Never fear, because Im a Valladolid travel expert. What I love about Cenote Oxman is that its located in a hacienda featuring a nice pool, bar, and several little cabana huts. Sometimes referred to as the Ek Balam cenote, Cenote Xcanche is located literally within the Ek Balam ruins complex. If youre physically able, its definitely a unique experience! For more information, check out my guides to how to go to Valladolid from Cancun and from Tulum.
Climbing to the top of El Torre while visiting Ek Balam and swimming in the cool waters of Cenote Xcanche rank among our favorite travel experiences in the Yucatan peninsulawhich is extremely high praise considering how much we love the area. Here they are: This cenote is popular with many tours to Ek Balam because it is just off the road and is set up for a lot of tourist per day. Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 5.4 km| Entrance: 80 pesos for adult & 50 pesos for children | Hours: 9 am 6 pm daily. You can find literally thousands of cenotes in the peninsula, but many of the best are the cenote near Valladolid, Mexico. There are other options that include bike rental or the tricycle taxis.
When you compare this price to the popular Tulum ruins, which clock in at an 80 peso price tag, Ek Balam is comparatively expensive!
I recently visited with friends, and we really enjoyed it. You can get to Valladolid by renting a car and driving, taking the ADO bus, or via tour. You visit as part of a tour that involves strapping on a helmet and navigating your way through the cave complex.
You can find excellent car rental deals by searching the Discover Cars search engine, which lets you compare lots of different agencies and their reviews (Mexican rental car agencies are known for shady practices, so pay close attention!).
There are also more fully covered underground cave cenotes, which give off the vibe of something in an Indiana Jones movie. and were thrilled with the choice. The entrance fee is cash-only and there isnt an ATM onsite, so be sure to come prepared! The only question is: which Valladolid cenotes are the best? Heres what you need to know! Ek Balam ruins are one of the popular sites that people visit in the Yucatan Peninsula. Its worth visiting Cenote Ik Kil because it is probably the most beautiful of the open cenotes near Valladolid.
Temozon is known for its smoked meats and handmade furniture. Your email address will not be published. If youre visiting Valladolid from Cancun, check out this highly rated cenote tour from Viator. Cenote Suytun is easily the most famous cenote in Valladolid. The cenote itself is deep. Its one of the easiest cenotes to access, as the stairs down to the surface are well paved. This is a large cave cenote, with a small opening to the sky above.
Wondering what to bring with you when heading out on a day trip to Ek Balam and Cenote Xcanche? ), 15 Incredible Books About Iceland (To Read Before Visiting! ), 13 Minimalist Traveling Tips for Living Out of a Backpack, 10 Things We've Learned About Love As A Full-Time Travel Couple, 25 Reasons You Should Try Backpacking Mexico Next, How to Visit Becan, A Delightfully Offbeat Mayan City, How To Visit the Pink Lakes of Las Coloradas, Mexico, The Ultimate Mexico & Central America Packing List, 8 Majestic Waterfalls in Mexico (That You Should Definitely Visit! In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. The buffet was quite expansive and surprisingly delicious. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions. Collectivos, or shared taxis, are far cheaper than booking a private taxi, but the trade-off is that they only leave when theyre full. Thank you for reading our article about the cenote at Ek Balam. Protect Your Trip to Mexico: Mexico is safer for travel than you might think, but its still a global health crisis after all. It is about 12 feet (4 meters) off the water.
Taking a tour is the perfect solution: with a tour, your day is virtually guaranteed to run smoothly, people who know exactly where theyre going will be in charge of your transportation, and youll have a guide to show you the best of Ek Balam. Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 29 km | Entrance: 190 pesos for entrance to cenote, cave, and kayak | Hours: 8 am 5 pm daily. There were only about 15-20 other people at the site with us, and there were plenty of moments we were completely alone with the ruins. ), Is a Colosseum Night Tour Worth the Splurge? One of the newest cenotes to open in the Yucatan, Cenote Chukum is one of the most beautiful cave cenotes Ive seen in all of Mexico. Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 6 km | Entrance: 80 pesos | Hours: 9 am 6 pm daily. Opening a business in Playa Del Carmen -is it for you? If you dont put your things in the locker, you can descend into the cenote and set them on the side. This cenote opened to the public in mid 2017.
We also have a guide to great restaurants in town.
