The 15 Best Cenote Tours From Tulum in 2023

Are you planning to join one of the amazing cenote tours from Tulum? You are in the right place. I have selected the 15 most amazing Cenote tours Tulum has to offer. Let me help you find the best one for you.

There are so many cenotes in Tulum surroundings and sometimes it’s difficult to choose which one is the best for us, especially if we have never been to a cenote or if we have little time and so many things we want to see.

➢ Do I need travel insurance in Mexico? Yes, you do! I can never stress enough what a lifesaver it can be in unexpected situations. Although I hope I never need it, it gives me peace of mind to know that whatever happens I am covered. I have been using  Safety Wing and I find it quite fair, covering a lot for its pricing level. Depending on your needs or you can compare different insurance companies on this useful site, TRAVEL INSURANCE MASTER. Make sure you read carefully what’s included before making the purchase. If you are undecided yet you can read my post on the best travel insurance for Mexico for more clarity.

CENOTE TOURS TULUM

Why join a Cenote tour instead of going on your own

✔ Because you have limited time and you want to see as many beautiful places in Mexico as possible

✔ Because you are not comfortable driving on your own in a foreign country

✔ Because you are on a vacation and you want to be taken around so that you can relax

I hear you and got you covered! 🙂

If you don’t know me yet, I am the founder of this colorful site about Mexico where I have lived for 12 years.

My favorite things to do is driving around and finding some new cenote. So much so that I have even founded with a friend a new website exclusively about cenotes and ruins.

However, I totally get that coming to Mexico for a couple of weeks it is difficult to squeeze it all in and see everything you would like to see.

Besides renting a car in a foreign country and driving around it’s not easy, especially if you are traveling to Mexico for the first time.

That is why I thought I would select the best cenote tours from Tulum that will take you around the most beautiful cenotes with a professional guide and driver to show you the way.

After sharing my favorite 15 Cenote tours from Tulum, keep reading as I will give you more practical tips about traveling to Tulum, including DOS and DON’TS and other useful stuff.

But for now, let’s dive into the best Cenote tours from Tulum for incredible underwater adventures and spectacular photography.

I use and trust VIATOR and Get Your Guide for booking tours all around the world. They both have a 24hrs cancellation policy which is very convenient because it allows you to save your space in advance but cancel at the last minute in case anything happens and you can’t travel. To get a full refund you need to cancel 24 hrs before the starting time of the tour.

CENOTE TOURS TULUM

The best 15 cenote tours from Tulum

1. Cenote Triple Adventure Tour in Tulum

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 169 reviews

Duration 4 hours

Cenote Triple Adventure Tour includes:

✔ Round trip transportation from the central meeting point
✔ Snorkel gear
✔ Professional guide
✔ Bottled water
✔ Snacks

This cenotes tour is one of the best tours available as it will take you to visit 3 of the most beautiful cenotes near Tulum, the newly opened Zemway, the more popular semi-open Grand Cenote, and another open cenote on the Riviera Maya, Casa Cenote (also called Cenote Manatī)

You will have enough time to enjoy swimming, snorkeling and even jumping from the platform at Cenote Zemway if you are up for a challenge.

---

2. Cenotes Adventure Tour from Tulum – Small Group – All Inclusive

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 52 reviews

Duration: 7 hours approx

This small group cenote tour from Tulum includes:

✔ Snacks
✔ Lunch
✔ Bottled water (better if you have your recycled water bottle though)
✔ Use of Snorkeling equipment
✔ Pick Up from and to your hotel/apartment in Tulum (to be confirmed at time of booking)
✔ All entrance fees and activities
✔ Guide
✔ Round trip transportation

This incredible tour will take you to explore three of the most spectacular cenotes near Tulum.

You will start with the most popular iconic Grand Cenote, then you will move onto the spectacular stalagmite-filled spooky Taak Bi Ha, and the exclusive underground labyrinth of Aktun Yax Kan.

Adventure seekers will love this tour where you will be swimming among fishes and rock formations, and underwater caves in the mystic womb of mother earth.

If you are short of time this tour includes some of the best cenotes of the Riviera Maya.

---

3. Half-day Cenote & Turtle Adventure

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 43 Reviews

Duration: 4 hrs 30 mins

The half-day cenote and Turtle Adventure includes:

✔ Round trip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
✔ water
✔ Snacks
✔ Lunch
✔ Use of Snorkeling equipment

This Tulum cenote tour will take you to float on the water of an ancient Mayan cenote, navigate through breathtaking caverns and discover the ancient limestone rock formations.

