The best Cenotes in Tulum and the best Cenotes near Valladolid

Cenotes are craters in the ground that have been created by a meteorite shower and then were filled up with fresh water through rain. Some of them are connected through underground water passages that even lead into the ocean. Therefore, you find a mixture of sea and freshwater in some cenotes. They are a must see on your visit of Mexico but there are so many that you’ll have to make your picks. I visited quite a few cenotes and here you find a list of the best cenotes in the Yucatan area.

The best cenotes in Tulum

Tulum has quite a few cenotes within 15 mins of driving. It’s possible to visit them by bicycle but it would be easier by car. You can just as easily visit the cenotes closer to Playa del Carmen from Tulum. That will just be about 30 mins of driving. But now more about the best cenote near Tulum.

Dos Ojos

The cenotes around Tulum are expensive. So, if you decide on only visiting one cenote in this area Dos Ojos is your must visit cenote! It’ts expensive at 350 pesos and it’s famous and touristy (but therefore has good facilities). However, it really is amazing!!!
There are two pools (eyes) you can swim in. The first eye is more interesting for scuba divers as the clear blue water soon disappears in a dark cave. Nevertheless, the beautiful water color on its own is worth a visit.
The second eye is amazing for snorkellers as well! You’ll see lots of rock formations and even here you can see how the sunrays enter the water. It’s pretty neat. Once you are done swimming, you can find hammocks at the top and bathrooms and showers.

The best cenotes near Valladolid

There actually is a cenote in the town of Valladolid. It’s called Zaci and only costs 35 pesos. It’s a nice pool to take a swim if  you don’t have time to drive out of town.

Hacienda Oxman

This actually was my favorite cenote next to Dos Ojos. It’s possible to reach it in a half an hour bike ride or by car. The cenote is on a private property with a restaurant and a pool and therefore you better plan it in a way that you get to spend a few hours there to relax. For 70 pesos you can stay for the day and use lifejackets for free or jump from a rope. For 100 pesos you receive an additional drink and snack and the wifi password.
Oxman Cenote is nice from any angle. Whether you look from the top down into the crater or are inside along the brim or in the water below the vines, it’s exactly that picturesque cenote you wished for. Another plus is that no tour bus stops here. Use maps.me to get there but only follow the big roads as they will be much easier to ride on than the dirt paths.

Xkeken and Samula

This is a very touristic cenote that is often combined with the neighboring Samula one. It’s a cenote inside a cave and if you haven’t seen a cave cenote yet, this is a good one to go to at 80 pesos. However, if you have seen Dos Ojos, it won’t impress you much. Same for Samula compared to Hacienda Oxman.

The best cenotes near Playa del Carmen

El Jardin del Eden

This was the first cenote I visited (100 pesos) and afterward I wanted to see more. It’s easy to get to by collectivo but you have to walk about 15 minutes to get to the water. The water is green but very clear and you can jump from the rocks on one side.

Cenote Azul

This cenote has different shallow creeks. One is blue and the others are rather green but all very clear. It’s a bit like how I imagine paradise to be but with more people. The entry fee is 100 pesos and you only have to walk 2 mins from the highway to the water.

Summary

If you want to have a bit of the best of all you should visit  El Jardin del Eden for a nice open air pool with trees and rocks, Dos Ojos for the blue color and the cave experience and Oxman for the beauty of the vines and can spare the rest as it only becomes repetitive.

What was your favorite swimming place in Mexico or around the world?