If you plan to spend any time in the Yucatan peninsula, you most definitely need to spend some time exploring some of the amazing cenotes in the area. Cenotes are natural pits, or sinkholes, that were formed from the collapse of limestone bedrock, exposing pockets of groundwater underneath. In ancient Mayan culture, cenotes were considered sacred, and were most of the regions sources of pure, fresh, clean water.

There are more than 6,000 cenotes in the Yucatan peninsula! Some are well known, while others are barely explored. You could spend years searching and discovering all of these cenotes.

So, with all of the cenotes in the Yucatan peninsula, which ones should you make sure you check out? See below for our recommendations for the top 5 cenotes to visit!

Tip: One thing to consider before embarking on a tour of these cenotes, the majority of them only accept cash, so make sure you have some on you.

Top 5 Cenotes:

#5 Cenote Suytun –  One of the most striking cenotes you’ll ever see, Suytun looks like something straight out of an Indiana Jones movie. Temple-like, the cenote owners built a walkway into the middle of the underground cavern that perfectly catches the light coming in overhead through the centote’s signature opening

As this cenote sits at the top of most everyone’s list to visit, we got there as soon as it opened at 9am. After paying 100 pesos for the entrance fee, we made our way down the path to the entrance, stopping to see the cordoned-off “hole” in the top of the cenote. This is where the light enters the cenote and makes for all of those wonderful photographs.

As we were one of the first to arrive, we had Suytun pretty much to ourselves for about an hour. This allowed us to take a few playful shots from different angles.

Tip: Make sure to take some photos of the walkway from the bottom of the entrance stairs and also make sure to walk to the far left of the cenote to take some oft unseen angles of the walkway.

There’s an option to swim in Suytun as well, but we decided against it. The water isn’t nearly as clear or as deep as some of the other cenotes on this list. That, combined with the fact that it’s quite cold, made the decision to stay dry even easier.

Lastly, there are little shops and a restaurant on the property, in case you are in the market for trinkets or need a quick snack.

#4 Cenote Zaci – Thrill seekers rejoice! The #4 cenote on our top 5 list is located in the middle of the quaint town of Valladolid and feels very much like a diamond in the rough, a hidden-gem indeed.

After a wonderful lunch at the Hotel el Meson del Marques (get the tacos!), we made our way a couple of blocks down from the city center to cenote Zaci. After paying the 30 pesos entrance fee (and a small fee for a life jacket) we made our way down to the cenote.

Tip: There are usually vendors here either performing or selling something. There was an awesome pan-flute/guitar player when we there and we made sure to tip him at least a little something. A little goes a long way in Mexico, and they will surely appreciate anything you can spare.

This cenote is incredibly deep, so make to rent a life vest if you’re not a string swimmer. The upside to a deep cenote? Diving! There are a few different spots to jump  into the water located around the cenote. You can jump from about a 4-5ft ledge near the entrance, or brave the 30ft+ jump from the ledge at the back of the cenote.   Whichever spot you choose, make sure to land accordingly!

There is not a lot of room to spread out and relax at Zaci, as the majority of the cenote is basically the water. But you can’t beat the experience. If you’re looking for a break from a hot day or a brief adventure in Valladolid, we highly recommend cenote Zaci!

#3 Cenote Cristalino – This cenote is probably the least well known on our list but that’s a good thing! Because not many people know about it you can expect to have this “secret” cenote pretty much to yourself. The property actually hosts a couple of different sections of a larger cenote and even offers scuba diving!

Tip: Ditch your non-biodegradable sunscreen in favor for some safer for the environment options as these are the only kinds of sunscreen you can use at Cenote Cristalino.

We stopped by Cristalino on our way back to Cancun and were able to spend about an hour or so jumping off of the 10ft ledge (super fun for the kids!), having our feet cleaned by little fishies, and enjoying the clear water and lush vegetation surround the cenote.

The entrance is through a bit of a ramshackle storefront located adjacent to the dirt parking lot. Don’t be deterred by this place’s looks, it is genuinely one of the prettiest and most entertaining centoes we visited during our time in the Yucatan.

