vacationbound

Hello. My husband and I will be staying near Playa Del Carmen and Akumal and plan to visit both of those places. We plan to see some of the ruins and snorkel some of the great places in Akumal, but we're also very intrigued by cenotes. I've read about them and they look amazing. We've never been to a cenote. Do people just scuba dive in them or can we snorkel and swim in them as well? If so, can anyone suggest where some are? We'd really love to experience them. Thanks!

sceneisle

While researching cenotes in the Akumal area, I found the web-site hiddenworlds.com. We plan on snorkeling cenotes in this area next spring. If you go, please post a trip report. Thanks.

PAGirl

Try www.alltournative.com - I believe all of their tours include a visit to a cenote - we have been on a couple of them - very good.

vacationbound

Sceneisle: We will be going next month and I will be sure to post a trip reports. Thanks for the website suggestion.

PAGirl: That Jungle Crossing tour looks absolutely amazing. Glad to hear you say that the tour co. is good. I think we may go that route.

Anyone else know of other tours with cenotes, cenotes that we can go to without guides and also, are some conotes than others? Thanks!

pepper131

There are many cenotes that you can visit that aren't part of a tour. A few along the Coba Rd - Gran Cenote best one here.

Manatee Cenote behind Casa Cenote restaurant in Tankah.

Go to cancunmap.com and order the Mayan Riviera map, it shows many cenotes.

The alltournative tour is really good -did it a few years ago. Be sure you know what you are getting into though...you snorkle in a cave with guides who carry waterproof flashlights to light the way-otherwise, it's completely dark. And the ride is fairly rough in the Unimog, but it's the only way back into the jungle. It's a big adventure.

belle

If you just want to SEE cenotes instead of diving into them, don't overlook Aktun Chen and the caves and underground cenotes there. Hidden worlds is just South where you can dive, but at Aktun Chen you must take a rather pricy guided tour through the caves, but I thought well worth the price. It's really cool(temperature wise also)inside too! Spider monkeys abound topside, and one flopped on my head, ruffled up my hair, and fell sound asleep. Like wearing a sweater on my head. You really should rent a car to see the cenotes in the area. No tour group is necessary. The cenote behind Casa Cenote in Tankah used to be a beautiful place years ago, but is surrounded by tacky developments and the now overpriced and too popular restaurant. I doubt very seriously a manatee has been sighted there in awhile. Water is clear though.

hollyfrances

Hi,
Hidden worlds is good, they have been around the longest, before all the development in the area. The founder is a long time diver and is one of the explorers of this immense underground water-cave-river system. They have also worked with Imax and National Geographic. Have fun!

vacationbound

Thanks so much everyone. I really appreciating hearring about the pitch dark arrival to the cenotes. I don't think I could take that and I am so glad that I've been warned.

Are there cenotes that we can get to that don't require passing through such dark (and for me, claustrophic) conditions? I think Belle's tip to rent a car may be best for us, but how do we find the cenotes?

Thank you!

vacationbound

Oh, I forgot to mention... I will definitely post a trip report! Look for it her in June!

vacationbound

I meant herE in June.

summer04

For some EXCELLENT maps that will show locations, go to mapchick.com. I ordered 3 maps from her and they are great!
Also, try Locogringo.com--very informative site.

pepper131

Of all the cenotes I've been in - only the alltourantive cenote tour was done in pitch black/darkness.

Many are completely open to the sky - like a swim/sink hole.

summer04

Check out the Selvatura.com site for a great zip line/cenote tour!