12 Best Cenotes Near Valladolid – Valladolid Cenotes Map & Guide

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The Yucatán Peninsula is famous around the world for its amazing natural swimming holes – ‘cenotes‘.

The colonial city of Valladolid is not only known for its colorful Adobe houses, but also for its cenotes. There are a lot of cenotes near Valladolid and one is actually located right in the town center.

You can swim and snorkel in cenotes and at some, you can jump from platforms into the cool deep blue water. At others, you can go scuba diving and explore the underwater worlds and cave systems that are hidden from the eye above ground. And again others are so big, they even have a little island in the middle.

We put together an extensive cenote guide with a map of the best cenotes in Valladolid, Mexico. Explaining everything you need to know about cenotes in Valladolid followed by information about each of the natural swimming holes.

If it’s your first time visiting a cenote in the Yucatan Peninsula you will find our cenote packing list handy and will get helpful information all around swimming and snorkeling in cenotes.

At the end of our extensive Valladolid Cenote Guide, you will find a list of cenotes near Tulum, Cancun, and Playa del Carmen that are equally as beautiful and worth a visit during your vacation in Mexico.

This is a long and elaborate post, if you are interested in a specific topic click on the links below in the table of contents to jump to that section directly.

The Best Cenotes Near Valladolid, Mexico

Guide To Visiting Cenotes Near Valladolid

Best Things To Do In Tulum

What Is A Cenote?

Cenotes are sinkholes naturally formed by the collapse of their limestone bedrock ceiling. Yucatan has thousands of these natural sinkholes, called cenotes. It has been found that these cenotes are not standalone waterholes, but rather a vastly interconnected underground system spanning across the Yucatan peninsula.

The water is usually crystal clear and cool which makes them so incredible for swimming and snorkeling. Some cenotes are very deep which makes them great for scuba and free diving. In again other cenotes you can explore cavelike underwater worlds with stalactites and stalagmites.

Different Types Of Cenotes

Cenotes vary in size, depth as well as type. Some cenotes are partially open through a collapsed ceiling that exposes the underlying groundwater or are even completely open. Other sinkholes are entirely underground and cavelike and again others are semi-underground.

Cenotes In Ancient Mayan History

The ancient Mayans used the cenotes as natural wells for their water supplies. Famous cities like Chichen Itza were built around cenotes for that fact, as the Yucatan Peninsula has almost no rivers and only a few lakes.

The cenotes were believed to be a passageway to the underground world and afterlife. In ancient times, cenotes played a big part in Mayan rituals and sacrificial offerings.

The Mayans deposited valuables and human bodies into the cenotes as a form of sacrifice to their gods. Several human remains and objects dating back to the Mayan era have been found inside cenotes by divers.

How To Get To Cenotes Near Valladolid?

There are a lot of cenotes near Valladolid that you can visit. Some cenotes are close to Valladolid or even directly in town and others are further away and require a drive to get there.

Rent A Bike To Visit Cenotes Near Valladolid

The cenotes close to Valladolid can easily be reached by bike. For instance, Cenote Oxman is not far from Valladolid center and Cenote Zaci is actually right in town. So depending on where you stay in Valladolid it can make sense to rent a bike.

Taking A Taxi To Visit Cenotes

Taking a taxi to get to a cenote could be an option too. However, we would only recommend it to popular and highly frequented cenotes. Some cenotes around Valladolid are not very busy or too far away so you may have a hard time finding a taxi ride back to town.

Taking A Tour To Visit Cenotes Around Valladolid

An easier and comfortable option to visit cenotes around Valladolid is taking a cenote tour. You will be picked up and dropped off at your hotel and don’t have to worry about the logistics or being stuck in the middle of nowhere as cenotes tend to be in secluded areas.

There are different types of cenote tours: Usually half-day tours or full-day tours. On guided full-day tours, you typically also visit a Mayan archaeological site like the Chichen Itza pyramid or Muyil South of Tulum.

