Gran Cenote

✅ Positives: Stunning clear blue water where you can spot turtles, bats, iguanas, and more. You can swim under a cave to reach the other side of the cenote’s hole. Life jackets and goggles are included with the ticket. Clean restrooms and strong showers. Very easy to access from Tulum with just a short ride. ❌ Negatives: A bit overpriced compared to other cenotes like Santa Cruz (MXN 500 vs 300 per person). 🤷 OK: Lockers available for MXN 30, but for the entry price they should be included. Easy parking, but no shade — your car will be very hot on the way back. Overall: Beautiful cenote experience with great facilities, but be prepared for the higher price.

100/10. This place was beyond beautiful. Went around 11am and there was quite a lot of people but it’s very peaceful. Everyone’s very mellow & doing their own thing. Parking free, entry fee was 500 pesos per person. This includes life jacket, access to cenote, and goggles. They made you rinse with cold water to ensure you keep water clean &you are not allowed to wear any sunscreen. We needed to give the guy an ID for goggles which was okay. We paid 30 pesos for a locker to keep my bag but other people did just leave their stuff out. Water is cold but you get used to it. It is so so beautiful, the water is super clean and clear and blue. You can see the fish swimming around you and there’s always turtles. I so recommend this cenote.

Off the beaten path, but worth it! Gran Cenote is a beautiful and unique experience if you’re visiting Tulum! The water is crystal clear and refreshing—definitely on the colder side, but perfect for a hot day. It’s a relaxing spot to float around and look beneath the surface; the underwater views and cave formations are stunning, especially if you bring your own gear or rent some. Entry is $10 USD, which includes a life vest only. If you want goggles or snorkel gear, it’s an additional $25—so just be aware of the extra cost. Also, a heads-up: the staff only accepts exact cash and doesn’t offer change, which can be a little inconvenient if you’re not prepared. Overall, it’s a peaceful and memorable experience, especially if you enjoy nature and being in the water. Just come ready with the right amount of cash and consider bringing your own snorkel gear to save a bit!

We visited Gran Cenote in Tulum with the family early in the morning and it was perfect – only a couple of other people around. The water is crystal clear, and there were turtles everywhere, swimming peacefully all around us. It’s a truly beautiful spot and well worth a visit if you’re in Tulum.

I would say it’s overrated for $30.00 USD. The attraction features a small cave pool with some small fish and a small turtle enclosure. There are areas for families to have lunch and a tanning area available. Additionally, lockers can be rented for 30 pesos, and you can exchange your passport for goggles while you’re there.

The name might suggest something grand, but the cenote itself is actually quite small. When we visited, it was very crowded, which made it hard to truly enjoy the experience or swim around comfortably. Unfortunately, the staff wasn’t very welcoming either — a noticeable contrast compared to other cenotes in the area. That said, the turtles were adorable and definitely a highlight. There’s also a grassy area where you can relax and dry off in the sun, but bring mosquito repellent — they’re relentless. Overall, it’s an okay spot, but there are better cenote experiences nearby, like Sac Actun or Dos Ojos.

nice afternoon. great break on a hot day. off season so not busy at all. cool water, and lots of turtles. pretty cool place.

Honestly worth it. We were hesitant to go, and chose to visit smaller cenotes. But Gran Cenote is popular for a reason! Really cool snorkeling and SO MANY TURTLES!!!!

First off, do not use Apple maps to find this place as it will divert you to some dive shop in the middle of town. You'll need to use Google maps to get you to the exact location. This was our very first cenote on this trip. It's 500 pesos for adults and 250 pesos for kids that are less than 4'5" or so. Cash only. (If paying in US dollars, it's $30 US and $15 for children.) Be sure to collect your ticket. There is free parking out front as well. Once you go in, there are outdoor showers that you are expected to use to rinse off. No sunscreen is allowed. And before you get your Personal Flotation Device (PFD), they will check that you have showered. However, no one is actually watching you as you rinse off as some reviews have mentioned. They'll also provide a snorkeling mask too. You'll need to walk down some stairs and there's an option to rent a locker for 30 pesos. Some people left their belongings unattended, but you'll get a key for your locker and they'll hold your ID card until you return the key. It's a small area to snorkel around and you'll see a lot of turtles. There are some darker areas, and a waterproof flashlight would have been very useful during those parts. The water is super clear, so let's keep it that way. There's a large grassy area to dry off and relax. I would suggest bringing some snacks if you want to relax out in the sun because it does get cold in the water after awhile. There are no in and out privileges though. Overall, it's a nice little cenote to visit. I would recommend 1-2 hours depending on how much time you want to swim around. Park hours: 8:10 am to 4:45 pm, last entrance at 4:15 pm.

