Tulum sits on top of one of the largest underground cave systems in the world. That means, you cannot go to Tulum and not experience Cenotes! These are natural sinkholes that are filled with fresh water. Swimming in one of the pools is one of the best things to do in Tulum. Here are 9 best cenotes in Tulum
Cenote Taak Bi Ha
One of the quietest cenotes Tulum has to offer.
I went to Taak Bi Ha an hour before closing time. I visited in July 2026, which is the slow season for tourism in Mexico, and I was happy because there were barely any crowds. My guide drove me straight there as part of my Yellow Nest day pass. Once I got there, I found out Taak Bi Ha was actually a separate add-on tour, not something already included in the pass. I paid another $30
What the Water Looked Like
The water was clear and super blue. I also noticed bats flying near the cave ceiling. That felt strange to me at first. I had never been inside a cenote before, so I did not know what to expect. Taak Bi Ha is a cave cenote. This means it is mostly enclosed by rock rather than open to the sky.
My Experience in the Water
I will be honest. I was nervous. The water felt too deep for me. I had a life jacket, and the girls in the water were so nice to me. They even helped me and reminded me that I can’t drown. They held on to me for 5 min as I was able to kick my feet and sorta scream a little, then I went back to base! Once you go in, there is a flat rock ledge to your left. You can also just walk in the water up to your waist if you don’t want to go deep. I just admired the rock formations. That was more than enough to make the trip worth it.
What Was Included
Everything you need is provided once you get to the cenote. This includes a floating life jacket. It is so hot outside that you dry off fast once you get out of the water. You can bring your own towel if you want to, but it is not required.
Why I Had to Leave by 6pm
Don’t make the same mistake I did! Make sure to get there early so you can enjoy the cenotes more. They do close at 6pm on the dot. The locals I have spoken to say this is when the aluxes come out. Aluxes are small guardian spirits from Maya mythology. Maya culture believes the aluxes take the cenote back for the night. Staying past that time is seen as disrespectful. Some even say it is unsafe in a spiritual sense. It is not just about tourist hours.
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Gran Cenote Tulum
Gran Cenote is the most famous of all the cenotes Tulum has to offer. It is often the first stop for first-time visitors. It is a semi-open cenote. Part of it is covered by rock. Part of it is open to the sky. The water is clear turquoise. It is common to see freshwater turtles swimming near the surface.
What’s Included
Admission fee: $180 MXN (~$10 USD)
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8am to 5pm
No restaurant on site, parking lot available
Lockers for rent, $30 MXN (~$2 USD)
Snorkeling gear for rent, $80 MXN (~$5 USD)
Life jackets available to rent on site
Sunblock is forbidden when entering the cenote
Tips for Visiting
Gran Cenote is close to downtown Tulum, and it gets crowded fast. I recommend arriving as early as you can.
Cenote Dos Ojos
This cenote in Tulum is known for snorkeling and scuba diving because of its connection to one of the world’s longest underwater cave systems. Inside, you can also visit the Bat Cave. This is a smaller, darker part of the cave system. Bats live in the ceiling here, just like at Taak Bi Ha.
What’s Included
Admission fee: 350 to 400 MXN (~$20 to $23 USD)
Hours: daily, 8am to 5pm
Guided tour and Bat Cave access: 700 to 800 MXN (~$40 to $46 USD)
Lockers available for rent
Snorkeling gear available for rent
Life jackets are included with entry
Parking available on site
Tips for Visiting
Dos Ojos is very popular. Try visiting on a weekday instead of a weekend if you can.
Vesica Tulum (For a More Upscale Experience)
Vesica Tulum is part of the trendy wellness club scene in Tulum. It is built around a cenote, but the day is about lounging and wellness rather than swimming, with a food-and-drink experience woven in. It is actually Tulum’s first cenote membership club. It’s one of the more unique cenotes Tulum has for a lounge-focused day.
What’s Included
Entry: around 600 pesos (about $35 USD)
Food and drink minimum: 500 to 1,000 pesos (about $29 to $57 USD)
Hours: daily, about 9am to 6pm
Cenote Cristal & Escondido
Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido sit on opposite sides of the highway, just south of Tulum. A single ticket gets you into both. Cristal is round and open, with a diving platform. Escondido is longer and narrower, with a rope swing at one end. An underwater tunnel connects the two, though you need scuba gear to swim through it. They’re calmer than busier spots like Gran Cenote or Dos Ojos, though tour buses still pass through around midday.
What’s Included
Admission fee: 150 to 200 MXN (~$9 to $12 USD) for both cenotes
Hours: daily, 10am to 5pm
Snorkeling and swimming are allowed in both cenotes
No food or drinks are sold on site
Cash only
Tips for Visiting
Tour buses usually arrive around noon, so if you want to enjoy the cenote a little more, get there early.
Cenote Zacil-Ha
Cenote Zacil-Ha is an open-air cenote known as a local favorite among families in Tulum. The water is shallow, only about 3 meters at its deepest point. A small zipline lets visitors splash into the water from above. It sits along the road to Cobá, close to Cenote Car Wash. It’s one of the cenotes Tulum families visit most on weekends.
What’s Included
Admission fee: 300 MXN (~$15 to $17 USD)
Hours: daily, 9am to 5pm
Zipline: 10 MXN per ride (~$0.50 USD)
Changing rooms and showers available
Restaurant and snack bar on site
Cash only
Casa Cenote
Casa Cenote is also known as Cenote Manatí. It is the largest open cenote in Tulum, stretching 250 meters long. A wild crocodile named Panchito has lived in the cenote for years. In May 2026, he bit a tourist after visitors reportedly provoked him, and Tulum officials have since added warning signs and new restrictions on swimming and close contact near the cenote’s crocodiles.
What’s Included
Admission fee: 300 MXN (~$15 to $17 USD)
Hours: daily, 9am to 5pm
Zipline: 10 MXN per ride (~$0.50 USD)
Changing rooms and showers available
Restaurant and snack bar on site
Cash only
Cenote Calavera Tulum
One of the cenotes Tulum has for cliff jumping.
Cenote Calavera means “skull cenote” in Spanish. Its three round openings look like two eyes and a mouth from above. Most visitors enter by jumping in from the rock ledges instead of using stairs. Underwater, there is a halocline where fresh and salt water meet.
What’s Included
Admission fee: 250 to 300 MXN (~$14 to $17 USD)
Hours: daily, 9am to 5pm
Cash only
Life jacket rental available
No shallow area, water depth drops quickly at the edges
Adding the cenote to my itinerary was just what I needed! Was I scared? Yes, I was, but I pushed myself a little out of my comfort zone. I always strive to explore as much as possible, and I hope this list helps you try something new! Read more places to go here.
