Cenotes Experiences and Tours from Playa del Carmen

In Playa del Carmen, you will have a great variety of things to see and activities to do. This city is synonymous with fun and paradisiacal white sand beaches of the Mexican Caribbean with deep turquoise blue waters. But let me tell you that it is much more than that, since it is home to a rich history, a lot of culture and unique natural beauties such as the cenotes whose visit you cannot omit if you are traveling to this coastal city. They are ideal for scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking or other activities such as zip-lining or kayaking.

As part of the eroded soils of the Yucatan Peninsula, Playa del Carmen is home to the most amazing cenotes you will ever see. These natural phenomena are characterized by being natural freshwater ponds that are supplied by a subway river, but the ancient Maya gave them a sacred meaning in ancient times, as they believed that the god of rain, lived in them. I tell you how to get there, where they are located and everything you need to know about the best cenotes in Playa del Carmen.

Chaak Tun is the only cenote located in the middle of Playa del Carmen, just 10 minutes from downtown and is a beautiful natural attraction to visit. It is made up of two caverns, a smaller one with a stalactite roof that gives it a special attraction and is illuminated with artificial light and another one a little bigger that houses a tree and between its branches rays of natural light filter through.

This cenote is part of Sac Actun, the largest set of flooded caverns in the world.

Information of interest

• Where: this cenote is located almost 8 kilometers from Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you will have access to it from downtown Playa del Carmen through Juarez Avenue and Constituyentes Avenue, about 15 minutes by car.
• Price: keep in mind that only guided tours are allowed for conservation reasons and the price is about 19 euros.
• Hours: 9 am to 3 pm Monday to Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm.

The Nohoch Nah Chich cenote is not one of the most famous, but it is beautiful and worth a visit. It is huge, with 10 kilometers long, 36 entrances and 9 meters deep and its name means "The giant bird" in Mayan dialect.

It is one of the most chosen by diving fanatics, so if this is your case, I recommend it. But if this is not your case, I also recommend it, since you have many more activities to do such as snorkeling, rappel to 12 meters or zip line.

Its waters are crystal clear and warm with temperatures up to 28 ° C, you can see marine life such as fish or turtles and beautiful rock formations.

Information of interest

• Where: this cenote is located 55 kilometers from Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you can get there in 50 minutes by car on the road that connects Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
• Hours: daily from 8 am to 5 pm.

Cenote Azul is one of the largest and has some natural pools around it, its waters are crystal clear and shallow, but you can still jump into the water from about 4 meters high.

It is a good place to go with the family, since it has a covered space to be in the shade and you will have the possibility of renting tables and chairs. It also has an open area full of vegetation and with spaces to rest such as docks or rocks.

Information of interest

• Where: this cenote is located about 25 kilometers from Playa del Carmen, very close to Puerto Aventuras.
• How to get there: you can get there by car in about 20 minutes. Another option to get there is by bus to Tulum, leaving from the intersection between the Federal Highway and Juarez Avenue.
• Price: approximately 6 euros.
• Hours: daily from 8 am to 5:30 pm.

Cenote Cristalino is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Riviera Maya for its unique beauty and easy access. Its name is given by the clarity of its waters, clear enough to see the fish that navigate in the depth. In addition, it is located in the middle of a mangrove forest, so its flora and fauna is really amazing.

It is one of the most chosen by groups of friends and families, but do not worry, you will have enough room to spend the day in this paradisiacal place, as it covers a very wide space and you will have a small cave to swim and dive in peace. A not minor fact is that it is one of the few that you can enter with your own food, although the prices there are quite affordable.

Information of interest

• Where: this cenote is located near Cenote Azul, a little more than 24 kilometers from downtown Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you can get there by car, taking the Federal Highway to Tulum. The cenote is 3 km after Puerto Aventuras. By bus, take the bus that connects Playa del Carmen to Tulum at the intersection of Carretera Federal and Juarez.
• Price: approximately 7 euros.
• Hours: daily from 8 am to 6 pm.

The wonderful cenote Aktun Chen is a subway walk with crystal clear waters that is located in an ecological park and has a great diversity of sites to visit. You can appreciate the rock formations and stalactites on the roof of the cavern for 600 meters and cross it to reach the jungle.

If you enjoy exploring jungles like this one, here is a guide to the best jungle tours you can do from Playa del Carmen so you can add one to your travel itinerary.

The waters of this cenote are ideal for snorkeling and diving, but you can also choose some other activity like zip-lining. It is a perfect plan to do with the family, as the kids will have a lot of fun. And as if this were not enough, you will have a restaurant there where you can enjoy some typical food and live a complete experience.

Information of interest

• Where: This cenote is located a little more than 40 kilometers from Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you can get there by car on the Tulum - Cancun highway in half an hour or by bus from Avenida Juarez in just over an hour.
• Price: approximately 39 euros.
• Hours: daily from 10 am to 5 pm.

Rio Secreto is a must on your trip to Playa del Carmen, so it is impossible not to include it in the list of best cenotes. It is a subway stream in the middle of the Yucatan jungle that is full of caverns and cenotes.

As you embark on the Rio Secreto excursion, you will truly feel like an explorer, among millenary stalactites and stalagmites formed by the incessant dripping of calcareous water, you will walk through the crystalline turquoise blue waters, while the expert guide explains the geological secrets behind these stone formations and the native flora and fauna.

