Day Trips to cenotes from Playa del Carmen

In Playa del Carmen, you will have a wide variety of things to see and activities to do. This city is synonymous with fun and paradisiacal white sandy beaches of the Mexican Caribbean with deep turquoise blue waters. But let me tell you that it is much more than that, as it is home to a rich history, a lot of culture and unique natural beauties such as the cenotes whose visit is a must if you are travelling to this coastal city. They are ideal for diving, snorkelling, hiking or other activities such as zip-lining or kayaking.

Chaak Tun is the only cenote in the middle of Playa del Carmen, only 10 minutes from downtown and is a beautiful natural attraction to visit. It is made up of two caverns, a smaller one with a stalactite roof that gives it a special attraction and that is illuminated with artificial light and another one a little bit bigger that houses a tree and between its branches rays of natural light filter through.

This cenote is part of Sac Actun, the largest set of flooded caverns in the world.

Information of interest

• Where: this cenote is located almost 8 kilometres from Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you will have access to it from the centre of Playa del Carmen along Avenida Juárez and Avenida Constituyentes, about 15 minutes by car.
• Price: bear in mind that only guided tours are allowed for conservation reasons and the price is around 19 euros.
• Opening hours: 9am-3pm Monday to Saturday and 9am-1pm on Sunday.

The Nohoch Nah Chich cenote is not one of the most famous, but it is beautiful and worth a visit. It is huge, 10 kilometres long, with 36 entrances and 9 metres deep, and its name means "The Giant Bird" in Mayan dialect.

It is one of the most popular among diving fanatics, so if this is your case, I recommend it. But if this is not your case, I also recommend it, as you have many other activities to do such as snorkelling, abseiling to 12 metres or zip-lining.

Its waters are crystal clear and warm with temperatures of up to 28 °C, you can see marine fauna such as fish or turtles and beautiful rock formations.

Useful information

• Where: this cenote is located about 55 kilometres from Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you can get there in 50 minutes by car along the road that connects Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
• Opening hours: every day from 8am to 5pm.

The Cenote Azul is one of the largest and has some natural pools around it, its waters are crystal clear and shallow, but you can still jump into the water from a height of about 4 metres.

It is a good place to go with the family, as it has a covered space to be in the shade and you will have the possibility to rent tables and chairs. It also has an open area full of vegetation and with spaces to rest such as piers or rocks.

Useful information

• Where: this cenote is located about 25 kilometres from Playa del Carmen, very close to Puerto Aventuras.
• How to get there: you can get there by car in about 20 minutes. Another option to get there is to take a bus to Tulum that leaves from the intersection between the Federal Highway and Juárez Avenue.
• Price: approximately 6 euros.
• Opening hours: every day from 8 in the morning to 5.30 in the afternoon.

Cenote Cristalino is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Riviera Maya due to its unique beauty and easy access. Its name is given by the clarity of its waters, clear enough to see the fish that swim in the depths. Besides, it is located in the middle of a mangrove forest, so its flora and fauna is really amazing.

It is one of the most chosen by groups of friends and families, but don't worry, you will have enough room to spend the day in this paradisiacal place, since it covers a very wide space and you will have a small cave to swim and dive in peace and quiet. A not minor fact is that it is one of the few places where you can bring your own food, although the prices there are quite affordable.

Information of interest

• Where: this cenote is located near Cenote Azul, a little more than 24 kilometres from the centre of Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you can get there by car, taking the Federal Highway to Tulum. The cenote is 3 kilometres after Puerto Aventuras. By bus, take the bus that connects Playa del Carmen to Tulum at the intersection of Carretera Federal and Juárez.
• Price: approximately 7 euros.
• Opening hours: daily from 8am to 6pm.

The marvellous cenote Aktun Chen is an underground walkway with crystalline waters that is located in an ecological park and has a great diversity of places to visit. You will be able to appreciate the rock formations and stalactites on the roof of the cavern for 600 metres and walk through it to reach the jungle.

If you enjoy exploring jungles like this one, here is a guide to the best jungle tours you can do from Playa del Carmen so you can add one to your travel itinerary.

The waters of this cenote are ideal for snorkelling and diving, but you can also choose to do other activities such as zip-lining. It is a perfect plan to do with the family, as the kids will have a lot of fun. And as if that wasn't enough, you will have a restaurant there where you can enjoy some typical food and live a complete experience.

Useful information

• Where it is: this cenote is a little over 40 kilometres from Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you can get there by car on the Tulum - Cancun road in half an hour or by bus from Avenida Juarez in just over an hour.
• Price: approximately 39 euros.
• Opening hours: daily from 10am to 5pm.

Rio Secreto is a must on your trip to Playa del Carmen, so it is impossible not to include it in the list of the best cenotes. It is an underground stream in the middle of the Yucatan jungle that is full of caverns and cenotes.

As you embark on the Rio Secreto tour, you'll truly feel like an explorer, amidst ancient stalactites and stalagmites formed by the incessant dripping of calcareous water, you'll walk through the crystal clear turquoise blue waters, while your expert guide explains the geological secrets behind these stone formations and the native flora and fauna.

A 600-metre walk takes you through the caves and underground rivers of crystal-clear water, where you can bathe and swim for a while.

