17 best cenotes near Tulum within 10-minute driving distance

Cenotes are one of the reasons why people are drawn to visiting Mexico. We put together a list of the best cenotes near Tulum categorized by activities: swimming, diving, and adventure.

The word cenote is from the Mayan word dz’onot, which means a natural well or reservoir. Most cenotes in Mexico are found in the Yucatan Peninsula, which is really close to Tulum but bear in mind that Tulum is in the state of Quintana Roo.

When the limestone surface collapses, the water underneath is exposed, thus forming a cenote.

Cenotes were the major source of water in ancient times in Yucatan and up until today, the state still depends on them for a water source.

In ancient times, cenotes were associated with the Chaahk, the Maya rain deity. According to legends, the Chaahk would strike the clouds with his lightning ax producing thunder and rain as a result.

In Chichen Itza, it was customary to throw valuable objects such as jade, gold, copper, and incense into the cenotes as offerings.

The most common offerings are usually children as they believe that the surviving children bring a message from the Gods about their harvest and crops.

🚖 How to get to cenotes near Tulum

Each of the best cenotes in Tulum in this post has the travel time (by car and bus) so you will have a better idea of how to plan your Tulum cenotes adventure accordingly.

Another important thing to note: the distance of the cenotes near Tulum in this post is from the city center of Tulum, not Tulum beach.

These two are 14 minutes apart so the best way to use the Tulum cenotes map location is by putting directions from your hotel in Tulum.

Below are the ways on how to get to cenotes near Tulum:

Tulum cenotes by car

If your goal is to do a cenotes trip whilst in Tulum the best way to go is to rent a car at Cancun Airport. This is the airport that serves Tulum and from here, Tulum is an hour and 25 minutes drive.

Car rentals in Tulum start from US$25 per day but you need to put in a security deposit (around US$100 per day) so make sure you have a credit card for the deposit.

Tulum cenotes by bus or colectivo

During your trip to Tulum, you will come across the word colectivo which is a form of shared transportation in Mexico.

This is also a common terminology in other Latin American countries so make sure you know this word! You will use it a lot!

Colectivos are usually not pre-booked as you can hail them on the highway or are in bus stations. Bear in mind that some cenotes in Tulum are harder to reach by public transport so renting a car is still the best way to go.

💵 Tip: Mexico is still a cash country so you will need to pay in cash when visiting the cenotes near Tulum. Make sure to withdraw enough cash at the airport as Tulum ATMs can sometimes run out of cash.

Private taxi driver

This is the mode of transport that makes more sense if you want a driver to wait for you while you are exploring the Tulum cenotes.

Your accommodation will be able to arrange a private taxi driver for you but expect to pay higher prices. It’s better to have your hotel arrange it because they could haggle better.

Although Tulum is in the top 10 most popular destinations in Mexico visited by foreigners, some drivers in Tulum are still not equipped in speaking English well.

Meaning, you can find a good deal if you can expressively haggle in Spanish. Alternatively, we have many trusted drivers in the Cancun, Tulum, and Quintana Roo area that is fully vetted through our #SupportLocal project.

Just get in touch with us and we can arrange the private transport for you will full communication and arrangement with the local driver.

🗺️ Cenotes Tulum Map

Below is our free Cenotes Tulum map for you to see the distance of the cenotes near Tulum from your accommodation.

You can click on the image below to get a full view. Our maps are FREE and accessible on the web without a cost.

You might also like:

• Mexico Insider’s best things to do in Tulum
• The best resorts in Tulum, Mexico
• When is the best time to visit Tulum?

🚗 10-minute drive cenotes near Tulum

Cenote Calavera

📍 Open on Google maps
🚘 4 minutes from Tulum

Cenote Calavera is probably the famous cenote near Tulum. You can get here from Tulum center by car within 5 minutes!

Since it is very near the center of Tulum, a different way to come here is to rent a bicycle to explore Cenote Calavera. You will find many bike rental shops in the center as biking is a popular mode of transport for locals living in Tulum.

In English, calavera means skull which describes the skull shape Cenote Calavera. It also has one main hole and two smaller ones that look like eyes.

Essential information when visiting Cenote Calavera

• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Admissions/tickets: US$5
• Restaurant on site: N/A
• Showers: YES
• Parking: YES

Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido

📍 Open on Google maps
🚘 10 minutes from Tulum

Cenote Cristal does not really appear on Google maps as Google maps use its other name, Cenote Naharon. So please don’t be surprised with the location link above – it is the same!

