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The best cenotes in Valladolid

Valladolid is the best base for cenotes in Yucatán. Cenote Zací is inside the town itself, Saamal, Oxman and Suytun are 10 to 15 minutes away, and Hubiku and X'Canché sit on the road north toward Ek Balam. Dzitnup's two cave cenotes, Xkeken and Samula, are also just outside town, and Chichén Itzá with Cenote Ik Kil is about 45 minutes west.

Quick picks

  1. #1 · Cave cenote

    Cenote Chukum

    Cenote Chukum is a cave cenote with a large roof opening near Valladolid, run as part of Hacienda Chukum with a restaurant, platforms and a zipline over the water.

    Best for: Families, Lunch and swim

    Full guide to Cenote Chukum →

  2. #2 · Cave cenote

    Cenote Xcanahaltún

    Xcanahaltún (also Ka'ana Jaltun) is a family-run cave cenote north-east of Valladolid: a big chamber with holes in the roof, light beams and a blue underground lake reached by a spiral staircase.

    Best for: Quiet swim, Photography

    Full guide to Cenote Xcanahaltún →

  3. #3 · Open cenote

    Cenote Kikil

    Cenote Kikil is an open cenote near Tizimín, north of Valladolid, surrounded by jungle with a rope swing and a deep, clear pool.

    Best for: Swimming, Side trip to Río Lagartos

    Full guide to Cenote Kikil →

  4. #4 · Cave cenote

    Cenote Palomitas

    Palomitas is a large cave-chamber cenote at Yalcobá near Valladolid, with a stalactite dome and kayaks, next to Cenote Agua Dulce.

    Best for: Photography, Swimming

    Full guide to Cenote Palomitas →

  5. #5 · Semi-open cenote

    Cenote Agua Dulce

    Agua Dulce is a semi-open cavern cenote at Yalcobá near Valladolid, reached by a spiral staircase, about 350 m from Palomitas.

    Best for: Snorkeling

    Full guide to Cenote Agua Dulce →

  6. #6 · Cave cenote

    Cenote Suytun

    Cenote Suytun is a cave cenote near Valladolid famous for its round stone platform in the middle of the water, lit at midday by a beam of sunlight through a hole in the roof. It is one of the most photographed cenotes in Mexico.

    Best for: Photography, Light beams, Short visits

    Full guide to Cenote Suytun →

  7. #7 · Semi-open cenote

    Cenote Zací

    Cenote Zací is a large semi-open cenote right in Valladolid town. Stone stairs lead down through a cave mouth to a deep pool under a half-collapsed roof with stalactites. It was once the town's water source and gave its Maya name, Zací ("white hawk"), to the settlement before Valladolid was founded.

    Best for: Walking from town, History, Strong swimmers

    Full guide to Cenote Zací →

  8. #8 · Open cenote

    Cenote Saamal

    Cenote Saamal is a large open cenote at Hacienda Selva Maya, just outside Valladolid. Stone stairs lead down the side of a round sinkhole about 50–60 m across, with hanging roots and an artificial waterfall. It is often compared with Ik Kil but is usually quieter.

    Best for: Ik Kil alternative, Families with life jackets, Lunch stop

    Full guide to Cenote Saamal →

  9. #9 · Open cenote

    Cenote Oxman

    Cenote Oxman is a deep, round cenote at Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman near Valladolid, best known for its rope swing over the water. Steep stairs lead down the inside wall; above, the hacienda has a swimming pool and restaurant.

    Best for: Rope swing, Relaxed day with pool, Couples

    Full guide to Cenote Oxman →

  10. #10 · Cave cenote

    Cenote Hubiku

    Cenote Hubiku is a large cave cenote near Temozón, north of Valladolid. You walk down about 115 stone steps into a vaulted chamber about 50 m wide, lit through an opening in the roof, with a waterfall-like inflow, catfish and hanging roots.

