wooden steps. Like Suytun, sunlight enters through the small hole in the cave ceiling. 

🐷 Xkeken actually written X’kekén, which means ‘pig’ in Mayan because, according to legend, this cenote was discovered when someone followed a small pig into what they assumed was a cave! Xkeken has three entrances, plenty of great spots for taking photos and even a small pool inside the cenote cave that makes for a great spot for kids.

These two cenotes can be visited on one ticket and there is a restaurant on site. If you prefer to explore the village of Dzitnup you’ll find places to eat there too.

➕ Cenote Sambula is also located in Dzitnup.

How to get to Cenote Dzitnup

🚗 / 🚌 Drive along the 180 until you see a sign for Dzitnup or take a colectivo heading to the pueblo and ask to be dropped off. 

🚲 This awesome cycling tour from Valladolid takes you to the local market, on a bike ride to the Dzitnup cenotes and includes lunch with a local family where you’ll learn to make your own traditional Yucatecan tortilas.

Cenote Fantasma

👻 This cave cenote is popular with tours to Ek Balam and Chichén Itzá so if you decide to visit, go first or last thing to avoid the crowds. 

The water here does not get deeper than 10m and is accessed by well-maintained steps. If you enjoy adrenaline, there’s a 4m jump here.

How to get to Cenote Fantasma

🚗 This cenote is some 50km east of the small colonial city of Valladolid, on the road to Playa del Carmen.

Cenote Agua Dulce and Cenote Palomitas

🍿 These two cenotes are located on the same site and both are cave cenotes that are fun to play and swim in. There is also the possibility of renting a kayak in Cenote Agua Dulce. Palomitas has good jumping options and sturdy stone steps to enter the water.

There is a restaurant on site.

How to get to Agual Dulce and Palomitas

🚗 Both are located in the town of Yalcobá, a 35 minute drive north east of Valladolid.

Cenote Sac-Aua  

🏝 This is one of my all-time favourite cenote experiences on the peninsula, partly because it’s just so beautiful and partly because I really enjoyed exploring the incredible cave on site.

This is the only cenote on the peninsula with a natural island in it. 

🛶 Cenote Sac-Aua is a deep open cenote that is accessed via a wooden staircase from the top of the cenote onto the island below. You can swim around the island, enjoying the  jumping platform or rent a kayak and paddle around. 

It’s possible to rent a bike here and there is also a small restaurant should you wish to sample some traditional food after your swim. 

When I visited, the island was completely submerged, which was also incredible.

How to get to cenote Sac-Aua

🚗 / 🚌 Located in Dzalbay, the best way to get here is with your own car but you can also find colectivos heading to the pueblo from Valladolid. 

Cenote K’ax Ek 

Right out in the jungle, hidden far away is what is reputed to be the biggest open cenote in Yucatán. We actually thought it was a lake from the photos we’d found prior to visiting. If you like adrenaline then I highly recommend visiting this cenote where you can swim, use the rafts and even mess around on the rope swing.

Since this is one of the few remaining cenotes that really hasn’t been modified for tourist enjoyment, if you love an adventure and adore having a wild cenote all to yourself, this could well be your dream spot. 

How to get to Cenote K’ax Ek

🚗 Google Maps will tell you that this cenote is 40 minutes from Valladolid but that’s 40 minutes to where the road ends and the jungle track begins. Note that the last 4km will be driven at around 10km an hour as you navigate rocky and potentially muddy ground.

Cenote Zazil-Tunich

Cenote Zazil-Tunich is a lot more expensive to visit than other cenotes around Valladolid but it’s worth it. The cenote can only be visited as part of a guided tour (like Cenotes Mucuyche near Mérida). The tour tells of the significance of the cenote and the story of Xibalba (the Mayan underworld) as you explore. After the tour you’re free to swim in one of the most beautiful cave cenotes you can imagine. The cave itself is far bigger than the cenote and it is even home to the biggest stalagmite in all of the Yucatán.

There are even options for private dining next to the cenote.

How to get to Cenote Zazil- Tunich

🚗 30 km drive from Valladolid, near cenote Sac-Aua and the pueblo of Yalcoba.