The only tourist thing I did during my trip and it didn't disappoint. I heard there are a lot of cenotes so it was hard to choose one but I'm glad we decided to come here. I recommend renting a vehicle as parking is free at the entrance but you could taxi here, just harder to get one leaving. It's about $20 usd for admission (they take credit card) which includes your life jacket and goggles. They have areas to sun tan, picnic spots and showers but no in and outs. There's 2 entrances down to the cenote and you can swim through to each side. The water was beautiful and clear with little turtles and bats in the cave. If you bring valuables, there are lockers you can rent to store your belongs. I've been to a couple other cenotes and I have to say this was the nicest and biggest one I've been to so far. I would recommend checking out this one when in Tulum.

One of the best cenotes in Tulum. The entrance cost at the time of this review was 500 pesos in cash per person. They didn't have any ATM and they didnt accept credit. Locker rental was 30 pesos and equipment rental (livejacket) was included, just need to leave a security (ID, passport, etc) The experience was amazing as you get to swim along fish and turtles. You get to see them in action underwater. The sights underwater are incredible. The water is pretty clear and a bit chilly at the beginning but as you keep on swimming your body temperature adapts to it and it gets used to it Overall, it was really pretty and an amazing experience. Definitely worth coming here and checking it out. : )

- you should block off 1 hour, max 1.5 hours which include time in cenote then drying off/sunbathing/returning for a second lap around. - 500 pesos to enter and you get a free life jacket to wear. - $30 to rent a locker but you don't need. Everyone just puts their stuff on the ground somewhere. -bring snacks/water with you! There is nothing for sale inside.

This was a pretty cute and interesting stop. The staff was nice but make sure to bring an ID for swimming gear. Price was $30USD or 500MXN but I had a good time for 2 hours. Also the turtles were adorable!!!

I'm not gonna lie, I almost chickened out coming here because I was not sure what kind of creepy critters I would encounter, as I am not a fan of getting super close with nature. But after getting myself to go, I would have completely kicked myself in the butt if I didn't, because it was AMAZING! There are so many different cenotes around Tulum and a hyped up attraction to see, and I ended up choosing to check out Gran Cenote because it was one of the biggest and most popular. When everybody says to get here early, listen to them. We got here around 10 and there was hardly anyone else, but once 12 rolled around it started to get a little overwhelming. It was 500 pesos to get in, which was fine because you could stay as long as you wanted and it included snorkeling gear. You're also required to use the outdoor shower before getting in and to put on a life jacket. They also have lockers for a few extra bucks. There were so many turtles and fish in the water, and there was just so much to see. There are also a couple caves that have bats hanging everywhere, and even though I was scared to go in at first, it ended up being really awesome to swim through! You can't come to Tulum and not visit a cenote. And if you're stuck on which one to visit, Gran Cenote is a wonderful option!

Enjoyed swimming in the fresh water. great experience. Clean bathrooms too for changing clothes.

My first time traveling to Mexico so booking a tour to see the ruins and a cenote was a must! We have no regrets as the water was so beautiful. When you first get in, it's cold but after being in for awhile, it feels nice, especially because it was so humid that day. I didn't realize we were swimming wish fishes and turtles until I put my phone under water. There are also lockers you can rent to put your valuables in. I loved every single moment of it.

