18 Hidden Cenotes Near Cancun So Stunning They’ll Leave You Speechless

Are you ready for this epic list of the 18 best cenotes near Cancun? Let’s get to it.

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1. La Ruta de los Cenotes

La Ruta de los Cenotes, meaning the Road of Cenotes or the Route of Cenotes, are the best cenotes near Cancun.

They are all along one road, which is located just off the main highway (Carretera Cancun-Tulum, Highway 307).

You will take this road after heading west from the beach town of Puerto Morelos.

🤔 Wondering, What’s the closest cenote to Cancun? It’s Cenote Sol y Luna, the first cenote you’ll pass on the Ruta de los Cenotes.

There are about 50 cenotes and cenote parks along the Ruta de los Cenotes.

Below, you’ll find a description of the three best ones, but if you want to visit others, check out Cenote Kin Há, Cenote Las Mojarras, Cenote Verde Lucero and Cenote Boca del Puma.

2. Cenotes Zapote EcoPark

Parque Cenotes Zapote is an eco-park with four different cenotes, including two open cenotes and two cave cenotes.

At each cenote, you have different activities like jumping platforms, ziplines and snorkeling, but you can also enjoy ATV rides on the ATV Tour.

For adventure travelers, this is a must on your Cancun itinerary.

3. Cenote Azul

Azul Cenote, or “blue cenote,” is commonly grouped in with the so-called Playa del Carmen cenotes.

It is one of the most beautiful cenotes in Playa del Carmen, and popular with locals and visitors.

To avoid the crowds, head there early when they open, 1-2 hours before closing, or on a weekday.

This cenote is popular because it is surrounded by lush plants and jungle vegetation and is perfectly crystal clear blue.

It’s as popular for swimming and snorkeling as for taking great cenote photos.

There’s also a jumping platform, for those who want to dive in.

Note: There’s are two places called Cenote Azul — one near Cancun and one in Bacalar, Mexico, five hours south of Cancun.

You’ll want to make sure you’re looking at info for the correct Cenote Azul near Cancun.

4. Cenote Jardin Del Eden (AKA Cenote Ponderosa)

If I had to pick my favorite of all cenotes near Cancun, it’s this one!

Jardín del Eden Cenote, which means “Garden of Eden Cenote,” is—as the name suggests—an otherworldly secret garden paradise in the Yucatan jungle.

It’s just as beautiful as the popular Cenote Azul but with half as many people and a larger swimming area.

It is an open cenote that’s actually quite big. Between swimming, snorkeling, and jumping off the dive platforms, you could easily spend an entire day here.

Cenote Jardin del Eden is just a few minutes from Cenote Azul, so you can visit both and see which one you prefer.

It’s also next to another popular one, Cenote Cristalino (up next on this list), so it’s worth making the one-hour Cancun to Playa del Carmen trip for these cenotes.

5. Cenote Cristalino

Cristalino Cenote is another beautiful one located near Cenote Azul and Cenote Jardin del Eden (and also Cenote Kantun Chi, a cave cenote that’s not on this list).

It’s name, cristalino, means “crystal clear,” and the cool waters here are exactly that.

6. Gran Cenote

One of the best Quintana Roo cenotes in the state, Gran Cenote gets quite crowded.

Its famous staircase (pictured above) often has a line of people waiting to take photos on it.

If you want a photo here — arrive early. If not, there are other beautiful photo ops at Gran Cenote.

7. Cenote Zacil-Ha

Located right next to the Car Wash Cenote, Zacil-Ha Cenote is the true definition of a swimming pool/open cenote.

As such, it’s the perfect cenote for a swim! There are also plenty of places to dive or jump in, as well as zip lines for the more adventurous.

This is a very popular cenote, not only as one of the only Cancun cenotes with a zip line, but also as a place for all types of travelers (including families with small kids).

After swimming, enjoy the hammocks, two regular swimming pools and lounge chairs by the water.

8. Cenote Dos Ojos

Dos Ojos Cenote, or “two eyes cenote,” is one of the world’s best dive spots for cave divers.

There are two cenotes here: ojo azul (blue eye), an open cenote with bright blue water, and ojo negro (black eye), a completely dark cave cenote that you need a guide to enter.

While it’s among the best cenotes in Mexico, if you arrive within 1-2 hours of opening, or 1-2 hours of closing, you’ll enjoy this natural wonder in peace and quiet.

If not, expect crowds with everyone from people posing for IG photos, to families with small kids, and groups of divers.

If you can only visit during peak hours, it’s still worth it—popular places like this are popular because they’re amazing!

The fresh water is crystal clear blue, and there are tons of fish swimming around, as well as underwater rocks, fallen branches, and tree roots.

