Cenote dive in Yucatan

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Diving in the cenotes in Yucatan is a real adventure. There are thousands of caves that were formed many years ago by a big comet that hit this area and some of these places are accessible only to divers. The clear water allows you to look down to 50 to 70 meters and observe these special rock formations. The Cenotes are subterranean corridors and filled with fresh water and most of the Cenotes are connected to each other. The stalactite caves have beautiful underground rivers and stalactites and drip stone caves in all forms. Diving in these cenotes is an experience that every diver wants to cross of his bucket list.

In the Yucatán region in Mexico there are an estimated 3,000 cenotes, of which some 1,400 have been studied and registered. You can find them very easily, regularly you see a sign 'cenote' along the way which you can follow. The shape and place of the cenote is always a surprise, some are below and others are above the surface. A rental car is the best way to visit the cenotes, because you can visit the more remote and less touristy cenotes. 

Cenotes are natural swimming pools where everyone wants to take a dive. Because you find so many in Yucatán, you are always close to it, whether you are on holiday in Cancún, Tulum or Playa del Carmen. But there is a lot of difference between them. Cenotes are also seen by the Maya as a holy place; it is a kind of entrance to the underworld. That is why in the past these pools were often used for offerings. 

The Dos Ojos cenotes are the most spectacular ones you can find. Dos Ojos means two eyes and that is exactly what it is: two caves with a surrounding water system, in the form of two eyes. Taking a snorkel tour is magically beautiful. Once you have arrived in the first cave, you are amazed, it is a beautiful and also mysterious place. The second eye of the Dos Ojos is even more beautiful. It is called the bat cave because this cave is inhabited by hundreds of bats. If you visit just one Cenote we recommend this one. The Dos Ojos is a 25 minute drive from Tulum.

Where to stay

Designed for the environmentally conscious traveler seeking a luxurious getaway, Ahau Tulum offers eco-conscious cabanas and huts on the oceanfront.

Enjoy daily yoga lessons and sunrise meditation or venture out to explore the ancient Mayan ruins located minutes away. This is a great eco friendly hotel, which is so important in these days. On booking.com they get an average rating of 8.9.

Best time to visit Yucatan

For the best prices with reasonably low crowds and nice weather, November and early December are perhaps the best times to visit Yucatan. Prices are noticeably higher during the busy season of mid-December to April.  Average temperatures in Yucatan Peninsula vary little. Considering humidity, temperatures feel hot for most of the year. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Yucatan, the hottest months are May, June, and then July. Generally speaking, Mexico's dry season runs from November to April, with the rainy season stretching from May to October. The cenotes are clearest between November and March. Click here for more climate information in Tulum.