The typical way to handle your belongings at Xcanche appeared to be just finding a dry place along the edge of the cenote and shoving your items to the side therenot unlike many other cenotes weve visited! We recommend having at least 600-700 pesos/person on hand when you arrive, especially if you also plan to visit Cenote Xcanche and/or eat lunch on site. The crowd loves cheering as people take turns on the rope swing! Cenote Xcanche is one of those places where its easy to understand why the Mayan religion purports that cenotes are the entrance to the underworld. Plus, perhaps because of the (relatively) high entrance cost and distance from Valladolid, we even had the cenote all to ourselves! Youll also have the option of visiting a nearby cave that was recently opened and features various sacred Mayan artifacts nestled amongst the stalactites. Its not only one of the top restaurants in Valladolid, but your cenote entrance ticket will come free with the purchase of a meal.
Many tourists choose to just visit Valladolid as part of a day trip from Tulum, Playa del Carmen, or Cancun, often in combination with a tour to Chichen Itza. You just will need to drive here since there is no public transportation. Thats it for this guide to the best Valladolid cenotes! Your email address will not be published. We typically focus on travel in the USA and Europe (especially in our beloved Italy), but feature destinations across the world! After you travel down the trail to the cenote you know you have arrived when you see this sign. Cenote SAC-AUA is one of the more unique cenotes to add to your Yucatan itinerary. Ek Balam is located roughly 30 minutes by car from Valladolid, around 2 hours from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Merida. If that does happen, though, most cenotes have staff that will call you a taxi you just might have to wait a bit. We do have a full guide to Chichen Itza so you can get the most out of your visit there. Finally, if you dont mind a little exercise, some cenotes (especially the Dzitnup cenotes and Hacienda Selva Maya) are fairly easy to access via bike trails from Valladolid, Mexico. Fast forward all the way to the 1980s, and excavations began in the city. There are no shallow areas for young children. Open Cenote Near Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins, Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 38 km | Entrance: 80 pesos | Hours: 8 am 5 pm daily. Just politely decline and continue on to the entrance, where youll find lots of parking. There is a buffet in a separate building nearby, though personally, Id recommend the option they give to take a hut by the swimming pool and just order food and drink directly.Cenote Oxman itself is a beautiful cenote partially covered and sunken pretty deep in the crowd.
You can either take bikes or take the tricycle taxi if you dont want to pedal yourself. Valladolid is a charming colonial town just about 30 minutes south of Ek Balam. Want to avoid dealing with logistics but still see the best of Ek Balam and Cenote Xcanche? If it were closer to Valladolid, this cenote might just top this list. Truly, visiting Ek Balam is absolutely worth the entrance fee. There is a large platform for entering the cenote, so its one of the better options if youre visiting with kids. ), How to Actually Enjoy Summer in Venice (13 Important Tips! Though you can swim in Cenote Suytun, just be aware this is really more of a photo spot than anything else. Towel If you prefer not to drip-dry (or collapse into a hammock for half an hour to dry) after visiting Cenote Xcanche, youll want to be sure to throw a towel into your day bag. To get into the water, there are stairs to the water. You walk down a winding staircase, put on the mandatory life jacket, and then can either ease into water or grab the rope swing and jump right in.Cenote Oxman is not the largest Valladolid cenote on this list, and so even with fewer swimmers, it can start to feel a little crowded inside. There is also a zipline available for an extra fee. Plus, Hacienda Chukum offers the most modern facilities of any cenote Ive visited near Valladolid. When visiting, people also can visit the cenote that is nearby. Cenotes are regulated in Mexico and are generally very safe to swim in. But dont let Ik Kils popularity deter you from visiting! So I snapped a few photos and hiked over to Cenote Xkeken quickly. Getting Mexico travel insurance is just the sensible thing to do. While the above are my top 11 recommendations, there are so many amazing cenotes in Valladolid to consider. The cenote itself is stunning. Just trying searching Instagram for cenote and youre likely to pull up thousands of photos (far better than my shot above) from the many influencers around the world who flock to Cenote Suytun to get the gram. If you want something a bit more secure, though, there are lockers near the showers. Since this cenote is large and very beautiful, infrastructure has been added that will allow larger groups to visit at one time. Just be aware that taxi drivers have a tendency to bail (happened to me several times). If you are traveling by yourself, you can pay 70 pesos for the entrance and walk to the cenote. Sunscreen Sunscreen isnt allowed in Cenote Xcanche in order to preserve the fragile environment, but youll definitely want to have some on when visiting Ek Balam! There are dozens of tree roots that dangling down to the water, making Ik Kil an absolutely beautiful setting (when the cenote isnt packed with hordes of swimmers, anyway!). How to find it and rekindle your small town love, No more Covid-19 test for most arrivals in the United States, Masks are now voluntary in the state of Quintana Roo. There are two sets of stairs that descend into the cenote, one being much steeper than the other. But its worth the drive and, as Cenote Secreto Mayas name suggests, its a bit of a secret still you wont have compete with as many crowds.