After seeing Gran Cenote everywhere on TikTok and travel blogs, my friends and I decided we had to come. We had to pay $25 USD or 500 pesos in cash per person. Come with cash at hand - there is no ATM! Honestly the cenote was much smaller than we expected at first. There were stairs leading down to the hole. At the bottom you had to pay another 30 pesos for a locker. They make you shower and get your hair wet before getting a life jacket to enter the water. You also need to present your ID for up to 3 snorkeling goggles + mouthpieces. We were honestly not entirely having it up to this point because we were expecting so much more but then we went in the water. Definitely put your snorkeling gear on because WOW. The sights underwater are incredible. You get to swim with fish and turtles and explore the underwater caves. There's also another section which you can swim or walk to - this is where the photo spot is - a little further down. Overall, it was really pretty but there's definitely way more to see underwater than above.

We went to several cenotes and this was by far the best. They ask you to shower on site before entering the water, there's a lot to explore. Great place to spend a few hours out of the sun.

took a short taxi ride outside of central Tulum to This natural gem. Funny story actually. My friends and I were in the taxi over as a rain cloud just starts pouring, and we're in the car thinking our plans are ruined. Upon arriving, the rain stopped and the warm weather was still very nice for a swim since the cenote water wasn't very cold at all. The water clarity and land formation is beautiful and made it all so worth it. There is a lot water space to swim around and even between the inter connecting cenote holes. We spent a couple hours here and used the goggles and snorkels provided. So much fun!

Love that it is right near tulum and also right off the main road. You can bring food in. There is a seating area with tables and chairs where you can eat. There is a big grass area where you can sun tan a bit. Life jackets are mandatory. You can rent a locker by the cenote for about 30 pesos. This cenote has been the clearest water to swim in and the turtles are worth the expensive ticket entry. The caves were mesmerizing and it also makes you feel a sense of mystery and daring ness going to the darkness.

We were staying in Cozumel and made the trek. It was a rough ferry ride ($25 including round trip) long bus ride ($5) and taxi (200 pesos) to arrive here. The entry fee was 300 pesos which included life jackets. Expensive trek, but seeing and then swimming in a cenote was worth it. Then to swim in the cave with bats over your head was so cool. The water is so clear and turtles are hanging out on the edge of the water on some of the logs. It was a bit crowded, but people were respectful of space during a pandemic. It started to rain and we got out of the cenote to go check on our things. We did not use the lockers but found some nice people to watch our things. You can rent equipment, but we brought our own.

Super cute turtles! They have lockers to put your things in so you don't have to leave it in the car. Pretty reasonable pricing. There are others Cenotes close by that are not as packed but you can't bring your phone. You literally have to dive into a small cave and crawl. Both are worth it. Wish they were more turtles. But you'll also find bats in the caves and lizards in the holes. Such a great time can't wait to come back.

The cenote is was beautiful. This is my first cenote so I don't have any to compare this one too but enjoyed my first experience. Lots of turtles and little fish swimming around. The snorkeling is really cool and back in the caves of the cenote there are bats flying around, which was also cool. There is no diving or jumping into the cenote, no swing ropes or anything like that. There are ladders around that allow you to enter and exit the cenote. The cost is $25 to enter and I want to say we spent about an hour there before we left. Wasn't too crowded, not a lot of space to put your towel down so I imagine on really crowded days, you'd probably not have anywhere to sit down around the cenote, but there are lockers down there for your things if you bring your ID. We did not know the ID was required for the lockers as the sign said it was required to rent a snorkel, which we did not need since we brought our own.

This is a must do for us from now on it was SO fun and beautiful! Our driver took us here and got us situated. You pay a small amount to get in but once you're in you can stay as long as you want - or as long as their open lol. They have bathrooms on site with changing rooms so we brought our towels and got into our bathing suits. You must shower before entering the cenotes so we did that and then we left our things on a table (there's plenty of areas to sit and relax or have a picnic too and that's where we left our things) I think there are lockers but we only had our clothes and if someone wanted to take them from us, we'd live lol. Its pretty easy to figure out where to go next, you go down these stairs and are in the area where you can snorkel (for an additional fee) or you can just jump on in. The water was cool and crystal clear and there are turtles swimming around which was super cool. There were even little babies which were SO adorable. Where the water gets deep they do have ropes to grab hold of if you're not a strong swimmer. We laughed so hard using the rope because of one person pushed down on it you'd go down with it and i was trying to keep my camera in the air (even though its waterproof I don't always trust that it REALLY is) and then I found myself up to my forehead in water but still holding the rope. I prefered the shallow areas where I could just enjoy the beauty of it all. The caves you swim under are pretty crazy with the bats flying above you - that can be a little scary but I just pushed through those areas and got where there were less cavern. They don't bother you. I highly recommend this. Its probably one of the more touristy ones but it was the perfect experience for us.

They say this is a great beginner's cenote, because it's on the smaller side, access to the water is down an easy flight of stairs, and the layout is uncomplicated. When we were contemplating which of the many cenotes in Tulum to visit, we were concerned we would be depriving ourselves of a better experience at one of the bigger or nicer cenotes. But since we were in fact beginners, and because the Gran was a short distance from where we were staying downtown (15-minutes by bike, 5 by taxi), we decided to give it a try. We were not disappointed! I'd read all about and seen pictures of the cenote before arriving, but nothing can quite prepare you for the magic of looking down the sinkhole and seeing 35 feet of crystal clarity. The underwater rock formations in the cavern are absolutely mesmerizing. There isn't much wildlife in the water, but I did see turtles and some small fish; they're so used to seeing humans in their environment that they'll swim right up in your face. Amazing. As of Aug 2017, admission was $180 MXN. They offer lockers, life vests, and snorkel gear for rent, and cameras (waterproof, I presume) for sale. It's worth every single penny. A few downsides: 1) The cenote and surrounding area are like a mosquito breeding ground. Be prepared. And by that, I mean mentally prepared because there's not a damn thing you can do about it (use of insect repellent is not allowed). 2) It gets really crowded during mid-day with noisy tourists. Come before noon for a much more peaceful experience. 3) The showers are cold-water only and quite unpleasant.

What a beautiful experience! The price is cheap to get in, they measure kids pricing by their height. There are bathrooms and flash dance style showers before heading to the cenote. I loved it! Before getting in you can rent a life vest and locker if needed. I'd also recommend bringing your GoPro or a waterproof phone case. There are turtles everywhere and little fishes nibbling at your feet for good exfoliation lol. If you're ever in Tulum you HAVE to go.

Hands down the best cenote for your pesos - 200 per person. It is fairly big & has a bat cave & lots of nooks & cronies that you can explore. You will be asked to shower before to remove the sunblock. Bring snacks and make it a day out of it. Lockers , snorkeling gear & life vests can be rented. Bathrooms upstairs and even a small store. Cash only.

What a beautiful cave with crystal clear waters to explore while in Tulum! Turtles, fish, birds and bats were all flourishing despite a rather crowded day of visitors. Life jacket rental is included with admission price and snorkel equipment and lockers are available to rent. The water was a nice cold temperature and the water was literally glowing from the sunlight and rocks. There's plenty of area in the park to hang out during the day if you bring a towel! Cash only - we used MXN but USD was also accepted.

Yes, it's touristy and yes, you should go. Visiting Gran Cenote was one of the very last things I did on my four day trip to Tulum and honestly, one of my favorite experiences ever. This cenote is one of, if not THE most well know, cenotes in the area, and for that reason is slightly more expensive and busy than some that are a little more remote. It's very close to the city (maybe ten minutes) and has modern restrooms, a little cafe onsite, and has lockers, snorkel, and scuba equipment available to rent onsite. Full disclosure: I'm more of a "glamper" in general and do not find pleasure in risks or "roughing it." My friend and I also checked out two of the underground (read: cave) cenotes in Coba and I almost hyperventilated from the combination of claustrophobia and bats. Gran Cenote was perfect for my non-adventurous vibe, but worth taking into consideration if you're a thrill seeker! Other things you need to know: + Gran Cenote is 180 pesos per person if all you want to do is doggy paddle around like I did. If you're going to rent snorkels, scuba dive, or rent lockers, it'll cost a bit more. + We arrived around 11 am on a Thursday and there was plenty of parking. The park itself was busy-ish, but no where near crowded enough that it affected our experience. A lot of travel blogs will tell you to get there as early as possible to beat the crowds, and while that might be the case on the weekend, I'd encourage you to sleep the eff in (you're on vacation, after all)! + Wear a bathing suit and bring a towel. They'll make you shower off in their (cold!) outdoor showers even if you claim you won't be swimming. + The water is insanely clear and blue and gorgeous. I would bring a waterproof camera next time so I could paddle around worry free while still snagging some photos. + There's a little grass area between the two small staircases that lead down to different parts of the cenote. You can peer down and watch what's going on below or lay in the sun, picnic, hammock, whatever. We didn't really know what we were getting into when we visited, but I would encourage a picnic situation to get your money's worth!

YOU NEED TO GO HERE! It is incredibly beautiful (one of the most beautiful places I've ever been) and is the perfect way to spend 2 hours or so during your visit to Tulum. This is the only cenote we chose to go to, but I'm glad we picked this one! Things to remember -ENTRANCE FEE of MXN180 -SHOWER before swimming in an extremely freezing cold shower. It is awful, but just know that in March/April, the shower is colder than the cenote water itself. -If you can, GET THERE EARLY to avoid the crowds. But even if you get there at noon, you can still find quiet places in the back of the caves! -Buy snorkeling gear (or at least goggles) at Walmart or somewhere else because they charge MXN80 for snorkel goods. It's not bad, but there is a line and it looked pretty long...so just avoid it like we did by bringing your own! And it will probably be less $$ at Walmart. -You will see bats and turtles and fish! If that scares you, face your fears or stay at the hotel. Take the time to go here. It is truly gorgeous (and makes for an amazing instagram photo!)

Sadly, we can only give this denote a low score. We are sure it is a beautiful cenote, but we could not enter. We paid for our entrance, $50 USD, for two people. Almost inside, we were stopped by the attendant at the entrance. Our USD dollar bill had a very small tear. We exchanged it for 3 $20 USD, and after 3 more exchanges, we were frustrated to say the least. We completely understand traveling through MX, but this was unreasonable. We finally ended up giving the attendant a $100 USD, and he brought us $200 pesos. We were frustrated from the monetary exchanges and said we hope our pesos does not have a tear. He brought us back our money and we're told to leave. We know he was only doing his job...needless to say we went to two others. They accepted our money and had a great afternoon.

E A S Y T O A C C E S S This is a close-to-Tulum ,safe place to snorkel in a cenote. The area inside was pretty small, and a little crowded. Unless you scuba, this can be done in 1 hour. You can rent snorkel gear or life jackets here too. Be prepared to give your Driver's License for them to hold. Pretty typical. There are a few lockers to put your valuables in. Very cheap. There are 2 restrooms, 1 damas 1 hombres. Very small, and run down, hit or miss on the TP ! There are about 10 small rooms to change clothes in, but 2 don't have doors. All in all, this property is very very run down. However, the natural beauty is outstanding. There is a peacock walking around, and that is always a plus! I fed him and we are now friends. There are turtles in the cenote that can READ!! They stay behind the sign that says "Turtle Area". Amazing! They are soooo cute. There are little fishes too. The tourist watching is fun too. European guys in Speedos, and Brazilian girls in tiny bikinis. Something for everyone. Chubby older ladies in conservative swimsuits, oh wait, that's a mirror! The water here was beautiful, cool and crystal clear. Minimal swimming skill needed. I am glad that I brought my own snorkel. Worth dragging it to Mexico from Minnesota. Entering and exiting the actual water is a little difficult, as the ladders need repairing. According to Giorgio on Ancient Aliens, some cenotes, according to the Mayans, are portals to the underworld. Happily, I can say this one is definitely not. :-) C R Y S T A L C L E A R W A T E R S

It is beautiful but CRAZILY overpriced and there are better cenotes for the money in the area. 2000 pesos ($100 US) for four adults? That is insane. At least at dose ojos there are multiple cenotes for the cost. Also they charge for young kids which no other cenote does (based on height). Would have been 2 stars but the woman was very friendly at the front.

Beautiful cenoté that felt private! We went at the end of the day so their was hardly anyone.

