Cenote Calavera, Tulum: The Skull Cenote, Fee and Jump
Updated October 27, 2026
Cenote Calavera (the 'skull' cenote, also called Temple of Doom) is a partly covered cenote about 3 km from central Tulum on the Tulum–Cobá highway, named for three round openings that look like a skull from above. Entry was 150 to 300 pesos (MX$150–300) per person in 2026 reports, paid in cash at the gate. Most people get into the water by jumping through one of the holes, which makes it a stop for confident swimmers rather than small children.
Why it is called Calavera
Calavera is Spanish for skull. Seen from above, the cenote's three round openings in the rock look like a skull, and it is also known as Temple of Doom (Por Esto, March 2026). It is a semi-open cenote: a cave roof with those openings rather than a wide open pool, with basic services on site and, sometimes, life vests to rent. That makes it a different visit from the open, boardwalked pools of Gran Cenote down the same road.
The jump into Cenote Calavera
The usual way in is a jump through one of the openings into the water below; one undated guide gives the holes as 12 m and 8 m deep. How Is the Sargassum (October 2026) calls it a jump-in cenote suited to thrill-seekers more than families and recommends water shoes for the slippery limestone steps. Look before you jump: in September 2023 a visitor died at Cenote Azul, near Playa del Carmen, after hitting his head on a rock diving in from the edge (Diario de Yucatán). One guide says a life jacket is not compulsory here; Por Esto says one is sometimes available to rent. More in are cenotes dangerous.
Cenote Calavera entrance fee and hours
Calavera has no official website, and 2026 reports disagree, so treat the fee as a range and bring cash in pesos. Por Esto says the price can change with the season. The only hours we found are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from an undated guide. No source gives a separate fee for divers. Every cenote's fee is on what a cenote costs.
- About 250 pesos — Por Esto, 31 March 2026; can vary by season, bring cash.
- 150 to 200 pesos — How Is the Sargassum, 8 October 2026.
- About 300 pesos — Tulum Times, October 2026.
- Camera (GoPro) filming — An undated guide reports a 15-dollar charge.
How to get to Cenote Calavera
From central Tulum, take a colectivo heading toward Cobá and ask to be let off near the entrance; Por Esto (March 2026) puts the fare at 30 to 40 pesos per person. By bike or taxi it is about 3 km. From Cancún, ADO buses run to the Tulum terminal in about 2.5 hours, from 250 to 300 pesos from downtown (Universal Traveller), then the colectivo covers the last stretch. Gran Cenote is a little further out on the same road, and Carwash beyond it.
- Central Tulum — about 3 km; colectivo 30 to 40 pesos
- Gran Cenote — 4 to 5 km from Tulum on the same road
- Cancún — about 130 km to Tulum, about 2.5 hours by ADO
Calavera on a Tulum cenote day
Calavera is small, so most people combine it with Gran Cenote and Carwash on the Cobá road in one morning. To choose between them, see Tulum's cenotes ranked. None of the six tours we list stops at Calavera. The Tulum ruins and cenote day from Cancún (EKINOX Tours, from $45, 4.6 on 465 reviews of this tour on GetYourGuide) swims at Cenote Mariposa, with hotel pickup and free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Private guides based in Tulum are compared on our cenote tours page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Cenote Calavera cost?
150 to 300 pesos per person in 2026 reports, paid in cash at the gate. Por Esto gave about 250 pesos in March 2026 and said the price can vary by season.
Why is it called Cenote Calavera?
Calavera means skull: its three round openings look like a skull from above. It is also called Temple of Doom.
Do you have to jump into Cenote Calavera?
Jumping through a hole is the usual way in, and guides describe it as a jump-in cenote. Water shoes help on the slippery steps.
How do I get to Cenote Calavera from Tulum?
Take a colectivo toward Cobá from central Tulum and ask to be let off at the entrance, about 30 to 40 pesos (Por Esto, 2026). It is about 3 km by bike or taxi.
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