Plenty of Water We recommend a reusable water bottle paired with a SteriPento cut down on plastic use when you can, but if youre running low, bottled water is also sold onsite. As an Amazon Associate, Our Escape Clause earns from qualifying purchases. Its an easy, mostly shady walk down a straight gravel road, and we chose to walk in both directions. Driving through town, you will notice many places selling both. The cenote itself is large and mostly enclosed. I hope it helps you to find a relaxing cenote to swim in, and I hope you love Valladolid as much as I do. Owing to its location smack in the middle of the Yucatan peninsula, Valladolid is pretty easy to access from Merida or the Riviera Maya. The lockers and showers are new and spacious, there is plentiful parking, and the cenote itself has a zip line and even a kayak you can take out into the cenote. Ready to visit Ek Balam? Id suggest coming in the morning, taking a refreshing swim before it gets crowded, then hitting the buffet afterward. Weve driven all over the Yucatan peninsula and find the driving extremely easydefinitely easier than driving most places in Europeand tons of fun. Because Valladolid is located in the center of the peninsula, with a slightly higher elevation than the coastal towns of Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, the cenotes in and near Valladolid tend to have more dramatic drops to the water level. There are male and female changing areas with lockers, but you need to bring your own lock. There are areas that are dry and fairly easy to keep your eye on. If it is a hot day and you dont want to walk to the cenote, a bike rental or taxi is recommended. Theres also a small restaurant next to Cenote Xcanchebut more on that below. What makes this cenote special is that it is enclosed, has beautiful stalagmite and stalactite structures and crystal clear water. Tips for Visiting Cenotes from Valladolid. This cenote mainly gets bus groups stopping by in the mornings on their way to Chichen Itza or Ek Balam Mayan ruins.
Theres plenty of parking, an adjoining restaurant, Mayan performers, and decent facilities. We chose to have lunch onsite when visiting Cenote Xcanche, in large part because all of the swimming left us starving. Google Maps | +52 985 856 0721 | Entrance: 30 pesos or free with meal purchase | Hours: CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS AS OF FALL 2021. Were full-time travel bloggers who have been exploring the world since 2016, visiting 50+ countries across 5 continents along the way. Cenote Sac Aua is an open cenote with a small island in the middle. Another option is to simply hire a taxi in town, have them drop you off, and then get their number or arrange for a time for them to come pick you back up. There are just a couple of openings in the ceiling, where the light shines through to illuminate the clear water inside.
The main feature here is the (artificial) waterfall, which adds to the ambiance when youre swimming in the cenote. Most Instagrammable Cenote in Valladolid (Underground Cenote), Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 8 km | Entrance: 120 pesos | Hours: 9 am 5 pm daily. What separates this from other cenotes near Valladolid is the island in the middle of Cenote SAC-AUA, which was formed when the cave roof collapsed upon the cenote below. Though divers have reported seeing a crocodile in a cenote near Akumal, this is an extremely rare occurrence and most Mexican cenotes including all cenotes near Valladolid do not contain crocodiles. Conveniently located just a five-minute walk from the city square, Cenote Zaci is a gorgeous oasis offering a relaxing way to quickly retreat into a bit of nature. During our Ek Balam visit, both tickets were handled seamlessly with one purchase, so there was no need to think much about it! The walks to and from Ek Balam and Cenote Xcanche are fairly shaded, but the ruins themselves are primarily in direct sunlight. Thank you! Cenote Xcanche is a deep cenote. Magical Valladolid, Mexico: Things to Do + Travel Guide, The Ultimate 2 Weeks in Mexico Itinerary for First Time Visitors, 13 Out-Of-This-World Things to Do in Oaxaca, The Ultimate 10 Day Yucatan Road Trip Itinerary, 25 Fascinating Ruins in Mexico to Visit (Mayan, Aztec + Beyond! But considering just how beautiful the cenote is, and how modern the facilities are, Cenote Chukum is for sure one of the best Valladolid cenotes! Hat + Sunglasses Be sure to protect yourself from the sun! There is a wooden walkway around the cenote with a few places to set things down. Heres what to know before you (literally) dive in. To enter Ek Balam, youll need to pay 413 pesos (around $22 USD)/person. We saw more than a few fish swimming in the waters. The menu was limited, but the food was excellent and prices great (80-100 MXN, or between $4-6 USD) for a mealwe paid less there than at an average restaurant in Valladolid. Here on Our Escape Clause, we are dedicated to helping travelers plan their adventures. Although you might be on a self guided trip and have time to visit the two during your time in the area. Check out my full guide to the best Valladolid hotels to find the right one for you! There is so much to see and discover. The entrance booth is located just past the first grouping of souvenir stalls that you pass after buying tickets for Ek Balamor theres a more direct path you can take from the parking lot, too. The distance from the place where you pay to the cenote is 1.5 km ( almost a mile). Once a thriving Mayan city, construction began on Ek Balam as early as 300 BCE, and the city was potentially occupied as late as 16th century CE.
