Tulum Experience Guide: explore, dine and relax!

Magical cenotes

Two Eyes Cenote

The Cenote Dos Ojos is one of the most famous cenotes on earth. Its incredibly blue and crystal clear water has lead to features in many movies, television shows, and documentaries. Possibly most famous for its diving, Cenote Dos Ojos’ crystal clear water is also great for people wanting to snorkel (lots of fish!) or just take a relaxing swim. Location: 22km (13 miles) north of Tulum, about a 20-minute drive. Entrance fee: 350 pesos ($18 USD) per person. Facilities: Bathrooms, change room, lockers, restaurants, snacks Opening times: 8 AM to 5 PM daily at time of writing. Best for: swimming, snorkeling, diving

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Two Eyes Cenote

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The Cenote Dos Ojos is one of the most famous cenotes on earth. Its incredibly blue and crystal clear water has lead to features in many movies, television shows, and documentaries. Possibly most famous for its diving, Cenote Dos Ojos’ crystal clear water is also great for people wanting to snorkel (lots of fish!) or just take a relaxing swim. Location: 22km (13 miles) north of Tulum, about a 20-minute drive. Entrance fee: 350 pesos ($18 USD) per person. Facilities: Bathrooms, change room, lockers, restaurants, snacks Opening times: 8 AM to 5 PM daily at time of writing. Best for: swimming, snorkeling, diving

Gran Cenote

Gran Cenote is an open-air cenote, and almost appears like a river if it weren’t for the cave-like walls around the outer edges. With that being said, you can swim under the walls and into the caverns which will give you a whole different experience (maybe avoid this if you don’t like bats though). Location: 4km (2.5 miles) north of Tulum. Entrance fee: 180 pesos ($9) per person. Facilities: Bathrooms, change room, lockers (30 pesos, $1.5), life jackets (50 pesos, $2.25 USD), snack stand. Opening times: 9 AM to 4:45 PM daily at time of writing. Best for: swimming, snorkeling, diving

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Gran Cenote

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Gran Cenote is an open-air cenote, and almost appears like a river if it weren’t for the cave-like walls around the outer edges. With that being said, you can swim under the walls and into the caverns which will give you a whole different experience (maybe avoid this if you don’t like bats though). Location: 4km (2.5 miles) north of Tulum. Entrance fee: 180 pesos ($9) per person. Facilities: Bathrooms, change room, lockers (30 pesos, $1.5), life jackets (50 pesos, $2.25 USD), snack stand. Opening times: 9 AM to 4:45 PM daily at time of writing. Best for: swimming, snorkeling, diving

Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman

Cenote Oxman is located on an old agave plantation that dates back to 1746. You’ll park out front, walk a short pathway through walled gardens, purchase your ticket, and then take another path through more beautiful gardens to the cenote. Oxman is a large, deep, cave styled cenote allowing for plenty of natural light to beam through during a sunny day. This creates some absolutely gorgeous light rays underwater, so make sure to bring some goggles. Location: Near the town of Vallovolid, a 1.5 hour drive from Tulum. Entrance fee: 80 pesos ($4 USD) per person. Facilities: Bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, swimming pool, restaurant and bar. Opening times: 9 AM to 6 PM daily at time of writing. Best for: Swimming, cliff jumping, snorkeling

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Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman

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Cenote Oxman is located on an old agave plantation that dates back to 1746. You’ll park out front, walk a short pathway through walled gardens, purchase your ticket, and then take another path through more beautiful gardens to the cenote. Oxman is a large, deep, cave styled cenote allowing for plenty of natural light to beam through during a sunny day. This creates some absolutely gorgeous light rays underwater, so make sure to bring some goggles. Location: Near the town of Vallovolid, a 1.5 hour drive from Tulum. Entrance fee: 80 pesos ($4 USD) per person. Facilities: Bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, swimming pool, restaurant and bar. Opening times: 9 AM to 6 PM daily at time of writing. Best for: Swimming, cliff jumping, snorkeling