You will then move on to the spectacular Akumal beach where you will be swimming with turtles and other marine creatures in their natural habitat.

Finally, you will enjoy a delicious meal on the beach.

---

4. Small-Group Cenote Adventure Tour

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 40 Reviews

Duration: 5 hrs

The small group cenote adventure tour includes:

✔ Round trip transportation by air-conditioned minivan – to and from the Tulum cenotes
✔ Refreshing drinks
✔ If you have a reusable water bottle, you can refill it in the shop for free
✔ Snacks and Lunch
✔ Use of Snorkeling equipment
✔ GoPro & Video lights rental Local Guide & Divemaster Use of Snorkeling equipment
Use of high-quality dive equipment + free Nitrox 32 (for scuba divers only)

This Tulum cenotes tour is both for divers and snorkelers who love adventures. In fact, you will be taken to the best cenotes near Tulum for exploring the underwater world in the cenotes.

The first stop is at Casa Cenote on the Riviera Maya, where you will be seeing blue crabs, tarpon fish, barracudas, snapper, and other marine life. It will feel like an underwater jungle due to the intricate mangrove roots and the surrounding vegetation.

The second stop is the popular Cenote Dos Ojos (two eyes), where you will snorkel or dive in the twin cenotes.

You will then enjoy a light lunch and reminisce about your exciting diving and snorkeling adventures before getting back to your hotel in Tulum. 

---

5. Snorkeling Adventure Tour in Three Ecosystems

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 88 Reviews

Duration: 7 hrs

The Snorkeling Adventure Tour in three ecosystems includes:

✔ Environmental Management Charge (Reef Tax)
✔ Lunch
✔ Snacks
✔ Professional guide
✔ Use of Snorkeling equipment

This Cenote tour offers the best Snorkeling in Tulum experience. In fact, you will be exploring all the top snorkeling sites of Tulum.

Here are the amazing sites you will go to:

✅ Casa Cenote, located on the Riviera Maya on the way to Playa del Carmen, it’s an open cenote close to the sea surrounded by lush vegetation and thick mangroves.

✅ Tulum Bay – is the coral reef bank right in front of Tulum ruins where you will enjoy the best snorkeling in Tulum.

✅ Cenotes Saac Actum is a spectacular cave cenote where you will be swimming surrounded by incredible rock formations in a surreal landscape,

---

6. Cenote trail jungle bike tour & 3 cenotes in Tulum with lunch

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 67 Reviews

Duration: 5 hours

The Cenote trail jungle bike tour includes:

✔ Professional guide Swim
✔ Mountain Bike & helmet
✔ Snorkel tour of Gran Cenote
✔ Delicious brunch in Meli-Melo jungle lodge (fresh fruit, gourmet sandwich, coffee & juice)
✔ Snorkel & jump in Cenote Escondido & Cristal

Set off for an adventure with this great tour, not for the faint of the heart.

You will be biking from one beautiful cenote to the other and, it’s going to be hot, but so much fun!

You will be biking through the wilderness, cycling along lush the Mayan jungle trails, and stopping to visit three different cenotes where you can cool off in the pristine crystal clear waters.

A knowledgeable guide will stay with you all the time showing you around and sharing his wisdom.

---

7. Jungle Maya Native Park with Ziplines and Cenote Snorkeling – Admission Ticket only

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 108 Reviews

This cenote tour in the Jungle Maya Native Park is all about adventure and includes

✔ entrance fees and all activities
✔ necessary equipment

🔴 Please note this cenote tour doesn’t include transportation.

🔴 Please note that the company doesn’t allow the use of any kind of camera including phones.

If you are up for an extremely thrilling adventure, this cenote tour from Tulum is for you.

After making your way to the Jungle Maya Park (ask your hotel for an honest taxi driver recommendation), you will meet your guide who will give you full instructions about your day in the park.

You will then be able to wander through the jungle, fly through the treetops on a zipline, rappel into a cenote, and swim and snorkel in an underground river.

---

8. Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid Tour from Tulum

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 43 Reviews

Duration: 11 hrs

This tour to Chichen- Itza, Valladolid and cenote from Tulum Includes

✔ Hotel pickup and drop-off (Tulum city center and Tulum Hotel Zone)
✔ Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
✔ Tour guide
✔ All entrance fees (Chichen Itza and cenote)Lunch, snacks, and water

This is a classic tour that I couldn’t leave out. Besides visiting the archaeological site of Tulum, going to Chichen-Itza is another MUST.

So why not combine it with a visit to one of the spectacular cenotes near Chichen Itza and a visit to the colonial Valladolid? Includes also a delicious local lunch to enjoy some authentic Mexican food!

If it’s your first time in Mexico you should definitely join this tour.

---

9. Tulum archaeological site and cenotes tour

4.5 ⭐ – 883 Reviews

Duration: 5-6 hrs

This tour to the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum and Cenotes includes:

✔ Multilingual guided tour of Tulum Archeological site
✔ Visit two cenotes, open and underground.
✔ Round trip transportation with air-conditioned

🔴 The entrance to Tulum archaeological site and the cenotes are not included

If you haven’t seen the Mayan Ruins of Tulum you must go with a guide first if you want to learn about ancient Mayan history besides enjoying the spectacular views of the Caribbean sea from the old city.

This tour is the perfect combination of the cultural site and some of the best natural wonders of Mexico, the cenotes.

The tour includes a guided visit to Tulum Archaeological Site and Cenote Chen Há and Mariposa.

---

10. Selva Maya Eco Adventure Park: Ziplining, Hanging Bridges, Rappelling, and Cenote

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 584 Reviews

Duration: 4 hrs approx

Selva Maya Eco Adventure Park tour includes:

✔ Bottled water
✔ Lunch (Mayan pulled pork tacos, Mayan pulled chicken tacos, rice, salsas, flavored water and one beer or one soda)
✔ Entrance fees and all activities
✔ All necessary equipment
✔ Professional guide

🔴 Please note the transportation is not included in the tour

🔴 SELVA MAYA is a different place from Jungle Maya – do not get confused! 🙂

If you love extreme adventure this Cenotes tour offers a unique experience that you will never forget.

After you make your own way to Selva Maya Eco Adventure Park in Tulum at the scheduled time you will meet your tour guide and together with your group you will board an all-terrain vehicle for a roughly 3-mile ride to the ziplining base in the jungle, where you will be handed over your gear and go through a quick safety briefing.

Then, fly down a series of nine ziplines and five hanging bridges traversing the rainforest canopy.

Continue your adventure by scaling an 18-foot tall (5.4 meters) rock climbing pyramid; rappel down the other side while overlooking a beautiful cenote.

Once you are back on the ground you will be equipped with a snorkel mask and life jacket to enjoy two cenotes: one semi-open cenote where you can relax or cliff jump, and one cavern cenote where you can snorkel to see stalactites and stalagmites.

At the end of the tour, you will enjoy a delicious local meal based on rice, chicken tacos, pulled pork tacos, salsas, and one beer or soda.

Then you will be ready to head back to your hotel in Tulum.

Make sure you tell your taxi driver at what time to pick you up. Or you can get on the federal highway and hop on a local minivan (colectivo) towards Tulum.

---

CENOTE TOURS TULUM

Private cenote tours Tulum

If you want to book an organized tour but you are not fond of big groups, you can book one all for yourself or your small party.

There are many options for private cenote tours and the tour guide will be more flexible on the schedule and more attentive to your needs because there are fewer people to look after.

If there is a budget this is an ideal solution. Here below my favorite private tours to the Tulum cenotes

11. The best Cenotes in Yucatan Peninsula- Suytun & Oxman (Private Tour)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 65 Reviews

Duration: 8 hrs

This amazing private tour to the best cenotes in Yucatan includes:

✔ Round trip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
✔ Access to all the cenotes
✔ water
✔ lunch

This private guided tour is the perfect combination of Insta-famous cenotes and off-the-beaten-path places.

In fact, you will go first to the popular cave Cenote Suytun to catch some fabulous pictures before the crowds get in, and then you will be moving on to the beautiful open cenote Oxman.

After a local lunch in the pretty colonial town of Valladolid, you will visit a lesser-known cenote called Xux-ha for swimming and snorkeling besides more amazing pictures.

It’s the most complete tour filled with some cultural activities and adventures!

---

12. Cenote & Snorkeling Tour with Turtles in Akumal (Private tour)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 38 Reviews

Duration 5 hours (approx)

This cenote and Snorkeling with Turtles in Akumal tour includes:

✔ lunch
✔ guide
✔ entrance fees
✔ snorkeling gear

This beautiful private tour includes some of my favorite places in the Riviera Maya, Cenote Taak-bi-ha, one of the most spectacular cave cenotes, and Akumal beach, the only beach on the Riviera Maya where you can swim with the turtle from the shore. (The turtle are in their natural habitat- they are not kept in captivity).