You wont have to go far to find the most popular Valladolid cenotes. You have the option of just paying 150 pesos to use the cenote, or you can spring for a day pass and lounge out at the beautiful pool and enjoy the restaurant. ), How Choosing a Life of Travel Changed Everything, If youd like to consider driving to Ek Balam, we recommend searching for rental cars through. The climb up is steep and tested my fear of heights quite a bit, but the views from the top are well worth the effort. You still are able to visit this cenote yourself if you like. We hope you get to explore all around our area. I travel there frequently and have visited dozens of cenotes. TravelLemming.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. You might miss this town if you blink, but there are a few little things of note here. Today, only a small portion (about one square mile) of Ek Balam is excavated, including the impressive El Torre pyramid. Also note that during the rainy summer season, the water levels can sometimes result in Cenote Suytuns platform being submerged and thus inaccessible. Dont miss a chance to go swimming in Cenote Xcanche!
There is one rope swing where you can drop into the water. After several attempts of mustering up the courage, my partner Clara finally gave it a go! Before you go, be sure to check out my mega guide to Valladolid Mexico its filled with tons of useful information! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If you do visit, you will find bathrooms, changing area with outdoor showers, a small restaurant and hammock area. At times, Cenote Saamal can attract just a few too many tourists for my taste. This cenote is a little off in the distance from the ruins and in a wooded area. Or how can we improve it to help you travel better? Most open cenotes though have more opaque water since leaves and dust fall into them. Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 17 km | Entrance: 100 pesos | Hours: 9 am 5 pm daily. Several trees have even grown on the island, and you can take kayaks or swim around it. This is a great place to visit after the ruins to swim and cool off. We personally drove to Mexico from Valladolid (though heres a very important tip if you choose this route: rent your car before arriving in Valladolid!)
), 25 Wonderful Destinations for Winter in Europe (Sun, Snow, or Christmas! This can be a good place before or after a visit to Ek Balam. Its a reasonably large open cenote that can make for a great way to cool off after a hot morning spent exploring the ruins. Your best bet is to join this cenote bike tour, one of the few running directly from Valladolid to the nearby cenotes. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. The water has a darker hue to is not a crystal clear water cenote.
Stairs have been built that lead you down to the water here at Cenote Fantasma. Eventually, Ek Balam receded into the jungle, and large pockets of its story remain unknown. Here are my 11 favorite cenotes to visit in the Valladolid area: Disclosure: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. Around 45 structures have been mapped, and around 1 square mile (of approximately 12 square kilometers) of the city can be explored today. His travel advice and musings have been featured in high-profile publications like NBC News, Lonely Planet, Mic, and many more. Since most people come to the cenote after visiting the ruins, they want to change clothes. Mexicos Yucatan peninsula is famous for its cenotes, covered or partially open swimming holes fed by underground springs. If you prefer not to drip-dry (or collapse into a hammock for half an hour to dry) after visiting Cenote Xcanche, youll want to be sure to throw a towel into your day bag. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, Im working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA. If you dont want to visit the cenote here at Ek Balam there are some other options nearby. We mainly recommend taking the package with bike and cenote combined. Bathing Suit Dont miss a chance to go swimming in Cenote Xcanche!
For 250 pesos, we got admission, a buffet, lockers, plus life jackets (which are mandatory). This cenote is a little further from Valladolid (about a 40 minute drive). On the path to the entrance, you might be flagged down by other tour operators selling everything from ATV rides to ziplines.
Notify me of follow-up comments by email. We visited Ek Balam in the late afternoon and loved it! Known as El Torre, or The Tower, this structure is one of the largest Mayan ruins to be found on the Yucatan peninsula. Cenote Saamal is located in Hacienda Selva Maya, which features solid facilities with lockers and outdoor showers. The Dzitnup complex is located close to Hacienda Selva Maya, and so a lot of tourists come through these popular cenotes. You can get a combined ticket to enter both cenotes, though annoyingly you have to separately rent a life jacket at each. Even if youre not sure if you want to swim, we recommend bringing itafter sweating through your Ek Balam tour, you might be glad you have it. We found that most of the structures in Ek Balam were able to be at least partially climbed, and the various viewpoints provided great angles to admire the rest of the city.