For a 600-meter walk you will get to know the caves and the subway rivers of transparent waters, and you can bathe in them and swim a little.

Information of interest

• Where: this cenote is less than 20 kilometers from downtown Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you can access it through the Federal Highway Chetumal - Puerto Juárez. The best option to get to know this natural wonder in depth is to take a guided tour.
• Price: approximately 99 euros.
• Hours: daily from 9 am to 8 pm.

The Garden of Eden is one of the largest open-air cenotes in the Riviera Maya and also one of the most beautiful. It is a very good place to visit if you are looking to rest, as it is surrounded by lots of vegetation with iguanas wandering around the place and typical trees of the region.

Although it is also a fantastic option for water activities, such as swimming and watching the various fish that pass by brushing your legs, snorkeling or diving in its crystal clear waters. And you can add a little adventure by jumping from one of the banks into the mirror of water about 4 or 5 meters high.

Information of interest

• Where: this cenote is located about 25 kilometers away from downtown Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you can get there in just 20 minutes by car on Highway 307 or by taking the bus at the intersection of Carretera Federal and Avenida Juárez. Please note that if you choose the latter option, you will have to walk about 10 minutes to get off the bus.
• Price: approximately 4 euros.
• Hours: Monday to Thursday and Sundays from 8 am to 6 pm, Fridays from 8 am to 5 pm.

Cenote Chac Mool is one of the most impressive natural attractions of Quintana Roo and the Yucatan Peninsula and stands out for its natural beauty and the enigma of its caves. Its name in Mayan dialect means "Jaguar's claw".

There you will find caves with stalactites, stone columns and turquoise blue water that reflects some rays of light. This landscape could be defined as a beauty rarely seen. If you practice scuba diving at beginner level and have the certification, this place will undoubtedly be the paradise for you.

Information of interest

• Where: this cenote is located 23 kilometers from downtown Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you will arrive in 25 minutes by car on highway 307 or by bus in about an hour.
• Price: approximately 12 euros.
• Hours: daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gran Cenote is one of the most touristic and this is because it is suitable for everyone, there are activities for children, adults and water sports lovers. Families can spend a relaxing day and use the picnic area, diving fans will love to dive there, as it is part of Sac Actun, the largest underwater cave system, and it is also very chosen by travelers looking to make the most of the day, since it is located in a strategic place, very close to Tulum, Cobá and among many other cenotes. Also, if you are a fan of water sports, here is a guide with the best places to snorkel in Playa del Carmen so you can include some in your itinerary.

Touring this famous cenote is a unique experience, as it is divided into two parts, one outside and if you want to go through a tunnel of about 20 meters you will reach the second part covered with a rock wall. If you want to take advantage of your visit to this Cenote to visit Tulum, you can take one of these guided tours.

Information of interest

• Where: this cenote is located about 67 kilometers from downtown Playa del Carmen in the direction of Tulum.
• How to get there: it will take you about an hour by car or an hour and a half by bus.
• Price: approximately 9 euros.
• Schedule: as it is a very touristy cenote, it is best to arrive early so that you can get there before the rest of the visitors arrive. You can enter from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., as long as you are there before 10 a.m., it will be fine.

Cenote Taak Bi Ha is part of Dos Ojos Park, which also houses other cenotes such as Cenote Dos Ojos itself. Unlike the latter, the Taak Bi Ha cenote is much less touristic and well known, so it is ideal if you want to relax and spend a very pleasant day without dodging tourists.

This cenote has a special charm, as it is managed by a Mayan family, so you can take the opportunity to learn a little more about their culture, traditions and beliefs. It is located in a subway cave that you can easily access by stairs and its waters are crystal clear and shallow. There you can snorkel, dive or simply swim on your own.

Information of interest

• Where: this cenote is located about 50 minutes from Playa del Carmen by car.
• How to get there: you will have to head towards Tulum on the 307 Chetumal-Cancun highway until you reach the entrance to Dos Ojos Park, and from there you will have about 3 kilometers more on a dirt road.
• Price: approximately 17 euros.
• Hours: daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm.

Dos Ojos C enote is truly a work of art of nature and cannot be missing in this list of the best cenotes in Playa del Carmen. It is one of the most touristic of the Riviera Maya and its name is given by its shape, as it is formed by a cave and two forms of turquoise blue water eyes. The cave is dark, without natural or artificial light, so it is only possible to enter with a guide.

It is ideal for lovers of all kinds of water sports, snorkeling, diving and swimming. But keep in mind that if you want to cross from one eye to the other, that section can only be done by diving and it is an amazing experience.

Information of interest

• Where: this cenote is located between Tulum and Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: about 50 minutes by car on highway 307 Chetumal-Cancun towards Tulum.
• Price: approximately 17 euros.
• Hours: daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm.

Not just another cenote, Kantun Chi is an ecological park of cenotes and subway waters and one of the most impressive tourist attractions in the Riviera Maya to visit.

Touring the subway river is a truly unique experience that I recommend you do and you can also swim among the subway caverns. In addition, you will be able to get to know its abundant and intense vegetation and fauna.

Information of interest

• Where: this fantastic ecological park is located about 30 kilometers from downtown Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you will arrive in just half an hour by car on Highway 307 towards Tulum.
• Price: approximately 50 euros.
• Hours: every day from 9:30 am to 5 pm.