Into the Jungle- Your Guide With Us
Cenote- A cenote (English: /sɪˈnoʊti/ or /sɛˈnoʊteɪ/; American Spanish: [seˈnote]) is a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. (Thanks Google!)
For us, cenotes are one of the best parts of the Yucatan. They are covered, like caves, out in the open, like the photo to the left and they can be a mix of those. Cenotes are deep and we urge caution if freediving in them. For snorkeling, you will have an amazing time and this is a must do! The water in cenotes is clear like bottled water and can be teal or green tone, due to the limestone.
One of our favorite things to do is spend the day cenote hopping, (there are over 2000 in the area!). The cost to get in can vary from $1 -$15 at the more touristy locations.
Here a list of some of our favorites in Tulum, and within a short cab ride from Tribe House.
Must see Tulum Cenotes-
- Cenote Corazon: Super clear water. Not many people. Ample places to sit. You can easily go here with a group. Deep in parts and shallow in others. A good mix of both. Very inexpensive to get in.
-Cenote Cristal/Escondido: We love the Escondido side of this combo of cenotes. It is amazing for freedivers and is very much reminding us of mermaid lagoon. There is a good cliff to jump off of and some seating. This one can get busy, but worth the visit.
- Lagoon Kaan Luum: You must go in the morning before anyone gets there. This place gets busy! It is a must see as it is a giant collection of cenotes all in one sinkhole. It is worth about an hour or two and then moving on once the crowds come.
- Cenote Dos Ojos: This is farther away, by about 15 minutes, but worth the trip in a cab. Underwater it is like the underworld, with caverns everywhere. Fairytale like for sure!
Cenote Chikin Ha- A 30 minute drive, but still our favorite. Freediving is amazing here and the second cave back is the way to go. Spend an entire afternoon here avoiding the crowds and chilling out. Half covered, half not and a beautiful mix of a cavernous wonderland.
What to Pack:
- Bring a towel to sit on as some places have rock benches.
- Most places do not have food or water. Bring your own! Make sure to follow all rules about eating and trash in each location. Respect nature.
- No sunscreen or bugspray on your body. It pollutes the clean water.
- Snorkel! Some places have them for rent, but they aren't very good. Best to bring your own to Mexico. Invest in that as it is your window to underwater!
- If you are planning to stay a while, we recommend a phone battery pack. Your battery will deplete much quicker in the heat.