Cenotes near Valladolid Yucatan - The ideal destination to defeat summer!

Caves are filled with crystalline waters and are stunning natural pools.

The Yucatan Peninsula is made mainly of limestone, so water seeps down and creates spectacular underground rivers and caves that cross the peninsula in every direction.

Limestone is porous and fragile, and over time, the roofs of some of these caves collapse, allowing access to these magnificent places.

In some cases, the whole roof collapses, and this is known as an “Open cenote.” Sometimes, there is only a small entrance and not a lot of light, and this is known as a “Closed cenote.”

Valladolid has plenty of cenotes, and on these hot summer days, a visit to a cenote is the thing you need to cool down and relax.

Some cenotes near Valladolid are:

• Zaci

• X’kekén and Samula

• Suytun

But there are also a few cenotes off the beaten path. Here are two of them, and we hope you find your favorite!

Cenote Sac Aua

This  Cenote is located in the small village of Dzilbay, only 30-40 minutes away from Valladolid. It has a big parking lot, restaurant, bathroom, and other services.

It is an open cenote, and some of the roof material is still in the center, forming a little island where you can bring a chair, hammock, icebox, etc. It's a very nice place and not very crowded, so it's a great option if you want to relax.

The cenote's name, Sac-Aua, means "sacred tree" in Mayan. It was named this way because of the huge tree located at the opening of the cenote.

If you want more details about Cenote Sac Aua, you can check out their website or their Facebook page for information updates. 

Cenote Pueblo Fantasma

Cenote Pueblo Fantasma is part of the neighboring county of Chemax and is only about 20 minutes away from Valladolid.

This place is far away from the crowds and offers a restaurant, palapas to hang your hammock and have a lovely picnic, and also a little shop for beers, sodas, and chips.

Visiting this place is an adventure since they don't have a website or Facebook page (not anymore), and there's only a bit of information available online right now. So, you can always head to Chemax and look for the signs when you get to town!

We love Cenotes that are further, as there is something sacred about them. Remember to avoid wearing chemical repellent, body lotion, and hair products or to rinse before jumping in the cenote.

Happy summer!