Suytun Cenote: The Instagram Cenote

You’ve probably seen the pictures online: someone standing on a stone platform, surrounded by a bright column of light and the darkness of a cave. With the advent of social media because of the incredible backdrop it provides, Suytun Cenote has become popular in the last couple of years, especially on Instagram (just type #suytun and you’ll see what we mean). And, once you’re in it, it’s easy to see why.

Getting to Suytun Cenote

Suytun Cenote is quite easy to visit if you’re staying in Yucatan’s city of Valladolid, other cities, like Merida and Cancun, are much further away. From Valladolid, though, Suytun is only a rock’s throw away to the east, easy to get to by public transport, your car, or even—if you don’t mind the exercise—a bicycle.

Inside the cenote

You enter Suytun from above. As you descend the stairs, you’ll see its famous stone platform extending from the edge of the pool and the sun hitting… a random spot. The truth is, it only hits the platform during the summer, and at a certain time of day, but the view is no less breathtaking if it’s not.

Rather than swimming around, people are mostly lining up for their photo-op on the platform by themselves. This has become a little easier since the access was restricted by the covid-19 protocols.

How things work at Suytun Cenote

You’d normally expect to pay your entry ticket, get in the water, and swim around until your fingers wrinkle, but things work a little differently at Suytun. Because of the covid-19 protocols, your time in the cenote is limited to an hour. After this you must clear out and make way for other visitors. Also, because this place is mostly popular as a picture backdrop, it’s not uncommon for visitors to organize themselves to take turns on the platform.

Lodging

Only a few paces from the cenote, there’s a small place called Cabañas Suytun (Suytun Huts). It’s a small collection of comfortable brightly painted concrete huts around a pool with a bar and cafeteria. Your access to the cenote is included with your lodging, so it makes for a good option to spend a very relaxing weekend.