Worth the stop! My BF and I came here after our adventures at the Coba Ruins. It was exactly what we needed after biking on the dirt trails and climbing at Coba. We arrived around 1:30pm and stayed for last call. Lol. They gave a 15 min warning prior to closing at 4:45pm. The cenote is beautiful. Clear blue waters with rock formations fencing around it. It was fun to swim around with the fish and follow them under the caves. When you get inside the caves, that's when the bats are flying around over your head. It literally went from day to night. It was so cool to see and explore. After swimming, we went back up to layout on the grass and sway in the hammocks to dry off. Definitely bring your snorkeling gear if you have them. If not, you can rent them and a life vest. No lockers though. I think entry was on the higher side. I believe $180 peso per person, but it is worth it!

This was my first time swimming in a cenote, and it was amazing. I had seen videos and pictures online, but it was far more amazing than I thought it was going to be. We arrived at around 10 am. There were already some tourists there, but not that many. After taking a freezing shower, we made our way down to the cenote. The water was insane! It was breathtakingly beautiful. There were turtles, little guppies, and bats. I could have spent hours swimming around, but we were on a bit of a schedule. I cannot wait to return to the Riviera Maya and explore the other cenotes. Unfortunately we only had time to stop at one this time around.

Beautiful cenote, in a cavern, as opposed to some of the open water cenotes. This is what you think of when you think of cenote! It's GORGEOUS, but a bit crowded, and they built a park around it, so there can be a lot of tourists. Should be a definite must see when you are in Tulum. It's a about a 25 min bike ride from Tulum pueblo. The right hand side if the road is scary and under construction. I feared for my life a little bit the entire time I was riding the right shoulder. However, the left hand side of the road has a lovely WIDE bike path that I passed some ppl going the opposite direction on. That was a better idea. It's 180 pesos to enter, and they will also take $10USD. Biodegradable sunscreen only. I ordered mine on Amazon before I left the US. You must rinse off in the set of 3 outdoor showers before going in the water and it's frickin freezing. Bring your ID bc if you want to rent anything (snorkel, lockers) they want an ID to hold. Locker rental is 30 pesos. Snorkel rental is 80 pesos, but ew. And the water is so clear, you don't really need one. There is a turtle zone (no swimming!) where we saw about 7 turtles! You can swim through the dark cave and emerge on the other side to another open air area. Such a beautiful sight!

If you're staying in Tulum and want to visit a cenote but can't decide which of the hundreds to see: I would recommend gran cenote because it is very close to downtown Tulum and it is super easy to get to. As soon as you enter the park, it's a very short walk to the cenote unlike some others where you're trekking through the jungle, need an RV to get to, or a local guide because you'd get lost in the jungle otherwise. That is precisely why I suggested this cenote to my partner since he's never been to this part of Mexico before. Gran cenote is a fantastic introduction to the geological phenomenon that is so unique to this region. There are many different types of cenotes and Gran Cenote has a bit of everything to please even the harshest critic. The best time to visit is early morning before the crowds appear in the afternoon. However, the temperature is generally cooler in the early morning especially in late December. When there is no sun out, it can feel even cooler. The water here is cold so if you're sensitive to temperature, then I suggest going late morning/early afternoon when it is warmer out. Sunshine is key here because you need the sunlight in order to see and fully appreciate the shimmering turquoise blue water. We brought our own snorkel gear and I highly recommend exploring all 2 caves with and without snorkel gear. The best cave is located in the far left (as you're walking down the stairs, it's the cave to the far left). I consider it the best cave because when you're in that particular cave, the sun's blue reflection via the water illuminates the cave with a bright neon blue color (it reminded me of the blue grotto but on a much smaller scale). There are more rocks and boulders in this cave and I found the fish to be bigger and more plentiful here as well. Be aware: the two caves have large colonies of bats and they will fly over your head, sometimes super close. I enjoyed every second of it and actually got quite close to some (especially in the cave located in the far right). I saw a large iguana with half of its body submerged in water as it hung onto a stalactite. I initially thought its tail was a branch until I got close enough to realize it was an iguana. If you see any wild animals like turtles and iguanas please be respectful and do not touch. Open 8am-4pm, $300 per person and includes a life vest which must be worn. No re-entry allowed and one locker is $30 to rent. After your swim, lounge on the grassy area to dry up.

