One of the best things to do in Yucatan is swimming in cenotes, and some of the best cenotes in Mexico are located at an easy distance from Playa del Carmen, so if you are spending time relaxing in this fun city and enjoying the many beautiful beaches of the Riviera Maya, you should definitely make it a point to visit one, or more, of the best cenotes near Playa del Carmen.
With so many cenotes just a skip away from the city, which one should you visit? Continue reading, as I will select the best Playa del Carmen cenotes for you and share useful information to plan your visit.
What Is A Cenote?
Simply put, a cenote is a sinkhole that has exposed groundwater, resulting in a natural reservoir. The term “cenote” is used exclusively for the Yucatan Peninsula, where cenotes have not only been long known but long utilized by the ancient Maya civilization, who used sparkling pools for religious rituals.
There are various types of cenotes. The main ones are open-air cenotes, underground cenotes, and semi-open cenotes. Each has its own unique plus points, with rock formations or jungle surroundings to look forward to, and almost always home to abundant wildlife.
The Best Playa Del Carmen Cenotes
Cenote Cristalino
Located around 15 minutes out of town, Cenote Cristalino is a dreamy destination and my favorite of the cenotes near Playa del Carmen.
As its name suggests, this particular Cenote boasts magnificently clear turquoise waters. It’s a popular spot to hit up for tourists, as it can be visited while on a trip to nearby Cenote Azul and Cenote Jardin del Eden.
Surrounded by lush jungle, the cenote is mainly open-air and fairly shallow. But with a maximum depth of 6 meters (19.6 feet), it’s also still good for swimming.
GETTING THERE BY CAR: The easiest way to get to Cenote Cristalino from Playa del Carmen is by car. Drive south via Highway 307 following the directions to Puerto Aventuras – the cenote is about 4 minutes from there.
GETTING THERE BY COLECTIVO: The colectivo station in Playa del Carmen is located right off Highway 307, near Avenida Benito Juarez, behind the McDonald’s, and near Chedraui. Take a colectivo toward Tulum, and tell the driver you are going to Cenote Cristalino.
Cenote Nicte-Ha
If you are looking for lesser-known Playa del Carmen cenotes, head to Nicte-Ha. This is a more off-the-radar cenote than other well-known watery hotspots, but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful. It’s located on the road between Playa del Carmen and Tulum (close to Cenote Dos Ojos), and it’s great if you want a quiet place to enjoy a tranquil swim in nature.
Particularly notable features of Cenote Nicte-Ha are its lily pads that grow on the surface of the cenote, making a striking contrast with the bright blue water. It’s an open-air cenote where you can listen to the sounds of the jungle as you float around.
GETTING THERE BY CAR: Cenote Nicte-Ha is off Highway 307, 20 minutes north of Tulum. Drive toward Tulum, and watch for a small sign marking Cenote Nicte-Ha, near Cenote Dos Ojos.
GETTING THERE BY COLECTIVO: Take a colectivo bound for Tulum (the colectivo station is located off Highway 307, behind the McDonald’s and near Chedraui). Let the driver know you’ll be getting off at Cenote Nicte-Ha. From the highway, you just walk down the road for about 30 minutes until you reach the cenote.
For a guided tour that goes to Cenote Nicte Ha as well as Casa Cenote, near Tulum, click here.
Cenote Chikin-Ha
This incredible place is one of the most beautiful cenotes near Playa del Carmen. Visiting Chikin-Ha (literally “Water from the East”) means the opportunity to dive down into a natural sea cave with caverns and tunnels to explore. It is, therefore, popular with cave divers.
There’s the bonus of having two swimmable cenotes in pretty much the same location. Namely, these are Cenote X’tabay and Cenote Rainbow. There’s a third cenote that is not swimmable as it is used for Mayan ceremonies and rituals.
GETTING THERE BY CAR: The easiest way to get to Cenote Chikin-Ha is to drive – it’s about 30 minutes from Playa del Carmen off Highway 307 toward Tulum.
GETTING THERE BY COLECTIVO: Take a colectivo bound for Tulum (the colectivo station is located off Highway 307, behind the McDonald’s and near Chedraui). Let the driver know you’ll be getting off at Cenote Chikin-Ha. You’ll have to walk down the road 1.6 km (1 mile) to reach the first cenote.
