The cenotes in Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya coast that runs from Cancun to Tulum, are great natural attractions of the Mexican Caribbean coast.One more reason to come to know destiny.


The most famous Caribbean coast of Mexico is world-famous, Cancun and the Riviera Maya are located here. The cenotes of the Riviera Maya are a fundamental part of the tourist circuit; not only sun and beach tourism comes here: nature and adventure tourism, as well as nightlife, are also a strong attraction in the area.

cenote Riviera Maya

MEET THE BEST CENOTES IN RIVIERA MAYA

There are thousands of cenotes in Mexico, the vast majority of them in the Yucatan Peninsula, where we find the Riviera Maya. In this area there are many tourist cenotes that have been transformed into amusement parks with zip lines, rappelling, kayaking and other adventure activities, others are purely natural and retain their charm, and some have been used to build accommodation nearby.

Many other cenotes remain wild in the Mayan Mountains, far from tourism. A range of possibilities that satisfies all travelers.

The Riviera Maya cenotes have their own characteristics, basically due to two factors: their proximity to the coast and the sea, and the tourism of the Riviera Maya.

best cenotes Riviera Maya

CHARACTERISTICS OF LOS CENOTES NEAR PLAYA DEL CARMEN, RIVIERA MAYA

To understand the basic characteristics of this cenote area we must mention the gradient of the terrain itself. Just like the rivers from any place on the planet that flow to the coasts, the groundwater of the Peninsula also seeks its outlet to the sea.

The Riviera Maya area is one of the main outlets for fresh waters: the coast between Playa del Carmen and Tulum is a large river delta.

Another fundamental factor in the type of cenotes we find is the fact of being close to the sea: the vast majority of cenotes on the coast of Riviera Maya are open. Salt water is part of the acceleration of disintegration of limestone, which is the type of soil that forms the geology of the Peninsula. The contact of salinity with this rock, along with other factors, breaks up the rock more easily.

This makes the caverns and galleries that connect the cenotes larger, and the connections longer. It is no coincidence that in the Riviera Maya there are the largest flooded caves on the planet: Sac Actun. Nature is governed by physical and chemical rules, its behavior is not random.

List of cenote names you can visit in Riviera Maya. Not all of them are published on the blog, but you can ask us about them if you can't find them in our blog search engine: Cenotes Route of Puerto Morelos, Xunaan-Há in Chemuyil, Taak Be Ha Cenote, Dos Ojos Cenote, Dream Gate, Yax Kin, Great Cenote, Calavera, Zacil Há, Carwash, Labna Há and Kantun Chi Park, Turtle, Crystalline, Blue, Garden of Eden (Ponderosa), Manatee, Crystal, Hidden, Heart, Angelita, Taj Mahal, Chac Mool, Xcacelito . Some cenotes are more suitable for swimming and others for diving. Any questions you write to us and we support you in what we know.

Think that these cenotes are only the visible entrance to an incredible world of flooded caves. What we see is something like the tip of the iceberg. What steals your heart from these wonderful cenotes are its entrails, something that can only be enjoyed diving.

Playa del Carmen cenotes

CENOTES PRICES OF RIVIERA MAYA AND CANCÚN

One of the key factors of the Riviera Maya tourist cenotes is precisely their proximity to one of the best-known international destinations in the world. The quantity and quality of tourists who visit the Riviera Maya each year are factors that sculpt the transformation and use of the cenotes.

A consequence of tourism is that the entrance price to the cenotes in the Riviera Maya is higher compared to those in the interior of the Peninsula. Supply and demand, that strange and unfair law that seems to govern the world. Note that when we arrived in 2007 to work in Riviera Maya, I remember that the famous Dos Ojos cenote was 100 pesos, and it was one of the most expensive (today it costs 350 pesos).

In recent years, prices have risen considerably, and many more cenotes have been opened with good access and services to welcome tourists.

What do cenotes cost in Riviera Maya?

Expect to pay between 150 pesos and 350 pesos per person. Some companies have converted many of these cenotes into parks where they offer different adventure tourism services: rappelling, zip lining, kayaking, horseback riding, ATV circuits.

The services in these cenotes are paid separately and make the entrance fees more expensive.

Tourist cenote services

In addition to fun offers, most have Restaurant service, some hammocks and lounge chairs, and of course all have restrooms, changing rooms and showers.

All the tourist cenotes of Riviera Maya have easy access, although the road is not paved, they are not difficult stretches. Any car takes you, 4 × 4 is not necessary in any case.

Before entering a cenote always use the shower (shower), it is proven that the creams and other body agents of our skin contaminate the water

Tulum Riviera Maya cenotes

LOCATION OF THE CENOTES IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN, RIVIERA MAYA

The coastal strip that runs along the Caribbean coast begins north of Cancun and reaches Belize. From Tulum begins what we call the Costa Maya, where there are many fewer cenotes. In fact, a few kilometers south of Tulum, the last cenotes of what we consider the Riviera Maya are grouped together.

The inclination of the Peninsula creates a natural delta in the area between Playa del Carmen and Tulum where there are many. In this article we focus on the cenotes between Cancun and Tulum, what we know as Riviera Maya.

We show you by sections, much easier to locate and choose

mapa_riviera_maya
Riviera Maya Map

Cenotes in Cancun, Riviera Maya

Cancun is the gateway to the Riviera Maya. This is where the tourist industry began to develop. All-inclusive holiday phenomenon, with great hotels within everyone's reach.

In Cancun there are no cenotes due to the inclination. You must go 35 kilometers to Puerto Morelos to see cenotes, or towards the interior of the Peninsula, at a distance of about 100 kilometers.

