There a upwards of 7,000 known cenotes, but the true number is generally thought to be much more. You could spend a lifetime exploring them and just scratch the surface of the total there is to see.
People Also Ask
Unlike the ocean where there can be big waves or a strong undertow, cenotes are closed off – within caves – that protect the calm, azure waters from the elements. This typically makes them an ideal spot for a restful swimming experience.
1. Cenote Dos Ojos. Located halfway between Tulum and Playa del Carmen, Cenote Dos Ojos is filled with sparkling, turquoise water and is one of the best cenotes in Tulum as well as one of the most famous on the Yucatan Peninsula. Wooden stairs lead down to the clear water, where limestone rocks hang low over the cenote ...
Cenotes are formed over centuries by erosion. Rain breaks down the limestone bedrock and causes the ground to cave inwards. This creates a hole in the earth which over decades fills with water - either rain or via underground rivers.
The entrance to the cenote is only a part, because inside, a complex network of underground tunnels is connected to each other. Such is the case of the Sac Actun system, the largest in the world, and its entrance, the Nohoch Nah Chich cenote.
Quintana Roo cenotes are a tourist attraction of sorts because they stay so clean due to the natural filtration process and thanks to the plants inside. In fact, the abundance of plant life in the Mayan jungle helps clean out all impurities before they even reach the surface.
To provide some context as to how Gran Cenote stacks up against your alternative options around Tulum, admission to other cenotes generally costs, on average, about 180-250 pesos, with several options nearby that are significantly cheaper, like Cenote Carwash (about $50 pesos per person) or Cenote Zacil Ha (about $80 ...