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When visiting the Yucatan Peninsula, there are lots of things to do, from water activities to archaeological sites. But nevertheless, the must-go attractions in the region are definitely cenotes! They are fun, cheap, and easy to find from anywhere you are!
In this article, we go a little deeper into one of the most famous cenotes, Cenote Suytun. Here’s some insight, tips, and general information about Cenote Suytun and cenotes in general.
Cenotes are surface connections to subterranean water bodies. Most of them are open-water pools measuring tens of meters in diameter, such as The Sacred Cenote at Chichen Itza. There are also differences in the openings, as some are fully open and look like small lagoons, others are fully closed and can only be entered through tunnels in a cave, and some are semi-open, this is a favorite of many tourists. Semi-open cenotes have small or big openings on the ceiling of the cave, creating a magical atmosphere since a beam of light comes into the dark cave.
Some cenotes are only found through small 1 m diameter holes created by tree roots, with human access through enlarged holes, such as the cenotes Cenote Choo-Ha, Tamcach-Ha, and Multum-Ha near Tulum. Imagine that, there are at least 6,000 cenotes in the Yucatán Peninsula. Cenote water comes from rain and gets filtered slowly through the ground and stones, and therefore contains very little suspended particulate matter. The groundwater flow rate within a cenote may be very slow. In many cases, cenotes are areas where sections of the cave roof have collapsed revealing an underlying cave system, and the water flow rates may be much faster.
The Peninsula holds thousand of undiscovered cenotes. As they are being discovered, you can visit cenotes very close to the main cities like Cancun, Tulum, Valladolid, Merida, Puerto Morelos, and others in the middle of the jungle.
Cenote Suytun has become known as the Instagrammable cenote in recent years. It is famously known for its circular platform, the perfect stage to snap a great picture. The single beam of light that shines down for a scenic look is the most iconic thing of this cenote.
The platform is found in the middle of the cenote, guided by a stone runway, you can feel peace and serenity by just standing there and listening to the natural sounds of the cave. Water drops, birds singing and the wind blowing in and out of the cave, are details that add up to making this visit unforgettable.
Everybody wants to go to Cenote Suytun due to its incredibly thin stone walkway stretching out into a perfectly turquoise pool. Suytun gets its name due to this famous pathway; Suytun means “stone center”. This cenote goes as deep as 5 meters at its deepest point.
Located in the direction of Tikuch, 9 km (5.5 mi) from Valladolid, it is the most demanded stop when going to Chichen Itza's ruins.
Cenote Suytun is open daily, from 9 am-5 pm but know the last ticket is sold at 4:30 pm. Tickets have a cost of $130 MXN for adults and $90 MXN for children. Make sure you bring cash, biodegradable sunscreen, and bug repellent.
Summer tip: this summer, depending on the weather, a light effect is created due to the sun’s position. Between 1 pm and 3 pm, a beam of light shines over the circular platform, making photographs even more epic!
Cenote Suytun is located in the Yucatan Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico. It is not far from the popular Yucatan travel destinations of Tulum, Cancun, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, and Mérida. It’s a 20 minutes drive from Valladolid You can easily take a taxi to get there or take public transportation if you do not have a car.
As not many know, there’s actually a second cenote on the site. It’s a bit smaller but it's just as beautiful, it is not only different in size but in the opening as well. This second cenote is a semi-open one, making the visit versatile and beautiful.
Different but still beautiful this cenote offers a different type of experience with more bird and plant life.
As cenotes are considered sacred, not only for the Mayans but for locals as well, it’s important to respect them and follow the rules each site demands.
These are delicate ecosystems, and despite what each site allows or not, the government has forbidden the use of any sunscreen unless it’s biodegradable.
Cenotes are natural sites, the structure and other buildings around are rustic, so don’t expect anything fancy. We recommend you pack a few snacks, drinks, and a bag for you to put away your trash. We need to take care of these sites and have a mind for the environment.