Cenotes in Mexico: What They Are and the 10 Best to Visit

The Yucatán Peninsula hides one of the planet’s most unusual natural secrets beneath its almost flat surface: the cenotes of Mexico. There are thousands of freshwater pools here, some open to the sky and others tucked inside underground caves, and they’ve become one of the main reasons to travel to this part of the country.

Estimates put the number in Yucatán alone at between 6,000 and 10,000, though most are still not open to the public. Below you’ll find what a cenote actually is, the ten most famous in Mexico, and how to visit them safely.

What Is a Cenote?

A cenote is a natural sinkhole that forms when the limestone roof of an underground cavity collapses, exposing the fresh water sitting beneath. The word comes from the Maya dzonot, meaning cave with water.

For the Maya, these pools were far more than a water source. They regarded them as sacred portals to the underworld, and archaeologists have recovered offerings, ceramics, and human remains from several of them.

They fall into three broad types, and knowing which is which tells you what to expect before you arrive. Open cenotes sit exposed to the sky like a lake. Semi-open ones have a partially collapsed roof, letting a shaft of light fall through. Cave cenotes remain almost entirely enclosed, reached by steps down into the rock.

Cenotes in Mexico Compared

1. Cenote Ik Kil

Just five minutes from the entrance to Chichén Itzá, Ik Kil is probably the most photographed cenote in Mexico. It’s an open cenote, with the water sitting around 85 feet (26 meters) below ground level and a total depth of roughly 130 feet (40 meters). Vines hang from the rim almost to the surface, which is what gives it that otherworldly look.

You can book the Chichén Itzá, Cobá and Ik Kil cenote day trip from Cancún, which includes entry to the cenote and time to swim after visiting the archaeological site.

Cenote Ik Kil is one of the most famous in Mexico

2. Cenote Suytun

On the outskirts of Valladolid, Suytun is a semi-open cenote known for its circular stone platform, lit by a narrow beam of light falling through an opening in the cave roof. It’s comfortably the most sought-after cenote on social media in all of Yucatán, so arrive first thing if you want to avoid the crush.

Its name means stone center in Maya, a reference to exactly that walkway running out into the water to the point where the light lands.

3. Cenote Dos Ojos

Near Tulum, Dos Ojos forms part of Sac Actún, the largest underwater cave system in the world, with more than 185 miles (300 kilometers) mapped so far. The name comes from its two circular entrances, connected below the surface, which look like a pair of eyes from above.

It’s a favorite for cave diving thanks to visibility that can exceed 100 feet (30 meters), though you can also cover part of the system snorkeling in the better-lit sections. Dive centers around Tulum run guided cavern dives here for certified divers, and you’ll find the wider range on the Tulum activities page.

Cenote Dos Ojos is one of the most popular spots for cavern diving enthusiasts

4. Cenote Manatí, or Casa Cenote

Known as Casa Cenote, Manatí is an open cenote running in a narrow channel through mangroves north of Tulum. It’s one of the few that connects directly to the sea through underground tunnels. That mix of fresh and salt water creates an ecosystem of its own, with fish and the occasional crab among the mangrove roots.

Its shallow water and near-absent current make it a good place to kayak or snorkel with no previous experience needed.

5. Gran Cenote

Also in Tulum, a few minutes by bike from the center, Gran Cenote is one of the most visited in the area thanks to easy access and shallow water in several sections, ideal if you’re new to snorkeling.

Below the surface, freshwater turtles share the space with colorful fish, and stalactite formations are visible from some of the chambers. Being so close to central Tulum, it fills up fast from mid-morning onward, so the first hours after opening are the calmest.

Gran Cenote sits very close to Tulum

6. Cenote Hubiku

Near Ek Balam, in the state of Yucatán, Hubiku is a semi-open cenote with a large artificial waterfall dropping from the upper rim, added to heighten the effect of the natural light coming through. Its size and wooden platform make it fairly accessible for large groups.

Day trips combining Hubiku with Ek Balam and Chichén Itzá run regularly from the coast, pairing two of the peninsula’s most important Maya sites with a swim in the same day.