Climbing to the top of El Torre while visiting Ek Balam and swimming in the cool waters of Cenote Xcanche rank among our favorite travel experiences in the Yucatan peninsulawhich is extremely high praise considering how much we love the area. Here they are: This cenote is popular with many tours to Ek Balam because it is just off the road and is set up for a lot of tourist per day. Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 5.4 km| Entrance: 80 pesos for adult & 50 pesos for children | Hours: 9 am 6 pm daily. You can find literally thousands of cenotes in the peninsula, but many of the best are the cenote near Valladolid, Mexico. There are other options that include bike rental or the tricycle taxis.
When you compare this price to the popular Tulum ruins, which clock in at an 80 peso price tag, Ek Balam is comparatively expensive! I recently visited with friends, and we really enjoyed it. You can get to Valladolid by renting a car and driving, taking the ADO bus, or via tour. You visit as part of a tour that involves strapping on a helmet and navigating your way through the cave complex.
You can find excellent car rental deals by searching the Discover Cars search engine, which lets you compare lots of different agencies and their reviews (Mexican rental car agencies are known for shady practices, so pay close attention!).
There are also more fully covered underground cave cenotes, which give off the vibe of something in an Indiana Jones movie. and were thrilled with the choice. The entrance fee is cash-only and there isnt an ATM onsite, so be sure to come prepared! The only question is: which Valladolid cenotes are the best? Heres what you need to know! Ek Balam ruins are one of the popular sites that people visit in the Yucatan Peninsula. Its worth visiting Cenote Ik Kil because it is probably the most beautiful of the open cenotes near Valladolid.
Temozon is known for its smoked meats and handmade furniture. Your email address will not be published. If youre visiting Valladolid from Cancun, check out this highly rated cenote tour from Viator. Cenote Suytun is easily the most famous cenote in Valladolid. The cenote itself is deep. Its one of the easiest cenotes to access, as the stairs down to the surface are well paved. This is a large cave cenote, with a small opening to the sky above.
Wondering what to bring with you when heading out on a day trip to Ek Balam and Cenote Xcanche? ), 15 Incredible Books About Iceland (To Read Before Visiting! ), 13 Minimalist Traveling Tips for Living Out of a Backpack, 10 Things We've Learned About Love As A Full-Time Travel Couple, 25 Reasons You Should Try Backpacking Mexico Next, How to Visit Becan, A Delightfully Offbeat Mayan City, How To Visit the Pink Lakes of Las Coloradas, Mexico, The Ultimate Mexico & Central America Packing List, 8 Majestic Waterfalls in Mexico (That You Should Definitely Visit! In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. The buffet was quite expansive and surprisingly delicious. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions. Collectivos, or shared taxis, are far cheaper than booking a private taxi, but the trade-off is that they only leave when theyre full. Thank you for reading our article about the cenote at Ek Balam. Protect Your Trip to Mexico: Mexico is safer for travel than you might think, but its still a global health crisis after all. It is about 12 feet (4 meters) off the water.
Taking a tour is the perfect solution: with a tour, your day is virtually guaranteed to run smoothly, people who know exactly where theyre going will be in charge of your transportation, and youll have a guide to show you the best of Ek Balam. Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 29 km | Entrance: 190 pesos for entrance to cenote, cave, and kayak | Hours: 8 am 5 pm daily. There were only about 15-20 other people at the site with us, and there were plenty of moments we were completely alone with the ruins. ), Is a Colosseum Night Tour Worth the Splurge? One of the newest cenotes to open in the Yucatan, Cenote Chukum is one of the most beautiful cave cenotes Ive seen in all of Mexico. Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 6 km | Entrance: 80 pesos | Hours: 9 am 6 pm daily. Opening a business in Playa Del Carmen -is it for you? If you dont put your things in the locker, you can descend into the cenote and set them on the side. This cenote opened to the public in mid 2017.
We also have a guide to great restaurants in town.
The typical way to handle your belongings at Xcanche appeared to be just finding a dry place along the edge of the cenote and shoving your items to the side therenot unlike many other cenotes weve visited! We recommend having at least 600-700 pesos/person on hand when you arrive, especially if you also plan to visit Cenote Xcanche and/or eat lunch on site. The crowd loves cheering as people take turns on the rope swing! Cenote Xcanche is one of those places where its easy to understand why the Mayan religion purports that cenotes are the entrance to the underworld. Plus, perhaps because of the (relatively) high entrance cost and distance from Valladolid, we even had the cenote all to ourselves! Youll also have the option of visiting a nearby cave that was recently opened and features various sacred Mayan artifacts nestled amongst the stalactites. Its not only one of the top restaurants in Valladolid, but your cenote entrance ticket will come free with the purchase of a meal.