---

TULUM CENOTE TOURS

The best Tulum Cenote Diving tours

13. Cenote Diving for First-Time Divers and for Refresher Dives in Tulum

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 58 Reviews

Duration: 4 hrs 30 minutes approx

This Cenote Diving tour includes:

✔ Equipment
✔ Round trip transportation from the Diving Center to the cenote
✔ Water

Whether you are completely new to diving or looking to refresh your scuba skills after an extended break, this cenote tour will be the perfect opportunity for you, while exploring the Yucatan Peninsula underwater world.

After a safety orientation, you will move on to the spectacular Casa Cenote, one of the perfect cenotes for beginner divers.

You will do some practice in shallow water first and then you will immerse yourself (literally) into the wonderful world of the cenotes.

---

14. 2-Tank Cenote Certified Dive in Tulum

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 179 Reviews

Duration: 5 hrs approx

This 2-tank Cenote Certified Dive from Tulum includes:

✔ All taxes, fees, and handling charges
✔ Equipment
✔ Round trip transportation from the Diving Center to the cenote
✔ Water

Different from the above-mentioned Cenote Diving Tour from Tulum, this one is exclusively for certified divers who want to try their skills in the spectacular cenotes and caverns.

The highlight of this tour is the personalized attention on this small-group tour which is limited to just 4 divers.

► Note: You must show a diving certification to participate

In this cenotes tour, you will enjoy two dives in two different at different cenote locations such as Cenote Dos Ojos, Casa Cenote, and Gran Cenote, depending on your preference and skill level.

---

15. Amazing cenote diving in Cenote Kukulcan and Little Brother with The Cenote Guy!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 53 Reviews

Duration: 6 hrs (approx)

INCLUDED

✔ Transportation from Playa del Carmen Downtown

✔ A Certified Full Cave Diver & Instructor Guide

✔ Full equipment

✔ Weights, Flashlight, Tanks

✔ Snacks & Drinks | Lunch

NOT INCLUDED

🚫 Entrance Fees (to be paid in cash in MXN directly to the Cenote): $250 MXN ($15 USD)

❓ NITROX is available on request (for certified divers only)

🚫 Transportation from Tulum or a different area

Cenote diving in Kukulkán and Little Brother are two of the best cenote for diving in the Riviera Maya.

Both cenotes have a sharp layer of Haloclines that make them utterly captivating

Kukulkán is a first-class dive due to its beautiful ray of light effects, curtains of lasers, and brightness.

Little Brother is ideal for adventurers, it has a very diversified zig-zag circuit guideline.

The cenote guy guarantees that diving in both Kukulkán and Little Brother is an incredible experience that will make you just want to dive more!

There is also a special gift for Let’s travel to Mexico readers. Tell them you find them on this website and you will get ONE of their cool Tshirt to show off with your friends 🙂 Don’t forget!

---

16. Discover Freediving in a Cenote in Tulum

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 21 Reviews

Duration: 4hrs 30 mins (approx)

This Discover freediving in a cenote tour is organized by the best-rated free diving school in Tulum and I wouldn’t want to miss this experience.

Your instructor Esteban is a passionate scuba diver and free diver with 7 years of experience in the Yucatan peninsula.

He will teach you to approach your dives with an open, child-like mindset to ensure intuitive learning without overthinking.

No previous diving or freediving experience is necessary to participate in this activity.

But you need to be in good health with no heart problems or other serious medical conditions

---

CENOTE TOURS TULUM

What is a cenote

We have been talking about visiting the beautiful cenotes but what are the cenotes, actually?

I have explained it in many of my posts about Cenotes if you have just checked in to this site you may have not seen my other posts. So here is for you a brief explanation of what the world-famous Mexican Cenotes are.

A cenote is a sinkhole, or a well, of freshwater that forms when the limestone soil collapse.

These kinds of sinkholes exist in many other parts of this world but only in Mexico and more precisely in the Yucatan Peninsula they are called Cenote.

That is because the word cenote comes from the wrong Spanish pronunciation of the Yucatan Mayan word ts’ono’ot (dzonot) which means “well with water”

The cenotes were in fact a very important aspect of the Mayan Civilization not only because they were their only source of water (in fact, did you notice that there are no rivers in the Yucatan Peninsula?) but they were also considered sacred places that connected the earthly world with the underworld where the gods lived.

Therefore cenotes were also used as sacred places used by the Mayans for their religious ceremonies.

The local authorities say that there are about 6000 cenotes scattered around the Yucatan peninsula including those that haven’t been cleaned for tourism purposes.

Nowadays the majority of the cenotes belong to the Mayan communities (called Ejidos) who are responsible for their conditions and development and they are their source of income.

Unfortunately, many cenotes, especially in the State of Quintana Roo have been bought by big corporations and made tourist parks with little or no interest in preserving the Mayan culture but exploiting it.