7. Cenote Xcanché

Very close to the ruins of Ek Balam, Xcanché is a semi-open cenote ringed by walls of hanging vegetation, with water in an intense turquoise. It isn’t as famous as others on this list, so it tends to be quieter, which you’ll appreciate after walking the archaeological site in full sun.

You can reach it on foot, by bike, or by mototaxi from the Ek Balam entrance. Alongside the swim, there’s a small zip line that drops you into the water.

Cenote Xcanché reflects the dense vegetation surrounding it in its emerald water

8. Cenote Chichikán

Near Chichén Itzá, Chichikán is a cave cenote, with part of its roof still closed and stalactites visible from the water. Its name means, literally, snake’s mouth in Maya, a reference to the shape of its natural entrance.

You can book the Chichén Itzá and Chichikán cenote trip, which also takes in the colonial town of Valladolid on the way.

9. Cenote Angelita

Outside Tulum, Angelita is among the strangest cenotes anywhere. It’s a shaft around 200 feet (60 meters) deep where a layer of hydrogen sulfide creates a kind of underwater fog partway down, with trees and branches that appear to float suspended just above it. It isn’t a swimming spot, but a site for advanced diving.

One advantage is that its temperature stays fairly stable year-round, at about 75°F (24°C). Visibility can drop considerably during the rainy season, though.

Cenote Angelita is popularly known as the river under the water

10. Cenote X-Tun

Between Tulum and Akumal, X-Tun looks more like an underground grotto than a typical open cenote, with a low roof studded with stalactites and air noticeably cooler than outside. It’s a regular stop on day trips combining several activities across this stretch of the Riviera Maya.

You can book the Akumal Bay and X-Tun cenote day trip, or the Tulum and Akumal trip with cenote snorkeling, which brings the Maya ruins, snorkeling in Akumal Bay, and a cenote swim into one day.

How to Visit a Cenote Safely

Most tourist cenotes either require a life jacket or include one in the price, and it’s worth wearing even if you’re a strong swimmer, since the real depth of many is deceptive from the surface.

Conventional sunscreen is banned at most of them because the chemicals damage the water’s ecosystem, so bring a biodegradable version or apply it after your swim rather than before.

For cave cenotes, reached by narrow staircases or through low-light sections, footwear with decent grip beats flip-flops, particularly on the wet stone steps leading down to the water.

When to Visit the Cenotes of Mexico

The dry season, from November to April, gives you the best underwater visibility and better road conditions for reaching the more remote cenotes, though it also coincides with the region’s peak tourist season.

From May to October the rains are more frequent, which reduces water clarity somewhat in the open cenotes, but it also means the artificial waterfalls like the one at Hubiku run much fuller.

Mexico’s cenotes are among the most curious and surprising attractions in the country

Frequently Asked Questions About Cenotes in Mexico

Where Are There Most Cenotes in Mexico?

The greatest concentration is on the Yucatán Peninsula, above all in the states of Yucatán and Quintana Roo, with areas like Tulum, Valladolid, Ek Balam, and the surroundings of Chichén Itzá the richest in cenotes open to the public. There are also cenotes beyond the peninsula, though they’re less known. The most striking is El Zacatón, in the municipality of Aldama in Tamaulipas, considered the deepest cenote in the world at close to 1,110 feet (339 meters), far beyond anything in Yucatán.

Can You Swim in Every Cenote?

No. Most cenotes in Mexico are set up for swimming or snorkeling, but some, like Cenote Angelita, are intended solely for advanced diving because of their depth and particular conditions.

Which Is the Most Beautiful Cenote in Mexico?

There’s no single answer, since each offers a different experience. Ik Kil tends to top the lists of famous cenotes for its size and accessibility, Suytun stands out for its light effect, and Dos Ojos for the clarity of its water for diving.

With thousands of cenotes spread across the Yucatán Peninsula, there’s always another one to find, but the ten here make a solid starting point for a first trip to the region. Each has its own character, so it’s worth combining more than one. You’ll find cenote swims built into day trips across the Riviera Maya and the wider range of tours in Mexico.