Best cenotes near Valladolid

Valladolid is an essential stop on your trip to the Yucatan. The city is located in the middle of the peninsula, at the crossroads between Rio Lagartos, Tulum and Merida. In addition to that, it is located near ruins and a wonder of the world. If its geographical situation is a real asset, the atmosphere and the colonial architecture so particular of the city make it really a “must-see” in its own right. The cherry of the cake is the proximity to a lot of cenotes. Cenotes are collapsed limestone caves filled with freshwater and found mainly on the Yucatán Peninsula. There are quite a few cenotes near Valladolid and many of them are not as touristy as the cenotes near Tulum, Cancún or Playa del Carmen.Here are the best cenotes near Valladolid.

Cenote Dzitnup

In the Dzitnup cenote, a few kilometers from Valladolid, the most intrepid even jump from the top of the hole into the cenote’s waters, which are not so deep. The entrance fee is 50 pesos and if you avoid the rush of tourist buses from the resorts on the coast, you can swim there without anyone else. The cenote was once a holy place in the Mayan culture, a place for rituals and sacrifices to the gods. The water is always very pure because it filters through the rocks and underground water. One of the best cenotes near Valladolid.

Km 7, Carretera 180 Valladolid-Mérida.

Cenote Suytun

The Instagrammable cenote par excellence and also one of the most touristy cenotes in the Yucatan. Life jackets are mandatory and there are even lifeguards. Entry fee is around 12 dollars. We advise you to come at the opening of the cenote because there is always a crazy crowd coming from Cancun regularly. If you want to make your little photo for Instagram, it is possible but you will have to make a small queue as if you were in the Louvre. But if you don’t care about such photos and prefer to swim in a deep, spectacular cenote, then you should skip Suytun and rather choose other options. The cenote is located near Valladolid and you can count 25 to 30 minutes if you go by bike. It’s definitely one of the best cenotes near Valladolid, but mostly for gen-Z reasons.

Carretera Ticuch Km 8 S/n, 97780 Valladolid, Yuc.

More info here: Suytun Cenote: The Instagram Cenote

Cenote Zaci

The fastest to find is the Zaci Cenote. Because it is located in the heart of the city. One cannot miss it. Obviously, its proximity and its ease of access make it a rather touristy place, it is a little the municipal swimming pool of the inhabitants. But the decoration is worth the detour. It is first amusing to guess this huge hole at the corner of a street, to finally discover this immense half-collapsed cave, hidden behind the trees. Entry fee is 30 pesos for one person, you can also have access to the cenote by eating at the restaurant located just above (minimum 100 pesos per person).

Calle 36 x 37 y 39, Valladolid.

Cenote Xkekén

Xkekén is one of the two cenotes known as “the cenotes of Dzitnup”, named after a village located 1.7 km away. Its neighbor, Samulá, is only 300 meters away. Xkekén means “pig” in the Mayan language of the Yucatán. The cenote is distinguished above all by the long stalactites that extend from the vault to the water level. Swimming close to these thousand-year-old structures gives you a very special feeling of calm. Xkekén is a cenote that already has a certain notoriety in the Valladolid area: to be able to fully enjoy your visit, try as much as possible to go there at a time of low traffic.

Km 3, Carretera Valladolid – Mérida

Cenote Ik Kil

It is quite famous and located on the road to the equally famous Mayan ruins. The entrance to the cenote is 80 pesos per person. But a padlock for the lockers at the entrance of the changing rooms is 30 pesos. Although it is a bit touristy, the cenote itself remains magnificent with its emerald water and its green trees. It deserves to be on the list of the best cenotes near Valladolid.

Km 35, Carretera Valladolid – Mérida

More info here: Ik Kil Cenote – The Cenote You’ve Seen in Posters

Cenote Hubiku

Cenote Hubiku is located 20 minutes north of Valladolid, on the way to the ruins of Ek Balam, an archaeological site that does not have the number of tourists near Chichén Itzá. The Hubiku cenote is huge and is enclosed in a large cave that has only a few entrances for natural light. It is a great place to swim or snorkel, and you can also find a restaurant and some souvenir stores on site, usually serving the strange tour bus that shows up on the way to Ek Balam.

Carretera Valladolid – Tizimin Km 1.5, 97740 Temozón, Yuc.

Now that you know the best cenotes near Valladolid, here’s a petition: Please respect nature. Since cenotes are very sensitive ecosystems, they react extremely sensitively to external influences. Therefore, in some cenotes a prior shower is mandatory. Unfortunately, this is not the case in all cenotes. So, either shower off before swimming in a cenote or, if possible, not to wear suntan lotion, insect repellent or make-up on your skin. If you can’t do without suntan lotion, look for an organic suntan lotion that is as quickly degradable as possible and does not overly contaminate the water.

Valladolid Yucatan