Sips & Trips with Molly

You probably have seen cenotes all across Pinterest, showing beautiful caves with a pool of the sea to swim in. They really are one of the most beautiful elements of Mexico’s landscape and the pictures are just like the reality.

Exploring the cenotes is one of the best things you can do when you are in Mexico.

What are Cenotes?

A cenote is a natural sinkhole, which leads down to underground caverns filled with water. There are lots of cenotes across the world, but the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico is where the term originated.

Originally, the Mayan community used these cenotes for supplies and now it is used as a place for visitors to come for a swim whilst protecting it’s caves.

What to Consider with Cenotes

As it’s a popular attraction, naturally, cenotes are going to be super busy. You want to plan out when you are going to visit to avoid the crows – especially if you are close to the Chichén Itzá.

You don’t think about it when you are looking at pictures, but the cenote has deep waters – around 150m deep. You might have slight aphrehension before getting into the cenote but there are life jackets to wear and lifeguards are there to help.

There is wildlife about. You will find fish swimming with you in the cenotes, do not worry, they do move away from you as you get in the water. You are sharing natural water with animals where it’s their habitat – we have to look after them when visiting their home.

Cenotes to Visit in Mexico

Cenote Saamal

The first cenote we visited was Cenote Saamal which is very close to the Chichén Itzá. We timed it so that we actually ended up being the only people there which was amazing.

The entrace fee for going to this cenote was around £7 in UK money which surprised me how cheap it was to visit such a lovely place. You have to wear a life jacket in this cenote which they give you to wear.

There is a jumping off platform too if you are feeling a bit adventurous but there are also steps which makes it easier to get yourself into the water.

There is a restaurant on-site and also shops that sell local produce including Tequila. This is such a gorgeous cenote that I highly recommend you go to visit.

Cenote Ik Kil

I’d personally say this is easily one of my favourite cenote’s that I have been to. Cenote Ik Kil. It is also located near the Chichén Itzá and is about £20 to enter and go into the cenote which I still thought was a reasonable price.

For me, Cenote Ik Kil was the most beautiful. You literally walk inside a tunnel within the cave down stairs before you get to the cenote – the only word to describe it is magical.

It was a bit busier when we went to this one compared to Cenote Salaam which I expected but definitely loved the privacy of the Salaam Cenote. There is a good jumping off platform and ladders to get in and out of the water – something to consider for accessibility.

There are also reeds coming down from the sinkhole which make the look of the Cenote that much more spectacular.

Cenote Hubiku

The last cenote that we visited was Hubiku Cenote which was a bit further away from the main roads compared to the other cenotes. The price to enter was 200 pesos – around £10 per adult so cheaper compared to the Ik Kil Cenote.

When we visited (May 2024) it was very quiet compared to Ik Kil but we did look at times before we went to ensure we went when it was quieter.

It is hard to compare and say which is my favourite as they are all so amazing. The difference with this one is it was much darker in this Cenote which actually made it more mystical which I liked about it.

As well as places to jump or dive into the Cenote, there are steps and also a boardwalk like platform to get yourself into the Cenote. You can pay for lockers and wearing a life jacket is optional – I’d recommend to wear one for safety.

There was also water trickling down which to me made the cenote so much more better than the other ones we visited.

I’d say the location of this Cenote was the prettiest just the overall decor really contributed to the loveliness of it. There are stands for you to buy any local product – I got a lovely bikini and my mum got a beach skirt.

When to Visit Cenotes in Mexico?

The best time to visit Mexico is between December to April which is the dry season, as the wet season begins in May. With this, you should expect the Cenotes to be busy in the best times as there are tours which takes large groups of people there.

We went in May 2024, and the weather was up to 40 degrees celcius and it was crazy busy.

Going to cenotes is easily one of the best things I have ever done in my life. It made my Pinterest boards become reality and there was nothing that disappointed me.

Grab your swimming costume, towel and head to one of the Cenotes in Mexico. Do your research and plan the best time for you and your fellow travelers.

Enjoy!!