These are some of the most popular cenote tours near Valladolid that can easily be booked online:

Popular Valladolid Cenote Tours

Getting Around By Rental Car

The most flexible option to get around Valladolid and visit the many cenotes is by rental car. With a rental car, you will be able to visit all the more remote cenotes near Valladolid which most of them are. Renting a car is usually our personal preference to get from place to place and explore, but it always depends on your budget and itinerary of course.

We would recommend renting a car right away at Cancun airport when you arrive in Mexico if you are looking to get a rental car for your trip.

Down below, with the information about each cenote, we included the distance and directions from Valladolid. That way you can see how far the cenotes are from Valladolid town and how to get there best.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Valladolid Cenotes?

You can visit the cenotes all year round. They are usually open from 9 am to 5 pm, with the last entry being at 4 pm. (Check below for the exact opening hours for each cenote.)

The popular cenotes around Valladolid like Cenote Oxman, Cenote Suytun and Chichen Itza can get pretty busy, especially during the high season. If you prefer a less crowded time and/or if you are looking to take photos, the morning hours are your best bet. The cenotes get pretty busy around midday and afternoon. Some are highly frequented by tours as well.

Pro tip: Travel off season to avoid the crowds!

Lesser-known cenotes like Cenote Sac-Aua for instance are usually not that busy. Visiting anytime during the day will be fine. We even had Cenote Sac-Aua all to ourselves.

How Much Does Visiting Valladolid Cenotes Cost?

How much the entrance fee to cenotes in Valladolid costs varies a great deal. A general rule of thumb is the more popular a cenote, the higher the entrance fee.

Cenote Zaci in Valladolid is surprisingly cheap and even free if you eat at their restaurant.

Other cenotes near Valladolid cost around 100-150 pesos. Some have a restaurant on-site and offer an all-inclusive ticket which then costs a bit more but can be a good deal.

Cenote parks offer an entire experience and therefore cost more.

Life jackets can cost you an extra fee too. At some of the cenotes in Valladolid they are required. In Tulum they charge you for camera gear like a GoPro or DSLR. We haven’t seen that in the Valladolid cenotes, but things can change.

As you can see pricing for the cenotes varies greatly, but in general the cenotes in Valladolid are cheaper than the ones in Tulum.

We are trying to be up to date with the entrance fees to the cenotes, but prices often change quickly. So it could be that a fee is not accurate anymore. Especially in the last two years costs to visit cenotes changed quite a lot. Should you encounter that a fee isn’t up to date anymore, let us know in the comments and we’ll correct it. Thanks a lot!

Sunscreen & Swimming In Valladolid Cenotes

Not only are cenotes precious with their crystal clear water, they also contribute to the health of the peninsula’s ecosystem. Therefore it is paramount to keep them clean. This means, cenotes need to be kept free from trash and waste and this also includes sunscreen and mosquito repellent.

Can I Wear Biodegradable Sunscreen In A Cenote?

The short answer is: No! Sunscreen, mosquito repellent as well as other lotions and sprays that we apply to our bodies are toxic to the ecosystems and aren’t decomposable. Even biodegradable sunscreen!

This is because most so-called biodegradable sunscreens are actually not really biodegradable. Even the ones that are, still leave a residue in the water which ends up polluting the pristine clear cenote water.

At most cenotes, you will be asked to take a shower before entering the water to remove all products from your skin. Please do your part and help keep these precious ecosystems clean and healthy!

What To Pack For Swimming & Snorkeling In Cenotes

We’ve put together a brief list of things that we have found handy when visiting cenotes.

If you want to take underwater photos a GoPro and GoPro Dome or other action camera is great. All the new GoPros are also waterproof and you can take them into the water without a case.

If you bring your phone, there are really cheap phone cases for the water or more professional underwater phone housings. They work surprisingly well and the photos can also turn out great.

One thing that makes a difference and things a lot more comfortable are water shoes.

Map With The Best Cenotes Near Valladolid

We split the Valladolid centoes into 2 areas:: Cenotes in Valladolid directly and cenotes around Valladolid. We listed them from closest to Valladolid to farthest away.

