One of the must-do activities if you’re hitting the Riviera Maya is to swim in cenotes. Tulum is honestly a dream destination for tropical nature lovers. With an estimated 6000-7000 cenotes in the Riviera Maya region, Tulum has one of the highest concentrations of these stunning natural sinkholes in the world.
If you’ve never swam in a cenote, you’re missing out—it’s all the sparkling water and refreshing fun of the beach, but without the sticky salty water or sand to bother you afterward! I’ve made it a mission to explore the best cenotes in Tulum and have narrowed down the list to just 7 top Tulum cenotes.
🥥 If you’re heading to Tulum, swimming in cenotes is just one of the many incredible things to do in this coastal beach town! Take a look at my Tulum guide to check out everything you need to know about planning a vacation to Tulum, Mexico.
What Are Cenotes and Why Are They Special?
Cenotes are natural sinkholes formed when limestone bedrock collapses, exposing underground rivers and freshwater pools. They only exist in the Yucatan Peninsula and were considered sacred by the ancient Mayan societies that lived there. Swimming in a cenote is for sure one of the best activities to try in Tulum.
The Mayans believed they were portals to the underworld and sources of life-giving water. They were used for all kinds of purposes, including drinking and—yes—sometimes human sacrifices. (Spooky!)
There are four types of cenotes:
- Open Cenotes: Fully exposed to the sky, often surrounded by lush greenery. They might look like rivers or lakes from a glance.
- Semi-Open Cenotes: Partially covered, offering a mix of light and shadow. These are my favorite because they look so unique!
- Underground Cenotes: Hidden inside caves, perfect for adventurous explorers. They can often be a little cold because they don’t get much sunlight, even when it’s hot outside.
- Deep Cenotes: Vertical sinkholes with deep, clear waters, and popular among divers. I don’t dive, but we saw many people on cenote diving tours!
Common Tulum Cenote Rules
These days, cenotes are super popular and no longer the “wild” and untouched natural holes they were hundreds of years ago. They have well built-out facilities like bathrooms and changing rooms for guests!
Cenotes have delicate ecosystems and operators put rules in place to make sure these cenotes can stay pristine and preserved for generations to come.
Avoid Sunscreen and Bug Spray
Since they are pure freshwater, cenotes are often ecologically very fragile. Even biodegradable sunscreen or bug spray can harm the water quality and aquatic life. Never wear sunscreen or bug spray into a cenote!
Most cenotes will have shower stations for this purpose, and using them is mandatory if you have anything on your skin or in your hair. I know it sounds crazy to go swimming for hours without sunscreen, but many cenotes are well-shaded and you don’t need to worry too much!
Cenote Entry Fees
Most Tulum cenotes charge cash entry fees, typically ranging from 200-300 MXN or $10-15 USD per person. These fees help maintain the facilities, including restrooms, rinse stations, and life jackets, and support the conservation of the cenote.
⚠️ Please note that as Tulum has exploded in popularity in the past decade, prices are constantly changing—especially for attractions like cenotes. We found that information about entry fees posted online as recently as one year ago was often already outdated, so budget a little more than you expect!
Camera and Drone Fees for Cenotes
One of my least favorite things about Tulum is that they seem to charge a camera fee for everything, even though plenty of non-professional photographers have cameras these days!
Especially at cenotes, there is often an additional charge for a “professional” camera (aka any camera) or drone. The fee can vary wildly, ranging from 100 MXN ($5 USD) to as high as 600 MXN ($30 USD), and some cenotes are more insistent about collecting them than others.
How to Get to Tulum’s Cenotes
Tulum encompasses a large area, and many of the best cenotes in Tulum are located down unpaved roads. By far the best way to access Tulum’s cenotes freely is by renting a car so you can explore as many cenotes as you want at your own pace!
If you don’t want to or can’t drive, some guided tours might hit the biggest and best cenotes in the area (like Gran Cenote). Here are a couple of options:
The 7 Best Cenotes in Tulum
My picks for the best cenotes in Tulum! This list is in no particular order.
