Everyone knows that Tulum has gorgeous beaches, and a beautiful boho-chic vibe that attracts down to Earth people and travelers all over the world (and let’s face it, cringe-inducing influencers and painfully superficial luxurious travelers). However, I believe that Tulum’s ULTIMATE attraction (or certainly one of them) is the many “cenotes” that you can visit right in the town or just outside of it.
If you clicked on this post, you surely are at least vaguely aware of what a cenote is. In essence, cenotes are swimming holes that are created by sinkholes in the limestone bedrock that expose the fresh water below. This geographical phenomenon creates some of the most incredible and unique places to swim and explore, even more so than the stunning beaches that you are surely planning on visiting as well.
But with so many cenotes to visit (there are literally 6,000+ in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico), it is a bit of a daunting task to choose which one(s) to visit. Having spent a month in Tulum and visiting as many cenotes as possible, I started to get an idea on which cenotes are worth your time, which ones are overrated, and worst of all, which ones are not worth the crowds of tourists.
To rank them fairly, I created a ranking system breaking down different aspects of a cenote, rating them on a scale of 1-5 or 1-3. Here is that system for reference:
- Beauty (1-5)
- Adventure/Thrill/Interactivity (1-5)
- Snorkeling (1-5)
- Price (1-3)
- Busyness (1-3)
So here are my top 6 cenotes to visit in Tulum, Mexico!
- Cenote Calavera
- Gran Cenote
- Cenote Cristal
- Cenote Escondido
- Cenote Tankach-Ha
- Jardin del Eden Cenote
#6 Cenote Calavera
This was actually the first cenote that I visited in Tulum, due to its location – it is fairly close to the town center of Tulum, so we were able to reach Cenote Calavera by riding our bikes (about a 20 minute ride). So let’s break it down:
Beauty (4/5)
Cenote Calavera is what I call a “semi-open cenote”, meaning it has a cave setting but you aren’t fully in a cave – you are essentially on top of the bedrock, but there are multiples holes that create entrances to the water. These holes are actually what gives the cenote the name “calavera” meaning skull in Spanish (think of the holes being the holes for the eyes, nose, and mouth in a skull). This makes for a really unique and beautiful atmosphere, and it gives you the opportunity to do some really cool things that I’ll elaborate on more later.
There’s also a lot of pretty greenery surrounding you, as you are in the jungle. We also saw some wildlife which included iguanas and lizards which is super cool. And finally, the water has a beautiful sort of green/aqua color in the early afternoon when the sun is overhead.
Adventure/Thrill/Interactivity (4/5)
Remember those various holes in the rock that I mentioned earlier? So the thing is, you can jump through these into the dark waters of the cave below you. This is a really fun and thrilling thing to do, especially because some of the holes are very narrow which makes for a tight squeeze! There are also some bats in the dark parts of the cave, which makes things a little spooky and adventurous.
Snorkeling (2/5)
This is where the cenote starts to fall a bit short – exploring the actual waters of this cenote is a bit lack-luster. The water is mostly dark, so you can’t really see a whole lot (which is actually a little scary). If it’s later in the day, you can see the sun rays passing through the dark water which is beautiful. There’s also not really that much space to swim around and snorkel in, which takes away from the experience as well.
Price (1/3)
To enter Cenote Calavera (at the time of writing this) you need to pay 250 pesos (about $15 USD). Being that the cenote is becoming one of the more popular ones around Tulum, the entry fee is certainly one of the higher ones we encountered. In general, I would say $10 is the average/mid price to enter a cenote in this region.
Busyness (1/3)
This cenote is definitely one of the busiest ones you can visit near Tulum, which makes sense. Given that it is so close to Tulum and its unique skull-like composition, many people have this cenote on their list before they visit. It also doesn’t have the largest area to swim around in, which means any crowd of people will make this feel cramped. And when you add the possibility of people hogging precious real estate for their personal photo shoots, your enjoyment can quickly start to diminish. So long story short, make sure to come here bright and early if possible!
So in total, this cenote scored 12/21 when adding all of my categories together.
#5 Gran Cenote
Literally meaning “Big Cenote”, this is another cenote that’s very close to Tulum’s town center. It is actually just a bit further down the road than Cenote Calavera, meaning you could easily visit both in the same day. On bike for us, it was about 35 minutes away, or a 10-minute drive. So, let’s rate its features:
Beauty (4.5/5)
With nearly a perfect 5/5, this cenote is GORGEOUS. The water in this cenote is really pretty in some areas, showcasing some different brilliant shades of blue. It is also a “semi-open” sort of cenote, but the caves here have some really interesting rocks on display known as “stalactites” that hang from the ceiling. Gran Cenote also still has some jungle elements due to the surrounding greenery, so it really has a nice combination of visuals to make it beautiful.
Adventure/Thrill/Interactivity (3.5/5)
So I would definitely say the Gran Cenote is more adventurous than the average cenote, but not as adventurous as others we visited. One of the most thrilling components of the cenote is an underwater passage you can swim through. This passage leads through a bit of a cave connecting the main open area of the cenote to a separate pool that’s a little tucked away. This isn’t dangerous in any way, but it’s a bit thrilling due to a bit of darkness, bats overhead, and the feeling of exploration.
