Cristalino Cenote: Living Up to Its Name 

You know you’re in for a treat when the cenote you’re about to visit is called Cristalino—Crystalline, but nothing prepares you for it. In a great location and with excellent facilities, here you have everything you need to spend the whole day peering into Cristalino’s invisible waters.

Where is Cristalino Cenote?

There are so many cenotes between Tulum and Playa del Carmen that you could pretty much swim between them. Cristalino is just one more in this string of cenotes. It has everything you need to spend all your time there. On the other hand, its location, just 15 minutes south of Playa del Carmen, makes it easy to combine it with other places of interest. The decision is yours.

The facilities at Cristalino Cenote

As is pretty much a commonality, Cristalino has bathrooms, changing rooms, and showers. You don’t have to pay extra for a lifejacket, though, as your entrance fee already includes it.

This is a popular cenote to snorkel and dive in, so you can rent the proper equipment here as well, or just bring yours. There’s a snack bar, too, with your normal selection of candy, chips, and drinks. You can bring your food from home but know no alcoholic drinks are allowed. Also, please remember not to leave any trash lying around.

Inside the Cristalino Cenote

This is a pretty big cenote of variable depth. You can stand in some areas while in others you can dive straight down for several feet. It’s also deep enough to jump from the 16-feet rock platform to the water.  

No wonder Cristalino is a popular cenote to snorkel and dive in, considering its varied ecosystems. There’s an arch you can swim under and a cave to cross with your head above water. There’s also a healthy number of mangroves and plants all around the water to provide some shade.

And, of course, Cristalino—crystalline—lives up to its name, as you don’t even need a diver’s mask to see the bottom.