TERRIBLE SERVICE!! after 20 minutes on line under the sun, the tickets guy said you can't take pictures with camera, he is not friendly with local tourist, he denied us access. after the bad moment! We went to other cenote, "Casa Tortugas" it 's amazing service and for the same price $500 pesos, 4 cenotes park, we taked beautiful pictures and enjoy all day.

We are from the US visiting Tulum, and we visited Gran Cenote on September 26, 2021 at 10am. We set our personal backpack down near a pillar at the Cenote, while we were preparing our life jackets and purchasing snorkeling gear and a locker. This lasted a maximum of ten minutes before we got the locker and keys and put our personal belongings in the locker, before we proceeded to swim for about 1.5 hours. After we finished and left with our taxi back to our hotel, I was trying to pull out my wallet and the wallet was GONE. Someone at the Cenote opened our backpack when we set it down and stole our wallet, which included $60, credit cards, and drivers license. In the taxi ride, I received a notice that from my credit card that someone fraudulently charged over $1800 to my card, including purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and electronics. Based on the time stamps, this fraudster had the means to take my credit card and drive immediately to local areas to make false purchases. We thought the cenote was relatively safe since the only other visitors was a group of Westerners from a tour bus, and they were all in the water. I am convinced that someone who was either working at the Cenote or had inside access to the Cenote spotted that we were tourists and targeted us. With hindsight, I did notice a local, wearing a white t-shirt and a hat, who was nonchalantly talking to the locker attendant, and I suspect he was the one who stole our items (I assumed he was an employee). Moral of the story is that someone working or associated with the Cenote is actively targeting tourists and stealing their personal items. One would think that a cenote that's being patroned by vacationers and spending money there would have better security, but they don't care. DO NOT LEAVE ANY ITEMS UNATTENDED, NOT EVEN FOR A MINUTE.

Totally tourist, but still beautiful. Cost $10 US. Easy to access if you want to see a Cenote. You don't need longer than an hour or two.

Gran Cenote was such an amazing view with refreshing water. Tulum beach has so many different cenotes to visit. This had very clear water and lots of friendly people. Pricing wise it was around $20 per person with unlimited access to a day of relaxing. You are able to capture pictures under water as well. Unfortunately no outside drinks were allowed in.

Great place to check out a cenotè and snorkel around with some fish and turtles . There is even an area where you can see bats flying around. Plan to spend 1-2 hours. They have lockers to rent for a fee and snorkeling gear as well as life jackets if you want. Watch out for the red ants up between the bathrooms and the showers they bite.

Gran Cenote is a beautiful Cenote in Tulum. It's rather large and there is plenty of life underwater to see. It was about $10 USD to get in and more to rent any equipment/locker once inside. Bring towels! Also, you must rinse under a shower before entering the Cenote. No sunscreen or bug spray can be worn. It was beautiful and I highly recommend visiting.

This is a very small cenote and also comparatively expensive. The cave is cool, but it gets crowded quickly since the swimming area is so small. They make your wear your life vest "properly" the entire time and are strict about it so you can't really get good photos. Also, don't bring a bag. There's no where to put your things without them getting wet, so you're forced into buying a locker. There are definitely better denotes.

It's a little pricey - 180 or 200 pesos per person, but you get what you pay for. The amentities/services you get are: showers, lifeguards, sunbathing area, hammocks, pavilion, and lockers. The lockers are rented for a separate fee. The water is gorgeous and one section has turtles. Its a very short drive from Tulum center. You may be able to get cheaper and less crowded cenotes, but they will require a longer drive or you'll get less of these "amenities".

This is a great cenote if you're not a big swimmer / scuba diver and want to check out what cenotes are all about. It's a pretty cheap taxi ride from Tulum. And then $180 pesos to get in, and like $80 pesos for snorkel rental. There were a lot of turtles to see and some fresh water fish. But probably the coolest thing was swimming between the entry holes, which you can do through a cave with lots of bats flying around. While this is totally fun, don't think it'll be some natural undisturbed experience where you get to truly connect with nature. It's pretty habitated now with lots of staircases and platforms to stand on, and ropes to help you swim. Which I really liked because I was able to do it with my kid, but some people might find it too developed.

