Cenotes: Comprehensive Guide to Yucatan

Cenotes are a natural phenomena but are particularly linked to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.

Carved and formed by water and fluctuating planetary temperatures, cenotes and caves are a work of art formed by Earth. Water carving limestone over time to create access points beneath the Earth’s surface for exploration. It is well known that the Mayans revered cenotes and caves as sacred places or portals to the underworld of Xibalba. Rituals, sacrifices, offerings and blessings were made at these many cenotes. Water was given not just from above via rain but mainly from below in the Earth. Deep reserves of water were held in these cenotes and underground rivers and is perhaps why the Mayans felt so deeply connected to the Earth and the underworld as it was life giving to them. It was believed that the rain god Chaac dwelled below in the underworld, not from above.

There are over 6000+ reported cenotes in the Yucatan peninsula, a fraction of them are open to the public and are being heavily commercialized for tourism. However it took millions of years for cenotes to form and with it, a unique ecosystem with flora and fauna specific to those conditions. The Yucatan peninsula is land made of limestone and is home to this complex and vast hydrological system and network of underground rivers, caves and cenotes.

Most notably is its ‘ring of cenotes’ that surround the chicxulub crater off the coast of Chicxulub Puerto, Mexico, the location of the asteroid that ended the Mesozoic era (think dinosaurs) 66 million years ago. The Yucatan peninsula is ground zero to the largest site of death and destruction on Earth, bringing with it enormous amounts of energy that rippled across the planet ending life and to create a new form of life that would emerge 30,000 years later.

This primary ring of cenotes has a radius of 90km extending outwards around the city of Merida. With many more cenotes beyond, notably around Valladolid, Chichen Itza, and the Costa Maya.

Below I’ve outlined a comprehensive list of recommended cenotes by region:

Playa del Carmen

Cenote Popol Vuh
Cenote Elvira
Cenote Kin-Ha
Cenote Lu’um
Rio Secreto

Puerto Aventuras

Cenote Chikin Ha
Cenote Ponderosa
Cenote Jardin del Eden
Cenote Cristalino
Cenote Azul
Cenote Tajma Ha

Tulum

Cenote Nic Te Ha
Cenote Dos Ojos
Cenote Taak Bi Ha
Cenote El Pit
Cenotes Sac Actun
Cenote Caracol
Cenote El Sueno
Cenote Casa
Cenote Tankah
Cenote Encantado
Cenote Calavera
Cenote Gran
Cenote Carwash
Cenote Zacil-Ha
Cenote Santa Cruz
Cenote Escondido
Cenote Corazon
Cenote Angelita

Cobá

Cenote Choo-Ha
Cenote Tankach-Ha
Cenote Multun-Ha
Cenote Choj Ha

Valladolid

Cenote Suytun
Cenote Xlakaj
Cenote Zaci
Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman
Cenote Saamal
Cenote Xkeken
Cenote Dzitnup
Cenote Sac-Aua
Cenote Zazil Tunich
Cenote Xcanche

Chichén Itzá

Cenote Ik Kil
Cenote Lol-ha
Cenote Yokdzonot

Mérida

Cenote Xlacah

Homún

Cenotes Santa Barbara
Cenote Santa Rosa
Cenote Pool Uinic
Cenote Kaay Canche
Cenote San Antonio
Cenote Tres Oches
Cenote Tzaujunkat
Cenote Yaxbacaltun
Grutas y Cenote La Candelaria
Cenote Wolpoch
Cenote Santa Lucia
Cenote Canunchen
Cenote Hool Kosom
Cenote Bal-Mil

Cuzamá

Cenotes de Cuzamá
Cenote Cleotilde
Cenote Aktun-Ha
Cenote Bolochohool

Pixyá

Cenote X-Coton
Cenote Nah Yah
Cenote Su-hem
Cenote Noh-Mozon

Mucuyché

Cenotes Hacienda Mucuyché
Cenote Yaal Utzil
Cenote Chihuo-Hol
Cenote Kankirixche

San Antonio Mulix

Cenote X’batun
Cenote Dzonbacal
Cenote Yax Ha

You can spend years exploring all of the cenotes just in the Yucatan peninsula. Each one unique and magical. Beyond the commonly recommended tourist cenotes, there are multiple times the number of cenotes that only locals know about. It is important to treat these sites with respect and to wash before entering (no sunscreen allowed) to help minimize the damage to the bacteria and ecosystem.
Happy exploring!