Chichén Suytun

To explore Cenote Suytun you will park at a large lot, buy your tickets, and then enter take a staircase that goes down through a little underground tunnel into the cenote. The first view of Suytun will make your jaw drop. It’s a wide, underground cavern in the earth, and unlike a lot of the other cenotes, the ground above is still intact. There are also some really cool rock formations that line the walls of the cenote. What makes this place especially unique is that there’s a small hole in the rocky ceiling way above, and around midday, a strong light-beam pierces the hole and illuminating a circular stone platform built in the center of the cenote. Location: Near the town of Vallovolid, a 1.5 hour drive from Tulum. Entrance fee: 120 pesos ($6.50) per person. Facilities: Bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, restaurant, lifejacket rental, gift shop Opening times: 9 AM to 6 PM daily at time of writing. Best for: Swimming, photos.

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Chichén Suytun

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To explore Cenote Suytun you will park at a large lot, buy your tickets, and then enter take a staircase that goes down through a little underground tunnel into the cenote. The first view of Suytun will make your jaw drop. It’s a wide, underground cavern in the earth, and unlike a lot of the other cenotes, the ground above is still intact. There are also some really cool rock formations that line the walls of the cenote. What makes this place especially unique is that there’s a small hole in the rocky ceiling way above, and around midday, a strong light-beam pierces the hole and illuminating a circular stone platform built in the center of the cenote. Location: Near the town of Vallovolid, a 1.5 hour drive from Tulum. Entrance fee: 120 pesos ($6.50) per person. Facilities: Bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, restaurant, lifejacket rental, gift shop Opening times: 9 AM to 6 PM daily at time of writing. Best for: Swimming, photos.

Cenote Nicte-ha

What makes Cenote Nicte-Ha unique is the abundant lilies spread all around the water, it really is a beautiful place. It’s more open-air than other cenotes on this list, quite similar to a lake but with small walls around the outer edge. It also has vividly blue, and crystal clear water. It’s quite “fresh”, but not too cold. The cenote is surrounded by beautiful vegetation, and between that and the floating lilies it feels like you are in your own little oasis. Bathing here on a sunny day amongst the lilies is a dream! Location: 22km (13.5 miles) north of Tulum, around a 20 minute drive. Entrance fee: 100 pesos ($6 USD) Facilities: Bathrooms Opening times: 8 AM to 5 PM daily as of writing. Best for: Swimming, scuba diving

Cenote Nicte-ha

Cenote Nic Te Ha Road

What makes Cenote Nicte-Ha unique is the abundant lilies spread all around the water, it really is a beautiful place. It’s more open-air than other cenotes on this list, quite similar to a lake but with small walls around the outer edge. It also has vividly blue, and crystal clear water. It’s quite “fresh”, but not too cold. The cenote is surrounded by beautiful vegetation, and between that and the floating lilies it feels like you are in your own little oasis. Bathing here on a sunny day amongst the lilies is a dream! Location: 22km (13.5 miles) north of Tulum, around a 20 minute drive. Entrance fee: 100 pesos ($6 USD) Facilities: Bathrooms Opening times: 8 AM to 5 PM daily as of writing. Best for: Swimming, scuba diving

Cenote Zacil-Ha

Zacil Ha is an open-air cenote, shaped like an oval, and appears almost like a natural swimming pool. Its name means “clear water”, which makes complete sense when you see it for yourself. It is also the most beautiful turquoise color, so dreamy. Location: 10 minutes north of Tulum. Entrance fee: 100 pesos ($5 USD) per person. Facilities: Bathrooms, changing rooms, swimming pools, restaurant, lodging Opening times: 10 AM to 5:30 PM at time of writing. Can change depending on the season. Best for: Swimming, families

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Cenote Zacil-Ha

Carretera Federal 180 de Cuota

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Zacil Ha is an open-air cenote, shaped like an oval, and appears almost like a natural swimming pool. Its name means “clear water”, which makes complete sense when you see it for yourself. It is also the most beautiful turquoise color, so dreamy. Location: 10 minutes north of Tulum. Entrance fee: 100 pesos ($5 USD) per person. Facilities: Bathrooms, changing rooms, swimming pools, restaurant, lodging Opening times: 10 AM to 5:30 PM at time of writing. Can change depending on the season. Best for: Swimming, families