Cenotes of the Yucatán
Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Cenotes of the Yucatán is a route through the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. It follows a network of secondary roads through the interior of the peninsula which the Mexican government has dubbed La Ruta de los Cenotes (The Route of the Cenotes).
UnderstandThe underground river systems of the Yucatan flow beneath the entire peninsula.
PrepareSome cenotes are privately owned while others are run by local Mayan communities such is the case of Yokdzonot Cenote nearby Chichen Itza; if you go, they will provide you with a life jacket for a small fee.
Get inCancún International Airport (CUN); Cozumel International Airport (CZM) and Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport (MID) in Merida are the most popular entry points to the Yucatan peninsula from all over Mexico.
Fees and permitsMany are on private land and accessible only with permission. Most are basically inaccessible by normal means but dozens are open to the public. Entrance fees vary from M$50 to M$200 for cenotes managed by locals.
Do
DriveParts of the route are unpaved. It is listed in Spanish touring guides as a corredor turístico, and is marked in a number of places. At the eastern terminus on Highway 307, there is an archway constructed of concrete.
Stay safeLock your doors and be careful of cenotes where there is no supervision or where the parking areas are remote. People have had their cars broken into and items stolen.
Go nextThousands of cenotes are found in every corner of the Yucatan Peninsula. Many are largely unknown to foreign travelers but are open to the public. Some destinations with nearby publicly open cenotes include:
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Cenotes of the Yucatán" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons