Tulum is a town in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. This beautiful town will amaze you with culture and the incredible must see cenotes. Located along the Caribbean coastline you can escape to a tropical paradise, perfectly situated in the history-rich town.
Most Instagrammable Cenotes in Tulum Mexico
What is a cenote?
Cenotes are a freshwater filled Mexican sinkhole. The word Cenote is of Mayan decent originally called dzonot or ts’onot, which means well. There are over 3,000 unique cenotes throughout the Yucatan peninsula, these are the 6 best cenotes in Tulum.
Secret cenote no one knows about hidden in the jungle near Tulum. To find out more and how to locate Caleta Tankah cenote.
Dos Ojos Cenote
There were 6 travelers in our group and four of them were certified divers. While they dived at all the cenotes, Manny & I would explore them in a completely different way. We went snorkeling around the surface! There wasn’t a ton of fish to see, but the rock formations above and below the surface were incredible.
Kayak or Dive at Casa Cenote
As with most cenotes, Casa Cenote offered scuba diving and snorkeling. But what the others didn’t have, this cenote did! This time as the diving crew submerged below the water, I kayaked! It was great, because the water is crystal clear and following them was easy. We all were able to see a gator in the water just a few ft away, I have never been more thankful for being above the water.
Family Friendly Grand Cenote
Located a short drive from Tulum this popular cenote will amaze you. Contrary to it’s name, the Gran cenote is actually several cenotes connected by wooden walkways. The water is crystal clear and colorful! To keep it that way, they require everyone to rinse off in an outdoor shower before entering the cenote. This is a great family spot, as there are lots of green space and picnic areas.
Zip Line at Xunaan-Ha Cenote
For $100 pesos you can zipline yourself into this adventurous cenote until your heart’s content. Xunaan-Ha cenote is located down a long bumpy dirt road in the small town of Chemuyil, just a short drive from Tulum or Playa Del Carmen. This cenote is not as crowded as the more popular surrounding cenotes such as the Grand.
High Dive at the Car Wash
The last and final dive the travel crew did was in the car wash cenote. We asked where the name came from… and it is exactly as it sounds. Due to its close proximity to the roadway- this cenote was once used to wash the locals cars!
Know Before You Go
PIN IT for when you plan your Mexico trip!
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Oooh these cenotes are soooo pretty! I love that there are so many options depending on what you are after. But all of them have that beautiful clear water to swim in! This is a fab post Chelsea!
It was very nice that there were other things to do other than diving. I just took photos of the beautiful water and then swam so I wouldn’t melt in the heat haha
Gorgeous photos and loved learning about cenotes
Wow these cenotes look so beautiful. Each one has different features so it must have been wonderful to visit different ones. I don’t think it matters that you didn’t dive as you were still able to snorkel and kayak to enjoy the cenotes. Great tip about the sunscreen.
I was so glad that diving wasn’t the only option because i’m absolutely terrified of it 😂 I enjoyed my time at each one just as much though.
Thanks for taking me back to the Mexican cenotes. We had a great time scuba diving in the denotes. I didn’t realize there were so many. And yes they are instagramable! The rock formations with the streaming light sure caught our camera!
You’re welcome! I hope you could feel the heat through the pictures in this cold winter lol🤗💜
I am terrified of diving, so when I saw the kayaking option it made me happy to see that non-divers can enjoy the crystal clear waters too! Great tip about not wearing sunscreen. That would have not crossed my mind.
hahaha yes, I too am terrified of diving. It was great because each cenote they dove at, I was able to snorkel, kayak or do other activities.
The cenotes of Mexico sure are a wonder! I visited a couple near Tulum and it was one of the best experience. I agree, they are off the beaten track, careful before diving and definitely plan for food and drinks before you go. Such beautiful places, especially when the light streams in.
I agree! They had been on my bucket list for some time (thanks pinterest) so when I saw them in person they blew my mind 💜
There’s some amazing recommendations here. I’m sure I’ll get a great shot in the end 😂