The Definitive Guide to the Best Cenotes in Valladolid (+ Tips)
The Yucatan peninsula is full of cenotes, which are beautiful natural water wells that the ancient Maya considered sacred.
Many cenotes have been adapted for visitors to swim safely, and they are some of the best attractions in Yucatan.
And Valladolid is famous for the beauty and variety of its cenotes!
However, I think it’s unfortunate that people always mention the same cenotes, which are often crowded, when there are many peaceful cenotes managed by local communities.
That’s why I made this complete list of the most beautiful cenotes in Valladolid, including some well-known ones and a few hidden gems.
As always, I have added all the practical information and all my best tips for visiting them.
This way, you can choose the cenotes that suit you best according to your itinerary, your interests, and your travel style in Yucatan.
So, which are the best cenotes in Valladolid?
Sommaire
- The Definitive Guide to the Best Cenotes in Valladolid (+ Tips)
- The most beautiful cenotes in Valladolid
- 1. Zaci Cenote
- 2. Cenote Oxman
- 3. Cenote Saamal
- 4. The cenotes of Dzitnup
- 5. Cenote Ik Kil
- 6. Cenote Xcajum
- 7. Cenote Kikil
- 8. X-Canché
- 9. Cenote Chichikan
- 10. Cenote Hubiku
- 11. Palomitas Cenote and Agua Dulce Cenote
- 12. Cenote Sac Aua
- 13. Cenote Xcanahaltún
- 14. Cenote Zazil Tunich
- 15. Cenote Suytun
- 16. Chukum-Ha Cenote
- 17. Cenote Xux ha
- 18. Cenote Fantasma
- 19. Cenote Choj-Ha
- 20. Xla’kaj Cenote
- 21. Cenote Maya
- The tourist map of the cenotes of Valladolid
- My tips for visiting the cenotes of Valladolid
- The other cenotes
- Where to sleep in Valladolid?
- Rent a car in Mexico
- Save Money on Your Flight to Mexico
- You’re traveling in Mexico? These articles will help you!
The most beautiful cenotes in Valladolid
1. Zaci Cenote
Cenote Zaci is the only cenote in the City of Valladolid. It’s a short walk from the main square.
It’s a large and beautiful semi-open cenote, surrounded by big rocks and plants.
You can easily get in, because there are stairs and a stone path around it.
You can also jump into the water from different platforms for some fun.
It’s a very popular cenote among the locals, so it’s almost empty during the week and busy on weekends.
But the weekend has an advantage: they turn on a stunning waterfall that falls in the center of the cenote!
There are two haciendas with a cenote very close to Valladolid. One of them is Hacienda San Lorenzo with the Oxman cenote. It is a semi-open cenote with lots of roots, plants and a tarzan rope. The view from the top is amazing! It is located on a beautifully renovated property with restaurant, pool and lounge chairs, a place where kids and parents can have fun! It’s a great place to spend a few hours, cool off, sunbathe and eat, all in the same place. Cenote Saamal at Hacienda Selva Maya is located in an old restored estate owned by the family of El Meson de Marques, a famous hotel in Valladolid. The estate features the Cenote Saamal, with its stunning artificial waterfall that flows into the water. It also offers a delicious buffet lunch with Yucatecan specialties. I really enjoy the Oxman and Saamal cenotes as they are nice places to relax for a few hours, but I have a soft spot for Hacienda Selva Maya, which I find very charming. However, it does not have a pool! Another option is to visit Cenote Saamal after Chichén Itzá, before heading back to Valladolid. You can book the tour to Chichén Itzá with Cenote Saamal (click here!) The community of Dzitnup is just a few kilometers away from Valladolid and hosts two cenotes: Xkeken and Samulá, which share the same entrance. They are also known as “Cenotes Dzitnup”. Cenote X’kekén, which means “pig” in Mayan, got its odd name from the way it was discovered: a farmer was searching for his pig that had slipped into a hole to drink water and stumbled upon this gorgeous underground cenote. It is situated in a cave with a small opening in the ceiling, with many stalactites and roots that create a magical atmosphere. Its neighbor, the cenote Samula (pronounced Samuc Ha), was famous for its large tree root hanging to the ground, but a few years ago it was sadly destroyed by lightning. 😢 The cenote is still beautiful today, also inside a cave, but a little bigger than Xkeken and with a higher ceiling. With its huge roots and greenery, Cenote Ik Kil is one of the most stunning cenotes in Valladolid and even one of the Most Gorgeous Cenotes in Yucatan. But it is also one of the most popular cenotes in Mexico because it is very close to Chichen Itza. You can enjoy several amazing views of the cenote, and the most impressive one is from the lookout point at the entrance. Once you go down, there is a stone pathway that almost encircles the cenote with three levels that have other small lookout points. You can dive into the water or use the stairs, there is also a rope to grab onto (remember you won’t float in a cenote as the water is not salty)! It is a family-friendly cenote with all the convenient facilities: restaurant with buffet, souvenir shop, lockers, showers, changing rooms, spacious parking. Agencies often call it the “Cenote of Chichén Itzá” or the “Sacred Cenote” but it is not actually in Chichén Itzá, but 3 miles away