Cristal and Escondido Cenotes: Making Cenote Touring Easy
Two cenotes for the price of one! But only location-wise; you still have to pay for access to both. Still! Having two beautiful cenotes so close together is worth it, especially as their location makes them unavoidable in any cenote-hunting road trip.
Where are the Cristal and Escondido Cenotes?
They’re really easy to find—right on Highway 307, just west of Tulum. Other cenotes like Corazon del Paraiso and Naharon are very close by, and the Kaan Luum lagoon is a bit further away on this same road. That just sounds like a great cenote road trip if you ask us.
What are the facilities at the Cristal and Escondido Cenotes like?
First thing’s first. As the name implies, these are two separate cenotes. In Cristal, you’ll find your usual cenote facilities, such as showers, changing rooms, and bathrooms, as well as life jacket rental. There’s also a picnic area. Here you can buy access to Escondido Cenote, too. You can walk to it or access it by car, as it has a parking lot.
Cristal Cenote
Despite their closeness to the road, the thick jungle creates a wall between you and it. Cristal is the wider and more open of the two. Its wooden stairs are easy to navigate as they lead you right to the edge of the water. Cristal is definitively the better option for children and seniors.
A little under 20 feet in depth, it’s also a great cenote to snorkel in—you might see a turtle or two swimming along with you. Jump in from its 16-feet platform to get the adrenaline going with a splash.
Escondido Cenote
“Escondido” means hidden in Spanish, and this cenote lives up to its name. It’s narrower than Cristal and seems much more enclosed in the vegetation. This is also the less crowded and the deepest of the two.
The experience at Escondido cenote is more jungle-ish. Its walls are higher, and its access more difficult. The trade-off? A rope swing. Push yourself off the edge and land in the middle of the water.
Having two cenotes so close together certainly makes cenote touring easy.