Many tourists choose to just visit Valladolid as part of a day trip from Tulum, Playa del Carmen, or Cancun, often in combination with a tour to Chichen Itza. You just will need to drive here since there is no public transportation. Thats it for this guide to the best Valladolid cenotes! Your email address will not be published. We typically focus on travel in the USA and Europe (especially in our beloved Italy), but feature destinations across the world! After you travel down the trail to the cenote you know you have arrived when you see this sign. Cenote SAC-AUA is one of the more unique cenotes to add to your Yucatan itinerary. Ek Balam is located roughly 30 minutes by car from Valladolid, around 2 hours from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Merida. If that does happen, though, most cenotes have staff that will call you a taxi you just might have to wait a bit. We do have a full guide to Chichen Itza so you can get the most out of your visit there. Finally, if you dont mind a little exercise, some cenotes (especially the Dzitnup cenotes and Hacienda Selva Maya) are fairly easy to access via bike trails from Valladolid, Mexico. Fast forward all the way to the 1980s, and excavations began in the city. There are no shallow areas for young children. Open Cenote Near Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins, Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 38 km | Entrance: 80 pesos | Hours: 8 am 5 pm daily. Just politely decline and continue on to the entrance, where youll find lots of parking. There is a buffet in a separate building nearby, though personally, Id recommend the option they give to take a hut by the swimming pool and just order food and drink directly.Cenote Oxman itself is a beautiful cenote partially covered and sunken pretty deep in the crowd.
You can either take bikes or take the tricycle taxi if you dont want to pedal yourself. Valladolid is a charming colonial town just about 30 minutes south of Ek Balam. Want to avoid dealing with logistics but still see the best of Ek Balam and Cenote Xcanche? If it were closer to Valladolid, this cenote might just top this list. Truly, visiting Ek Balam is absolutely worth the entrance fee. There is a large platform for entering the cenote, so its one of the better options if youre visiting with kids. ), How to Actually Enjoy Summer in Venice (13 Important Tips! Though you can swim in Cenote Suytun, just be aware this is really more of a photo spot than anything else. Towel If you prefer not to drip-dry (or collapse into a hammock for half an hour to dry) after visiting Cenote Xcanche, youll want to be sure to throw a towel into your day bag. To get into the water, there are stairs to the water. You walk down a winding staircase, put on the mandatory life jacket, and then can either ease into water or grab the rope swing and jump right in.Cenote Oxman is not the largest Valladolid cenote on this list, and so even with fewer swimmers, it can start to feel a little crowded inside. There is also a zipline available for an extra fee. Plus, Hacienda Chukum offers the most modern facilities of any cenote Ive visited near Valladolid. When visiting, people also can visit the cenote that is nearby. Cenotes are regulated in Mexico and are generally very safe to swim in. But dont let Ik Kils popularity deter you from visiting! So I snapped a few photos and hiked over to Cenote Xkeken quickly. Getting Mexico travel insurance is just the sensible thing to do. While the above are my top 11 recommendations, there are so many amazing cenotes in Valladolid to consider. The cenote itself is stunning. Just trying searching Instagram for cenote and youre likely to pull up thousands of photos (far better than my shot above) from the many influencers around the world who flock to Cenote Suytun to get the gram. If you want something a bit more secure, though, there are lockers near the showers. Since this cenote is large and very beautiful, infrastructure has been added that will allow larger groups to visit at one time. Just be aware that taxi drivers have a tendency to bail (happened to me several times). If you are traveling by yourself, you can pay 70 pesos for the entrance and walk to the cenote. Sunscreen Sunscreen isnt allowed in Cenote Xcanche in order to preserve the fragile environment, but youll definitely want to have some on when visiting Ek Balam! There are dozens of tree roots that dangling down to the water, making Ik Kil an absolutely beautiful setting (when the cenote isnt packed with hordes of swimmers, anyway!). How to find it and rekindle your small town love, No more Covid-19 test for most arrivals in the United States, Masks are now voluntary in the state of Quintana Roo. There are two sets of stairs that descend into the cenote, one being much steeper than the other. But its worth the drive and, as Cenote Secreto Mayas name suggests, its a bit of a secret still you wont have compete with as many crowds.
