Cenote Dzitnup: frequently asked questions

A combined ticket for both cenotes, Xkeken and Samula, costs $226 MXN for adults and $200 MXN for children (price as listed 9 October 2026; verify before visiting). The mandatory life jacket is included. Lockers cost a little extra.

Yes. The standard ticket gives access to both cenotes, which are a 3–5 minute walk apart inside the same park. Ask at the ticket booth if you only want to visit one of them.

Both cenotes are open every day from 08:00 to 17:00. Arrive at least an hour before closing so you have time to swim in both.

Bring cash in Mexican pesos. Card payment at the ticket booth is not always available, and lockers, food stands and artisans usually accept cash only. The nearest ATMs are in Valladolid.

No. Tickets are sold at the entrance on the day of your visit. Organised tours from Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Mérida also include Dzitnup in their itineraries.

Yes – swimming is allowed in both Cenote Xkeken and Cenote Samula. The water is fresh, clear and calm, with lifeguards on duty.

Yes. Life jackets are mandatory for every swimmer, whatever your swimming level. They are handed out at the entrance and included in the ticket.

Cenote Xkeken reaches about 20 metres (65 ft) at its deepest point. The cavern itself measures roughly 30 × 20 metres.

Samula is shallower than Xkeken and in many places you can see the bottom through the crystal-clear water. It is still deep enough that you cannot stand, so the life jacket stays on.

The water stays around 24–25 °C (75–77 °F) all year. It feels cool and refreshing on a hot Yucatán day.

Please don't. Sunscreen, repellent and lotions pollute the cenote and harm the fish and the underground water that local communities drink. You'll be indoors, underground, so you won't need it. Showering before you swim is required.

Yes. With the mandatory life jacket, lifeguards on duty and ropes to hold onto, both cenotes are suitable for children and people who can't swim well. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.

No. Jumping is not permitted, and Dzitnup is a swimming cenote, not a scuba diving site.

You'll likely see small, harmless fish swimming around you, and bats sometimes roost high on the ceiling of Xkeken. Neither will bother you – please don't disturb them.

In the village of Dzitnup, about 7 km (4 mi) west of Valladolid, Yucatán, just off the old highway towards Chichén Itzá and Mérida. GPS: 20.66077, -88.24261.

It's a 10–15 minute drive, a 30–40 minute bike ride on the dedicated cycle path, or a short taxi ride (about $100–150 MXN each way). See our full directions guide.

From Cancún about 160 km (around 2 hours), from Tulum about 105 km (1 h 30 min), from Playa del Carmen about 150 km (2 hours), from Mérida about 165 km (2 hours) and from Chichén Itzá about 40 km (35–40 minutes).

Yes, there is parking right at the entrance for cars, motorbikes and bicycles.

Plan on 2 to 3 hours to visit both cenotes, swim, take photos and change. If you're short on time, 1 hour is enough for a quick swim in each.

Come at opening time (8:00) for the fewest people. For the famous beam of sunlight in Samula, visit between roughly 11:00 and 14:00 on a sunny day. Weekdays are quieter than weekends and Mexican holidays.

Swimsuit, towel, cash in pesos, water shoes, a waterproof case for your phone and a change of clothes. Leave sunscreen and repellent in the car.

Yes. Showers, changing rooms, restrooms and rentable lockers are all available on site.

Yes, there are snack stands and simple restaurants serving local food and cold drinks near the entrance. Food is not allowed inside the cenotes.

Unfortunately not. Both cenotes are reached by steep stone stairs and Xkeken is entered through a narrow tunnel. Visitors with limited mobility should take care; the stairs have handrails.

Yes, photos and videos for personal use are welcome. A waterproof phone case or action camera works best. Professional shoots may require permission from the management.

Do both – they're on one ticket. Xkeken is a dramatic closed cave full of stalactites; Samula is famous for its hanging tree roots and the beam of sunlight through the ceiling.

Absolutely. It's one of the most photographed cave cenotes in Yucatán, it's affordable, and having two very different cenotes in one place makes it one of the best things to do near Valladolid.