Riviera Maya Cenote locations

That is a great article. One thing to keep in mind is that the water from the cenotes flows out to the ocean. Anything discarded or left in the water makes its way out to the ocean and can harm the reef system there.

When enough trash builds up it can plug up an outlet to the ocean creating flooding and making cenotes inaccessible.

in that case you'd want biodegradable sunscreen.

When we were there it was very clean so I was glad to see people were being respectful of the area.

is there a biodegradable mosquito spray? That would be something to take too. Mosquitos were terrible there.

Bite Blocker Natural Mosquito Repellent Spray

 

oh, here it is. I just googled "biodegradable mosquito spray." there were lots of options.

Cave & Cenote Diving Mexico: TravelYucatan.com

here is a website I used a lot while planning our trip

This is great, thanks! We really want to do our TTD in a cenote and are bringing a photographer from home so hopefully we can find one that we can use.

That sounds awesome!

where are you staying?

here are all the cenotes open to the public. the prices are out of date.

Cenote List courtesy of PlayaInfo .

Chac Mool (Claw of the Jaguar)
Location: 22 km south of Playa Del Carmen/Almost across from Puerto Aventuras.
Description: 2 cenotes. Large cavern zone with beautiful views of jungle from inside cavern.
Open: 10-5 daily.
Facilities: Bathrooms, Restaurant.
Snorkeling: Yes. Larger of 2 cenotes offers view to large room.
Entrance Fee: Yes.


Ponderosa (El Eden)
Location: 3 km south of Puerto Aventuras.
Description: Exceptionally beautiful. Short walk on path takes you to Coral Cenote, which has a large island in the center of it.
Open: 10-5 daily.
Facilities: Bathrooms
Swimming: Very easy access. Nice overhang with tree that can be scaled to jump into cenote.
Snorkeling: Excellent. One of the most popular snorkeling sites. Unlimited visibility. Wide variety of fish, eels, turtles & aquatic plant life.
Entrance Fee: $5 US.


Chikin Ha (Points of Direction)
Location: 5 km south of Puerto Aventuras just before Xpu-Ha/Across from Barcelo Maya Hotel/Long way down bumpy road.
Description: Footpath through jungle will take you to some other cenotes – one is big & almost dry with lots of fossils.
Facilities: None.
Swimming: Can swim through tunnel to underground air chamber.
Entrance Fee: Yes.

Kantun Chi
Location: Just past Chikin Ha Cenote.
Description: 4 mostly half dome cenotes (Kantun Chi, Zaskaleen, Uchil Ha, Zazil Ha) along a series of light jungle trails. Most remote one has ancient looking Mayan temple next to it. Several tours stop here.
Facilities: Restaurant, bike rentals, horseback riding, small zoo.
Swimming: Not very inviting.
Snorkeling: Yes. Rental equipment available.
Entrance Fee: $10 US.

Cristalino
Location: Just past Kantun Chi/Close to highway.
Description: Beautiful, very primitive & rarely visited. Good for hanging out. Will probably have place to yourself. Likely to see more locals than tourists.
Facilities: None.
Swimming: You can dive into cenote from 3.5 m (15 ft) tall ledge.
Entrance Fee: 25 pesos.

Azul
Location: Just past Cristalino Cenote/Close to highway.
Description: In light jungle setting with more open air/sunlit than Kantun Chi, which creates more algae.
Facilities: Snackbar.
Entrance Fee: 30 pesos.

Taj Mahal
Location: 26 km south of Playa Del Carmen/5 km south of Puerto Aventuras/Just south of Xpu-Ha.
Description: 4 interconnected cenotes.
Open: 10-6 daily
Facilities: Bathrooms, Restaurant.
Snorkeling: Advanced. Requires swimming 5 m underwater under a rock wall to come into a large open cave with that has light shining through from ceiling above.
Entrance Fee: 40 pesos.

Dos Ojos (Hidden Worlds)
Location: 48 km south of Playa Del Carmen/3 km south of Xel-Ha/On right 4 km down dirt road.
Description: Part of Nohoch Nah Chich cave system. Location of filming for Imax Journey into Amazing Caves documentary.
Open: 10-5 daily
Facilities: Bathrooms, restaurant.
Snorkeling: Superb. Very popular. Stalagtites & Stalagmites everywhere.
Entrance Fee: $10 US/$25-40 US for snorkel tours.

Temple of Doom (Calavera/Skull)
Location: 2 km from Tulum on road to Coba on right/Very rugged rocky unmarked jungle path approximately 50 yds from road.
Description: 3 holes in ground (one 30 ft & two 4 ft in diameter) create skull shape, hence the name. Shaded by thick jungle canopy.
Facilities: None
Swimming: Great. 10 ft drop down into cenote. Rope swing & ladder – though may want to bring your own rope just in case.

Gran (Sac Aktun/White Water)
Location: 5 km from Tulum on road to Coba on right.
Description: Ladder steps lead to half moon shaped cenote decorated with small passages & openings. One of most popular sites. Good for all ages. Shallow on one side/deep on other. Famous for brilliant speleothem decorations & crystal clear water.
Open: 10-5 Daily
Facilities: Bathrooms
Snorkeling: Fun. Fantastic. Spectacular. Paradise.
Entrance Fee: 50 pesos.

Car Wash (Aktun Ha/Water Cave)
Location: 8 km from Tulum on road to Coba/4 km past Gran Cenote on left.
Description: Can drive right in approximately 30 m (100 ft) to cenote & locals used to wash vehicles here, hence the name.
Open: 9-5 Daily
Facilities: Bathrooms
Swimming: Very easy access. Like a small lake. Good. Fun.
Snorkeling: Good in winter months. Too much algae growth in warmer months. Many small tropical fish.
Entrance Fee: 20 pesos.

Cristal (Naharon)
Location: 4 km south of Tulum on right.
Facilities: Bathrooms
Swimming: Great
Snorkeling: Great
Entrance Fee: Yes. Includes entrance to Escondido across the street.

Escondido (Mayan Blue)
Location: 4 km south of Tulum on left/Across from Cristal Cenote/2 km walk in Jungle.
Description: Tarzan & Jane style. Beautiful, crisp, clear, secluded. One of least known.
Facilities: Bathrooms
Swimming: Good
Snorkeling: Good. Some great stone formations.
Entrance Fee: Included in Cristal entrance fee.

Thanks for the great list Morgan

heres some pics of a cool cenote, not sure what its called but im sure morgan does...ana def will when she gets back in here, i was too consumed with taking the pics to notice where we were but i know its a cenote:) Photography By Kristie: theres more from where these came from asap:) CANCUN!!