When you come to Mexico, and more specifically to the Riviera Maya and the Yucatan, you will absolutely have to see a cenote; yes, un cenote, in the masculine, and not una cenote, because in Mexico the word is masculine.

Here we give you a list of the 10 most beautiful cenotes, in our opinion, in the state of Quintana Roo, that is to say between Cancun and Chetumal. There are more beautiful ones, but they lie in the state of Yucatan, right next door; that will certainly be another article, because the cenotes of Yucatan are bigger and deeper, and they are generally the ones you see in photos everywhere.

As a reminder, cenotes are freshwater wells, at a temperature of around 25 degrees all year round, linked to one another by underground rivers whose water flows into the sea in several places. These cenotes are about 2.5 million years old, which has nothing to do with the meteorite that wiped out the dinosaurs (65 million years).

We start the ranking from Playa del Carmen, where the first cenote is to be found, often very little known even though it sits right next to the town.

1 | Cenote Chac Tun

Located right at the end of avenida Juarez, in the still active ejido of Playa del Carmen, it will take you only a few minutes to reach from the town centre. There are in fact 2 cenotes to explore. You will need a torch, and perhaps a guide, because several passages are very narrow. Visit it preferably from the middle of the day, when the sun comes into the cenote: there will also be fewer people.

Let us carry on south, just after Puerto Aventuras, 20 min from Playa del Carmen.

2 | Cenote Jardin del Eden

An open cenote, where you can jump from a platform or simply relax in the sun. It is often very busy because it is so close to Playa del Carmen: go outside weekends, and preferably at opening time.

Let us carry on for about fifteen minutes to reach the ejido Jacinto Pat, where the best known cenotes are. We have selected three of them, all within the same area.

3 | Cenote Dos Ojos

Certainly the best known in the world. It is very busy, but it can also be done with mask and snorkel: it remains a place to see if you are coming to the Riviera.

4 | Cenote Tak Be Ha

Next to Dos Ojos, this one is best visited with mask and snorkel, and it is in fact more beautiful than Dos Ojos for that activity. Go with a torch, because the bottom is sometimes a little dark. The entrance price is fairly high, as at Dos Ojos: 350 pesos per person at the time of writing.

5 | Cenote El Pit

THE photogenic cenote by definition, certainly one of the most impressive in the state. It is a 40 m deep shaft, which turns into a cathedral when the rays of the sun come in through the roof of the cenote.

6 | Casa Cenote

An open cenote, just before Tulum, ideal with mask and snorkel, shallow and very pleasant. Here again very busy in season: go for the opening hours. Entrance cost 120 pesos.

7 | Cenote Angelita

Another cenote next to Tulum, very impressive: the gases form something like a river at the bottom of the cenote, an unreal landscape.

8 | Gran Cenote

Not actually a big cenote, but very well known because it sits right at the exit of Tulum. The cenote is very pretty, but the price is excessive for the number of people there. Worth seeing all the same if you pass through Tulum.

9 | Cenote Azul (Bacalar)

Surrounded by forest, this is the bluest cenote in Bacalar. It is 90 m deep, which impresses its visitors.

10 | Cenote Multum Ha

An underground cenote, a few minutes from the Coba site, ideal for cooling off after walking around the site. The water is crystal clear, and there is generally no crowd.

That is it for this list of 10 cenotes. You will find plenty of others, and some will say that this one or that one is more beautiful, but it is all a matter of taste. Have a great holiday, and get in touch with us during your stay in Mexico so that we can put together some wonderful tours for you.

The most beautiful cenotes in Quintana Roo