Carwash Cenote: It Only Used to be One

There are different versions of why this cenote is called Carwash Cenote. According to one, there used to be a car wash nearby. It closed and the name stuck. According to another, the cenote was the carwash. People used to stop here to wash their cars using the free water. Whichever the case, the carwash part is now gone and, fortunately, just the cenote remains for us to enjoy.

Where is the Carwash Cenote?

The Carwash Cenote is great to combine with other tourist attractions. You could freshen up here after visiting the Mayan ruins at Tulum or Coba, as it lies between them. Or, as the Gran Cenote and the Zacil-Ha Cenote are not far, you could include it in a day of cenote hopping, too.

The Facilities

There are not that many. You’ll find the obligatory bathrooms and changing rooms and lifejacket rental. There are some tables as well, but no restaurant, snack bar, or food stall. However, if you bring your own food, you could have a nice picnic next to the fresh waters of the cenote.

In the Carwash Cenote

Despite any unforgiving mental image, the name might summon, this place is quite beautiful. It’s an outdoor open cenote, so it feels like you’re swimming in a pond. A wooden path surrounds the entire cenote, which makes for easy access to the water, unlike other cenotes.

But you don’t have to lower yourself gently to the water if you don’t want to. No, siree. You have two other, more extreme alternatives. The first is a platform about 5 feet high, from where you can chuck yourself into the cool cenote water. If you’d like more oomph, though, use the rope swing. Don’t worry about the landing, as this cenote is 16 feet deep.

Diving in the Carwash

No doubt divers are going to enjoy the deepest (50 ft.) zone, which features a cave. There are quite a few diving schools that include this place in their excursions. As the Gran Cenote is close by, the Carwash Cenote is a great addition to a diving tour.