When I think of Cancún in sunny Mexico, the first thing that comes to my mind is water. The crystal clear, blue-green waters of the Caribbean Sea. And the dark, quiet waters of the great lagoon. But that’s not all. Because there are also the mysterious, deep waters in their underground caves. The famous cenotes. Here you can find out more about the most beautiful cenotes in Cancún and the surrounding area.

The Yucatan Peninsula in southern Mexico is a karst area. It consists mainly of limestone. And it erodes very easily. Especially with the often short but heavy rainfall in the tropics. And just a few million years later – right now – the Yucatan Peninsula actually looks like Swiss cheese. That is to say, completely perforated.

Underground, the peninsula is crisscrossed by the largest known system of underground rivers in the world. It’s really thousands of kilometers long. Without exaggeration. And wherever the limestone soil has eroded and collapsed, an access to the waters underground has formed. These are the so-called cenotes.

That’s a good question. If you wanted to choose the most beautiful cenote, you would really have to make a difficult decision. All of them are rather unique in their own way and somehow magical. Therefore, I can only recommend you to visit several of them. Then you will quickly find out which one is the most beautiful cenote for you.

Most cenotes are located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo along the Caribbean coastline. There are thousands of them along the coast from Cancún down to Bacalar in the far south.

But also, near the Gulf Coast in the neighboring State of Yucatan there are countless of these wonderful accesses to the underground rivers. There they are arranged rather in a ring around a huge crater left by the impact of a meteorite in the Gulf of Mexico over 60 million years ago. This catastrophe was probably also the reason for the formation of the extensive underground rivers.

You can have a lot of fun at the cenotes in Cancún. That depends entirely on the type of cenote. Some of them are still located in their underground caves and can only be reached through narrow entrances. Others are located in the daylight and are surrounded by steep rock faces and dense vegetation. And still others look like open lagoons in the middle of the jungle.

In almost all cenotes you can refresh yourself with a bath in the crystal-clear water. The water has a temperature of about 26 ° C / 79° F degrees all year round. In many cenotes you will find colorful fish, turtles or sometimes wonderful flowering plants – under the water or on the surface. Therefore, these places are also perfectly suitable for snorkeling.

Some well-developed locations offer cool activities in the water: canoes, pneumatic tires, zip lines or the opportunity to enjoy assisted rappel into the water. In some places there are also platforms or suitable rocks for a jump into the cool water. In such locations, there is sometimes a kiosk that offers drinks and snacks, or maybe even a restaurant.

Scuba diving is particularly popular in many cenotes. There are places for easy dives in the large caverns, but also challenging dives for highly qualified cave divers in the narrow underwater tunnels. Read more about this in our article about diving in cenotes.

If you are traveling with children, you should choose a suitable cenote. It should be shallow enough to ensure their safety. Some sinkholes are more in the shape of a well shaft and can easily have a depth of 30 m. The deepest cenote known to date even reaches 119 m / 390 ft.

Of course, there are no cenotes directly in Cancún. But you can already find what you are looking for rather close nearby. More specifically, in the surroundings of Puerto Morelos. The place is located only a few kilometers south of Cancún. You can easily reach it with a rental car or simply enjoy the conveniences of a  guided tour to the cenotes.

At Puerto Morelos, the road to the little town Leona Vicario in the back country begins. It is also called Ruta de los Cenotes – the road to the cenotes. Along this road, many of the beautiful sinkholes are hidden in the jungle, and you can have a lot of fun. There are several parks with cenotes along this road. We have researched some examples for you here.

Even though we only mention a few cenotes in this article, there are many more of these wonderful places on the Ruta de los Cenotes. You can take a look at them and find out which are the most beautiful cenotes near Cancún for you. Here is a little guide for you.

Even if the cenotes are not far from Cancún – you can get to Puerto Morelos very quickly by public bus… but then there is the actual road to the cenotes. Public transport is therefore not quite the ideal solution here.

Therefore, you have two options: either you take a taxi. But the driver has to wait for you while you refresh yourself in the cool water. And that can be expensive. But how else would you like to make your way home?

The second option is the better one: You can easily reach the cenotes in Cancún by rental car. This way, you are free and independent. You can explore different locations according to your mood and design your trip according to your wishes.

By the way, if you opt for the cenotes tour of the Xenotes Adventure Park,  you don’t have to worry about getting there. On this tour you can easily be picked up from your hotel.

You will definitely get into the water when you visit the cenotes in Cancún. In addition to your swimwear, a towel would be handy. Bath towels made of microfiber are particularly suitable. They are available in many colors and sizes. They dry rather quickly and are very light. This is good for the weight of your suitcase when checking in at the airport. And of course, also if you have to carry them through the jungle.

On some cenotes, which are especially great for snorkeling, the necessary equipment is offered to the visitors. But let’s be honest – do you really want to use other people’s devices? After all, the pandemic has taught us completely new standards in terms of hygiene. You may feel much more comfortable with your own snorkel set.

Not all people want or can swim with fins. For my part, I don’t feel comfortable with them. And in the Cenotes, there is no strong current. So, it should be enough to protect your feet from the stony ground with swim shoes. At least if you are not diving.

You see – to find great cenotes in Cancún, you don’t have to drive far. So, there is nothing that keeps you from having a wonderful day in the refreshing, crystal-clear waters. We hope our tips have helped you a bit to find a great spot. And well… Have fun!