The 21 Best Cenotes in Valladolid (Yucatan)

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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?

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!

My tip
There’s a good and cheap local food restaurant on site. If you eat there for 100 pesos, you can enter the cenote for free!
  • The entrance fee is 60 pesos, and it includes a life jacket
  • It’s open from 9 am to 5 pm every day
  • They have changing rooms, lockers, showers, souvenirs, and parking lot
cenote zací valladolid
Cenote Zací in Valladolid. Photo from the Facebook page of the Zací cenote

2. Cenote Oxman

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.

  • Entrance fee: 150 pesos for access to the cenote and pool, or 350 pesos for the cenote with pool and lunch at the restaurant
  • Life jacket 50 pesos
  • Free parking
  • How to get to Hacienda Oxman: 15-20 minutes by bicycle or car from Valladolid
cenote oxman
cenote oxman

3. Cenote Saamal

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.

  • Entrance fee to the cenote: 200 pesos, children from 4 to 11 years old pay 60 pesos. Locker and life jacket are included.
  • The buffet is optional
  • Children under 4 years old enter for free
  • How to get to Hacienda Selva Maya: It’s an 11-minute drive on Highway 180, or a 20-minute bike ride

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!

My advice
The estates are close to the Dzitnup cenotes (Xkeken and Samula), so you can easily combine the two visits.

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!)

cenote saamal
cenote saamal

4. The cenotes of Dzitnup

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.

  • Entrance fee is 235 pesos (includes both cenotes + life jacket)
  • They have good facilities (toilets, changing rooms) and are easy to access for everyone.
  • How to get to Dzitnup from Valladolid: It’s a 12-minute drive, take the 180 towards Ebtún and then turn left at Dzitnup. You can also take a colectivo in front of Casona el Negro Aguilar (Calle 44) – 60 pesos
  • You can also bike there, but go early to avoid the sun and heat.
cenote xkeken valladolid
cenote xkeken valladolid
cenote samulá valladolid
cenote samulá valladolid

5. Cenote Ik Kil

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:

  • Entrance 180 pesos (with life vest and locker), children 100 pesos, buffet 400 pesos. Free parking.
  • How to get to Cenote Ik Kil from Valladolid: follow Carretera 180 (45 min) or by public transportation, ADO bus or colectivo from Calle 39 (40 pesos)
cenote ik kil
Cenote Ik Kil near Chichén Itzá

6. Cenote Xcajum

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.

  • Entrance fee is 200 pesos, 80 pesos (4 to 8 years old), 300 pesos package with buffet lunch, life jacket costs 35 pesos
  • How to get to Xcajum: from Chichén Itzá take 79 Dzitas-Pisté (20 min), from Valladolid take 79 Izamal-Valladolid (50 min)
cenote xcajum
cenote xcajum

7. Cenote Kikil

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.

  • Entrance fee is 100 pesos for locals, 150 pesos for foreigners, life jacket included. There is also a 200 pesos package that comes with an a la carte meal in the restaurant.
  • Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m
cenote kikil
cenote kikil

8. X-Canché

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!

  • How to get to X’Canché and Ek Balam from Valladolid: take highway 295 towards Tizimin, then turn right 3.5 miles after Temozon (33 min). Buses leave from the corner of Calle 44 and Calle 35, 70 pesos
  • Getting between Ek Balam and Xcanché: free bicycle available for visitors, or you can walk there (30 min)
  • Entrance fee to Ek Balam: 494 pesos
  • Entrance fee to X’canché cenote: 170 pesos
  • Overnight at X’Canché: cabaña (600 pesos per night), camping (130 pesos per person)

My advice
Besides Xcanché, there are several cenotes near Ek Balam accessible within a few minutes drive: Agua Dulce, Palomitas, Hubiku, Xcanahaltún. So you can easily spend the day there!
cenote x canche
cenote x canche

9. Cenote Chichikan

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.

  • Entrance fee is 320 pesos for foreigners, 250 pesos for Mexicans
  • To see all packages, here is their website
  • Open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the restaurant from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day
  • How to get to Cenote Chichikan: 200 pesos by taxi, they also have a package that includes transportation
cenote chichikan
cenote chichikan

10. Cenote Hubiku

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. 🍺

  • Entrance fee is 200 pesos for foreigners, 100 pesos for locals; 350 pesos for the cenote with buffet at the restaurant
  • Life jacket costs 40 pesos
  • Open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., buffet from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • How to get to cenote Hubiku: It’s 8 miles from Valladolid
My Advice
 If you don’t want to worry about transportation, you can also take this very complete tour with hotel pick up, which includes a visit to Chichén Itzá, Valladolid and the Hubiku cenote! Book it here:

 
cenote hubiku
cenote hubiku

11. Palomitas Cenote and Agua Dulce Cenote

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.

