Mexico is home to the highest number of cenotes in the world, each one unique in its own way. Besides swimming, activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, zip lining, cliff jumping, and fish spas are popularly enjoyed at cenotes.
What are Cenotes?
A cenote is a natural underground swimming pool that has been formed after the collapse of the ceiling of a highly porous limestone cavern.
When the ceiling of the cave gives in, it reveals a gorgeous underground water system.
Most Beautiful Cenotes in Mexico
The Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico is home to over 6,000 gorgeously stunning cenotes. Each cenote is unique; however, some just soar above the others due to their exceptional features.
Gran Cenote
This cenote provides a unique cave-like experience amidst a lush green-jungle setting.
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You don’t necessarily need to dive to enter the caverns. You can swim to most of the caverns here and view the beautiful rock formations, marine life, etc.
Since this sinkhole has a few shallow areas, it’s ideal for families with kids, beginners, and non-swimmers.
The crystal clear waters make it ideal for snorkeling and scuba-diving.
Casa Cenote
Touted to have the clearest water in the world, this cenote of Riviera Maya is located in the midst of a mangrove.
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Its clear turquoise waters make it ideal for the best snorkeling and scuba diving experience.
Unlike the other cenotes, this one is more like a river rather than a sinkhole or a pool.
In some areas, you can see the gorgeous mangrove roots reaching down into the water.
Cenote Selvatica
If you’re looking for a more adventurous cenote, then Selvatica is the one.
Selvatica offers a whole range of adrenaline-pumping activities like cenote zip lining, cliff diving, etc. So, besides the usual cenote swimming, you can enjoy a variety of adventure sports activities here.
Cenote Samula
Yet another enchanting sinkhole is the cenote Samula; underground cave cenote that has a staircase leading to the pool.
The ceiling has a hole in the center, through which sunrays enter and light up the whole cave. Tree roots hanging down from the hole also add to its glorious, heavenly appeal.
Cenote Azul
This cenote is popularly loved because it's open, and not in an underground cave; ideal for claustrophobic people. The shallow sections make it perfect for children and non-swimmers.
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A highlight of this cenote is its fish spa experience; a lot of tiny fishes nibbling at your feet. Cliff jumping is also possible here.
Cenote Dos Ojos
Cenote Dos Ojos is known to be the best diving cenote in the world, and also one of the most popular.
It consists of two sinkholes; one perfect for snorkeling, while the other is perfect for diving.
Dos Ojos is amongst one of the largest cave systems in the world and has even been featured in several movies.
Cenote Ik-Kil
This is yet another unique cenote which requires you to climb down a set of stairs before you can reach the water.
This stunning cenote is surrounded by a huge circular wall and is covered in gorgeous fauna.
Vines and bright green creepers gracefully falling down into the water give it its magical appeal.
There’s no shallow area here, but a few ropes are provided to hold on to when tired.
Rio Secreto
Touted as Mexico’s most magical cenote, this underground cavern is so different from all the other cenotes of Mexico.
Its stalagmite and stalactite formations are simply phenomenal.
With over 12 km of the underground river system to explore, the scuba-diving experience here is truly unique.
This cenote is an underground one and not ideal for claustrophobic people. Nevertheless, the stunning stalagmite formations are totally worth facing your fears.