You have the option of just paying 150 pesos to use the cenote, or you can spring for a day pass and lounge out at the beautiful pool and enjoy the restaurant. ), How to Actually Enjoy Summer in Venice (13 Important Tips! You can either take bikes or take the tricycle taxi if you dont want to pedal yourself. The cenote itself is large and mostly enclosed. There are several options for entrance fees for the cenote here. You just will need to drive here since there is no public transportation. Its an easy, mostly shady walk down a straight gravel road, and we chose to walk in both directions. Eventually, Ek Balam receded into the jungle, and large pockets of its story remain unknown. There are changing rooms, optional life jackets available for an additional 30 peso rental, and a platform where daring adventures can jump into the water below. Wild and wonderful, Cenote Xcanchesometimes referred to as the Ek Balam Cenote because of its very close locationis among our favorite cenotes in the Yucatan peninsula. Sometimes referred to as the Ek Balam cenote, Cenote Xcanche is located literally within the Ek Balam ruins complex. Since most people come to the cenote after visiting the ruins, they want to change clothes. Cenote Ik Kil is definitely the most crowded of the cenotes near Valladolid, owing to the fact that many Chichen Itza tours stop here and unloaded hordes of visitors coming up for day trips from Cancun or from Playa del Carmen to see the famous Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza. His travel advice and musings have been featured in high-profile publications like NBC News, Lonely Planet, Mic, and many more. Once a thriving Mayan city, construction began on Ek Balam as early as 300 BCE, and the city was potentially occupied as late as 16th century CE. Some tours include Chichen Itza and Ek Balam in one day. One is paid to the state, and one to a federal agency. Dont miss a chance to go swimming in Cenote Xcanche! ). Here is everything you need to know about visiting the cenote and options. Thank you! TravelLemming.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. One of the newest cenotes to open in the Yucatan, Cenote Chukum is one of the most beautiful cave cenotes Ive seen in all of Mexico. You visit as part of a tour that involves strapping on a helmet and navigating your way through the cave complex. What makes this cenote special is that it is enclosed, has beautiful stalagmite and stalactite structures and crystal clear water. But considering just how beautiful the cenote is, and how modern the facilities are, Cenote Chukum is for sure one of the best Valladolid cenotes! We also have a guide to great restaurants in town. If you dont put your things in the locker, you can descend into the cenote and set them on the side. There are dozens of tree roots that dangling down to the water, making Ik Kil an absolutely beautiful setting (when the cenote isnt packed with hordes of swimmers, anyway!). But, if you come in the late morning before the tour buses roll in, its probably the most beautiful cenotes to swim in. Want to avoid dealing with logistics but still see the best of Ek Balam and Cenote Xcanche? Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 5.4 km| Entrance: 80 pesos for adult & 50 pesos for children | Hours: 9 am 6 pm daily. Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 8 km | Entrance: 80 pesos for adult & 50 pesos for children | Hours: 9 am 5 pm daily. Getting Mexico travel insurance is just the sensible thing to do. Valladolid is a charming colonial town just about 30 minutes south of Ek Balam. Although you might be on a self guided trip and have time to visit the two during your time in the area. The crowd loves cheering as people take turns on the rope swing! ), 17 Best Things to Do in Isla Mujeres, Mexicos Laid-Back Island Paradise, How to Take a Traghetto (Cheapest Gondola in Venice! Note: As of my last visit in fall 2021, Cenote Zaci was temporarily closed for renovations. You walk down a winding staircase, put on the mandatory life jacket, and then can either ease into water or grab the rope swing and jump right in.Cenote Oxman is not the largest Valladolid cenote on this list, and so even with fewer swimmers, it can start to feel a little crowded inside. This tour covers your transportation from Cancun, tickets to Ek Balam and a cenote (though not Xcanche), and a guided tour, and is a good option. Some links throughout this site are affiliate links. How to find it and rekindle your small town love, No more Covid-19 test for most arrivals in the United States, Masks are now voluntary in the state of Quintana Roo. Road bike rentals and pedicabs are easy to come by, though. Sunscreen Sunscreen isnt allowed in Cenote Xcanche in order to preserve the fragile environment, but youll definitely want to have some on when visiting Ek Balam! There is an easy-to-use, expansive parking lot onsite that you can use for access to both the ruins and the cenote. If youre visiting Valladolid from Cancun, check out this highly rated cenote tour from Viator. This is the small town you pass through on your way to Ek Balam if you are heading north from Valladolid. Hat + Sunglasses Be sure to protect yourself from the sun! There is also a zipline available for an extra fee. If you want to sample some local specialties, Carnes Concepcion is one of the best places. Sure, its a little touristy, but Cenote Hubiku is still one of my favorite cenotes near Valladolid. Open Cenote Near Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins, Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 38 km | Entrance: 80 pesos | Hours: 8 am 5 pm daily. On the far side you can see the area where they rappel. But, if you dont mind the drive, its well worth a visit! There are areas that are dry and fairly easy to keep your eye on. Around the cenote you will find a large restaurant that offers buffet service, a touristy Mayan village and super touristy Tequila tasting. Required fields are marked *. (+ Tips! Though divers have reported seeing a crocodile in a cenote near Akumal, this is an extremely rare occurrence and most Mexican cenotes including all cenotes near Valladolid do not contain crocodiles. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, Im working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA. To enter Ek Balam, youll need to pay 413 pesos (around $22 USD)/person. Click on a star to rate (you can leave feedback after clicking submit). I use and love World Nomads personally, but be sure to compare policies! While honestly not the most beautiful of the cenotes near Valladolid, you cant argue with the convenient location. Because Valladolid is located in the center of the peninsula, with a slightly higher elevation than the coastal towns of Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, the cenotes in and near Valladolid tend to have more dramatic drops to the water level. Were full-time travel bloggers who have been exploring the world since 2016, visiting 50+ countries across 5 continents along the way. Today, only a small portion (about one square mile) of Ek Balam is excavated, including the impressive El Torre pyramid. Its not only one of the top restaurants in Valladolid, but your cenote entrance ticket will come free with the purchase of a meal. In all Cenote Samula was my least favorite of the two, though that may have been because there was a very upset child swimming whose cries echoes through the cave walls. Theyre located less than a 3-minute walk from the cenote. Ek Balam is located roughly 30 minutes by car from Valladolid, around 2 hours from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Merida. You can get to Valladolid by renting a car and driving, taking the ADO bus, or via tour. For more about visiting Cenote Hubiku, see our article here. Owing to its location smack in the middle of the Yucatan peninsula, Valladolid is pretty easy to access from Merida or the Riviera Maya. If youre staying on the Riviera Maya, a taxi will set you back a pretty penny, but is technically still an option (though not one wed recommendat that point, youre better off with a tour). The cenote itself is stunning. You might miss this town if you blink, but there are a few little things of note here. There are no shallow areas for young children. If youd like to consider driving to Ek Balam, we recommend searching for rental cars through Discover Cars, which will search multiple companies for your dates to find the best combination of price and rental inclusions for your trip! Most cenotes that you can swim in are privately owned and carry some sort of entrance fee, though often this is a relatively small fee of as little as 30 pesos ($1.50 USD). There were only about 15-20 other people at the site with us, and there were plenty of moments we were completely alone with the ruins. Book your guided day trip toEk Balam today! The downside, of course, is that youll be running on someone elses schedule and usually spend a bit more out of pocketbut if youd rather kick back and relax than negotiate with taxi drivers or drive yourself, its the perfect solution. The trail is semi shaded and can be a nice walk if it is not too hot. Your best bet is to join this cenote bike tour, one of the few running directly from Valladolid to the nearby cenotes. This cenote mainly gets bus groups stopping by in the mornings on their way to Chichen Itza or Ek Balam Mayan ruins. Around 45 structures have been mapped, and around 1 square mile (of approximately 12 square kilometers) of the city can be explored today. Cenote Suytun is easily the most famous cenote in Valladolid. Plenty of Water We recommend a reusable water bottle paired with a SteriPento cut down on plastic use when you can, but if youre running low, bottled water is also sold onsite. There are male and female changing areas with lockers, but you need to bring your own lock. After you travel down the trail to the cenote you know you have arrived when you see this sign. Best Cenote to Avoid Crowds (Underground Cenote), Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 10 km | Website | Entrance: 200 pesos for a ticket, lockers, and lifejacket, or 500 pesos with buffet | Hours: 9 am 5 pm daily. If youre physically able, its definitely a unique experience! Theres plenty of parking, an adjoining restaurant, Mayan performers, and decent facilities. It is only possible with a car since there is no public transportation options available nor taxi. Honestly, I did find the buffet a little paltry (especially given the price). You just have to time your visit for the early morning or late afternoon, when the tour buses arent at Cenote Ik Kil. The main feature here is the (artificial) waterfall, which adds to the ambiance when youre swimming in the cenote. Open Cenote With Excellent Pool & Restaurant, Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 33 km | Entrance: 150 pesos (cenote only) or 500 