Cenote Aktun Chen
National Geographic named this place as featuring one of the top 10 underground walks in the world, so it’s easy to see why it’s one of the most popular Playa del Carmen cenotes. This emerald cenote, situated in a cavern, is a warren of underwater tunnels carved out by a subterranean waterway.
Located 16 km (10 miles) north of Tulum, Aktun Chen means “Natural Well Inside a Cave” and is part of the larger Aktun Chen Natural Park. It’s easy to spend a whole day here, enjoying other activities like jungle walks and ziplining, too.
GETTING THERE BY CAR: Aktun Chen is situated around 25 minutes drive from Playa del Carmen – and it’s one of the best cenotes near Playa del Carmen! There’s also a free shuttle from the entrance of the park to the cenote itself.
GETTING THERE BY COLECTIVO: Take a colectivo bound for Tulum (the colectivo station is located off Highway 307, behind the McDonald’s and near Chedraui). Let the driver know you’ll be getting off at Cenote Aktun Chen. From the main entrance, you can hop on one of the shuttles down to the cenote.
Casa Cenote
Another of the many cenotes near Playa del Carmen, Casa Cenote is situated on the road between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. This is a beautiful aqua swirl of water embedded in a lush green jungle and mangroves.
Thanks to its generous 6 meters (19.7 feet) of depth, activities here include kayaking, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and even diving down into the underwater cave system that connects to the ocean.
You can actually rent kayaks, paddle boards, and snorkel equipment at the entrance to the cenote.
Casa Cenote is known for being home to a small crocodile, Pancho. Apparently, Pancho has lived in Casa Cenote for his entire life and has not hurt anyone despite tons of activity. You can take a guided tour to go visit Pancho.
He’s often lounging at the very far end of the cenote, so requires diving gear or a paddle. If you decide to visit Pancho, only go with a tour and proceed at your own risk. After all, he is a wild animal.
GETTING THERE BY CAR: Self-drive from Playa del Carmen along Highway 307 and look for signs near the entrance. The road is just before Dreams Tulum. You’ll drive down a residential area for a few minutes before arriving.
GETTING THERE BY COLECTIVO: You can also take a colectivo from the main colectivo station (on Highway 307 near McDonald’s and Chedraui). The ride should only take about 30-45 minutes. However, you’ll have to walk about 30 minutes from the highway down to the cenote.
For a paddleboarding and snorkeling tour of Casa Cenote, click here. If you’d like to dive there, you may want to check out this tour.
Cenote Zacil-Ha
If you only have time to visit one cenote during your trip to Playa del Carmen, you should consider hitting up the compact but family-friendly Zacil-Ha. More like a swimming pool than other Playa del Carmen cenotes, here you can enjoy lounging on deckchairs and snacking on refreshments from the onsite eatery.
Because it’s quite developed, it’s possible to safely jump in and swim around the cenote. It also comes complete with steps and even a zipline across the water! Plus, it’s pretty cheap to enter too.
GETTING THERE BY CAR: Zacil-Ha is located about an hour from Playa del Carmen, just past Tulum. You’ll take Highway 307 (Carretera Federal 307) to Tulum. You’ll then take a right on Highway 109. It’s just past Gran Cenote.
GETTING THERE BY COLECTIVO: Cenote Zacil-Ha is a bit further away than other Playa del Carmen cenotes on our list. It’s located just outside of Tulum, toward Coba. But you can still easily hop on a colectivo from Playa del Carmen (at Highway 307 near the McDonald’s and Chedraui) toward Coba and ask to get dropped off at Cenote Zacil-Ha.
Cenote Xunaan-Ha
Situated near Chemuyil, Cenote Xunaan-Ha is a small, open-air cenote and one of the lesser-known Playa del Carmen cenotes. It’s completely surrounded by lush tropical plants and makes for a beautiful place to come and enjoy a slice of nature.
Meaning “Goddess of Water”, Xunaan-Ha is also part of the longest underground cave system in the Maya Riviera.
If you’re an advanced cave diver, this may be something you want to tick off your bucket list. Or, if you’re not, simply bring along a snorkel and take a look beneath the surface!
GETTING THERE BY CAR: You’ll find Cenote Xunaan-Ha 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) south along the coast from Playa del Carmen toward Tulum. You turn off Highway 307 onto Av. Mexico, and drive about 2 km down the road, following the signs, until you get to the cenote.
GETTING THERE BY COLECTIVO: You can take a colectivo from Playa del Carmen (located at the main colectivo station near McDonald’s and Chedraui) toward Tulum. Ask the driver to drop you off near Cenote Xunaan-Ha, just past Ciudad Chemuyil. You’ll have to walk around 2 km (1.2 miles) from the main road to the cenote.