Snorkeling (5/5)
Woohoo, a perfect score!! This is for a few different reasons, but one of the main ones has to be the turtles! Here there are many freshwater painted turtles that call Gran Cenote home, and you can see them swimming everywhere. This was definitely some of the coolest wildlife I saw while exploring cenotes (although, I’ve heard that there is a cenote with a small resident alligator. That would probably trump this experience).
Also, similar to Cenote Calavera, you can see some stunning rays of sunlight strike through the deep dark waters of this cenote. This is especially true in the afternoon when the sun is directly overhead the water. You can also see how truly big the cenote is, which makes the swimming area feel much smaller. This includes stalagmites, and massive drop-offs where the water becomes deep and dark. You truly feel like you are exploring another world!
Price (1/3)
As you might have expected, I believe that the Gran Cenote is THE MOST popular cenote in Tulum, which coincidentally makes it the most expensive one as well. The entrance fee is currently 500 pesos ($25 USD) which frankly is LUDICROUS. It certainly is gorgeous as you’ve heard me say earlier, but I think it would be hard to justify this price even in a Western country honestly.
Busyness (1/3)
I mean, this goes without saying at this point. It’s close to the main area of Tulum, it’s really beautiful, and it’s really instagrammable. We showed up here before it opened during the shoulder season, and there was already a line. Even though it is a lot bigger than Cenote Calavera, it quite quickly becomes swamped with people, and the swimming space is quickly crammed. So to really enjoy this cenote, come as early as possible – otherwise your enjoyment might be greatly diminished by the crowds.
So in total, this cenote scored 15/21 when adding all of my categories together.
#4 Cenote Cristal
Cenote Cristal is also located very close to downtown Tulum. It was about a 20-minute bike ride west of the town center, as opposed to the previous two cenotes, which are north of the town center.
Beauty (4/5)
This is a fully-open cenote (no cave element) that has a beautiful natural setting. You have to walk a little bit through a dense jungle that takes you away from the highway, making the atmosphere quiet and peaceful. The area surrounding the cenote is full of lush greenery, making you feel like you are entering the ultimate jungle swimming pool. The water itself is also a beautiful blue-green that is completely see-through on a sunny day. So long story short, it’s very beautiful!
Adventure/Thrill/Interactivity (3.5/5)
Cenote Cristal has a nice lookout platform that gives not only a great vantage point of the area, but also functions as a jumping platform! The platform is about 10ft above the water, so the jump is not too scary and offers a great way to jump, dive, or flip into the beautiful blue water below. Also, on the opposite end of the cenote you can find a rope swing that allows you to gracefully (or in my case, not-so-gracefully) plunge into the water. These are both fun ways to interact with the cenote, but they are not quite as thrilling as some other cenotes I’ll mention later.
Snorkeling (2/5)
While the water at this cenote is a beautiful blue-green, there isn’t a whole lot to be seen under the water. On a sunny day, you can see many rays of light shining through the water which is cool, but that’s pretty much it. I didn’t see any wildlife, big rocks, passageways, or anything else of interest. I would still recommend taking a look with some goggles or a snorkel, but it definitely was below average.
Price (3/3)
To enter Cenote Cristal and another cenote (which is coming up next), the cost was 200 pesos (about $10). This equates to Cenote Cristal only costing 100 pesos ($5) to enter, which is honestly as cheap as it comes.
Busyness (3/3)
I came to this cenote relatively early in the morning (around 8 or 9), and it was SILENT. A couple of people were already here but they were meditating, and when people were speaking, they were almost whispering to preserve the peace. I absolutely loved this tranquil atmosphere that made the serene beauty even more special. The cenote is also spacious as well, so when more people showed up, it was still chill with lots of space to enjoy.
So in total, this cenote scored 15.5/21 when adding all of my categories together.
#3 Cenote Escondido
Cenote Escondido is actually right across the street from Cenote Cristal, so I would use all the same information above to describe its location and distance from the town center.
Beauty (3/5)
I would rate this cenote’s beauty just above average. It almost looks like a river in the jungle, which is still pretty, but not quite as exotic as the others. It is an open-cenote, but there are some interesting cave-like areas which I’ll talk about in other sections. When the sun is out, the water has a pretty blue and green color to it, but it is more subdued than other cenotes.
Adventure/Thrill/Interactivity (3/5)
I would rate this category just above average as well – there is a small rock ledge that you can jump off of (maybe 7ft high) that is a bit of fun, There is also a bit of a secret passageway that splits off from the main cenote that is fun to explore, but I think it plays more into the snorkeling.
Snorkeling (4/5)
This was certainly one of my favorite cenotes for snorkeling. There are many massive and interesting rocks to see below the surface, and there are parts where the floor becomes so deep you can’t see the bottom. I also saw tons of fish, especially in that secret passageway area I mentioned. And of course, the light shining into the water looks magical. Adding all these things together, I was able to snorkel for a long time to explore Cenote Escondido.