from the archaeological site. This nickname comes from the fact that travelers usually take a tour that combines the visit to Chichén Itzá with Ik Kil. Many of them do the visit as part of a day trip so they don’t have to worry about transportation. If you are interested, I especially recommend this tour with pick-up from your Riviera Maya hotel, which includes a visit to Chichén Itzá, the Ik Kil cenote, a buffet lunch and a free visit to Valladolid. You can book the tour here: To be honest, I don’t think Xcajum is one of the Best Cenotes in Valladolid, but it is a good option if you want to visit a cenote near Chichen Itza, as it is only 20 minutes away. The cenote itself is beautiful. It is an open cenote with tall stone walls, 4 towers and a platform to jump into the water. What I don’t like much is the whole resort concept with its small pool, loud music and buffet that I didn’t enjoy. The place is mostly visited by Mexican families as it is a fun spot for kids with all the facilities (lockers, changing rooms, hammocks, souvenir shop). For this price, I think you can find something better around. Cenote Kikil is situated in Tizimín, on the way between Valladolid and the Río Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, so this cenote is a perfect spot to cool off after visiting Las Coloradas and Río Lagartos. It is an open cenote, with a restaurant that offers breakfast and meals, and there are also cozy cabins for staying overnight. The complex is run by a cooperative of 13 families from the local community. It is a rather wild cenote, 165 ft deep, with no alterations, which makes you feel like you are experiencing a natural setting and not a pool. The cabins have a bed with mosquito net, two hammocks, fan, private bathroom and even a small pool reserved for the guests. Kikil is a cenote in the Valladolid area, not very touristy, ideal for those who want to enjoy a natural place with complete peace. Cenote X’Canché is the cenote of Ek Balam. It is only a mile away from Ek Balam and you can get there by walking or renting a bicycle. Besides swimming, you can also try rappelling, zip-lining or tarzan rope, or just chill in the hammocks. The cenote is run by the Hunukú community cooperative, so feel free to eat at the restaurant or buy a small handmade souvenir to support the local families. You can even stay overnight in one of the Mayan-style cabins or camp there. Check out My Article About Cenote XCanché! Only 15 minutes away from Valladolid, you can find the Chichikan cenote. It is a cenote that opened not long ago, so the facilities are new and very clean. Luckily, it is not a very crowded cenote, but it is still beautiful with its waterfall and island in the middle. Besides the cenote entrance, they offer packages that include the restaurant (the food is tasty, which is rare in cenote restaurants, 😅) and even full experiences with guided tour, Mayan purification ceremony, tastings, music. Hubiku means “nest of iguanas” in Mayan, but I didn’t see any! It is an underground cenote in a large cave that you can access by going down 115 steps. The opening in the ceiling was created when the roots of a big tree collapsed. It is quite touristy, as it is only 20 minutes from Ek Balam towards Valladolid, but it is not as packed with tour groups as the Ik Kil cenote. I stopped by there around 11 am and there were only two small Mexican families in the water. At the same place, there is the Don Tadeo Tequila Museum, where you can learn about the process of making Mexico’s famous national drink from the blue agave. There is also a shop with bottles for sale, including several tequila-based liqueurs (strawberry, peanut, passion fruit, almond, coconut), which you can taste. My two favorites were definitely chocolate and coconut. Speaking of sampling, you can also head to the Maya hut where they make traditional tortillas with cochinita pibil, a typical Yucatecan pork dish. If you prefer beer over tequila, I was surprised to see that they even sell two Hubiku “Patito” beers (dry stout and vanilla porter) at the restaurant’s bar. This is the only time I’ve ever seen a cenote sell their own beer. 🍺 At Rancho Agua Dulce, you can visit Cenote Palomitas and Cenote Agua Dulce. The main cenote, Palomitas, is certainly one of the cenotes you don’t want to miss in Valladolid. It is set in a cave with a small opening, where the light comes in and lets you admire its clear water and many stalactites. About 660 ft away, there is the Agua Dulce cenote, also inside a cave. To be honest, I think people talk a lot about the beauty of Palomitas, but Agua Dulce is worth seeing, especially because you can go down by rappelling and rent a kayak. Also, there are two entrances to Agua Dulce, one of them leads to a staircase that goes down to a floating platform in the middle of the cenote – the view is amazing! No matter if you choose to visit one or both cenotes, remember that they are underground cenotes and the water is cold. At the same place, there is also a dry cave that you can explore on foot and the Dzonot Ak cenote with its ducks and turtles. Actually, Dzonot Ac is not a cenote but an aguada, a shallow pool of water where you can’t swim. You can spend half a day enjoying the place, swimming and walking around. There