Complete Guide: Best Cenotes In Tulum

Providing the perfect places to cool off from the heat, the cenotes in Tulum are as popular with locals as they are with visitors. 

These large sinkholes – usually created when caves collapse in on themselves – are filled with cool, crystal clear water and often surrounded by lush vegetation.

Floating on the surface of a cenote is a serene – almost heavenly – experience, where you are surrounded by shoals of beautiful fish and possibly even a turtle or two.

Some of the best cenotes in Tulum also offer opportunities for adventure, with incredible snorkeling, ‘cenote diving’ (better known as jumping in!), and some fantastic scuba-diving spots.

This guide to Tulum cenotes lists some of the very best in and around the area, with an idea of what you can expect to find at each and the types of facilities on offer.

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Cenote Dos Ojos

Dos Ojos is not a single cenote – it is actually two cenotes connected by a passageway some 400 metres long. Filled with sparkling blue water, these holes look just like a pair of eyes, which is how this cenote got its name (Dos Ojos translates to ‘two eyes’!). 

One of the best cenotes near Tulum, it also has one of the deepest underwater passageways – an amazing 396 feet deep.

The crystal blue water is lovely and warm, with a temperature of around 24-25 degrees Celsius, and both cenotes have beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

The facilities here are excellent and include free parking, a large wooden deck, rental lockers, toilets, and changing rooms.

Life jackets are included in the entry fee but snorkeling gear must be rented separately, should you require it. There are lifeguards on duty throughout the day.

Cenote Dos Ojos is located on Carretera Federal 307, which takes about 20 minutes to drive to from Tulum, and is open from 8 am to 5 pm daily.

You can buy tickets online in advance, but if you wish to pay on arrival, make sure you bring cash as other forms of payment are not accepted. 

Gran Cenote

Not only is Gran Cenote one of the best cenotes in Tulum, but it is also one of the most accessible, located just 3 miles from the town centre on the Carretera 109.

The water here is incredibly clear and beautiful, the caves are filled with stalactites and stalagmites, and the snorkeling is simply fantastic.

There are also shallow areas for children and non-swimmers to enjoy and the water is so crystal clear that it’s easy to spot passing turtles.

Given its beauty and proximity to Tulum, this is one of the busiest cenotes and can get very crowded at times.

When you enter, be sure to walk past the first set of stairs and use the second set instead – this area is just a little quieter and even more beautiful.

Like Dos Ojos, Gran Cenote has great facilities, with rental lockers, bathrooms, and changing rooms. You can also hire snorkeling gear here if you wish.

Something to be aware of is that this is quite a hotspot for mosquitos – so make sure you bring some bug spray with you. 

You can book your tickets to visit Gran Cenote online in advance or pay in cash on arrival. 

Casa Cenote

Located 6.8miles away from Tulum off the 307 Highway, Casa Cenote is a 250m long open cenote. This makes it popular with young families, as it is ideal for children to swim in. 

The crystal clear waters are perfect for diving and snorkeling, with the roots of the mangroves creating an ideal habitat for lots of varieties of small fish.

This is one of the few surface rivers on the Yucatan Peninsula and the point where it meets the sea is one of the most well photographed in the area.

That’s because the mixture of cool, freshwater from the cenote and the warmer water from the sea creates a visually beautiful zone called halocline. It’s best seen early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Life vests, paddleboards, and snorkeling gear can be rented here and since the current in Casa Cenote is pretty strong, fins are a must! There are also bathrooms and changing rooms.

Cenote Cristalino

Its name conjures up images of crystal clear waters – and this stunning cenote around 30 minutes from Tulum doesn’t disappoint when you see it for yourself!

Surrounded by lush vegetation, this freshwater swimming hole located just off Highway 307 has a high wooden platform for you to jump off and hundreds of small fishes to admire underwater.

You’ll also find a stalactite-covered cave to float through – filled with surreal rock formations.

