Blue Cenote ( Cenote azul )

Blue Cenote or Cenote Azul is one of the most popular cenotes in the Riviera Maya, Cancun and the Yucatan Peninsula.

Its location between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, its turquoise blue waters, the amount of shallow areas, the fact it’s an open cenote and its facilities, make it one of the must-visit cenotes.

Attractions and activities at Cenote Azul

One of the best things about this “L“-shaped cenote is that it has areas of different depths, making it perfect for the whole family.

Just as you enter the cenote facilities, you’ll find the first two pools. These have a shallow depth, are shaded and have fewer tourists, although the water may be colder.

Continuing on, you can reach the main swimming area, a natural open-air pool that is divided into two areas: a deep area and a shallower area. This is the most popular pool in the cenote.

Cenote Azul is one of the largest in the Riviera Maya and offers a wide range of water activities:

Snorkeling en el cenote azul. Foto de Lara Danielle.

Activities

• Relax and have a good time. As simple as being in one of the shallower areas of the cenote, choose a spot and enjoy the water and have fun with your friends and family.
• Swimming. You can swim in the main area, or if you’re not a strong swimmer, you can rent a life jacket or stay in the shallower areas.
• Snorkeling. Use your own equipment or rent it and enjoy the crystal clear waters of the cenote and even better, enjoy swimming with fish of different types and sizes. It’s worth it.
• Dives. If you like adrenaline: In the deepest area of the cenote there is a natural platform from where you can jump into the water in your best diving position. The jump is approximately 4 meters high.
• Picnik. You can bring your own food and there is a small shop inside. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed.
• Feed the fish. You can buy fish food inside the park and watch these little animals as they swirl around your feet.
• Visit more cenotes. Since they’re so close to each other, you can take a mini cenotes tour. Nearby cenotes include Cristalino, Kantunchi and Jardin del Eden.
• Scuba diving. It is possible to dive to the depths of the cenote in routes for beginners or advanced divers.
• Local wildlife spotting. In addition to the rich bottom of the cenote, you can see and hear many local birds, iguanas and if you look for them, even bats in the small cave.

How to get to Cenote Azul?

The blue cenote is located 25 kilometers (15 miles) or 20 minutes from Playa del Carmen and 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Tulum, at kilometer 266 of the Cancun-Tulum highway. You’ll find it in front of the Barcelo hotel and next to the Cristalino and Jardin del Eden cenotes.

You can get there by public transportation using the collectivo between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, asking to get off at the Barcelo hotel or just saying the name of the cenote. It should cost about $1.5 USD or $30 Mexican pesos.

It’s totally doable, but a bit pricier to get a taxi from Playa del Carmen or Tulum. Prices change with the season, so it’s a good idea to budget with a few cab drivers before you head out.

It is easy to get there by own or rented car and it is cost-effective if you are in a group of several people.

Facilities and services

• Bathrooms.
• Lifejacket and snorkeling equipment rental.
• Basic convenience store.
• Parking lot.

How much is the entrance fee to Cenote Azul?

The general admission fee is $120 Mexican pesos ($6 USD), $100 pesos for Quintana Roo residents and $80 pesos ($4 USD) for children 4 to 8 years old.

Working hours

The cenote is open from 8:00 am until 5:30 pm every day of the year.

Contact information

You can contact the cenote administration in two ways:

By phone: +52 984 151 9925.
Website: facebook.com/CenoteAzulRM/