is also a Yucatecan cuisine restaurant with a small buffet. Sac Aua means “sacred tree” in Mayan and refers to the huge tree at the top of the cenote. It used to be an enclosed cenote thousands of years ago, but the roof eventually collapsed and created a small island of dirt, rocks and trees. Today it is the only cenote that has a natural island in it. You can rent a kayak to go around the small island and even rappel down. Recently a cave was discovered right next to the cenote. It is thought to have been sacred because animal bones and ceramic pieces were found. It is also open to the public and you can easily walk in to explore it and see its amazing rock formations. Besides its island, which makes it very unique, Sac Aua is not a very busy cenote, and that makes it even more appealing! ❤️ Cenote Xcanahaltún or X-Ca’najaltun, means “high waterfall” in Mayan. It is a private cenote run by a local family that has been responsible for its cleaning and development. You go in through a hole in the rock, then take the stairs that go down 20 ft into the depths of the cave. The place is amazing! It is a large cenote with a ceiling covered with stalactites, and clear blue water, partly lit by the sun’s rays. Here you can truly sense the spirit of the community and the effort that the family has made to provide a nice experience to visitors. Cenote Xcanahaltun is definitely one of the most gorgeous cenotes to visit in Valladolid, it is not very crowded and you can even rent kayaks. The cenote Zazil Tunich, which means “luminous stone” in Mayan, invites you to explore the Xibalbá, the Mayan underworld. Access to Zazil Tunich is restricted and guided by a guide to protect the site. You walk along a 660 ft path, 65 ft below the ground, with amazing stalactites and stalagmites that resemble different shapes and gods. Like the stalactite column that represents Ah Puch, the god of death, or the Mayan Kiss, in front of the Cave of Alux, a spirit from Mayan folklore. At the end of the path we finally reach the cenote with its clear blue water. It is shallow (from the waist down to a maximum of 7ft), so it is perfect for those who are not good swimmers and for families with kids. Cenote Suytun is one of the most Instagrammable cenotes! You will be amazed by the view of the cenote as soon as you enter the cave, with the sunlight shining on the small stone walkway. The water is cool, but nice and there are many little fish in the water. But you should be aware that many tours visit Suytun, and when I was there I quickly found myself surrounded by dozens of people. The cenote Suytun is definitely worth seeing, but I recommend you get there between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. You can only stay in the cenote for 1 hour, including time for taking pictures. You can’t swim in this cenote, but it is worth going down to have a look. It is very beautiful, surrounded by a lot of vegetation. On this list of cenotes to visit in Valladolid, Chukum-Ha is one of the newest ones, as it became a tourist attraction in 2019. It is a large cave with very high ceilings pierced by three natural openings that let in light, and walls covered with impressive stalactites. You can also rappel down to 50 ft, jump into the water from three platforms (from 3 to 16 ft), swing on a Tarzan rope and zip-line. It is a great cenote for the whole family because the facilities are roomy, cozy, very safe and clean. Hacienda Chukum also has hammocks for resting and a buffet. I recommend it because I thought it was good and varied. Cenote X’ux-Ha is situated on the road between the Riviera Maya and Valladolid, 6 miles away from cenote Suytun. This cenote hidden in a cave is, for now, one of the best kept secrets in the area, as it is not very famous among tourists. And that’s a good thing! The cenote is run by a friendly Mayan family with two kids. The place is well kept, the bathrooms and changing rooms are clean, there are wooden swings and a small bar. You enter the cenote through a small opening in the rock, then go down 80 ft underground by a ladder. Once you get to the level of the beautiful blue water, there are two platforms from which you can jump or use the ladder. This is one of the places where you feel really lucky because there are more fish than people. Cenote Fantasma or “cenote Pueblo Fantasma” gets its name from the village where it is located, which was abandoned by its residents. You descend a lovely wooden staircase carved into the rock to reach this cenote hidden in a cave that is lit up with stunning natural rock formations and clear blue waters. If you look up, you can sometimes spot bats and swallows hiding among the stalactites. The area is well maintained, with showers, changing rooms, toilets, life jackets, a small craft shop and a restaurant. It is a beautiful natural place that, despite being less known, is great for the whole family. It is really one of my favorite cenotes in Valladolid! Cenote Choj-Ha (not to be confused with the Choo-Ha cenote in Cobá) is one of the best cenotes to visit in Valladolid. It is a clear blue cenote 30 ft deep, tucked away in an illuminated cave 80 ft deep. You can swim in the water or rappel down into a small cave next to the cenote. You can also explore a cave with a guide