9. Casa Cenote (AKA Cenote Manatí or Cenote Tankah)

Casa Cenote is unique in that it’s a mix of freshwater and saltwater. It used to be known only as Manati Cenote, as manatees once lived there.

They’re all gone now, but a crocodile named Panchito does live there (he’s harmless, but maintain your distance).

Besides Panchito the crocodile, there’s plenty of other wildlife to see under the water, like fish and turtles.

On land, you might even see adorable coati, which look like raccoons, walking through the trees and mangroves along the shore at this beautiful place.

This Cancun cenote is fun because it offers everything: swimming, kayaking (there are onsite rentals), SUP paddle boarding, snorkeling, and diving.

Divers especially love Casa Cenote because its underwater cave system extends directly into the Caribbean Sea.

10. Cenote Calavera

Calavera Cenote, which means “skull cenote” in Spanish, has three holes — one larger hole, and two smaller ones.

When you’re underwater and the sun shines in all the holes at once, you look like a skull, which is how this unique cenote got its name.

The larger hole has a ladder and a rope swing (not pictured here), which is perfect for lounging on while the little fish nibble at your toes — known as a Mayan pedicure 🤣

You can jump into the water from all the holes, as the water is deep enough, but be careful in the small hole.

One of the most popular of the Instagrammable Mexico cenotes, if you want to take photos here without a crowd of people in them, arrive early.

This is a smaller cenote and also the closest cenote to Downtown Tulum, so it’s a popular stop for Tulum travelers and can get full quickly.

Cenote Suytun is located about 45-minutes from Chichén Itzá Mayan Ruins and Coba Mayan Ruins, and many combine a cenote and Mayan archaeological site on a Cancun day trip.

Other less-crowded and beautiful cenotes are nearby, like Cenote Chukum and Cenote Xux-Ha.

12. Cenote Ik-Kil (Chichen Itza Cenote)

Considered among the best cenotes in Yucatan, Ik Kil Cenote is a bucket list destination in Mexico for many visitors.

It is less than 10 minutes from Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins and is very popular with cenote tour groups that stop at both.

With its prime location, this Yucatan cenote gets very crowded!

As with all cenotes, the best strategy to beat the crowds is early morning or later in the day.

Cenote Ik Kil isn’t very big, so even if you can only visit for an hour, it makes a nice stop to check out this gorgeous cenote.

To dive Cenote El Pit, you’ll need to be certified. However, for cave divers, this is the best place to go cenote diving in Mexico.

Cenote Carwash is very natural, often called a “pond cenote.”

Like most cenotes, it has clear water, but there are also lily pads atop the water, fallen tree branches under the water, and plenty of fish and turtles.

There’s even a small, shy and harmless 🐊 crocodile that occasionally appears. I have seen him, and while harmless, guests are advised to maintain their distance.

In short, there’s a whole underwater world here, making Cenote Carwash popular for divers and snorkeling.

It’s nice to swim here, but the real magic happens when you strap on a mask and start exploring under the water.

• Xkeken Cenote is located underground in a cave, lit up by colored lights for a funky and cool vibe.
• Samulá Cenote is also a cave cenote which looks similar to Cenote Suytun, with a single ray of light that shines in through a smaller hole at the top of the cenote.

16. Cenote Escondido

Escondido Cenote, meaning “hidden cenote,” is known for its natural look and fun rope swings — so if you want to have a Tarzan and Jane jungle rope swing moment, you can do that at this cenote.

It has good visibility, so it’s also popular with divers and snorkelers. However, if you plan to snorkel, you will want to add a mask to your cenotes packing list.

Cenote Cristal is located just across the street from Escondido Cenote, so you can also visit both in the same day.

Cristal is the more popular of the two, so visit that one first, and when it starts getting crowded, head to Cenote Escondido.

For those planning to snorkel with the turtles in Akumal Bay, Yal-Ku Lagoon is just minutes from the beach where you’d do that.

After swimming with the turtles, the lagoon makes a great place to visit, as you head back north to Cancun from Akumal.

18. Cenote Taak Bi Ha

Taak Bi Ha Cenote is an underground cave cenote located near the popular Cenote Dos Ojos.

If you’re headed to the Dos Ojos Cenotes Park area, make sure to plan for a visit to Cenote Taak Bi Ha as well — especially if you’ve never been inside a cave cenote.

Once inside, you’ll feel like you’re in another world!

There are beautiful white-colored stalactites and stalagmites rock formations, extending from the ceiling above to the water below.

This is a privately-owned cenote and it’s kept well lit, so visitors can see and enjoy all the subterranean beauty.

You can go on your own through the cave — up to a point. There will come a time when you’ll need a guide with a flashlight to take you into the deeper parts.

If you want to explore the entire cave, ask for a guide at the entrance. Guides cost $50-100 pesos (about $3-6 USD) and are 100% worth it.