Plenty of Water We recommend a reusable water bottle paired with a SteriPento cut down on plastic use when you can, but if youre running low, bottled water is also sold onsite. As an Amazon Associate, Our Escape Clause earns from qualifying purchases. Its an easy, mostly shady walk down a straight gravel road, and we chose to walk in both directions. Driving through town, you will notice many places selling both. The cenote itself is large and mostly enclosed. I hope it helps you to find a relaxing cenote to swim in, and I hope you love Valladolid as much as I do. Owing to its location smack in the middle of the Yucatan peninsula, Valladolid is pretty easy to access from Merida or the Riviera Maya. The lockers and showers are new and spacious, there is plentiful parking, and the cenote itself has a zip line and even a kayak you can take out into the cenote. Ready to visit Ek Balam? Id suggest coming in the morning, taking a refreshing swim before it gets crowded, then hitting the buffet afterward. Weve driven all over the Yucatan peninsula and find the driving extremely easydefinitely easier than driving most places in Europeand tons of fun. Because Valladolid is located in the center of the peninsula, with a slightly higher elevation than the coastal towns of Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, the cenotes in and near Valladolid tend to have more dramatic drops to the water level. There are male and female changing areas with lockers, but you need to bring your own lock. There are areas that are dry and fairly easy to keep your eye on. If it is a hot day and you dont want to walk to the cenote, a bike rental or taxi is recommended. Theres also a small restaurant next to Cenote Xcanchebut more on that below. What makes this cenote special is that it is enclosed, has beautiful stalagmite and stalactite structures and crystal clear water. Tips for Visiting Cenotes from Valladolid. This cenote mainly gets bus groups stopping by in the mornings on their way to Chichen Itza or Ek Balam Mayan ruins.
Theres plenty of parking, an adjoining restaurant, Mayan performers, and decent facilities. We chose to have lunch onsite when visiting Cenote Xcanche, in large part because all of the swimming left us starving. Google Maps | +52 985 856 0721 | Entrance: 30 pesos or free with meal purchase | Hours: CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS AS OF FALL 2021. Were full-time travel bloggers who have been exploring the world since 2016, visiting 50+ countries across 5 continents along the way. Cenote Sac Aua is an open cenote with a small island in the middle. Another option is to simply hire a taxi in town, have them drop you off, and then get their number or arrange for a time for them to come pick you back up. There are just a couple of openings in the ceiling, where the light shines through to illuminate the clear water inside.
The main feature here is the (artificial) waterfall, which adds to the ambiance when youre swimming in the cenote. Most Instagrammable Cenote in Valladolid (Underground Cenote), Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 8 km | Entrance: 120 pesos | Hours: 9 am 5 pm daily. What separates this from other cenotes near Valladolid is the island in the middle of Cenote SAC-AUA, which was formed when the cave roof collapsed upon the cenote below. Though divers have reported seeing a crocodile in a cenote near Akumal, this is an extremely rare occurrence and most Mexican cenotes including all cenotes near Valladolid do not contain crocodiles. Conveniently located just a five-minute walk from the city square, Cenote Zaci is a gorgeous oasis offering a relaxing way to quickly retreat into a bit of nature. During our Ek Balam visit, both tickets were handled seamlessly with one purchase, so there was no need to think much about it! The walks to and from Ek Balam and Cenote Xcanche are fairly shaded, but the ruins themselves are primarily in direct sunlight. Thank you! Cenote Xcanche is a deep cenote. Magical Valladolid, Mexico: Things to Do + Travel Guide, The Ultimate 2 Weeks in Mexico Itinerary for First Time Visitors, 13 Out-Of-This-World Things to Do in Oaxaca, The Ultimate 10 Day Yucatan Road Trip Itinerary, 25 Fascinating Ruins in Mexico to Visit (Mayan, Aztec + Beyond! But considering just how beautiful the cenote is, and how modern the facilities are, Cenote Chukum is for sure one of the best Valladolid cenotes! Hat + Sunglasses Be sure to protect yourself from the sun! There is a wooden walkway around the cenote with a few places to set things down. Heres what to know before you (literally) dive in. To enter Ek Balam, youll need to pay 413 pesos (around $22 USD)/person. We saw more than a few fish swimming in the waters. The menu was limited, but the food was excellent and prices great (80-100 MXN, or between $4-6 USD) for a mealwe paid less there than at an average restaurant in Valladolid. Here on Our Escape Clause, we are dedicated to helping travelers plan their adventures. Although you might be on a self guided trip and have time to visit the two during your time in the area. Check out my full guide to the best Valladolid hotels to find the right one for you! There is so much to see and discover. The entrance booth is located just past the first grouping of souvenir stalls that you pass after buying tickets for Ek Balamor theres a more direct path you can take from the parking lot, too. The distance from the place where you pay to the cenote is 1.5 km ( almost a mile). Once a thriving Mayan city, construction began on Ek Balam as early as 300 BCE, and the city was potentially occupied as late as 16th century CE.