Price (3/3)
This cenote was part of the 200 peso ($10) package along with Cenote Cristal. This equates to Cenote Cristal only costing 100 pesos ($5) to enter, making it one of the cheapest ones.
Busyness (3/3)
There were some people at Cenote Escondido, but they were being pretty chill and the cenote is fairly large giving plenty of space for everyone to hang out. Essentially, the number and behavior of tourists did not negatively impact my experience of this cenote whatsoever.
So in total, this cenote scored 16/21 when adding all of my categories together.
#2 Cenote Tankach-Ha
The last two cenotes in this list are actually located a bit further from the town center of Tulum, BUT they are worth the time to get there! Cenote Tankach-Ha is actually located near the Coba Ruins, which you can reach by bus/taxi in under an hour.
Beauty (3.5/5)
This cenote is quite different than the others mentioned so far – this cenote is legitimately inside a cave that you must enter down a long, spiral staircase leading underground. It’s a bit intimidating, but that only adds to the fun. Once inside, the cenote is very dark; it almost feels like you have entered Batman’s “Bat Cave”, partly due to the numerous bats you can see flying around. However, the water is very dark and I do feel that other cenotes are more visually striking, so I would rate its beauty above average
Adventure/Thrill/Interactivity (5/5)
This hands-down is the most adventurous and thrilling cenote – even entering this place will feel exhilarating! Two jumping platforms are attached to the spiral staircase that allow you to plunge into the dark water below. One platform is 5 meters (16 feet) high and is fun and a bit scary, and the second is 10 METERS (32 feet), which is absolutely terrifying to jump from (this is the height of the high dive in the Olympics). After I summoned the courage to the jump, I absolutely loved the thrill and it made this cenote such an exciting place to visit in Mexico.
Snorkeling (2/5)
Because this cenote is in a dark cave, the snorkeling and visibility are definitely below average. Don’t get me wrong – it is still worth snorkeling here, as you can see just how incredibly deep the water in this cenote goes (114ft at its deepest). You can also see some little fish and some rocks, but that’s pretty much it.
Price (3/3)
The entry here was 100 pesos ($5 USD), making it among the cheapest cenotes we visited, so it deserves a perfect score for price.
Busyness (3/3)
It definitely wasn’t empty at Cenote Tankach-Ha, but there were never enough people to make it feel crowded, too loud, or to decrease my enjoyment of the cenote. There was also plenty of space to swim around and explore, and I never had to wait to jump off a platform. Therefore, it also deserves a perfect score for busyness.
So in total, this cenote scored 16.5/21 when adding all of my categories together.
#1 Jardin del Eden Cenote
This cenote is right between Tulum and Playa del Carmen, making it about 30 minutes from Tulum’s town center. You can either drive here, take a taxi, or if you’re a budget-adventurous traveler like us, you can take a colectivo (local shuttle bus).
Beauty (3.5/5)
Surprisingly, the beauty of this cenote did not blow me away. Jardin del Eden is a really big open cenote, and it doesn’t have that beautiful, brilliant blue color that others do. It still has some nice aqua colors in the water when the sun is out, and the surrounding area is pretty green and lush. So it’s beautiful in its own right, but only a bit above average.
Adventure/Thrill/Interactivity (5/5)
This cenote also gets a PERFECT SCORE under this category! At one end of the cenote, there are several jumping ledges with heights varying from 3 meters to maybe 7 meters. You can even climb a tree to increase your total jumping height to about 9 meters (30 feet), which is very exciting!
In the water, there is also a small passageway that goes underneath the stairs and leads you to an area behind some rocks. You have to swim this underwater while holding your breath, which is very exhilarating! There is also a small tunnel you can swim through on the opposite side of the cenote, which makes for a fun adventure as well. Long story short, there are a lot of ways for you to interact with this cenote!
Snorkeling (4.5/5)
There are TONS of fish that you can see in the waters of Jardin del Eden Cenote. The water looks gorgeous once you are below the surface with lots of bright moss on the rocks, many shades of blue, and of course, mesmerizing rays of light shining through the water. You can also dive a bit deeper into the water and explore these little crevices and small rock systems, which is a great way to experience the underwater world here.
Price (2/3)
The price to enter Jardin del Eden Cenote was 200 pesos, making it right between the cheap and expensive cenotes. So surely, it deserves a middle score of 2/3.
Busyness (2/3)
There were definitely a lot of people, groups, and families coming in and out of this cenote later in the day. Some of them were rowdy, and some were sitting on the rocks in the shallow waters that act like natural benches, not leaving any open. That being said, it didn’t REALLY hinder my ability to enjoy the cenote – there was still plenty of space to swim around and hang out.
In total, this cenote scored 17/21 when adding all of my categories together.
Of course, there are many more cenotes to visit in the Yucatan Peninsula than these 6. Even though I might prefer some more than others, they each were beautiful, charming, and truly special places that I’m glad I visited. So if you can, visit each and every one, and add some others to your trip as well!