#2 Cenote Oxman – It can take a bit of a Herculean effort to get to, but the #2 cenote on our list is well worth the unpaved roads and potholes! Cenote Oxman sits on a wonderfully manicured property that includes a bar, swimming pool, restaurant, and of course, the cenote. We arrived later in the afternoon which meant that a lot of the tour buses and excursions were already packing up. There was only one bus left as we entered the cenote and it was getting packed up to return for the day.

Tip: Get to this cenote either first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon as you’ll miss the big crowds and tour buses.

After we rinsed off, we descended multiple flights of stairs to get to the cenote. (If you unable to go up and down stairs, or aren’t in the best shape, you might want too avoid this part of the property.) Once “underground,” we put on the required life vests and took turns waiting for the rope swing that you can use to fly through the air and catapult into the water!

Tip: There is always a member of the hotel staff manning the rope swing. Make sure to leave a tip as they have their hands full taking care of all of the cenote guests!

#1 Gran Cenote – You’ll find the #1 cenote on our list just up the road from the sleepy little coastal town of Tulum. As it’s incredibly well know, we made sure to get there as soon as this cenote opened at 10am. There is parking located right in front of the entrance/ticket office. Make sure to take everything you need with you as there are no “ins and outs” once you enter the property.

Tip: There are outdoor showers just inside the entrance. You MUST rinse off before the owners will let you into the water. Don’t be shy, SOAK yourself, otherwise you might have to rinse off again. We saw a couple of people get turned around a couple of times before they were let into the water.

While the surrounding grounds are very well kept and manicured, this cenote is best known for its crystal clear, azure water. Hands down, this is the clearest water I have ever seen. Visibility is virtually unlimited in this cenote, so make sure you bring your swim goggles or snorkel gear. If you don’t, no worries… you can rent some gear here as well.

The main pool is segmented into a couple of different areas. There is a cave and rocky area to stand on, as well as some shallower sections. To the right of the staircase entrance, you’ll find a lesser-known part of the cenote, and low-ceiling cave that connects to the iconic “stair” section of there cenote. This is perhaps one of the most instagrammed pic locations in the Yucatan so make sure to get your picture taken here!

Tip: There are BATS in this cave! Seriously! But don’t worry, there aren’t out to get you!

We were able to jump, dive, and swim till our hearts were content in this cenote. It is truly one of the most incredible places we have ever been to. You won’t be disappointed!

Regardless of which cenotes you choose to visit, make sure to add them to you “top things to do list” if you do any traveling in the Yucatan.

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Top Essentials for Your Yucatan Cenote Adventure – 

• Amawei Kids Water Shoes – Hands down, if you are traveling with your family, these kids water shoes might be the most important purchase you can make before you embark on your cenote adventure. Between walking down gravel paths, hiking down rock staircases, and jumping in and out of the clear water cenotes, these shoes kept our kids’ feet well protected. A definite must for your time in the Yucatan.
• Suokeni Adult Water Shoes – Don’t forget to pick up a pair of quick-drying water shoes for yourself as well! We would spend HOURS on end in these shoes and they never let us down. Available in a plethora of colors and sizes, you’re sure to find the perfect pair to compliment your cenote wardrobe.
• Insect Repellant – The Yucatan is chock-full of bugs. Protect yourself and your little ones with this very effective insect repellant. As we visited these cenotes during the height of the rainy season, there were TONS of mosquitos pretty much everywhere we went. This spray helped keep them off of us and made our adventure all the more enjoyable.
• Biodegradable Sunscreen – The water quality and visibility at these cenotes is unparalleled. As such, the majority of them require that you use biodegradable sunscreen to protect the pristine water. Make sure to keep yourself and your little ones protected with this sensitive skin, organic formula sunscreen spray!
• Kids Swim Goggles – Make sure your little ones can truly enjoy the unlimited visibility and aquatic splendor of these cenotes with a quality pair of kids swim goggles. Small and portable, we made sure to have a pair on us at all times! It really helped our little ones enjoy the natural wonder of these cenotes!