When you hear people discussing their vacations in Mexico you will often hear them describe how beautiful the beaches are, the turquoise water and white, soft sand but what you may not hear them talk about as much are the thousands of cenotes that can be explored either on your own or by joining a tour group. A cenote is simply asinkhole that is most often surrounded by rocky edges. There are above ground sinkholes as well as subterranean cenotes and the water is usually very clear. Many Mayan settlements were based around cenotes as they provided an essential water source for the people. Chichen Itza is one of the more well-known cities that settled near these natural wells. Mayans also believed that these sinkholes were gateways to the afterlife and so they played important roles in theirMayan rites.
In my 16 years in Cancun I have visited many cenotes and I continue to explore new ones whenever I get the chance to do so. I have always loved the ocean but I am particularly fond of these magical, fresh water oasesperhaps because they bring back such fond memories of time spent at the numerous lakes, found in B.C., whilst growing up in Vancouver, Canada. Some of my favourite cenotes are located close to home in Quintana Roo and some others are several hours away in the Yucatan state. Cenote Cristalino, which is about 15 minutes south of Puerto Aventuras, is probably the first cenote that I ever visited over 14 years ago. When I first started going very few people knew of its existence. In fact, on most occasions when I went there with friends we would be the only people there .It was our very own private oasis. Through the years that has changed with the advent of major development in the Riviera Maya and “cenote tours”. “Cristalino” is no longer just “mine”; however, it still remains a beautiful spot which I visit often especially when friends are in town.
In the Yucatan you can explore such amazing watering holes like the open air Cenote Il Kil and Cenote Yokdzonot as well as Cenote Dzitnup and Cenote Samula which are both subterranean cenotes. On my first trip to Il Kil we left our SUV in the parking lot just as two very large tour buses pulled in and a huge group of tourists descended from the buses, cameras in hand,rushing towards the very same entrance that we were heading to. We all handed in our tickets and were guided through the souvenir store en route to the cenote where luckily we lost about half of the people from the buses as they were waylaid by sales people trying to peddle ornaments, blankets and otherkeepsakes. We hurried along trying to lose the herd but quickly realized that the cenote was already full of people who had arrived on earlier buses.
As we approached the steps leading down to Il Kil we stopped to admire the view from above and I was left speechless, which for anyone whoknows me is quite something. I had seen You Tube videos and photos of Il Kil before but they couldn’t even begin to compare to the sight before us. The crystal blue water, surrounded by rocky edges and vegetation was truly magnificent. We made our way down the steps until we arrived at the cenote’s edge where we joined a crowd of people. We stowed our belongings and dove into the cool water. As I floated on my back I suddenly became aware of a silence that enveloped the submerged cavern. I looked around and to my delight realized that the majority of people had left to continue on their tour. I basked in the silence and swam under the small waterfalls letting the water crash down over my face. As I surveyed the area around me I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful place, so serene and lush with vegetation and natural beauty-a true Garden of Eden if there ever was one.
Yokdzonot is very similar to Il Kil but without the crowds as it is relatively new to the tourist scene. It is run by a small group of Mayan women to help support their community of 850 people. It boasts an estimated depth of 45 meters and is 40 meters across and about 22 meters from the rim to the water. On our last visit there we were the only people in the water. Need I say more? Finally, the cenotes Dzitnup and Samula, which are by no means less breathtaking, are located in Valladolid, a quaint colonial town about 1.5 hours from Cancun. Both of them are below ground and offer a different experience than the aforementioned cenotes. LED lights enable you to navigate the stairs down to the subtlety lit caverns where you are greeted by an eerie silence with cave walls that echo your every word. Samula, though smaller, is less crowded (for now), and there is an opening above that lets in rays of light that shine down on massive tree roots, which in search of water have taken root in the small island in the center of the cenote. As you swim through the mineral infused water you cannot help but feel blessed to be a part of such relatively untouched natural beauty. I often experience a great sense of peace and feel connected to “something bigger” when I visit these places.
There are so many cenotes that one can visit while exploring southern Mexico. I have but only scratched the surface with this article. Below is a small list of some of the cenotes that I have been to over the years and which I recommend that you consider exploring on your next visit to Quintana Roo and the Yucatan.
• Cenote Cristalino-15 minutes south of Playa del Carmen, Q.Roo
• Cenote Eden-15 minutes south of Playa del Carmen,Q.Roo
• Cenote Azul-15 minutes south of Playa del Carmen,Q.Roo
• Cenote Manati-40 minutes south of Playa del Carmen,Q.Roo
• Grand Cenote-90 minutes south of Playa del Carmen
• Cenote Il Kil- 2 hours west of Cancun (next to Chichen Itza,Yucatan)
• Cenote Yokdzonot-30 minutes from Chichen Itza,Yucatan
• Cenote Samula and Cenote Dzitnup- 90 minutes west of Cancun (Vallalodid,Yucatan)
• Cenote Cuzama (3 cenotes) 4 hours west of Cancun (Yucatan)
Very interesting article Ashlie. I have many fond memories of the cenotes you’ve taken me to, especially Il Kil… it felt as if I was in the bowels of the earth, but the most fun of all is the local one you ‘discovered’ all those years ago. It has seats, shade, rocks to rest on in the water and places to picnic. Great!
A very interesting and informative blog!
Great read! I’ve never been to a cenote in Q Roo, but I’ve been to several in Yucatan.
WOW. You truly do live in paradise. Thanks for the great post
Ebe-thank you for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate it!
There a lot of cenotes in Riviera Maya, and i mean a lot, and is hard choose the best or at least the right for you, but i think if you are beginner explore is best to buy it with a travel package
We have been visiting cenotes since I moved here 17 years ago and just love them all.Thanks for stopping by my blog
My husband and I are going to Playa del Carmen in February, and we are both looking forward to our first cenote experience–but we want to do it low key and less touristy, any recommendations on how to get there, where to park, or which ones to visit first?
Mrs.Lady–Thank you for stopping by my blog. There are several cenotes close to Playa del Carmen. You could either get there by a taxi or rent a car. They are about 20 minutes from Playa. I recommend cenote Cristalino (my favourite) and you can then walk from there if you want to see Cenote Azul and Cenote Eden as well. They are all more or less in front of Hotel Barcelo.
Thanks so much!!! I will visit these!
My husband and I are staying at the Grand Bahia Akumal this winter, and we would like to explore some cenotes on our own. Can you give me any tips on where to go, and what might be closest to Akumal? Is it safe to go without a tour group? We are not fond of huge tours and would like to visit on our own. Is there a way for us to get to one of these cenotes by Collectivo?
Hello Kimberly-Thank you for stopping by my blog. As I mentioned in my other comment to Mrs. Lady there are several cenotes close to Playa del Carmen. You could either get there by a taxi or rent a car. They are about 20 minutes from Playa and 40mins. from Akumal. I recommend cenote Cristalino (my favourite) and you can then walk from there if you want to see Cenote Azul and Cenote Eden as well. They are all more or less in front of Hotel Barcelo. You can also visit Yal Kul which is a beautiful lagoon in Akumal http://www.cancun.com/Editorial/Yal-ku/ It is safe to visit all these places without going on our tour. I am not sure whether a collectivo can stop just anywhere on the highway anymore. In the past you could but you may wish to check with your hotel first.
My husband and I are staying at the Grand Bahia Akumal this winter, and we would like to explore some cenotes on our own. Can you give me any tips on where to go, and what might be closest to Akumal? Is it safe to go without a tour group? We are not fond of huge tours and would like to visit on our own. Is there a way for us to get to one of these cenotes by Collectivo?