In English, cristal  means crystal (clear) which you will observe when you go to Cenote Cristal. The water is so clear that you can see everything from the jumping platform!

Cenote Cristal is often visited with Cenote Escondido, which has a more accurate location on Google maps so you may want to refer to this when visiting these two cenotes.

Essential information when visiting Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido:

• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Admissions/tickets: US$7 (valid for both cenotes)
• Restaurant on site: N/A
• Showers: YES

Gran Cenote

📍 Open on Google maps
🚘 6 minutes from Tulum

Gran Cenote is a popular cenote near Tulum so expect to see larger crowds here. Even with the number of tourists, you need to see Gran Cenote because this is one of the most beautiful in the country!

You can spend hours snorkeling here and admire the caves with stalactites. On some occasions, you can even swim with turtles if you are lucky!

The best time to go to Gran Cenote is early in the morning or at least 2 hours before it closes. This way, you can have it to yourself without battling huge crowds.

Essential information when visiting Gran Cenote

• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM
• Admissions/tickets: US$25
• Restaurant on site: N/A
• Showers: YES
• Car Park: YES

🏊 Best Cenotes near Tulum for swimming

Cenote Nicte-Ha

📍 Open on Google maps
🚘 18 minutes from Tulum

One of the less-visited cenotes near Tulum is Cenote Nicte-Ha. We don’t want to break your bubble but cenotes in Tulum are always crowded and Nicte-Ha is incredibly almost empty you can take pictures and enjoy swimming with fewer people.

This is a different cenote type compared to the rest of this list as it is above ground. But it is as equally beautiful with floating lilypads and plants for a perfect Instagram backdrop.

Essential information when visiting Cenote Nicte-Ha

• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Admissions/tickets: US$17
• Restaurants: N/A
• Showers: YES
• Car Park: YES

Cenote Caracol

📍 Open on Google maps
🚘 27 minutes from Tulum

Cenote Caracol is an underground cenote good for both swimming and diving. Swim in the dark underground cave but be mindful as this cenote is deep.

Essential information when visiting Cenote Caracol:

• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Admissions/tickets: US$25 with public tour (add US$25 more for a private tour)
• Restaurants: N/A
• Showers: YES
• Car Park Fee: FREE

Cenote Zacil-Ha

📍 Open on Google maps
🚘 10 minutes from Tulum

Cenote Zahil-Ha is a more popular Tulum cenote for with families traveling with kids. It is often combined with a tour of the Coba Ruins and some day trips to nearby towns like Playa del Carmen.

This is one of the less-crowded cenotes near Tulum as it is very family-oriented. It is, however, not as remote or rough as other virgin cenotes in Yucatan and Quintana Roo.

✨ Tip: If you want to dive in Cenote Zacil-Ha, you need to be certified in underwater cave diving. You can also dive through the Cenote Carwash which is another popular cenote in Mexico.

Essential information when visiting Cenote Zahil-Ha

• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
• Admissions/tickets: US$5
• Restaurant on site: YES
• Showers: YES
• Parking: YES

🤿 Best Cenotes near Tulum for diving

Cenote Dos Ojos

📍 Open on Google maps
🚘 4 minutes from Tulum

Cenote Dos Ojos is mainly for those who want to swim and relax. It is one of the most incredible sinkholes as popular as Cenote Calavera. This cenote has appeared in some international movies and documentaries!

Divers are fond of diving in Cenote Dos Ojos because of the crystal clear water which allows you to see the most amazing rock formations in the country.

This is not a single cenote as it is connected to another cenote system through a 400-meter-long passage. Cenote Dos Ojos is the deepest underworld passage (118 meters/387 feet deep) but this cenote is only 10 meters (32 feet) deep.

Essential information when visiting Cenote Dos Ojos

• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Admissions/tickets: US$17
• Restaurant on site: YES
• Showers: YES
• Parking: YES

Cenote Angelita

📍 Open on Google maps
🚘 17 minutes from Tulum

Cenote Angelita is a different experience because it is located in a jungle. The deepest dive here is 60 meters (200 feet) and is flocked by professional divers all over the world.

Cenote Angelita has two layers of water: freshwater until about 100 meters and saltwater underneath separated by hydrogen sulfide forming colorful hues underwater.