Cenotes very close to Chichén Itzá

Chichén Itzá, one of the modern wonders of the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and and for many, one of the main draws of a trip to the Yucatán Peninsula. Most people visiting the region will take a day trip to this incredible site and generally, they’ll try to tie in a cenote swim at the same time. Not only does this mean two awesome activities in one day but it’s also smart as after exploring the ruins you’re going to be tired and sweaty. A refreshing swim in a cenote is the perfect thing.

⭐️ Whether you’re day tripping to Chichén Itzá from Mérida, the Caribbean Coast or from Valladolid, there are multiple cenotes to choose from. There’s a small section included here but for a far more extensive list, you can read my article dedicated to cenotes near Chichén Itzá.

Cenote Ik Kil  

If you take a tour to Chichén Itzá it’s most likely you’ll wind up here as this is the most popular cenote to visit on a Chichén tour.

Why Ik Kil? Well, partly for its handy location right near Chichén Itzá and partly because it really does look like the perfect cenote. It’s a large open cenote with gorgeous vines, tree roots and ferns hanging above you. It’s the perfect place to float on your back gazing up at the lush vegetation and bright blue sky and contemplate the world.

The ancient Maya sacrificed humans to the god Chaac here because they believed this was his home.  

Get here first or last thing to avoid tour buses.

How to get to Cenote Ik Kil

🚗  5 minutes (3km) from Chichen Itza on the road between Piste and Valladolid.

Cenote Yokdzonot

When I went to Chichén Itzá for the first time, this was the cenote I opted to visit. It is run by a women’s cooperative, the cenote is fully open, extremely beautiful and has a lovely little restaurant on site.

It’s also possible to take part in other outdoor activities here including camping, ziplining, rapelling, bike riding and even following the path to the second secret cenote. 

How to get to Cenote Yokdzonot

🚗 This cenote is 20km from Chichén Itzá along the road towards Mérida.

Cenote Saamal 

This cenote is on the grounds of Hacienda Selva Maya and it is gaining in popularity as a tour group cenote as people realise Il-Kil is generally super busy.

It is slightly smaller than Ik Kil cenote but is still entirely open to the sky. It has good, sturdy steps down and an artificial waterfall that looks fun. There is a good large buffet restaurant on-site as well as a gift shop. 

How to get to Cenote Saamal

🚗 / 🚲 5km on the 180 so possible to drive, combi or cycle there.

Cenotes very close to Ek Balam

If you’re heading to explore the Ek Balam ruins there are also great cenote options up here. 

Cenote Xcanche 

The closest, most well-known and most popular cenote around Ek Balam, Xchanche will offer hours of fun as there’s a zipline and rapel option here as well as a rope swing and even giant rubber rings to rent (you’ll still need your life jacket on when you’re in these). 

This cenote is actually sometimes known as the Ek Balam cenote despite being 2 kilometers away from the ruin.

There’s a low key, tasty restaurant on site.

How to get to Cenote Xcanche

🚲 / 👣 Once you’re at Ek Balam you can either walk or hire a bike to ride to the cenote from the Ek Balam car park.

Cenote Hubiku 

Just 12km north of Valladolid, Hubiku makes a good cenote stop on the way back from Ek  Balam. It can get pretty busy and is definitely catering to the international tourist market. This cenote is open only at the top and was found when tree roots broke through the ground.

🍹 There’s a tequila museum on-site as well as a Maya village, a restaurant and a gift shop.

How to get to Cenote Hubiku

🚗 17km from Valladolid on the 295 to Temozon

Cenotes very close to Coba

Cobá, the third archaeological site that’s easily visitable from Valladolid also helpfully has three cenotes nearby so you can cool off after a tiring morning exploring in the jungle.

This group of cenotes was actually the very first my family ever visited when my kids were two and four. We had the cenote Multum-Ha all to ourselves, which was great for coaxing our nervous son into the water.

Multum-Ha, Tamcach-Ha and Choo-Ha: these three cenotes are all close together.  There are no tourist facilities except showers and changing rooms but there are plenty of restaurants in the nearby town.

⭐️ If you’re heading over to Mérida and want to know more about the cenotes around there, obviously, we’ve got you covered for cenotes to visit alone and how to find the very best Mérida cenote tours and more.