Cenote Azul
One of the most famous (and most beautiful) cenotes in Playa del Carmen, Cenote Azul is pretty much nature’s own swimming pool. It’s open-air, so it may not have any caves, but it’s shallow and perfect for relaxing and good for families.
It’s divided into two swimming areas, separated by a wooden walkway; there’s a deep pool – complete with a cliff for jumping into the cenote – and a shallow side, where families splash around in the crystal clear waters.
The only downside to this awesome cenote is that it gets quite busy. Avoid weekends and holidays to ensure fewer crowds.
GETTING THERE BY CAR: If you have your own set of wheels, you could opt to drive yourself along the coast on Highway 307. It’s one of the closer cenotes to Playa del Carmen, so it’s pretty straightforward. It’s near Cenote Cristalino and Cenote Eden.
GETTING THERE BY COLECTIVO: You can easily reach Cenote Azul by colectivo, near McDonald’s and Chedraui off Highway 307, from Playa del Carmen. Just ask the driver to drop you off at Cenote Azul.
Cenote Dos Ojos
One of the most famous cenotes in Playa del Carmen, Cenote Dos Ojos – meaning “Two Eyes” – is named after its formation in not one but two sinkholes, which are connected by a wooden boardwalk.
Each of the two pools of water here is around 70 meters (229.6 feet) in diameter. Although they’re situated in a cave, there’s enough natural light to see the glimmering beauty of the water.
The flooded cave system here only began to be explored in the 1980s, and exploration still continues to this day. Many people opt to visit Cenote Dos Ojos on a snorkeling tour so that they can explore the cave system safely with a guide.
While you can easily get to Dos Ojos on your own, it’s best to visit with a tour. That way, you get to snorkel around the caves with a knowledgeable guide.
GETTING THERE BY CAR: Dos Ojos is located on Cenote Jaguar Road, on Highway 307 between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. There is a large sign that signals the turnoff near the main cluster of cenotes.
GETTING THERE BY COLECTIVO: You can take a local bus, or colectivo, to Dos Ojos. You take a colectivo from the main station, near McDonald’s and Chedraui on Highway 307, and ask the driver to drop you off at Dos Ojos.
For a diving experience in Cenotes Dos Ojos and other cenotes near Playa del Carmen, click here.
Cenote Taak Bi Ha
Another cave cenote near Playa del Carmen, Cenote Taak Bi Ha, is located close to Cenote Dos Ojos. It’s a beautiful, eerie spot for enjoying some splendid clear water on a backdrop of cave scenery.
Those with scuba credentials could opt to dive here, while snorkeling is also highly recommended. Whatever you do, don’t forget to bring your underwater camera – Taak Bi Ha features some particularly photogenic underwater formations. The deepest point of the cenote is 4 meters (13 feet), so it’s relatively easy to explore.
GETTING THERE BY CAR: Cenote Taak Bi Ha is a 40-minute drive from Playa del Carmen on the main highway toward Tulum. It actually shares premises with Dos Ojos. It’s pretty easy to drive there; you’ll just need to drive along a dirt road from the main road to reach the entrance.
GETTING THERE BY COLECTIVO: You can take a colectivo to Cenote Taak Bi Ha from the main colectivo station in Playa del Carmen, near McDonald’s and Chedraui on Highway 307. You take a colectivo toward Tulum and ask to be dropped off at Parque Dos Ojos. You then can take a taxi or walk about 1 km down the dirt path to the cenote. Taak Bi Ha is located just past Dos Ojos.
Cenote Tajma-Ha
This one was originally known as Cenote “Taj Mahal”, hence the similar name today. You can see why people came to name it after the Taj, however, as it’s a very impressive cave cenote featuring limestone formations and underground passageways.
Cenote Tajma-Ha is particularly beautiful to visit between March and September, when the sun jets beams of light into the main cavern, illuminating the water with a beautiful glimmering effect.
For divers, you may want to join a diving tour to see the otherworldly formations and fossils embedded into the walls of the cave. The depth reaches down as far as 30 meters (98.4 feet) in some parts!
GETTING THERE BY CAR: This cenote is located 29 km (18 miles) and 20 minutes drive from Playa del Carmen. You can reach it by driving the Cancun-Tulum Highway. The turn is located about 8 km (5 miles) south of Puerto Aventuras.
