CENOTE PASS

From your hotel

Cenotes near Grand Palladium Riviera Maya

28 cenotes mapped within 60 km, nearest first. The closest is about 15 min by road.

Cenote Pass is not affiliated with, endorsed by or representing Grand Palladium Riviera Maya. The hotel's name is used only as a reference point to measure from.

This page covers: Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa · Unico 20° N 87° W.

The closest cenotes

  1. Cenote Azulopen6 km · 15 min
  2. Cenote Cristalinoopen6 km · 15 min
  3. Cenote Chikin Hacavern6 km · 15 min
  4. Cenote Jardín del Edénopen16 km · 25 min
  5. Cenote Dos Palmas17 km · 25 min
  6. Cenote Nicte-Ha17 km · 25 min
  7. Cenote Dos Ojoscave17 km · 25 min
  8. Cenote Yax Kinopen19 km · 30 min
  9. Cenote Dreamgatecavern19 km · 30 min
  10. Cenote Yaxmuulcave20 km · 30 min
  11. Casa Cenoteopen23 km · 35 min
  12. Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha)open28 km · 40 min
  13. Cenote Chaak Tun28 km · 40 min
  14. Cenote Zacil-Haopen28 km · 40 min
  15. Gran Cenotecavern29 km · 45 min

Distances are straight lines; the drive is an estimate stretched for real roads. We hold no opening hours and no confirmed prices for any of these — check the listing before you set out.

What a cenote is

A sinkhole in limestone that exposes the groundwater underneath. The Yucatán peninsula has almost no surface rivers — rain soaks straight through porous rock into one connected aquifer, and a cenote is a place where the roof collapsed and you can see in.

They come in four types, which are one sinkhole at four ages — open, semi-open, cavern and cave. Which one you want depends on light, temperature and whether it is raining.

What to expect at the gate

  • Payment is almost always cash at the gate, and entry, a locker and a life jacket are often separate payments to different people.
  • You will be asked to shower before getting in. It is not a formality — it takes off sunscreen and repellent before they reach water people drink.
  • The life jacket is usually a condition of entry, however well you swim.
  • Go early. Almost all of them are calm at opening and busy from eleven.

The full etiquette guide →

What to bring

  • Cash in small notes
  • A quick-dry towel
  • A long-sleeved rash guard instead of sunscreen
  • Water shoes — limestone is sharp and slick at once
  • A dry bag for your phone

Why sunscreen is banned · Build your full packing list

Common questions

Are there cenotes near Grand Palladium Riviera Maya?
Yes. We have 28 cenotes mapped within 60 km, and the closest, Cenote Azul, is about 6 km away — roughly 15 min by road.
What is a cenote?
A sinkhole in limestone that exposes the groundwater beneath. The peninsula has almost no rivers — rain soaks through the rock into one connected aquifer, and a cenote is where the roof collapsed and you can see in.
Can I go on my own, or do I need a tour?
Almost every cenote charges at the gate and needs no booking. You can arrive by hire car, taxi or colectivo. A tour saves you the transport, not the entry fee.
What should I bring?
Cash in small notes, a towel, a long-sleeved rash guard and water shoes. No sunscreen or repellent — almost every cenote bans both, and there is a rinse shower at the gate.

Plan the whole day

One cenote in the morning, lunch, and a ruin or a town in the afternoon — with the driving counted.