pesos (day pass including pool & restaurant) | Hours: 10 am 5 pm daily. There are also more fully covered underground cave cenotes, which give off the vibe of something in an Indiana Jones movie. If you dont want to visit the cenote here at Ek Balam there are some other options nearby. Purell Hand Sanitizer We carry this everywhere, and never been sorry to have it floating around in our day bag. There is a buffet in a separate building nearby, though personally, Id recommend the option they give to take a hut by the swimming pool and just order food and drink directly.Cenote Oxman itself is a beautiful cenote partially covered and sunken pretty deep in the crowd. My friend Christopher and I visited during a rainstorm, which made for a pretty special experience as water poured down through the narrow opening in the cenote opening. If youre headed to Ek Balam, considering adding in a stop to Cenote Hubiku along the way. Mexicos Yucatan peninsula is famous for its cenotes, covered or partially open swimming holes fed by underground springs. The experience is completely different than visiting a highly touristic site like Tulum or Chichen Itza, and it is absolutely magical! Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Ek Balam ruins are one of the popular sites that people visit in the Yucatan Peninsula. You wont have to go far to find the most popular Valladolid cenotes. If you prefer not to drip-dry (or collapse into a hammock for half an hour to dry) after visiting Cenote Xcanche, youll want to be sure to throw a towel into your day bag. What did you like about this post? Its worth visiting Cenote Ik Kil because it is probably the most beautiful of the open cenotes near Valladolid. and were thrilled with the choice. Boasting vivid water, tree roots that snake down the deep, stone walls, rickety wooden staircases, a wooden swing bridge, and iguanas that like to scitter along the walls, it is truly something special. Since this cenote is large and very beautiful, infrastructure has been added that will allow larger groups to visit at one time. If you are traveling by yourself, you can pay 70 pesos for the entrance and walk to the cenote. Cenote Samula is one of two underground cenotes near Valladolid that together make up the Dzitnup cenote complex, along with Cenote Xkeken. This is the other Dzinitup cenote, and Cenote Xkeken is definitely my favorite of the two. If youre visiting Valladolid, then hitting a few cenotes is an absolute must-do thing for your itinerary. Before you go, be sure to check out my mega guide to Valladolid Mexico its filled with tons of useful information! Generally speaking, these tours will reach Ek Balam in the mid-morning, visit the site, and then take people over to Cenote Xcanche, so mid-morning and mid-day are the most crowded times to visit. Just be aware that taxi drivers have a tendency to bail (happened to me several times). Many tourists choose to just visit Valladolid as part of a day trip from Tulum, Playa del Carmen, or Cancun, often in combination with a tour to Chichen Itza. There are other packages which include the one zip line across the top and rappelling. On the path to the entrance, you might be flagged down by other tour operators selling everything from ATV rides to ziplines. Cenote Xcanche is a deep cenote. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. ), How Choosing a Life of Travel Changed Everything, If youd like to consider driving to Ek Balam, we recommend searching for rental cars through. What separates this from other cenotes near Valladolid is the island in the middle of Cenote SAC-AUA, which was formed when the cave roof collapsed upon the cenote below. ), 25 Wonderful Destinations for Winter in Europe (Sun, Snow, or Christmas! We do have a full guide to Chichen Itza so you can get the most out of your visit there. Cenote Saamal is located in Hacienda Selva Maya, which features solid facilities with lockers and outdoor showers. There is one rope swing where you can drop into the water. I hope it helps you to find a relaxing cenote to swim in, and I hope you love Valladolid as much as I do. Cenote Sac Aua is an open cenote with a small island in the middle. This cenote opened to the public in mid 2017. Personally, I really think Valladolid deserves at least one night to experience it fully. I recommend timing your visit to Cenote Zaci for lunch at the nearby Restaurant Zaci. Finally, if you dont mind a little exercise, some cenotes (especially the Dzitnup cenotes and Hacienda Selva Maya) are fairly easy to access via bike trails from Valladolid, Mexico. Towel If you prefer not to drip-dry (or collapse into a hammock for half an hour to dry) after visiting Cenote Xcanche, youll want to be sure to throw a towel into your day bag. We visited Ek Balam in the late afternoon and loved it! I am going to have to visit here when I go to Ek Balam. Just trying searching Instagram for cenote and youre likely to pull up thousands of photos (far better than my shot above) from the many influencers around the world who flock to Cenote Suytun to get the gram. The menu was limited, but the food was excellent and prices great (80-100 MXN, or between $4-6 USD) for a mealwe paid less there than at an average restaurant in Valladolid. Google Maps | +52 985 856 0721 | Entrance: 30 pesos or free with meal purchase | Hours: CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS AS OF FALL 2021.
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