Useful information

• Where: this cenote is less than 20 kilometres from the centre of Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you can access it through the Federal Free Highway Chetumal - Puerto Juárez. The best option to get to know this natural wonder in depth is to take a guided excursion.
• Price: approximately 99 euros.
• Opening hours: every day from 9am to 8pm.

The Garden of E den is one of the largest open-air cenotes in the Riviera Maya and also one of the most beautiful. It is a great place to visit if you are looking to relax, as it is surrounded by a lot of vegetation with iguanas roaming around the place and typical trees of the region.

But it is also a fantastic option for water activities, such as swimming and watching the various fish that pass by your legs, snorkelling or scuba diving in the crystal clear waters. And you can add a bit of adventure by jumping from one of the shores into the water at a height of 4 or 5 metres.

Useful information

• Where: this cenote is located about 25 kilometres away from the centre of Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you can get there in only 20 minutes by car on highway 307 or by taking the bus at the intersection of Carretera Federal and Avenida Juárez. Please note that if you choose the latter option, you will have to walk for about 10 minutes after getting off the bus to get there.
• Price: approximately 4 euros.
• Opening hours: Monday to Thursday and Sundays from 8am to 6pm, Fridays from 8am to 5pm.

The Cenote Chac Mool is one of the most impressive natural attractions of Quintana Roo and the Yucatan Peninsula and stands out for its natural beauty and the enigma of its caves. Its name in Mayan dialect means "Jaguar's claw".

There you will find caves with stalactites, stone columns and turquoise blue water that reflects some rays of light. This landscape could be defined as a rarely seen beauty. If you are a certified beginner diver, this place will be paradise for you.

Interesting information

• Where: this cenote is located about 23 kilometres from the centre of Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: you can get there in 25 minutes by car on highway 307 or by bus in about an hour.
• Price: approximately 12 euros.
• Opening hours: daily from 9am to 5pm.

The Gran Cenote is one of the most touristic and this is because it is suitable for everyone, there are activities for children, adults and water sports lovers. Families will be able to spend a relaxing day and use the picnic area, diving fans will love diving there, as it is part of Sac Actun, the largest underwater cave system, and it is also very popular with travellers looking to make the most of the day, as it is located in a strategic place, very close to Tulum, Coba and many other cenotes. Also, if you are a fan of water sports, here is a guide with the best places to snorkel in Playa del Carmen so you can include some of them in your itinerary.

This famous cenote is a unique experience, as it is divided into two parts, one on the outside and if you want to go through a tunnel of about 20 metres you will reach the second part covered with a rock wall. If you want to take advantage of your visit to this Cenote to visit Tulum, you can take one of these guided tours.

Useful information

• Where: this cenote is located about 67 kilometres from the centre of Playa del Carmen in the direction of Tulum.
• How to get there: it will take you about an hour by car or an hour and a half by bus.
• Price: approximately 9 euros.
• Timetable: bear in mind that as it is a very touristy cenote, you should ideally arrive early so that you can get there before the rest of the visitors arrive. You can enter from 8 in the morning to 4.30 in the afternoon, so as long as you are there before 10 o'clock, you should be fine.

Cenote Taak Bi Ha is part of the Dos Ojos Park which also houses other cenotes such as Cenote Dos Ojos itself. Unlike the latter, the Taak Bi Ha cenote is much less touristy and well known, so it is ideal if you want to relax and spend a very pleasant day without dodging tourists.

This cenote has a special charm, as it is managed by a Mayan family, so you can take the opportunity to learn a little more about their culture, traditions and beliefs. It is located in an underground cave that you can easily access by stairs and its waters are extremely crystalline and shallow. You can snorkel, dive or simply swim on your own.

Information of interest

• Where: this cenote is located about 50 minutes from Playa del Carmen by car.
• How to get there: head towards Tulum on the 307 Chetumal-Cancun highway until you reach the entrance to Dos Ojos Park, and from there you will have about 3 kilometres more on a dirt road.
• Price: approximately 17 euros.
• Opening hours: daily from 9.30am to 5pm.

The Dos Ojos Cenote is truly a work of art of nature and cannot be missing in this list of the best cenotes in Playa del Carmen. It is one of the most touristic of the Riviera Maya and its name is given by its shape, as it is formed by a cave and two forms of eyes of turquoise blue water. The cave is dark, with no natural or artificial light, so it is only possible to enter with a guide.

It is ideal for lovers of all kinds of water sports, snorkelling, diving and swimming. But keep in mind that if you want to cross from one eye to the other, that section can only be done by diving and it is an amazing experience.

Useful information

• Where: This cenote is located between Tulum and Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: about 50 minutes by car on the 307 Chetumal-Cancun highway in the direction of Tulum.
• Price: approximately 17 euros.
• Opening hours: daily from 9.30am to 5pm.

Not just another cenote, Kantun Chi is an ecological park of cenotes and underground waters and one of the most impressive tourist attractions in the Riviera Maya to visit.

Touring the underground river is a truly unique experience that I recommend you do and you can also swim in the underground caverns. In addition, you will be able to get to know its abundant and intense vegetation and fauna.

Useful information

• Where: this fantastic ecological park is located about 30 kilometres from the centre of Playa del Carmen.
• How to get there: it will take you just half an hour by car along the 307 road towards Tulum.
• Price: approximately 50 euros.
• Opening hours: every day from 9.30 am to 5 pm.