The Cobá road (west of town)
Several of the most visited cenotes sit one after another along the Tulum–Cobá road. You can link two or three in a morning.
- Cenote Calavera: about 3 km from town. Small, with a hole to jump into the water.
- Gran Cenote: about 4 km. Crystal-clear water, turtles and caverns; busy from mid-morning.
- Cenote Zacil-Ha: about 8 km. Calm, with a zipline over the water.
- Car Wash (Aktun Ha): about 9 km. Open-air, great for swimming and diving.
Along Highway 307
- Cenote Cristal and Escondido: south of town, surrounded by jungle and quiet.
- Casa Cenote: north towards Tankah, a cenote that meets the sea through mangroves.
- Dos Ojos: further, about 20 km north; leave early and ride back in daylight.
Practical tips
- Go early: before 10 am there are fewer people and the water looks better.
- Bring cash: most charge entry in pesos and prices change.
- Use biodegradable sunscreen or none; many cenotes ask you to shower first.
- Entry tracks can be sandy or unpaved: slow down.
- Ride back before dark; the highway is poorly lit.
Scooter or ATV for the cenotes?
For the Cobá road and Highway 307 a scooter is plenty. If you want jungle dirt tracks, an ATV or the Sport Ride 150cc handles them better.
