Cenotes Playa del Carmen: 8 Nearest, With Fees and Types

Updated October 27, 2026

There is no swimming cenote in the middle of Playa del Carmen, but the nearest, Chaak Tun, is about 15 minutes from the city, and three more sit side by side at km 266 of Highway 307, about 25 km south. This list ranks the cenotes a visitor staying in Playa can reach by travel time from the city, nearest first: Chaak Tun and Río Secreto on the edge of town, the Cenote Azul cluster 20 minutes south, Taak Bi Ha and Dos Ojos 40 minutes to an hour toward Tulum, and the Cozumel cenotes across the water by ferry. Each entry gives the type (open, semi-open or cave), the gate fee in Mexican pesos (MXN) and who it suits. Fees come from dated travel reports, not official lists, so they carry a date or a range. Pay in cash. Playa is about 68 km from Cancún. The ADO bus costs about 60 pesos and takes about 1 h 15 min; a colectivo is about 40 pesos. From Playa, colectivos run south along the highway, about 30 pesos to Cenote Azul (2025 report). Most tours from Cancún also pick up in Playa, and the cenotes playa del carmen days are compared on our tours page.

1. #1

   Cenote Chaak Tun

   The closest cenote to Playa, and a cave one.

   A cave cenote about 15 minutes from the city, described as the closest cenote around Playa del Carmen. Chaak Tun has large caves with stalactites and stalagmites over a natural freshwater pool for swimming and snorkelling. Its official site did not load for us and we found no dated fee in a source we could open, so it is paid at the gate. It suits travellers who want a cave without diving and without a long drive, and a short morning before the beach.

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2. 

   #2

   Río Secreto

   $119

   Walk and float 1 km through an underground river with a guide.

   ★ 4.6 201 reviews

   A cave reserve at km 283.5 of Highway 307, just south of Playa. Found in 2004 and open to visitors since 2008, it has 38 km of caves, about 10% used for tours. The Classic tour takes about 3.5 hours: about 1 km underground, walking and floating in water of 22 to 24 °C, in a wetsuit, helmet and lamp, in groups of up to 10. From Playa, the official price is USD 89 without transport. With hotel pickup the underground river tour is from $119, rated 4.6 on 201 reviews of this tour on GetYourGuide, free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Minimum age 4; no cameras in the cave.

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3. #3

   Cenote Azul

   Shallow pools for children and a 4 m natural jump, 20 minutes south.

   An open, L-shaped cenote at km 266 of Highway 307, about 25 km and 20 minutes south of Playa, opposite the Barceló hotel. Shallow, shaded pools near the entrance suit children; the main pool has a deep end with a natural jump of about 4 m. Reports give 120 to 180 pesos (2025 and 2026), with lower rates for Quintana Roo residents and children; life jacket and snorkel rental extra. Open about 8:00 to 17:30; alcohol is not allowed. A colectivo from Playa is about 30 pesos. It suits families. More on Cenote Azul.

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4. #4

   Cenote Cristalino

   Cenote Azul's next-door neighbour, smaller and calmer.

   An open cenote next to Cenote Azul, off km 266 of the Cancún–Tulum highway, about 45 minutes from Cancún. It has clear water, jump platforms and shaded rest areas, with snorkel rental and lockers. A 2026 guide gives about 150 pesos per person, open 8:00 to 17:00. Because it shares the turn-off with Azul and Jardín del Edén, the three sit side by side and each has its own gate, which makes a cheap half day without a car. It suits swimmers who want an open cenote with fewer families than Azul.

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5. #5

   Cenote Jardín del Edén

   One of the largest open-air cenotes, with platforms over deep water.

   An open cenote 25 km south of Playa and 3 km from Puerto Aventuras, beside Cenote Azul. It is one of the largest open-air cenotes on the coast, with rustic facilities and platforms for jumping into deeper water; life jackets, a picnic area and parking are on site. A 2026 guide gives about 250 pesos; an undated guide gives 200 pesos for adults and 100 for children under 12. Hours differ by source: one says 9:00 to 17:00 and closed on Saturdays, a 2026 guide says 8:00 to 17:00. It suits strong swimmers and snorkellers.

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6. #6

   Cenote Taak Bi Ha

   A closed cave with an underground river, run by the community.

   A cave cenote about 40 minutes from Playa: follow the Dos Ojos entrance past the booth and drive about 3 km of dirt road into the jungle. It is a closed cenote with stalactites and stalagmites and clear water for swimming and snorkelling. The community that runs it raised the fee to 350 pesos per person, life jacket included (2026 report); 400 pesos with a local guide, needed for the underground river section, where you need a lamp. No sunscreen or repellent, and do not touch the formations. It suits swimmers who want a cave without the crowds.

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7. #7

   Cenote Dos Ojos

   The cavern snorkel and dive most visitors come for.

   A cavern cenote 45 minutes to an hour from Playa, about 20 km north of Tulum. Dos Ojos is two cenotes that open into one large cavern; the snorkel area reaches about 10 m, and divers can swim underwater to the Bat Cave. Basic entry is 350 to 500 pesos in 2026 reports, cash; life jackets are mandatory and sunscreen is banned. Facilities include changing rooms, lockers, lifeguards and two restaurants. Two cavern dives with pickup and the entrance fee included cost from $215. It suits snorkellers and certified divers. For more around Tulum, see cenote Tulum.

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8. #8

   The Cozumel cenotes

   Island cenotes that mix fresh and salt water, a ferry ride away.

   Cozumel lies 19 km off Playa and has 18 deep cenotes and more than 250 shallow water bodies. Two you can visit are Cenote Aerolito, a cave that mixes salt and fresh water and is now a protected natural area, and the Jade Cavern (Cenote Chempita) near El Cedral. We found no gate fee in a source we could open, so pay at the gate. The Winjet ferry costs 310 pesos one way for adults (645 return), and the fast ferries take about 35 minutes. It suits visitors already going to Cozumel. See Cozumel cenotes.

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