Whether you are into swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving or just like to hang out and have a great time, there is a cenote for everyone. So, let’s take it away with the best Valladolid cenotes:

The Cenote In Valladolid

Cenote Zaci

The easiest cenote to visit in Valladolid is definitely Cenote Zaci. You will find Cenote Zaci right in the center of town which means, you can just casually walk to it while visiting Valladolid.

Cenote Zaci is a partially collapsed cavern cenote. On one side you have the stalactites growing from the cenote’s ceiling and on the other side, you have ferns growing down to the water.

The cenote has several platforms from which you can jump into the dark blue water. The swimming hole it not very suitable for snorkeling as you can’t see much underwater.

There is a restaurant, Restaurante Zaci, right next to the cenote. If you eat there, visiting Cenote Zaci is free. Even though the cenote is in the center of Valladolid, it is usually not overly crowded.

Cenote Zaci Tour

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The Best Cenotes Near Valladolid

Cenote Oxman

Cenote Oxman near Valladolid has gained a lot of popularity on Instagram in the recent 1-2 years due to it instagrammable rope swing. The cenote is also very accessible from Valladolid and Tulum.

The swimming hole is located at Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman. The hacienda is a small hotel with an outdoor pool area. Hotel guests can use the cenote free of charge. If you only come visit Hacienda Oxman for the cenote, you can do that or get a day pass for the pool area which includes a buffet as well.

These days Cenote Oxman gets pretty crowded during the day. If you come early in the morning you will have the cenote almost to yourself, but you have to come right away when it opens. Staying at the hacienda will make it easy to be the first one in the morning.

Cenote Oxman Tour

➤ Day Trip to Chichen Itza, Cenote Ik Kil, Valladolid & Cenote Oxman From Cancun

➤ Mayan Culture and Cenote Oxman Bike Tour, from Valladolid

➤ Private Instagram Valladolid Cenotes Tour

We put together a post about visiting Cenote Oxman. Check it out if you want to see photos and know more about one of the most popular cenotes in Valladolid.

Visiting Cenote Oxman In Valladolid & Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman

Cenote Suytun

Along with the Oxman Cenote, the most instafamous cenote near Valladolid is Cenote Suytun.

Cenote Suytun, just outside of Valladolid, is a cave cenote with a small hole in the ceiling. It is famous for the sun rays shining through the narrow hole above.

At the perfect time of day, the sun hits the platform down below in the water creating an amazing light ray. It is pretty cool to capture that in a photo, so it is understandable that Cenote Suytun is very popular.

You are allowed to visit the cenote for only one hour. You can buy your ticket to Cenote Suytun online.

Cenote Suytun Tours

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➤ Suytun Cenote & Chichen Itza Classic Tour

Cenotes Dzitnup

Cenotes Diznup are actually two cenotes: Cenote Xkeken and Cenote Samulá. Both cenotes are located just outside of Valladolid. They can easily reached by car or if you are up for a bike ride within around 30-45 minutes by bicycle.

Both sinkholes are cave cenotes. Small parts of their ceilings are collapsed and therefore have some light shine through.

Cenote Samulá

Cenote Samulà is large, brighter and has crystal clear water which is ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

Cenote Xkeken

Opposite to that, Cenote Xkeken is smaller and darker. The water is not as clear but the cavern has lots of bats hang from its low ceilings and amazing stalactites.

There are different packages for visiting the Dzitnup Cenotes. You can either only visit one cenote or both or take the all inclusive package which includes a lunch buffet at the restaurant for 255 MXN.

Be aware of some “guides” by the parking lot trying to sell you guided tours and photos with animals.

There are tours stopping at these picturesque caves cenotes. Therefore, visit early in the morning if you want to enjoy them without much company.

Cenote Chichikan Eco Park

Cenote Chichikan is an eco-park experience. Here you will have a complete Mayan experience including a traditional meal, Mayan history, and swimming in the cenote.

At the eco-park, you will be able to taste Mayan chocolate, corn, honey, and Mayan gum. You will learn about the Mayan calendar, the famous ball game and explore the Mayan orchard house and arch, and much more at Eco Parque Cenote Chichikan.

Tickets for Cenote Chichikan Eco Park can be reserved online.