and see its amazing rock formations. It is one of those low-key places, run by Mayan families, that have preserved its authenticity. You explore them with a guide who shows you the stalactites and stalagmites, a small hidden cenote where you can swim and see over 300 handprints painted on the walls! This is an off-the-beaten-path adventure. The only drawback is that it is very hard to get there by public transportation and you need a car. Only 6 miles from Valladolid, at the entrance of the town of Xocén, there is a cenote away from the usual tourist route. Xlakaj is an open cenote 80 ft in diameter and 160 ft deep, surrounded by walls covered with vegetation, with a stairway that makes it easy to access. The water is a bit greenish and cloudy, but very nice with small fish nibbling on the dead skin of your feet. It’s a free Fish Spa! There is also a pool, restaurant and rustic air-conditioned cabins for overnight stays. The place is visited almost only by local families, and from what I’ve seen, they mostly use the pool but the cenote is very peaceful. Also, I was surprised to see that they let you bring your own food while you enjoy the restaurant tables, I guess that attracts families! I’ll remember that for next time, as it’s a good way to save money 😉 By the way, it’s one of the most affordable cenotes in Yucatan! Cenote Maya Park is an ecotourism park that features one of the most stunning cenotes in Valladolid. The Cenote Maya is especially impressive because it has the largest dome in the Yucatan Peninsula. You feel very tiny when you are inside! You can rappel down into the cenote (40 ft), and then enjoy the zip lines, tarzan rope and platforms to jump into the water. The park offers 3 hours of activities: ceremony with a shaman, the magnificent Mayan cenote, tour of a traditional house, introduction to medicinal plants and exploration of their organic garden. The visit concludes with a typical meal made with ingredients from the garden. Here are the cenotes of Valladolid that I presented in the article The Yucatan Peninsula is dotted with cenotes and Valladolid is a perfect example. To this long list of the most beautiful cenotes in Valladolid, I could have also added: 1. Protect the cenotes Please be a responsible traveler. 🙏 Shower before entering the water and avoid using any repellent, sunscreen, or makeup to keep the cenotes clean. Also, don’t touch or hang on the roots, plants, or stalactites in the cenotes. 2. Plan your visits well There are many cenotes in the Valladolid area and it is best to map them out (see my map above) beforeyou arrive so you can see as much as possible in one day. Here are some suggestions of combinations you can make: Of course, you can also visit fewer places and take your time. 3. Avoid visiting the cenotes on Sundays It is better not to visit the cenotes on weekends and especially on Sundays, as this is when local families come to enjoy the cenotes. The very touristy cenotes (e.g. Ik Kil, Suytun) always have groups arriving with tours, even on weekdays. But for the cenotes that get few travelers and mostly locals (Sac Aua, Xlakaj, etc.) you will probably have a quiet and maybe even a private visit during the week! In any case, the best time to visit the cenotes is always in the morning, around opening time or just before closing. 4. Bring cash Most cenotes don’t accept cards or have a faulty terminal. That’s why it is very important to bring cash. 5. Be well equipped My last tip for visiting the cenotes of Valladolid is to bring two very useful things: They are not required, but they greatly enhance the experience. You can buy them at Walmart or Soriana, they are cheap and will be useful throughout your trip to Mexico. Here are all my lists of the best cenotes in Mexico: Renting a car is for sure the best way to explore Yucatan and make the most of your stay! To rent a car, personally, I always use Rentalcars.com, for a few reasons: Simply click on the green button to find your rental car at the best price: You can’t fly directly to Valladolid, so you need to fly to either Merida or Cancun first. Cancun is a better option because you can find cheaper and direct flights from Europe and North America. Merida flights usually have a stopover in Mexico City. To get the best price for your flight to Cancun or Merida, as well as your flight to Mexico, I recommend you use our flight comparator in partnership with Skyscanner. It’s the easiest way to save money on your airfare! Discover all my articles about Mexico: All my articles to help you plan your trip to Mexico are listed there.
2. Cenote Oxman
3. Cenote Saamal
4. The cenotes of Dzitnup
5. Cenote Ik Kil
6. Cenote Xcajum
7. Cenote Kikil
8. X-Canché
9. Cenote Chichikan
10. Cenote Hubiku
11. Palomitas Cenote and Agua Dulce Cenote
12. Cenote Sac Aua
13. Cenote Xcanahaltún
14. Cenote Zazil Tunich
15. Cenote Suytun
16. Chukum-Ha Cenote
17. Cenote Xux ha
18. Cenote Fantasma
19. Cenote Choj-Ha
20. Xla’kaj Cenote
21. Cenote Maya
The tourist map of the cenotes of Valladolid
My tips for visiting the cenotes of Valladolid
The other cenotes
Where to sleep in Valladolid?
Rent a car in Mexico
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🏄 Book your sports activities
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