Are you looking for a cenote near Playa del Carmen to visit? Well, you’re in luck because there are many cenotes close to Playa del Carmen. Cenote Azul and Cenote Cristalino are two of my favorite, and they are close enough to walk from one to the other, so you can do them both in a day!
The Yucatan peninsula is famous for many things, but my favorite is the cenotes. There are thousands! Some are easier to get to than others. If you are staying in Cancun, Tulum, or Playa Del Carmen there are 2 really easy to get to and beautiful Cenotes just off the main road between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
In this post, I will share everything you need to know about visiting this cenote near Playa del Carmen, Cenote Azul, and Cenote Cristalino. Including getting there and back and some things to be aware of before your visit. Wondering what a Cenote is? Read this great post explaining all about Cenotes.
Want to Do a Cenote Tour in the Riviera Maya?
Looking for a reputable tour company in The Riviera Maya?
I’ve been working with Turismo Channel in Playa del Carmen for years and they are who I send all of my family and friends to when they visit the Riviera Maya. I really can recommend them enough for tours, private airport transfers, and rental cars. Vanessa and Oliver are personal friends of mine and I have 100% faith that you will have a wonderful time with them.
You can check out their tours by clicking here and using the following discount codes for the best prices clairecaroff (car rental), claire10off (for 10% off group tours), claireprivate (for a discount on private tours). You can also send her a WhatsApp message quoting the above codes to receive the discount.
What to Bring With You:
- Bathing suit
- Towel
- Non-toxic natural sunscreen and repellent – You will not be allowed to use sunscreen in the cenotes as it kills the fish. So either bring a cover-up like a rash vest or invest in some non-toxic sunscreen.
- Snorkel and mask
- Food if you are going to want to eat as there won’t be anything available
Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?
If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that you need to be prepared for anything! Travel insurance has always been high my list of things to get before I travel but now more than ever its at the top of my list.
I’m pretty sure we have all had travel plans messed up because of COVID and not all insurers covered this. So when looking for travel insurance it’s important to check it covers travel disruption due to COVID-19, Hey Mondo, Passport Nomads, Safety Wing, and Travel Insurance Master all provide cover for this.
Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single trip cover, annual multi trip cover, and long term travel cover. You even have the option to start the cover when you are already on your trip, although you won’t be covered for the first 72 hours. For me my favourite feature is their app which offers you a 24/7 Dr chat and the ability to file a claim direct in the app.
Passport Nomads provides the most comprehensive cover for Digital Nomads. The game changer with them is that you have a red card and if you find yourself in need of medical care you just contact them and they will pre load your card with the funds to cover your treatment, meaning you won’t need to pay out of pocket and then put in a claim later.
Safety Wing is great value with monthly cover starting at $39. It’s super easy to use and it just renews each month. They have an excess of $250 and it’s simple to make a claim through their website. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy and I like that it renews on a monthly basis, so I don’t have to pay out a big lump sum up front.
I also use Travel Insurance Master for some short vacation type trips.
If you are doing shorter trips or an extended backpacking trip then Hey Mondo or Travel Insurance Master are the best option. If you are a digital nomad or planning travel of at least 6 months then go for Passport Nomads or SafetyWing.
The Cost to Get Into Cenote Azul and Cenote Cristalino
It costs 100 pesos to enter and it is 40 pesos to rent a mask and snorkel (you will be asked to leave your ID as a deposit for the snorkel set).
How to Get To Cenote Azul and Cenote Cristalino
This is by colectivo. Simply wall to Calle 2 between Ave 5 and 10 is where you will find all of the colectivos. Just look out for signs to Tulum or someone shouting Tulum. As you don’ want to go all the way to Tulum just tell the driver cenote Azul or cenote Cristalino and he will stop for you. There will likely be others heading there if it is a nice day.
Hop on and take a seat. The prices are all fixed and you will pay on the way off. To get from Playa Del Carmen to either cenote you will pay 35 pesos each way.
To get back to Playa simply cross over the road and wait for a colectivo heading back towards Playa. When you see one put out your arm and if there is space it will stop.
Need to book transportation in Mexico?
I highly recommend booking all of your Mexico transportation with GuateGo. You can search for buses, shuttles, ferries, and Flights on their website. What I love most about them is their customer service. I know these guys personally from my time living in Guatemala and they really do look after their customers. So if anything happens and you get delayed and miss your bus, you can just call them and they are always there to help.
If you book through them you will pay a little more than if you book in person at the bus station. But it’s worth it for the ease and security in my opinion. Click here to search for transportation in Mexico.
Cenote Azul
This one is my favorite. There are lots of different pools and one side is mostly shallow so you can chill with your friends and chat while keeping cool in the water. There are some fish to see but it’s not as great as there as so many people. It’s the better one if you have children because of the smaller pools and it is also more undercover so the sun isn’t such an issue.
One of the pools is very deep and has a platform you can jump off.
This one is also the best for photographs if you want to get some good pics for your Instagram.
Cenote Cristalino
This is generally a bit quieter. It is just one big cenote and had a place you can jump in from quite a height. The pool is deep although there are some places around the edge you can sit and chill while the fish eat your feet.
Final Thoughts
Both cenote Azul and cenote Cristalino are beautiful and worth visiting. They are the perfect place to cool off in the summer heat. Although you do have to pay a fee it is well worth it and you won’t regret going.
Need somewhere to stay in The Riviera Maya?
I wrote a whole post to help you decide the best area in Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Cancun to stay with my recommendations depending on your budget.
Here are my top picks if you are in a rush:
Kore Tulum Retreat and SPA Resort
Looking for things to do in the Riviera Maya?
Check out these articles:
The Complete Guide to Chichen Itza in Mexico
How to see the Mayan Ruins in Tulum
How to spend a weekend in Merida
Food Tour in Playa Del Carmen Review
Doing a cooking class in Tulum
Choosing a Scuba Diving Company in Playa Del Carmen
Scuba Diving in Puerto Morelos
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