1. Cenote Calavera
Occasionally called the “Temple of Doom,” Cenote Calavera is named as such (”skull cenote”) because of its interesting shape. There are 3 small openings in the rock that make it look a bit like a skull! All 3 holes are connected and the water is warm and refreshing, with swarms of tiny fish. The rope swing and wooden ladder also make this spot super Instagrammable, though I will warn you that the ladder gets very slippery throughout the day. I recommend jumping into the cenote instead—it’s not scary at all!
Cenote Calavera is super small so I recommend coming in the morning (before 11 AM) to enjoy it without dealing with too many other people. We came at 9 and a few other people joined us, but actually it emptied out after an hour or so and we had it to ourselves for almost a whole hour. When it’s empty, it’s definitely one of the best cenotes in Tulum.
- Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Entrance Fee: ~300 MXN ($15 USD)
- Angi’s Tip: Bring a GoPro or waterproof phone case to record jumping in! The staff here is really anal about camera use, so only plan to bring your camera if you’re willing to pay the $20 camera fee.
2. Cenote Nicte-Ha
Cenote Nicte-Ha is a hidden gem that not many people know about. It’s an open cenote with gorgeous water lilies and a surrounding patch of jungle and you’re likely to have the place entirely to yourself! Cenote Nicte-Ha is located in the same park as the super famous Cenote Dos Ojos, so you can group these into a single trip if you want. Don’t forget goggles so you can look at the beautiful underwater plants and fish.
Cenote Nicte-Ha also has an underground cave portion, so if you’re into diving, book a diving tour here! We just swam, though, and still had a blast. Picking up a free life jacket is mandatory here, but no one cares if you want to take it off. This is one of the best cenotes in Tulum for its lack of crowds, unique beauty, and “chill” factor.
- Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Entrance Fee: ~200 MXN ($10 USD)
- Angi’s Tip: There are 3 cenotes in Dos Ojos Park, so you can make this a whole day of cenote exploration if you wish! The road is terrible though, so drive slowly.
3. Gran Cenote
Gran Cenote is one of the most famous and accessible Tulum cenotes, offering something for everyone. Since it’s exploded in popularity in the last few years, people hotly debate whether or not it’s worth the super high price tag. I say just go! You’ll regret it if you never experience Gran Cenote’s sparkling clear waters for yourself.
Despite the name, Gran Cenote is pretty small. I recommend showing up either at opening or closing to enjoy the peace a little bit better—especially because tours come through here in the middle of the day.
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Entrance Fee: ~700 MXN ($35 USD)
- Angi’s Tip: Some people say cameras here aren’t allowed, period. Others say no one cares. Bring at your own risk!
4. Cenote Atik
Cenote Atik is a new and little-known cenote that’s just jaw-dropping. The bright teal waters have an almost milky and opaque quality that looks like Photoshop in real life, and it’s surrounded by lush vegetation, vines, and waterfalls. There’s even a turtle that you might get to swim with if you’re patient enough!
Cenote Atik is located in a park that only opened fairly recently, which is probably why only a few people know about it. Even though the price is a bit steep, it’s 100% worth the visit. We had the entire cenote to ourselves for almost half a day! I’d definitely call this one of the best cenotes in Tulum.
- Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Entrance Fee: ~500 MXN ($25 USD)
- Angi’s Tip: Check out the rest of the park when you’re done swimming in the cenote.
5. Cenote Cristal & Cenote Escondido
Cenote Cristal is a relatively rugged cenote that boasts sparkling, crystalline waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. It’s located just off the side of the road, making it easily accessible and family-friendly (though you might miss the entrance if you’re not paying attention!) It’s a small open cenote surrounded by lush jungle greenery.
Just across the street from Cenote Cristal is Cenote Escondido, an even lesser-known cenote with a gorgeous rope swing perfect for plunges. You can buy entrance tickets for both of them as a set! When it comes to value and convenience, these two are definitely a pair of the best cenotes in Tulum.
- Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Entrance Fee: ~200 MXN ($10 USD) combined
- Angi’s Tip: Cenote Cristal is more popular, so go there first. Then, hop over to Cenote Escondido when it gets too crowded.
6. Cenote Dos Ojos
One of the most iconic cenotes in the region, Cenote Dos Ojos is named for its two interconnected sinkholes. This is a mostly covered cenote with an extensive underwater cave system, making it a favorite for divers.
Even if you’re just here to swim, you can enjoy the caverns and dramatic stalactites and stalagmites that set this cenote apart. It looks so different from many of the other open cenotes in area, making it one of the best cenotes in Tulum! Since it’s in the same park as Cenote Nicte-Ha, I recommend coming here first in the morning and then moving over to Nicte-Ha when the crowds start to flock in.
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Entrance Fee: ~400 MXN ($20 USD)
- Angi’s Tip: Hire a guide for diving or snorkeling, as the underwater rock formations here are not to be missed!
7. Cenote Azul
Cenote Azul is a set of multiple cenote pools located about half an hour from Tulum center. It has gorgeous crystalline waters surrounded by dense jungle, and the pools get less and less crowded the further back you go.
If you’re just looking to swim, you’ll find lovely calm waters. If you’re looking to chase a little more thrill, Cenote Azul has a cliff diving spot to leap into the deeper pools! I think this cenote is quite unique in its offerings, and worth visiting even though it’s popular.
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Entrance Fee: ~200 MXN ($10 USD)
- Angi’s Tip: Arrive early because Cenote Azul is really popular. If you’re looking for more peace and quiet, head for the very back—it’s manageably quiet even during peak hours.
🌴 Read more: Planning a Vacation to Tulum, Mexico? The Ultimate Guide
Honorable Mentions
With thousands of cenotes to choose from, it’s impossible to list out every beautiful cenote in Tulum. But here are some honorable mentions for Tulum cenotes that are still above the rest!
- Cenote Taak Bi Ha: Underground cave cenote with crystal clear and extremely blue waters, fewer crowds.
- Cenote Santa Cruz: Beautiful cenote with good facilities and swings. It’s usually empty for the entire morning!
- Cenote Car Wash: Super clear waters, open cenote with a wooden boardwalk and rope swing! Good backup if Cenote Escondido is closed.
- Cenote Zacil-Ha: Popular cenote with ladder steps and Mayan statues. It’s a little small so arrive early.
And here are some options that aren’t technically cenotes, but still 100% worth visiting!
- Kaan Luum Lagoon: A huge lake with sparkling teal waters, giant beach, and wooden boardwalk. Recommended to us by every single local we talked to, but not worth visiting after a rain as it stirs up the sulfur. Definitely go if the weather is dry!
- Laguna Nopalitos: Massive open lagoon with mangroves, free kayaking and paddleboarding, but private property and hard to access. We heard mixed reviews about this one as some people had trouble getting in.
Cenotes Outside Tulum
While Tulum has plenty of gorgeous cenotes to explore, there are a few incredible picks just outside that city that will be worth the trek if you have time. These are the kind of cenotes that you could fit into a day trip!
- Cenote Suytun: You’ve definitely seen this cenote on Instagram. Cenote Suytun is a breathtaking underground cenote known for its circular platform that gets perfectly lit by the sun streaming through the hole in the cave ceiling. It’s located about 1.5 hours from Tulum, near Valladolid.
- Cenote Xcanche: Another iconic cenote with a semi-open design located near Ek’ Balam. It’s perfect for adventuring, with rappeling and rope swinging included! The huge pool and dramatic vines surrounding the cenote make it look super wild.
- Cenote Choo-Ha: A secret cenote located near the Coba Ruins. If you’re interested in Mayan history and culture, you’ll want to hit Coba—which is much less crowded than the Tulum Ruins. Cenote Choo-Ha is an underground cenote filled with stalactites and stalagmites.
If you liked the look of these cenotes, make sure to read the rest of my Tulum travel guide! It has everything you need to know to plan a bomb-ass trip to Tulum. Have a refreshing and incredible swim!
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