5 beautiful cenotes near Mérida

There are thousands of cenotes near the capital of Yucatán. Discover the best cenotes near Mérida and descend into the depths of the Maya underworld.

Limestone caves, sacred sites, underground natural pools. Cenotes are one of Yucatán’s best-kept treasures.

There are more than six thousand, but very few have been explored. Whether for swimming, diving or getting closer to Maya culture, cenotes are a natural wonder you have to see if you visit the Yucatán peninsula.

Living in Mérida guarantees direct contact with the outdoors and nature; but not everything in the city is about its closeness to incredible beaches.

Moving to Yucatán lets you discover wonderful natural places such as cenotes. If you are wondering where to go in Yucatán, discover these sacred wells where you can cool off, swim and explore.

Natural art: what is a cenote?

A cenote is a sunken, water-filled opening caused by the collapse of limestone rock. They are abundant on the Yucatán peninsula — it is believed there are around 6,000, though barely half have been officially explored and documented.

For the Maya, they were sacred wells and their source of fresh water. That is why cities were built near cenotes.

Part of Maya mythology links them to the gateway to the underworld; they were the setting for ceremonies and all kinds of tributes.

Travelling to southeastern Mexico is the best decision if you want to see unmatched cenotes, since the Yucatán peninsula, like the Riviera Maya, is full of the most beautiful ones.

Each one is different. Some are open to the sky, others are more like a cave. In some you descend by stairs. Others are shallow and perfect to enjoy with small children. There are also some more than 80 metres deep.

The best part is the easy access and safety measures at the more touristy ones. If you want a cheap, safe, ecotourism trip, Mérida’s cenotes are a great option.

Cenotes in Yucatán near Mérida

San Ignacio

A small cenote in an area with great facilities for the whole family. Besides a restaurant, it has toilets and showers, a playground and a farm you can visit.

The San Ignacio cenote is in an underground cave with a year-round temperature of 26 °C. The deepest part is 8 metres and the shallowest around 1.4 metres.

San Ignacio is the only ecotourism stop where you can swim at night, with the site’s safety measures.

Daytime hours are Monday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Entry then costs 100 pesos per person and 80 pesos for Yucatecan residents. It offers day passes and food packages.

To convince you further, its facilities include a pool and an area with loungers and hammocks.

To reach the San Ignacio cenote, head towards the Chocholá highway, 40 kilometres from Mérida.

The three Cuzamá cenotes

This collection of three cenotes in the town of Cuzamá stands out for the interesting ways you reach them.

To enter the first, Chelentún, you board a horse-drawn cart along an old railway line. Then you climb down to a platform from which you can jump into the clear water. It has two caves 30 and 40 metres deep, though you can enjoy its crystal-clear waters from the outer cavern.

The second is Chak-Zinik-Ché, “home of the red ant”. To enter, you descend an underground staircase. Inside, huge stalactites on the ceiling welcome you, along with the enormous aquatic roots of the trees.

The third Cuzamá cenote is known as Bolom Chojol, or “nine mouse holes”. It is the last on the route, near the town of Chinkila. You enter either by a metal ladder or a 10-metre jump.

To reach the three Cuzamá cenotes, take the Acanceh highway towards Cuzamá, just 46 kilometres from Mérida.

San Pedro Cholul

General entry to the San Pedro Cholul cenote costs about 20 pesos.

It is ideal for swimming or diving, as it is no more than ten metres deep, and its crystal-clear waters let you admire the flora and fauna it hides.

It is open every day of the week, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The site offers basic services for visitors’ comfort, including showers and toilets.

According to visitors, this cenote is ideal for diving, swimming and snorkelling inside a tunnel that stretches an impressive 15 metres!

From a list of 6,000, these are also the best cenotes near Mérida for a swim

Cenote Cascabel is a lit site that lets you swim in shallow areas. Chaksikin is much larger, with more room to swim and a wonderful jumping platform.

Cenote Xoch is enormous and fully open to the sky. The water is very clear and deep. It has toilets, changing rooms and rest areas.

Cenote Noh Mozón. With an impressive 9-metre drop, this is one of the most visited cenotes in Yucatán, 56.5 kilometres away. More than 40 metres deep, it is good for swimming and diving.

Cenote Xlacah. Another must in the area, 17 kilometres from the capital, in the Dzibilchaltún archaeological zone. A great cenote near Mérida for a swim, with a fabulous setting among the ruins.

Cenote XBatún. Another incredible option, 45 kilometres away in San Antonio Mulix. One of the most visited. Open-type, ideal for photos, swimming or diving. It is 20 metres deep.

Cenotes de Santa Bárbara. At this hacienda you’ll find three of the best cenotes near Mérida. All have stairs at the entrance and deep water. Life jackets are required and provided on site. To reach Hacienda Santa Bárbara, head towards Homún, 46 kilometres from Mérida.

More of the best cenotes near Mérida to add to the list?

If you visited a different one every weekend, it would take years to see them all on the Yucatán peninsula. For challenge-seeking spirits, here is another list — not all the closest to Mérida or the most famous, but all as beautiful as the ones above.

Cenote Dzom Bacal. 49 kilometres from Mérida. Its underwater cavern is monumental. Good for swimming or diving.
Cenote Kankirixché. 57.4 kilometres away, deep blue, semi-open with a free drop. Its jewel is a cavern 50 metres deep. You can swim and dive.
Cenote Yaal Utsil. 49 kilometres away. Open, 49 metres deep. Archaeological remains have been found inside.
X’Keken. Fully underground, reached by a narrow staircase. Its stalactite formations are impressive. You can swim and see colourful fish. 3 kilometres from Valladolid.
Cenote Samulá. Considered one of the prettiest in Yucatán and perhaps one of the most photographed. Underground, its huge hole in the ceiling makes you feel on another planet. 6.5 kilometres from Valladolid.
Suytún. One of the busiest cenotes in Yucatán. Its crystal-clear waters are perfect for swimming. 6 kilometres from Valladolid.
Zazil Tunich. Large and open to the sky, with wonderful natural formations. 30.6 kilometres from Valladolid.
Cenote Ik Kil. In Chichén Itzá, 3 kilometres from the famous site. Surrounded by vegetation, its clear, fresh waters are perfect for a dip. You can stay overnight at the complex.
Cenote Lol-Ha. Considered the best cenote near Mérida. Unfortunately it is in Yaxunah, 138 kilometres from the capital, but every kilometre is worth it for its crystal-clear waters.
Zací. One of the most popular. Its entrance is beautiful — through a grotto — and it is 40 metres deep. 159 kilometres from Mérida.
Cenote Xcanché. For a weekend trip, 193 kilometres from Mérida. 30 metres deep; the complex has cabins, restaurants and bike rental, plus rappelling and zip-lining.

What should you bring?

A comfortable swimsuit.
Snorkel gear (don’t worry if you don’t have any — you can rent it at most of these places).
Biodegradable sunscreen (some sites don’t allow any sunscreen at all).
Mosquito repellent (check that it doesn’t harm the site’s flora and fauna).

Moving to Mérida, Yucatán is an experience to be made the most of in every form — from the food to tourist spots like cenotes and beaches, essentials on any family’s or adventurer’s list.

You may be interested in: Haciendas in Yucatán to stay in on a journey back in time.