Cenotes — Magical Underwater Worlds

Cenotes (Spanish: cenotes, from the Maya word ts'onot) are natural limestone sinkholes that have exposed access to the underground river system of the Yucatán Peninsula. Over 6,000 cenotes are known in Yucatán — they were sacred entrances to the underworld (Xibalbá) and sources of drinking water for the Maya.

For travelers, cenotes are one of the most unforgettable experiences in Mexico: crystal-clear, turquoise water in caves full of stalactites, pierced by beams of light falling through openings in the ceiling.

The Most Beautiful Cenotes

• Cenote Ik Kil: The "Instagram star" — an open, circular sinkhole (60 m deep) with hanging roots and waterfalls. Located only 3 km from Chichén Itzá. Can get crowded! Admission: 250 MXN.
• Cenote Suytun: Semi-open cave with a stone platform in the middle, over which a single beam of light falls. Magically photogenic, but only in the morning with the famous light beam. Near Valladolid. 200 MXN.
• Gran Cenote: Near Tulum. Clear, shallow water, ideal for snorkeling (turtles!). Half open, half cave. One of the most beautiful for swimming. 500 MXN.
• Cenote Oxman (Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman): Idyllic cenote with a rope swing (to swing in!) on a former hacienda near Valladolid. 200 MXN including drink.
• Cenote Dzitnup (X'Kekén): Completely underground cave with stalactites and a single light hole. Mystical and cool. Near Valladolid. 125 MXN.
• Cenote Sac Actun / Pet Cemetery: For divers: Part of the longest underground river system in the world (368 km!). Only with a certified cenote diving guide.