Swim in Mexico’s Cenotes
Bucket listers visiting the Yucatan Peninsula will want to swim in the spectacular crystal clear cave pools found outside the colonial city of Merida. Sparklingly clean, these cenotes offer amazing swimming, snorkeling, and rock jumping. Although there are over 6000 cenotes in the Yucatan, tour operators in Merida offer daily trips to several caves, located about an hour’s drive outside town. At one cenote, a wooden platform lets you dive into turquoise water the colour as bright as paint. I swam in three different cenotes near Cuzama (see below), scaling the walls of each cave as stalactites slowly dripped their way from the ceiling.
Length of Trip : Full day or half day excursion
Cost :
You can either use the services of a local tour operator to shuttle you around, or drive independently to each cenote, where you'll find modest entrance fees ranging between US$4 and US$15. A full day tour costs around US$50 per person.
Best time to go : December to April
Wheelchair friendly : Speak to your tour operator to make arrangements if possible.
Family friendly : Yes
Where to eat :
Panchos offers a slight gourmet twist on the Mexican staples. The Mexican platter is great value, as are the tequila tasters. You won't know where to start on the menu, but finishing with the coffee ceremony might be fun. Great decor too, and check out the patio if it's not raining. Located right in the heart of the historical district of Merida, a block from the main plaza.
Official Site :
Tour agencies: Mayan EcoTours and Lawsons Original Yucatan Excursions are great places to start.
Where to Stay :
Merida:
Casa San Angel - near centre of town
Fiesta Americana Merida - 5-star hotel with classic touches near historical city centre
Rosas y Xocolate - boutique hotel and spa
When staying in the Mayan Riviera, we recommend the Fairmont Mayakoba.
Getting There :
Roads are in good condition. Below are some of the most popular cenotes:
Cuzamá - hire a guide from the hacienda for a horse-pulled buggy cart to three local cenotes, offering excellent swimming and cave formations.
Xlacah - the closest cenote to Merida, up to 140ft deep with terrific swimming.
Ik-kil - hanging vines and easily accessible, this is the perfect cenote to cool off after exploring Chichen Itsa, located just two miles away.
Zaci - surrounded by a walkway, famous for its turquoise water, cave formations and an eyeless fish swimming beneath your feet.
Note from Robin :
Wear loose, quick-drying clothes as you'll likely be travelling between several cenotes in one day. If you're going early morning or late afternoon it can get quite buggy. A good pair of sandals with grip will come in handy for scaling up rocks or navigating slippery boardwalks. For the more adventurous bucket lister, watch out for overhanging rocks when attempting your epic rock jump! It's possible to scuba dive in some of the cenotes, which you can do without a cave diving certification.
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