Anyway, let’s leave the politics behind and go back to the spectacular cenotes.

There are 3 types of cenotes depending on their shape

• Open Cenotes

Open Cenotes look like lakes and are mostly seen in Quintana Roo, along the Riviera Maya. Some examples are Laguna Kaan Luum, Cenote Corazon, Cenote Azul.

• Semi-Open Cenotes

Semi-Open cenotes are quite spectacular and are halfway under a rocky roof and partly uncovered. The most famous ones are Cenote Dos Ojos and Grand Cenote.

• Cave Cenotes

The cave cenotes are completely underground and you can enter by man-made stairs, usually made with wood or rocks. Some of the most beautiful cave cenotes are the Taak-bi-ha Cenote or Choj-ha

---

TULUM CENOTE TOURS

How to visit a cenote with an eco-friendly approach

We all know how to enjoy a cenote and how refreshing and fun they are. However, we need to keep in mind that they are part of a very fragile ecosystem that we need to keep preserved and healthy.

How? with our behavior in full respect of nature, just like we respect all the things we love.

Here are some basic rules to follow to protect the environment.

✅ Shower before entering the water. the product you use on your skin can damage and pollute the freshwater and its inhabitant

🚫 Don’t use sun protectors or repellent before swimming ( for the above reasons)

🚫 Don’t hang onto the roots, stalactites stalagmites, or plants

🚫 Don’t litter

🚫 Don’t be loud or play loud music

✅ Respect the other visitors as much as your surroundings in every way.

✅ if you cannot swim well or feel unsafe rent a life jacket, don’t play the hero

---

CENOTE TOURS TULUM

What to pack for cenotes tour

✔ Quick Dry Towel in microfiber

✔ Water shoes

✔ Comfortable swimsuit

✔ A change of swimsuit (dry)

✔ Gopro

✔ Snorkeling gear

✔ Ecological sun protector to use when you come out of the water ONLY

✔ Mosquito repellent to use when you come out of the water ONLY

✔ Rashguard

✔ Waterproof phone pouch

✔ Cash for paying the entrance if it’s not included in the tour( they usually don’t accept credit cards), for tipping or snacks

---

Tulum cenotes tour FAQ

How much does it cost to go to a cenote in Tulum?

It depends the cenote parks with more activities tend to charge more than the single cenote where you just swim and chill out. Prices range from 5 USD up to 35 USD

Can you visit Tulum cenotes without a tour?

Yes, absolutely. You can check out all the amazing cenotes around Tulum in my guide and pick the one you like the most.

Then you can either go by taxi or rent a car. Some cenotes can be reachable by bike as you will see.

Where are the best cenotes in Tulum?

There are so many amazing cenotes in Tulum, it’s really hard to tell. My favorite one is Cenote Corazon for example or Laguna Kaan Luum, while the Coba Cenotes are the most beautiful cave cenotes.

How long is the cenote tour?

Cenote tours can vary from half-day to 7 or 8 hours depending on what they include. In this post, I have included the duration of each tour, just below the ratings. 🙂

How cold is the water in a cenote?

Water in a cenote can be around 75°F or 27°C

---

The best cenote tours from Tulum: final thoughts

I am glad you made it to the end. It was quite a long post. I hope the cenote tours from Tulum that I have selected for you were to your liking. I know it’s difficult to choose among so many great options.

Just think about what you like and choose the tours that are the best fit for you. Keep in mind that the majority of the cenotes near Tulum offer some of the best snorkeling in Mexico so you cannot go wrong!

If you don’t like crowds just avoid the ones that are more popular and opt for private tours so that you will be by yourself and the guide will tailor your tour according to your needs.

Whatever you decide I hope you have fun!!

---

Do you need some help in planning your trip to Tulum?

👇Download your free guide 👇

6 Things you MUST know before traveling to TULUM

SEND ME THE FREE PDF GUIDE

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

Built with ConvertKit

Or check out some useful articles

► The 13 Best Cheap Hotels in Tulum

► The 17 Best Luxury Hotels in Tulum Beach and DownTown

► Essential guide to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere to read before booking your tour

► Playa del Carmen vs Tulum: which one is better?

► 22 exquisite vacation rentals and Airbnb in Tulum

► The perfect 3 to 10 days Tulum Itinerary + practical tips

► 15 Memorable Day Trips from Tulum

► Cancun vs Tulum: which one is the best beach destination in Mexico?

► When is the best time to go to Tulum?

► A thorough guide to the best Tulum beach clubs