Cenote Hubiku

Cenote Hubiku is located a little further away from Valladolid than the ones mentioned before. Visiting Cenote Hubiku includes a buffet-style meal for a very affordable price. There is also a Tequila museum on-site which you can check out free of charge.

The Hubiku sinkhole is a young cavern cenote. The opening in its dome was formed by the collapse of the roots of a large tree above. The depth of the sinkhole is about 27 meters. The cenote’s shape is almost circular with an approximate diameter of 50 meters.

Similar to cenote Suytun, at noon, when the sun is at its peak, a beam of light descends through the eye of the cavern towards the crystalline waters creating a play of light.

Tour To Cenote Hubiku

There is a guided day tour to Cenote Hubiku that brings you to the cenote and the Chichen Itza Pyramids. You can book it online here.

Ek Balam Cenote – Cenote Xcanche

Cenote Xcanche is located at the Ek Balam Archaeological Zone. Taking a dip in the refreshing cenote is great to cool off after visiting the Ek Balam ruins. The entrance fee to the cenote is not included in the price for the ruins, however.

Surrounded by the jungle, Cenote Xcanche is an open-air pit cenote. There is the option to zip line across the pit.

The swimming hole is located about 2km from the parking lot, therefore renting a bike or taking a bike taxi is probably the best option after exploring the Ek Balam ruins.

Visiting Cenote Xcanche & Ek Balam Ruins Near Valladolid

Cenote Sac-Aua

Remote Cenote Sac-Aua is an incredible off-the-beaten-path cenote near Valladolid that not many people know about. When we visited we had the cenote completely to ourselves.

What makes Cenote Sac-Aua special is that it has a big island in the middle of the cenote where trees are growing up and down the pit. You can take a kayak and paddle around the donut-shaped cenote.

Due to the massive amounts of rain that the Yucatan Peninsula received in late 2020 the island was submerged underwater. However, this didn’t stop us from exploring this unique and remote cenote close to Valladolid.

From the parking lot it takes about a 10 minute walk to get to the swimming hole and showers.

Pro tip: If you want to capture the entire beauty of this big cenote, bring a wide angle lens.

Cenote Agua Dulce

Not far from the Sac-Aua sinkhole, Cenote Agua Dulce is another lesser-known cenote around Valladolid. Agua Dulce is a cave cenote with small holes in the ceiling that illuminate the sinkhole and bring the incredible stalactites and tree roots growing down into the cenote to light.

There is a spiral staircase going down to a platform in the water from where you can use a rope swing to jump into the cold refreshing water.

Cenote Palomitas

Right next to and similar to Cenote Agua Dulce you will find Cenote Palomitas. The cave cenote also has amazing stalactites growing from the ceiling and crystal clear blue water.

The cenote is 50 meters deep and has a diameter of 45 meters. Since the sinkhole is a cave cenote, the water is rather cold but therefore clear blue.

There is a small buffet-style restaurant on site. You can get a combo ticket that includes visiting Cenote Palomitas and Cenote Agua Dulce with a buffet meal at the restaurant for 300 MXN.

If you are lucky you will have the cenote almost to yourself, but tour busses stop here too. So it is best to come in the morning to avoid potential crowds.

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Chichen-Itza Cenote – Cenote Ik-Kil

Cenote Ik-Kil is probably the most famous and most visited cenote near Valladolid. Most people visit the Ik Kil cenote as part of a Chichen Itzá ruins tour. But you can also just visit the cenote by itself if you have seen the pyramid already. If not, we highly recommend visiting Chichen Itza. It is one of the most amazing Mayan archeological sites.

Ik-Kil Cenote is about 48 meters deep and has two platforms from where you can jump into the water. You can look inside the cenote from above and see the amazing vines growing down to the water.

Tour To Cenote Ik Kil

There is a guided day tour to Cenote Ik Kil that brings you to the cenote and the Chichen Itza Pyramids. You can book it online here.

There is a restaurant and a hotel, Hotel Ik Kil, on site. Hotel Doralba Inn Chichen is right next to it.

Since the cenote is highly frequented by tours, you should come visit Ik-Kil in the morning hours if you want to avoid the crowds.