  • Entrance fee is 180 pesos per cenote, rappelling costs 80 pesos, kayak costs 50 pesos (30 min)
  • How to get to Cenotes Agua Dulce and Palomitas from Valladolid: take a colectivo ($40mxn) from the main square to Yalcobá. From Yalcobá, you can take a bike-taxi (30mxn, 2 miles) to get to the entrance.

My tip
The cenotes Palomitas and Agua Dulce are located between the villages of Hunukú and Yalcobá, near Ek Balam, so you can easily combine visits!
cenote palomitas
cenote palomitas

12. Cenote Sac Aua

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! ❤️

My advice
The best time to visit Sac Aua is from 9 to 11 am, when the light illuminates the place perfectly!
  • Entrance fee: 290 pesos cenote + cave visit, kayak 120 pesos (1h)
  • How to get to Sac Aua: to Dzalbay (30 min from Valladolid, 15 min from Ek Balam). Buses to Dzalbay leave near Valladolid bus station, one way ticket 35 pesos
cenote sac aua
Cenote Sac Aua and its island. Photo from the cenote’s facebook page.

13. Cenote Xcanahaltún

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.

  • Entrance fee is 200 pesos (locker included), life jackets cost 25 pesos, kayak costs 70 pesos
  • How to get to Xcanahaltun from Valladolid: take Highway 180 to Cancún and then the exit to Yalcobá. Or take a bus to Yalcobá, the cenote is 2.5 miles from the town square and the entrance is 1,970 ft from the road.
cenote xcanahaltun
cenote xcanahaltun

14. Cenote Zazil Tunich

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.

My advice
It is half a mile away from Cenote Xcanahaltún, as well as being close to the Sac Aua, Palomitas and Agua Dulce cenotes: don’t hesitate to visit more than one in the same day! 
  • Entrance fee 350 pesos with the 2h30 guided tour
  • For 250 pesos extra, it also includes lunch
  • To get to Zazil Tunich from Valladolid: take the 180, then the Carretera Yalcobá-Xtut (37min). Or take a colectivo near Valladolid’s main square in the direction of Yalcobá.
cenote zazil tunich valladolid
cenote zazil tunich valladolid

15. Cenote Suytun

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.

My advice
There is another cenote in Suytun that few people visit: the Ka’pe cenote.

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.

  • Entrance 200 pesos (or 150 pesos if you book your ticket online), life jacket included in the price (mandatory). Locker 50 pesos. Buffet lunch option 350 pesos.
  • Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m
  • How to get to cenote Suytun: it is located in Tikuch, 15 minutes from Valladolid by car or 30 minutes by bike following Carretera 180. You can also take a colectivo to Chemax.
Suytun cenote Valladolid
The Suytun cenote

16. Chukum-Ha Cenote

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.

My advice
The cenote is very peaceful from opening until 11.30. It’s the best time to enjoy it.
  • Entrance fee is 150 pesos for locals or 250 pesos for foreigners. There is also a buffet option.
  • Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • How to get to Hacienda Chukum from Valladolid: It’s a 25-minute drive, take Highway 180 Valladolid-Cancún and turn left (same road as Cenote Sac Aua, Palomitas, Xcanahaltún).
  • By public transportation, take a colectivo near the main square of Valladolid towards Yalcobá and ask the driver to drop you off at the entrance of Chukum.
cenote chukum valladolid
cenote chukum valladolid

17. Cenote Xux ha

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.

  • Entrance fee is 150 pesos
  • It’s a 20-minute drive from Valladolid
cenote xux ha
cenote xux ha

18. Cenote Fantasma

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!

  • Entrance fee is 150 pesos per cenote or 300 pesos for cenote and food
  • How to get to Cenote Fantasma from Valladolid: by car, take Carretera 180 to Cancún and then turn left just after the village of Xcatzín (45 minutes). Or take a bus to Chemax (25 minutes) and then a colectivo to X-Catzín.
cenote fantasma
Fantasma Cenote

19. Cenote Choj-Ha

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.

  • Entrance fee is 130 pesos (children 50 pesos) or 350 pesos with rappelling and cave exploration
  • Life jacket costs 50 pesos
  • To get to Choj-Há from Valladolid: take Highway 180 to Cancún (52 min) or take public transportation to X-Can, the entrance to the cenote is 1,970 ft from the highway.