This was this first activity we chose to do on our trip. It was beautiful, a space to lay out with a good book, and the Cenote was large to swim in. Beware this is CASH ONLY. We took a $500 peso taxi there, although the website says credit card, it is cash only (USD or Pesos accepted). We had to take a taxi back to our hotel, get cash and then go back. Overall, a good experience

There are tons of cenotes of all different sizes in the area, and though this isn't the biggest or most secluded, it's one of my favorites for one reason: TURTLES! They have a 'turtle zone' where lots of cute little guys paddle around. You can buy little baggies of fish food to feed them. There's no swimming in the turtle zone so as not to disturb them, but you can snorkel up next to it (it's netted off) and still get pretty close to those cuties. Even if you're not a huge turtle fan, you can enjoy plenty of snorkeling and exploring. Like I said it's not huge and it's not one of the ones you'd go to on a scuba tour, but it was clean, beautiful water and plenty of little nooks and crannies to explore. You can rent a locker and snorkel gear, and buy the aforementioned fish food or underwater cameras. It seemed to be a mix of families and tourists but when I was there in September it didn't feel overly packed at all. It's a great way to spend a hot day and a good mid-sized cenote to start with if you're just beginning your Tulum adventure!

Free parking. 180 pesos ($10 USD) to enter. You can rent snorkel there if interested. Busy at all times and not as big as expected.

This is not what you think, after 2 pm on a Friday anyways. This is more of a public swimming pool than anything. Children screaming, people loitering, babies swimming in diapers. we didn't even want to get in the water. There was barely any room for us to swim much less snorkel. This was a total waste of money and time. This is not a relaxing Cenote in any way, shape or form. Don't waste your time here. If the parking lot appears to be crowded/filled don't even give it another thought.

My cousins and I caught a cab from our hotel and it was a pretty short drive. Maybe 10 minutes. The Cenote was beautiful and a lot of fun! I would definitely go back.

I think swimming in the Cenotes were the highlight of my Tulum/Cancun/Chichen Itza trip!!! For sure. It's so much fun to be able to swim in the underwater caves, especially here, where it's super spacious and you can see some bats, swim with the fish (though some scare me) and just tread water for an hour or two!! We came here when it started to rain, but that luckily stopped pretty quickly. Don't know if it was because of that or because this wasn't the Cenote next to Chichen Itza, but it was not crowded at all here, which I really appreciated!! Plus it was pretty huge, so well worth the higher price, compared to the Ik-Kil location!

I've now visited 9 cenotes, and if you could only go to one cenote on your trip, I'd likely send you to Gran Cenote. It's easy to access since it is directly off the main highway out of Tulum, there is plenty of parking and the facilities have everything you'd need -- changing rooms, restrooms, life jackets and rental gear. The grounds also have peacocks! There are also multiple entrances to the cenote itself, so if a group of divers is on one platform and a family is on another, you can find your own area to enter the water and get some privacy. Of all the cenotes we've visited, this one has the most diversity. It features impressive underwater rock formations, lush jungle and water vegetation, many different fish, fresh water turtles and overall, the space is just massive. You can swim around in rock formations and be completely enclosed in a dim cave, or you can watch as sunshine glistens and refracts underwater. It's hard to compare cenotes because they are all unique and beautiful, but you can guarantee Gran Cenote will be a hit for everyone from divers to sunbathers and kids to seniors.

Amazing place. Two entrances to the cenote with both great views. We thought we would be there for maybe an hour and go to another but this one was super peaceful so we stayed longer. Close to downtown. Easy to taxi there as well for under $10 if you're off the main strip.

If you have never been in a Cenote this is a good starter. It has a good mix of open pools and caves.It is basically 2 big pools. They are mostly open at the top and connected by a large cave. They have ropes to pull you through and safe places to stand, but I recommend a life jacket. There were bats, turtles and small fish in the cenote. The grounds and facilities were clean. There is a park where you can sit, enjoy the sun, and maybe have a picnic.

This place is super touristy but very cool. I would totally recommend going especially because you get to swim with turtles and there's bats flying over you. Very fun over all. Also either rent or get your own snorkeling gear. We didn't think we would want it at first but exploring the water was our fav part.