You wont have to go far to find the most popular Valladolid cenotes. You have the option of just paying 150 pesos to use the cenote, or you can spring for a day pass and lounge out at the beautiful pool and enjoy the restaurant. ), How Choosing a Life of Travel Changed Everything, If youd like to consider driving to Ek Balam, we recommend searching for rental cars through. The climb up is steep and tested my fear of heights quite a bit, but the views from the top are well worth the effort. You still are able to visit this cenote yourself if you like. We hope you get to explore all around our area. I travel there frequently and have visited dozens of cenotes. TravelLemming.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. You might miss this town if you blink, but there are a few little things of note here. Today, only a small portion (about one square mile) of Ek Balam is excavated, including the impressive El Torre pyramid. Also note that during the rainy summer season, the water levels can sometimes result in Cenote Suytuns platform being submerged and thus inaccessible. Dont miss a chance to go swimming in Cenote Xcanche!
There is one rope swing where you can drop into the water. After several attempts of mustering up the courage, my partner Clara finally gave it a go! Before you go, be sure to check out my mega guide to Valladolid Mexico its filled with tons of useful information! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If you do visit, you will find bathrooms, changing area with outdoor showers, a small restaurant and hammock area. At times, Cenote Saamal can attract just a few too many tourists for my taste. This cenote is a little off in the distance from the ruins and in a wooded area. Or how can we improve it to help you travel better? Most open cenotes though have more opaque water since leaves and dust fall into them. Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 17 km | Entrance: 100 pesos | Hours: 9 am 5 pm daily. Several trees have even grown on the island, and you can take kayaks or swim around it. This is a great place to visit after the ruins to swim and cool off. We personally drove to Mexico from Valladolid (though heres a very important tip if you choose this route: rent your car before arriving in Valladolid!)
), 25 Wonderful Destinations for Winter in Europe (Sun, Snow, or Christmas! This can be a good place before or after a visit to Ek Balam. Its a reasonably large open cenote that can make for a great way to cool off after a hot morning spent exploring the ruins. Your best bet is to join this cenote bike tour, one of the few running directly from Valladolid to the nearby cenotes. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. The water has a darker hue to is not a crystal clear water cenote.
Stairs have been built that lead you down to the water here at Cenote Fantasma. Eventually, Ek Balam receded into the jungle, and large pockets of its story remain unknown. Here are my 11 favorite cenotes to visit in the Valladolid area: Disclosure: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. Around 45 structures have been mapped, and around 1 square mile (of approximately 12 square kilometers) of the city can be explored today. His travel advice and musings have been featured in high-profile publications like NBC News, Lonely Planet, Mic, and many more. Since most people come to the cenote after visiting the ruins, they want to change clothes. Mexicos Yucatan peninsula is famous for its cenotes, covered or partially open swimming holes fed by underground springs. If you prefer not to drip-dry (or collapse into a hammock for half an hour to dry) after visiting Cenote Xcanche, youll want to be sure to throw a towel into your day bag. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, Im working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA. If you dont want to visit the cenote here at Ek Balam there are some other options nearby. We mainly recommend taking the package with bike and cenote combined. Bathing Suit Dont miss a chance to go swimming in Cenote Xcanche!
For 250 pesos, we got admission, a buffet, lockers, plus life jackets (which are mandatory). This cenote is a little further from Valladolid (about a 40 minute drive). On the path to the entrance, you might be flagged down by other tour operators selling everything from ATV rides to ziplines.
Notify me of follow-up comments by email. We visited Ek Balam in the late afternoon and loved it! Known as El Torre, or The Tower, this structure is one of the largest Mayan ruins to be found on the Yucatan peninsula. Cenote Saamal is located in Hacienda Selva Maya, which features solid facilities with lockers and outdoor showers. The Dzitnup complex is located close to Hacienda Selva Maya, and so a lot of tourists come through these popular cenotes. You can get a combined ticket to enter both cenotes, though annoyingly you have to separately rent a life jacket at each. Even if youre not sure if you want to swim, we recommend bringing itafter sweating through your Ek Balam tour, you might be glad you have it. We found that most of the structures in Ek Balam were able to be at least partially climbed, and the various viewpoints provided great angles to admire the rest of the city.