GETTING THERE BY COLECTIVO: Tajma-Ha is a bit more walking if you’re taking a colectivo, but it’s possible if you bring lots of water and leave early enough. You take a colectivo from the main colectivo station in Playa del Carmen (near McDonald’s and Chedraui) and tell the driver to let you off at Tajma-Ha. You’ll have to walk about 3 km (1.9 miles) to the cenote, however.
Gran Cenote
This is easily one of the most popular Playa del Carmen cenotes – and, in fact, in the entire Maya Riviera. Rather than being one large pool, Gran Cenote is a collection of interconnected caves and caverns and an open-air cenote.
The water here is exquisitely clear – so clear, in fact, that you can see fish swimming around without putting your head underwater! In addition, it’s all joined up by wooden walkways, making it pretty easy and fun to explore.
But it can get very busy, particularly on weekends and holidays, and mainly in the middle of the day. Because of that, opt for a weekday trip and aim to visit Gran Cenote either earlier in the morning or in the afternoon.
GETTING THERE BY CAR: Gran Cenote is a bit further away from Playa del Carmen, so if you’re staying in Playa, it’s best to drive or go on a tour. It’s located just past Tulum, so you’ll drive to Tulum, turn on Highway 109, and drive about 5 km (3.1 miles) to the cenote.
GETTING THERE BY COLECTIVO: You can also take a colectivo from Playa del Carmen, near Chedraui and McDonald’s, toward Coba. Just ask the driver to drop you off at Gran Cenote. The colectivo ride should take a little over an hour, depending on how many stops there are.
For a guided tour that follows the Ruta de Cenotes and also goes to the Gran Cenote, click here.
Cenote Chaak Tun
Chaak Tun is a cave cenote made up of one large pool and three caverns and one of the most unique cenotes near Playa del Carmen. This underground world may not be brimming with natural light, but it’s an incredible subterranean place to explore, with stalagmites, stalactites, and other rock formations dotting the caves.
In fact, “Chaak Tun” means “Stone Rain” in the Mayan language, referring to the formation by calcium-rich water of the stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling. It’s also home to bats.
GETTING THERE: Cenote Chaak Tun can only be visited on a guided tour from a local community. The tour takes around two hours and sees visitors meandering through the cave system itself with a knowledgeable guide (and safety equipment too).
For a 3-hour incredibly fun guided tour of Cenote Chaak Tun, click here.
Cenote Jardin del Eden (Cenote Ponderosa)
As you can probably tell by the name, the Cenote Jardin del Eden is particularly stunning. It’s the perfect place to take a break from the heat and humidity of the day and enjoy a relaxing swim at this open-air cenote.
Also named Cenote Ponderosa, this pool is surrounded by an oasis of tropical greenery and edged by moss-covered rocks. The water is clear and crystalline, making it super easy to see the underwater life. Needless to say, snorkeling here is excellent. You can even jump in from a rocky 12-foot outcrop.
It can easily be paired with a trip to neighboring Cenote Azul and Cenote Cristalino.
GETTING THERE BY CAR: Driving is preferable for those that don’t want to walk down the dirt road entrance. It’s easy to get there, just drive toward Tulum on Highway 307 until you see the large sign (near Cenote Azul) for Jardin del Eden.
GETTING THERE BY COLECTIVO: You can easily reach Cenote Jardin del Eden by colectivo from Playa del Carmen. You take the colectivo from the main station, near Chedraui and McDonald’s, and ask to be dropped off at Cenote Eden or Jardin del Eden. You’ll have to walk about 1 km (.6 miles) down a dirt road to reach the cenote.
Further Readings
Make sure to read my other posts about Mexico:
- The Best Cenotes In Merida
- The Best Cenotes In Valladolid
- The Best Cenotes In Tulum
- The Best Travel Tips For Mexico
- How Not To Get Sick In Mexico
- Is Playa Del Carmen Safe For Tourists?
- How To Get From Cancun To Playa Del Carmen
- The Best Itinerary For 3 Days In Mexico City
- The Best Mexico Itinerary
- The Best Beaches In Mexico
- The Best Things To Do In Yucatan
- The Best Day Trips From Playa Del Carmen
- The Best Beaches In Playa Del Carmen
- Where To Stay In Playa Del Carmen
- What To Eat In Mexico
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Where is the 2nd street. Which avenida. Thank you much for your great description.
That would be Calle 2!