My advice
I recommend combining the visit with the Aktun Taman and Aktun K’ab caves in Santa Rita, managed by the local cooperative.

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.

cenote choj ha
Choj Ha Cenote

20. Xla’kaj Cenote

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!

My advice
You can also visit the nearby towns like Xocén, Chichimilá or Tekom and its underground cenote K’om Ha.

The village of Xocen is developing community tourism activities with its residents: cocoa preparation, cooking classes, bird watching, pre-Hispanic dance, etc.

  • Entrance fee is 50 pesos for foreigners or 25 pesos for locals (+ 70 pesos for the mandatory life vest), 500 pesos per night in a cabin
  • To get to cenote Xlakaj from Valladolid: take 295 towards Chichimila and then turn left towards Xocen (14min) Buses leave from the center (20 pesos) towards Xocen, tell the driver to stop on the road and then walk about 6 min.
cenote xlakaj
cenote xlakaj

21. Cenote Maya

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.

  • How to get to Cenote Maya Native Park: It’s a 30-minute drive from Valladolid, near Highway 180D between Valladolid and Cancun
  • Open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
cenote maya native park
cenote maya native park

The tourist map of the cenotes of Valladolid

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:

  • Cenote Hacienda Kancabá
  • Dzonototoch Cenote
  • Cenote Acancun Azul
  • Usil Cenote
  • Kalot Jool Cenote
  • Cenote Sac-Há
  • Cenote Kuk

My tips for visiting the cenotes of Valladolid

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:

  • Chichen Itza + cenote Ik Kil or cenote Xcajum
  • Rio Lagartos + Cenote Kikil
  • Ek Balam + Cenote Xcanché or Cenote Hubiku
  • Cenotes Dzitnup (Samula and Xkeken) + Hacienda Maya or Hacienda San Lorenzo
  • Cenote Palomitas and Agua Dulce + Cenote Sac Aua
  • Cenote Xcanahaltun + Zazil Tunich

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:

  • Water shoes (Aqua shoes): the cenotes are surrounded by rocks that can be slippery or simply hurt your feet.
  • Snorkel mask: to dive and see what is hidden in the water

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.

The other cenotes

Here are all my lists of the best cenotes in Mexico:

Where to sleep in Valladolid?

  • Candelaria Hostel: The best budget option in Valladolid! A colorful hostel that is very well located in the centre, with a garden, access to the kitchen, and a bike rental. Good breakfast options are also included, from 17 $usd for a bed in a shared dorm or 38 $usd for a private room.
  • Real Haciendas: A small, charming, yet very quiet hotel with a swimming pool, clean rooms with comfortable king size bed, and a very good welcome. Starting from 57 $usd per night.
  • IMIX Hotel: A typical colonial house in the centre of Valladolid on the beautiful Calzada de los Frailes, nicely decorated with spacious rooms. Breakfast included, starting from 127 $usd per night.
  • Le Muuch Hotel: A hotel located 5 minutes away from the main park Francisco Canton Rosado. Excellent service, with indoor and outdoor swimming pools with hammocks, rooms with garden view, air conditioning, and a bar and restaurant. A la carte breakfast included, starting from 140 $usd per night.
  • Hotel Zentik Project: This is definitely one of my favorite hotels in Mexico and the best hotel in Valladolid! Beautiful Mayan-style cabanas with murals done by local and international artists. There’s a restaurant and bar, an outdoor pool with hammocks, and a saltwater pool in an underground cave. Very good breakfast included, starting from 380 $usd per night.

Rent a car 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 Booking.com Cars, for a few reasons:

  • You can easily compare the rental cars prices between all the agencies: for sure the easiest way to find the best rate!
  • Cancellation is often offered free of charge: no need to worry if you change your mind
  • Booking Cars offers full insurance coverage at a lower price than the rental companies, so it’s an instant saving with no effort

Simply click on the green button to find your rental car at the best price:

Save Money on Your Flight to Mexico

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!

Book your trip now and save money!

You’re traveling in Mexico? These articles will help you!

Discover all my articles about Mexico: All my articles to help you plan your trip to Mexico are listed there.

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valladolid cenotes

Anonymous

I have created this blog to give you all my best tips to plan your next trip to Mexico, regardless of your budget. I share detailed itineraries, advice about places to visit as well as recommendations for transportation, hotels and restaurants. I hope I will also help you to discover amazing off the beaten path destinations in Mexico!

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