Essential information when visiting Cenote Angelita

• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Admissions/tickets: Divers (US$17), swimmers (US$5)
• Restaurant on site: N/A
• Showers: YES
• Parking: YES

Cenote El Pit

📍 Open on Google maps
🚘 31 minutes from Tulum

Cenote El Pit is known internationally in the diving community that recommends diving here really early for the best light. This is a 40-meter (131 feet) maximum depth for diving with acid layers around 27 meters (88 feet).

This is close to Cenote Dos Ojos so you can definitely combine the two in one trip.

Essential information when visiting Cenote El Pit

• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Admissions/tickets: US$15 (El Pit only); US$25 with Cenote Dos Ojos
• Restaurant on site: N/A
• Showers: YES
• Parking: YES

Cenotes Sac Actun

📍 Open on Google maps
🚘 33 minutes from Tulum

Cenotes Sac Actun is also known as the Pet Cemetery cenotes because of the animal fossils that can be found in these cenotes.

This is an underground river cenote that is quite popular in Riviera Maya. This cenote has more than 248 sinkholes that serve as a passage through the underground cave system including Cenote Dos Ojos and El Pit.

Essential information when visiting Cenote Sac Actun

• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Admissions/tickets: US$22 with snorkeling gear and a guided tour
• Restaurant on site: N/A
• Showers: YES
• Parking: YES

🧭 Best Cenotes in Tulum for adventures

Cenote Casa Tortuga

📍 Open on Google maps
🚘 12 minutes from Tulum

If this is your first time visiting Tulum cenotes, Cenote Casa Tortuga is a great starting point as there are multiple cenotes inside this area.

They are all connected but each cenote is way different from the other. You can easily spend 4-6 hours in Cenote Casa Tortuga as there are many things to do!

Essential information when visiting Cenote Casa Tortuga:

• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Admissions/tickets: US$15
• Restaurant on site: YES
• Showers: YES
• Car Park Fee: FREE
• Tour Price: US$85 combined with Tulum Ruins (6h) – book it here

Cenote Tankah

📍 Open on Google maps
🚘 9 minutes from Tulum

Cenote Tankah is another great park to visit (Caleta Tankah) with many activities to do not just swimming but also water activities like snorkeling and kayaking.

You will not only find cenote here but there are also beaches. This is a great cenote destination for families traveling with kids and you can easily spend a full day here!

Essential information when visiting Cenote Tankah:

• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Admissions/tickets: US$5
• Restaurant on site: YES
• Showers: YES
• Car Park Fee: YES
• Tour Price: US$150 – book it here

Cenote Aktun Ha (Cenote Car Wash)

📍 Open on Google maps
🚘 10 minutes from Tulum

Cenote Aktun Ha got its popular ‘Cenote Car Wash’ name because of the big carwash that was operating in the area many years ago.

You can add Cenote Zacil-Ha to your trip to Cenote Aktun Ha as they are very close to each other (a 4-minute walk).

You can snorkel at Cenote Car Wash until 5 meters (16 feet) deep while divers can enjoy the 15 meters deep (49 feet) dive.

To be honest, even if you don’t dive in this cenote, snorkeling is as equally beautiful as the water is so clear!

For those who want to dive Cenote Aktun Ha, you must have the following:

• Diving certification card
• Certified guide or dive company
• Diving itinerary
• Oxygen compressor registration
• Emergency contact’s phone number

Essential information when visiting Cenote Car Wash

• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Admissions/tickets: US$5 for snorkeling; US$10 for divers
• Restaurant on site: YES
• Showers: YES
• Car Park Fee: YES

Cenote Aktun Chen

📍 Open on Google maps
🚘 18 minutes from Tulum

Cenote Aktun Chen is often visited by families with kids because of the other activities that you can do in the Aktun Chen National Park.

Together with swimming in the cenote, you can do outdoor activities like caving and ziplining. Park visits also include packages with lunch and the minimum hours/tour duration is 3 hours but you can stay for more!

Essential information when visiting Aktun Chen

• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Admissions/tickets: The park has different packages depending on what you want to do
• Restaurant on site: YES
• Showers: YES
• Car Park Fee: YES

⁉️ Tulum Cenotes FAQs

✈️ Ready for your trip to Tulum? If you need more information about the best cenotes in Tulum, we’d be happy to update this post – just leave your questions below or join our Facebook community where we answer questions without a cost.