Cenotes in Photos – Discover Mexico’s Extraordinary Underground Caves

Written By: Matthew Karsten

A beautiful collection of Mexico’s Cenotes in photos featuring the magnificent cenotes of the Yucatan Cenotes are located all around Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, and a few Caribbean islands as well. It’s estimated that there are well over 6000 of them in the area.

Mexico’s Cenotes in Photos

What is a Cenote?

What exactly is a cenote? It’s a freshwater sinkhole usually connected to an underground river system that flows through limestone passageways in the earth. Cenotes come in many different shapes & sizes. Some are completely underground, others are semi-underground with small openings that let in sunlight, and some have no cave ceiling at all — exposed to the outside world. Check out: 7 Wonders of the World – the New, The Natural, and the Ancient

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Tree Roots Suck up Water at Samula Cenote

These unique water caves are considered sacred to the Mayan people who believed them to be entrances to the underworld. They were also once used for ritual human sacrifice! See more Cenote adventures in Mexico at Rio Secreto Cenote – Mexico’s Magical Underground Caves

Book your own Cenote adventure in Mexico: This Coba, Chichen Itza Cenote tour lets you explore two of Mexico’s largest ancient cities. Learn about Mayan history and culture at Chichen Itzá and Coba followed by a swim in the sacred Cenote sinkhole of Ik Kil. Read more: 25 Best Places To Visit in Mexico

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Colorful Limestone Walls at Grand Cenote

The water here is crystal-clear and perfect for swimming. Snorkeling and SCUBA diving in a cenote are other popular activities, as there is a lot to see down there. Underwater stalactites, stalagmites, blind fish, cave fossils, and sometimes even ancient human remains are found in them. You may also like these 15 Fun Facts About Mexico

Mexico in Photos – Cenotes of the Yucatan

photos of cenotes in Mexico
Getting Some Sun at Xcanche Cenote

Many of Mexico’s most popular cenotes are located on private land, but you can often visit them for the day after paying an entrance fee of $2-$10 US and create your own memories of Mexico in Photos. See more things to do in the Yucatan at Things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

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Watch ThePlanetD’s Cenote Adventures in Mexico

Cenotes are truly magical places and should be a must-see while traveling through Mexico’s Mayan Riviera. Here are some of my favorite shots of Mexico in Photos, particularly Cenotes. Enjoy! You may also like: Things to do in Cancun

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Cave Divers Prepare to Submerge at Pit Cenote

Quintana Roo Exclusive Cenote and Tulum Tour – Explore a guided tour of Tulum. This extraordinary setting of Mayan Ruins located on high cliffs overlooking the sea. After your tour visit the Rio Secreto Cenote. Read more about Rio Secreto here. You may also like: The Best Things to do in Tulum.

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Lily Pads Cover the Water at Kuzan Cenote

This Chichen Itza Cenote Tour lets you learn about the Mayan culture at Mexico’s most popular Mayan ruins complex. Afterward, you’ll have the chance to swim in a sacred cenote. See more about visiting a cenote at Best Things to do in Cancun, Mexico

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Interesting Stalactites Inside Dos Ojos Cenote

Visiting Cenotes in Mexico is one of the best experiences you can do. There are many ways to explore them and you don’t need to be an excellent scuba diver or snorkeler. You can book day trips where you can kayak through Cenotes, zipline over them, rappel into them, or simply swim inside. Anyone can visit a Cenote of all ages in Mexico.

rio secreto cenote
Watch Rio Secreto Cenote Adventure

See some of our Cenote Photo adventures

Below are more Cenote photos to inspire you to visit the Mayan Riviera in Mexico. Also check out: 15 Fun Facts About Mexico

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Our Group in the giant cenote of Rio Secreto

Read more about Rio Secreto: Rio Secreto Cenote – Mexico’s Magical Underground Caves

cancun day trips cenotes
Exploring the cenotes – rappelling into a cenote

Read more: Best Things to do in Cancun, Mexico

deb jumping into a cenote
Zipline into Cenote

Read more Things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

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Dave has some fun in the Cenotes

Are you inspired to book a cenote tour on your next trip to Mexico? Let us know how you like it in the comments below when you decide to go!

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Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

About Matthew Karsten

Matthew Karsten is a full-time vagabond & adventure junkie who's on a mission to inspire others to get out there and explore the world. Enjoy more photo essays like this one as well as travel advice, crazy stories, & entertaining videos on his adventure travel blog. Follow Matthew at ExpertVagabond / Facebook / Twitter

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27 thoughts on “Cenotes in Photos – Discover Mexico’s Extraordinary Underground Caves”

  1. I always follow your articles, and you write terrific but this post mexicos extraordinary cenotes in photos is fantastic. Keep writing like this, keep working keep going
    I also have an excellent blog about travels and mystery lovers.

    Reply
  2. These places are amazing, I visited a few ones on my trip to Mexico and really worth it! Stunning views.

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  3. The moment I saw your pictures, I was really amazed and I even shouted “wow”. It’s really a must-see when visiting in Mexico

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  4. About 8 years ago my 7th ever dive was in Grand Cenote and my 8th was in Cenote Angelita. These dives sealed the deal with my passion for diving and the Angelita one was one of the best things I have ever experienced. In November I arrive back in Mexico to dive as many as possible in my time there and I can’t wait!

    Thanks for reminding me visually what I have been so looking forward to!

    Reply
  5. wow, what a fabulous place! when I’ve got enough friends and money together, ill be sure to take a visit. the pictures just jumped at me when i saw them. absolutely amazing, without a doubt! keep up the good work. 🙂

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  6. The photos are stunning! Diving in Cenotes is one of the biggest tourist attractions on the Mayan Riviera. Thanks for the post! Cheers, Rico

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    • They are stunning aren’t they! When we go back to Mexico, this is the first thing on the list. When we went diving in Cozumel, we regret not taking a trip to the Cenotes. We should have. Oh well, a great excuse to go back.

      Reply
  7. Honest to god ..without even the slightest exaggeration I literally whimpered when I saw these pictures. I want to see these places so badly it’s mind boggling. I’ve been talking with friends about going cave exploring here in Ontario ultimately wanting to see spots even remotely similar to this…backpacking the riviera maya is too expensive:(

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    • With street food, hostels (or Couchsurfing), and colectivos for transport, you can spend a month down there for less than $700.

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    • Actually the last photo, Dos Ojos Cenote, was featured in the horror movie “The Cave” as well as an IMAX movie “Journey Into Amazing Caves”. 🙂

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    • Hi Kaycie! You can see bats, cave swallows, and a few different types of fish.
      If you look closely at the first photo (with the purple lights), you’ll see a bunch of little black things in the water. Those are black fish!
      There are even some fish that don’t have eyes, because they don’t need them in the dark. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Wow, what beautiful photos. I had never heard of cenotes before but will now be sure to visit some when we eventually get to Mexico. they look so idyllic.

    Reply