Cenote Saamal

Located only a 10 minutes drive from Valladolid at Hacienda Selva Maya you will find Cenote Saamal. The Saamal cenote is a big open-air cenote with high walls and an artificial waterfall.

The cenote is on the Hacienda Selva Maya property which belongs to Mesón del Marqués in Valladolid.

It has all the facilities you need. There is a daily buffet from 12 – 5 pm at the hacienda’s restaurant for those who come hungry.

Cenote Saamal is a popular tour stop along the way to Chichen Itza so be sure to get there early if you mind the crowds. 

Summary: The Best Cenotes Near Valladolid

Valladolid Cenote Tours

Visiting The Best Cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula Via Guided Tour

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Cenotes Near Tulum

The beach town Tulum is also known for its many cenotes. In fact, some of the most popular cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula are located around Tulum.

Cenote Calavera in Tulum is one of them. Lots of people flock to this cenote because of its instagrammable ladder and swing. The cenote is also located just outside of town and easy to get to by bike.

Other popular cenotes in Tulum include Cenote Dos Ojos and the Gran Cenote. We wrote an entire post about the cenotes near Tulum. Check it out if you want to find out more about the cenotes below.

The Coolest Cenotes In Tulum

Cenotes Near Playa del Carmen

There are actually quite a few cenotes near Playa del Carmen as well. One of our favorite cenotes, Cenote Azul, is only a 20 minutes drive from the beach town.

Cenote Cristalino is another cenote that is very close to Playa del Carmen. It has several swimming holes with partial caves. There are also two swings by the water.

From Valladolid, it takes almost two hours to get to the Playa del Carmen cenotes, which might be a bit too long for a day trip only. But if your vacation time allows stay in Playa del Carmen for a few days and explore the area and cenotes from there.

Below you will find popular cenotes around Playa del Carmen:

The Best Cenotes Near Playa del Carmen

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The Best Cenotes Near Valladolid, Mexico

Guide & Map Of Valladolid Cenotes

We hope our extensive guide to the best cenotes near Valladolid gave you a good overview of the many swimming holes there is to visit and helped you to decide which Valladolid cenotes to explore during your Mexico vacation.

Let us know in the comments about your cenote experience!

Julia & Felipe

Follow our adventures on Instagram! @piscoandbier

Mexico Beach Vacation

Ultimate Travel Guide

YUCATÁN PENINSULA

READ HERE

Yucatán Peninsula: Best Places To Visit
What To Wear To Mexico? Outfits For Mexico

TULUM
Visiting Tulum – Things To Do In Tulum
Affordable Beach Hotels In Tulum
Tulum Hotels With Private (Plunge) Pools
Sian Ka’an Jeep Safari Tour Into Paradise
Cenote Calavera Tulum – Temple Of Doom

CANCUN
Best Things To Do In Cancun
The Best Cenotes Near Cancun With Map
Cancun Vs Tulum – Which one is better?

PLAYA DEL CARMEN
Awesome Playa Del Carmen Rooftop Pools
Cenote Azul Playa del Carmen
Cenote Cristalino Playa del Carmen

ISLA MUJERES
Top Things To Do On Isla Mujeres

VALLADOLID
Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman & Cenote
Iglesia Uayma Yucatan Near Valladolid
Izamal Pueblo Magico – The Yellow City

AKUMAL
Snorkeling With Turtles In Akumal

HOLBOX
Things To Do In Holbox & Where To Stay

CENOTES
Best Cenotes In Playa del Carmen + Map
Best Cenotes Near Valladolid With Map
Best Cenotes In Tulum & Cenotes Map

BEACHES
Best Beaches In Tulum & Tulum Beach Clubs
Best Beaches In Cancun Hotel Zone

PACKINGS LISTS & OUTFITS
What To Wear In Cancun & Packing List
Tulum Outfits & Tulum Packing List

RUINS
Best Mayan Ruins In Yucatan, Mexico
Coba Pyramid & Mayan Ruins In Coba
Muyil Ruins & Mayan Canals River Float
Ek Balam Ruins & Cenote Xcanche