    Best for: Big cave chamber, Pairing with Ek Balam

    Full guide to Cenote Hubiku →

  11. #11 · Semi-open cenote

    Cenote X'Canché

    Cenote X'Canché (also written Xcanche or X-Canche) is a round, semi-open cenote inside the Ek Balam archaeological area north of Valladolid. Wooden stairs lead down high walls covered in roots to a pool about 40 m across with a small waterfall. A community eco-center runs it, with a zipline, rappel and cabins.

    Best for: Ek Balam visitors, Quiet mornings, Adventure add-ons

    Full guide to Cenote X'Canché →

  12. #12 · Cave cenote

    Cenote Xkeken

    A nearby option in the Dzitnup area, easy to combine with a Valladolid trip.

    Best for: Stalactites, Photography, Short visits

    Full guide to Cenote Xkeken →

  13. #13 · Cave cenote

    Cenote Samula

    A nearby option in the Dzitnup area, easy to combine with a Valladolid trip.

    Best for: Sun beam and roots, Photography

    Full guide to Cenote Samula →

Why Valladolid is a great cenote base

Valladolid is a colonial city in eastern Yucatán with a cenote, Zací, right in town and many more within a short drive, including Dzitnup's Xkeken and Samula, Suytun, Oxman and Saamal. Chichén Itzá and Ek Balam are both close.

Staying a night or two lets you reach popular cenotes at opening time, before tour buses from Cancún and Tulum arrive.

Getting around Valladolid's cenotes

Bikes are a popular way to reach Dzitnup and Oxman on flat roads. Taxis and colectivos also go to most cenotes, and a car makes it easy to combine several in one day.

Most cenotes charge entry in cash, so carry pesos.

A one-day cenote plan from Valladolid

Start at Suytun or Dzitnup at opening, visit Oxman or Saamal late morning, then end the day with a swim at Zací in town. Add Chichén Itzá or Ek Balam if you have a full day.

How to get to the cenotes from Valladolid

  • Zací: in Valladolid town, a short walk from the main square.
  • Saamal, Oxman, Suytun and Dzitnup (Xkeken, Samula): roughly 10–15 minutes by taxi, bike or car from the center.
  • X'Canché: inside the Ek Balam archaeological area, about 30 minutes north by car; Hubiku is on the same road near Temozón.
  • From Cancun: about 2 hours by toll highway 180D; ADO buses also run to Valladolid.
  • Yucatán is one hour behind Quintana Roo (Cancun, Tulum) for most of the year, so check opening times in local Yucatán time.

What to bring to the cenotes

  • Cash in pesos; card payment is not reliable at all cenotes.
  • Swimsuit, towel and water shoes for wet stone steps.
  • No regular sunscreen or repellent before swimming; showers are required.
  • A life jacket is often mandatory and sometimes rented separately.

FAQs about cenotes in Valladolid

What is the best cenote in Valladolid?

It depends on what you want: Suytun for the famous platform photo, Zací if you want to walk from town, Oxman for the rope swing, and X'Canché if you are also visiting Ek Balam.

Is there a cenote in Valladolid town?

Yes. Cenote Zací is inside the city, a short walk from the main square. It was once Valladolid's water source.

How many cenotes can you visit in a day from Valladolid?

Three or four is comfortable, for example Zací in the morning, then Dzitnup (Xkeken and Samula share an entrance) and Oxman or Suytun.

Is Valladolid or Tulum better for cenotes?

Valladolid's cenotes are mostly deep sinkholes and caves with stairs down to the water; Tulum's are often shallow, clear snorkeling cenotes. Valladolid is also the closer base for Chichén Itzá.

Do I need a car for cenotes near Valladolid?

No. Zací is walkable, and taxis or rented bikes reach Dzitnup, Saamal, Oxman and Suytun. A car helps for X'Canché, Hubiku and Chichén Itzá.

More cenote areas

New to cenotes? Read what a cenote is and compare the types of cenotes.