We recommend one by one the best Cancun cenotes

Cenotes visit Riviera Maya

Riviera Maya Cenotes in Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos is a town with a beautiful beach located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, with the most integrated atmosphere between tourists and locals in the Riviera Maya.

From the southern entrance of this coastal town of Puerto Morelos you find a Cenote Route with dozens of possibilities to choose from. The vast majority are cenotes dedicated to entertainment, and offer zip lining, rappelling, kayaking and the tourist services that make them attractive.

In this area there are cave cenotes and other open ones, we describe them one by one so you can choose better. Write down the names. to search for them on the blog or read the link we leave you below: Lucero Verde, Mojarras, Kin-Há. 7 Bocas, Boca del Puma, Popol Vuh, La Noria, Zapote.

Information of the cenotes of the Route of the Cenotes from Puerto Morelos to leona Vicario

cenotes Riviera Maya Puerto Morelos
Kin-Há Cenote, Puerto Morelos

Cenotes in Playa del Carmen and Tulum

Playa del Carmen is the town, along with Tulum, preferred by European tourists, and part of national and Latin American tourism. Americans and Canadians are more from the Cancun area.

Between Playa del Carmen and Tulum you will find the great bulk of cenotes, this area is like the river delta where many of them flow. South of Tulum we see the last cenotes of the Riviera Maya. We find the best known ones such as Dos Ojos, Gran Cenote, Manatí, Cristalino or Azul cenote are some of the most visited.

The Cenotes near Playa del Carmen and Tulum you can't miss

Cenotes Playa del Carmen and Tulum

Cenotes Coba, very close to Riviera Maya

Cobá is 45 kilometers from Tulum, the fantastic archaeological zone of Cobá is the main attraction of the place. You will surely love to visit the cenotes of Cobá, it is a place that I always encourage you to visit on your own.

The cenotes of Cobá are all cave cenotes, and that already makes them somewhat different from the majority of cenotes in the Riviera Maya.

Information of the Coba cenotes, we describe them all and tell you the prices, location and how to get there

cenotes Coba Riviera Maya

HOW TO GO TO THE CENOTES OF THE RIVIERA MAYA

There are four basic ways to get to the cenotes:

  • by private car,
  • cab,
  • public transport
  • or tour.

What cenotes of Riviera Maya can you easily reach by public transport

There are some cenotes close to the main roads of the Riviera Maya, those where public transportation travels easily. These are the easiest cenotes to get to and the cheapest to visit on your own.

I leave you the names so you can search for the information in the blog search engine: write down the names of Cenote Cristalino and Azul, next to each other, Cenote Cristal, Gran Cenote and Carwash. You can also reach the adventure parks with cenotes LabnaHá and KantunChi by public transport.

To Dos Ojos cenote, one of the most visited in the Riviera Maya, you can combine public transportation with taxi service. There are 4 kilometers from the entrance at the foot of the road where the transport leaves you to the cenote, you can walk just under an hour to get there, but it is very hot in the summer months. That's why I recommend making the trip in the taxis that are parked at the entrance.

In the Puerto Morelos area, to go by public transport you must choose the few that are close to where the bus passes. Search the names in the blog's search engine and we will explain how to get to them: Lucero Verde and Boca del Puma are the closest to the road.

We live here from the 2007, hopefully our experience serves as premises for your trip, we are in love with the cenotes.

Playa del Carmen cenotes map (Riviera Maya)

To help you find cenotes, I leave our map of cenotes in Playa del Carmen and surroundings in case it helps you locate them. They all have their photo so you can see them.

Cenotes in Playa del Carmen: the best cenotes in Riviera Maya 1
Open the Rviera Maya cenotes map

Dive cenotes of Riviera Maya

One of the best experiences in my life has been diving cenotes, it's amazing. In the diving centers they recommend cenotes, and I tell you: it doesn't matter which one you go to, because when you go diving you always think that it is the best cenote you have never seen. Extraordinary.

Cenotes in Playa del Carmen: the best cenotes in Riviera Maya 2

Caving is a growing activity in the area, under our feet we have important archaeological and natural remains that are helping to create the map of History. Let's hope we know how to preserve this wonderful world that we have under our feet, these fresh waters of the cenotes are fundamental for the ecosystem.

WHAT TO BRING TO TOURIST CENOTES? Swimsuit and towel or pareo to dry after bath. A change of clothes to change, hat, insect repellent (use it after bathing if you stay in the area and there are insects). Do not forget the mask or visor (in many cenotes they rent, but that way you save it). You can access most of the tourist cenotes with flip flops, the closed shoe always gives you greater protection, it is my choice almost always. Booties or water shoes are not necessary to access the cenotes. Bring water, the heat squeezes a lot and you need constant hydration.


THE LAW OF THE GOOD CENOTER: To avoid contaminating the delicate water of the cenotes do not use body creams, or protectors, or repellents before entering them. Go through the shower before entering the cenote. Do not hang on the roots of the trees, or touch the stalactites, or do any other idiocy that damages the place. If we learn to appreciate the natural environment we will better treat it.

Good way,

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Sandra Salvadó Training photographer, traveler by vocation and certified tourism guide by the Government of Mexico. We promote natural wonders and contemporary Mayan culture. Great fan of pre-Hispanic history. Author of the blog and co-founder of The Shortest Path Travel, agency that guides you through alternative paths in Mayan lands. Social and sustainable tourism in the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas.
I am at your disposal for whatever you need. Let's talk.

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