A life jacket is provided with your ticket – although it is not mandatory for you to wear it – plus there are bathrooms and changing rooms. Beach loungers and swim goggles are available to rent.

If you can, visit Cenote Cristalino on a weekday when it is relatively quiet – it’s a hotspot for families and locals on the weekends, with Sunday being the busiest day of all.

Right across the road from Cenote Cristalino is the beautiful Cenote Escondido. Because it is so large and open, it never feels as crowded as some of the other cenotes in Tulum, and it’s a great place to dive, swim or snorkel.

It even has a rope swing that makes jumping in the water a lot more fun, plus rock ledges and underwater caverns.

Cenote Escondido shares an entrance with Cenote Cristalino and the entry ticket covers both.

Cenote Nicte-Ha

This is one of the best cenotes around Tulum to visit if you want to get away from the crowds.

If you’re very lucky, you may even get it all to yourself! It is at Carretera Federal 307, nearly 14 miles north of Tulum, and has a very serene and magical feel, surrounded by lush vegetation. 

Unlike most Tulum cenotes, this one is mostly above ground and resembles a beautiful, blue lake. On top of the cool water float hundreds of water lilies, which make swimming here feel like an almost other-worldly experience. 

The facilities are pretty basic – there are toilets, but no lockers and nowhere to rent any gear for snorkeling, so be sure to bring your own.

Cenote Calavera

Despite the fact that it is located just outside Tulum on the road to Coba, Cenote Calavera is usually curiously quiet and uncrowded. Yet it is incredibly beautiful, with a broken-away roof exposing the water below.

It is a lot deeper than other Tulum cenotes, which make it a popular place for jumping into the refreshing water – but a ladder is provided for the more faint-hearted.

The water is full of fish and you’ll likely see bats circling in the cave – but the most striking sight of all is of the sunlight pouring in through the broken roof.

There are few facilities here – just bathrooms and a recreational area with a table.

Aktun Ha Cenote

This beautiful spot is more commonly referred to as Cenote Carwash by locals, as it is the place where taxi drivers often stop to clean their dusty cars!

Located on Carretera 109 it is only a minute off the road and very accessible, yet despite this, it never gets too crowded. It is a lovely spot for snorkeling – although you will need to bring your own gear – and there is even a small crocodile in residence!

The water at Aktun Ha Cenote is much warmer than in other cenotes in Tulum because of the algae layer that tends to form on the surface in summer.

Whilst it does make the water look less clear and sparkling than elsewhere, the warmer temperature is very welcome!

This is a popular cenote with divers because of its cavern area, with a wide cave entrance, exceptional stalactite formations, and a depth of up to 18 metres. However, you can’t dive here unless you have cave diver certification.

Facilities here are limited – there is free parking, toilets, and changing rooms, plus a deck line and wooden path in the cenote itself.

Cenote Zacil Ha

Quite a bit smaller than other Tulum cenotes, Cenote Zacil Ha is very beautiful and has a family-friendly feel, with two actual swimming pools nearby.

The zip-line running across it is fun to jump from and there are plenty of boarded and shaded areas in which to relax. 

This cenote doesn’t quite have the natural feel of others in the area – in fact, it almost looks manmade – but  it can be one of the best cenotes in Tulum to visit if you are traveling with young children

Cenote Zacil Ha is located right next door to Aktun Ha Cenote and has great facilities, including changing rooms, a bathroom, and a restaurant.

Final Thoughts On Tulum Cenotes

There are many reasons to visit Tulum, but exploring its incredible cenotes may just be one of the best!

If you’re spending time in Playa del Carmen, make sure to read our guide to the best cenotes near Playa del Carmen, too.

The beautiful combination of turquoise waters, colorful fish, abundant vegetation, and underwater caves make these some of the most unique and tranquil places you will ever visit.

Wondering when is the best time to visit? Read our full guide to find out the best time to visit Tulum. 

It’s worth mentioning that Tulum made it to the list of the best destinations to elope in Mexico.

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