If you dont want to visit the cenote here at Ek Balam there are some other options nearby. We recommend having at least 600-700 pesos/person on hand when you arrive, especially if you also plan to visit Cenote Xcanche and/or eat lunch on site. Required fields are marked *. All rights reserved. Towel If you prefer not to drip-dry (or collapse into a hammock for half an hour to dry) after visiting Cenote Xcanche, youll want to be sure to throw a towel into your day bag. Personally, I really think Valladolid deserves at least one night to experience it fully. We do have a full guide to Chichen Itza so you can get the most out of your visit there. Once a thriving Mayan city, construction began on Ek Balam as early as 300 BCE, and the city was potentially occupied as late as 16th century CE. The experience is completely different than visiting a highly touristic site like Tulum or Chichen Itza, and it is absolutely magical! Just politely decline and continue on to the entrance, where youll find lots of parking. Its an easy, mostly shady walk down a straight gravel road, and we chose to walk in both directions. Its not only one of the top restaurants in Valladolid, but your cenote entrance ticket will come free with the purchase of a meal. There are just a couple of openings in the ceiling, where the light shines through to illuminate the clear water inside.

TravelLemming.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Dzitnup complex is located close to Hacienda Selva Maya, and so a lot of tourists come through these popular cenotes. Note: As of my last visit in fall 2021, Cenote Zaci was temporarily closed for renovations. The only question is: which Valladolid cenotes are the best? Its a reasonably large open cenote that can make for a great way to cool off after a hot morning spent exploring the ruins. If you do visit, you will find bathrooms, changing area with outdoor showers, a small restaurant and hammock area. You just will need to drive here since there is no public transportation. Today, only a small portion (about one square mile) of Ek Balam is excavated, including the impressive El Torre pyramid. It was at its height from roughly 770 to 840 CE, and was the home of around 20,000 people. You still are able to visit this cenote yourself if you like. One of the newest cenotes to open in the Yucatan, Cenote Chukum is one of the most beautiful cave cenotes Ive seen in all of Mexico. It is a much more tranquil place, then the Ek Balam cenote. You can find literally thousands of cenotes in the peninsula, but many of the best are the cenote near Valladolid, Mexico. Thank you for reading our article about the cenote at Ek Balam. Wondering what to bring with you when heading out on a day trip to Ek Balam and Cenote Xcanche? I am going to have to visit here when I go to Ek Balam. Near the entrance, there are booths available selling drinks and snack food. Cenote Ik Kil is definitely the most crowded of the cenotes near Valladolid, owing to the fact that many Chichen Itza tours stop here and unloaded hordes of visitors coming up for day trips from Cancun or from Playa del Carmen to see the famous Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza. Most of the cenotes offer free parking, the roads near Valladolid are wide and well paved, and using a car will give you the freedom to time your trip to avoid the crowds. If youre visiting Valladolid, then hitting a few cenotes is an absolute must-do thing for your itinerary. If you have extra time to visit more, here are a few other Valladolid cenotes to add to your list: The best way to visit the many amazing cenotes near Valladolid is to rent a car in Cancun or Merida upon arrival and drive yourself. Bug Spray Heading into the jungle to explore Mayan ruins practically guarantees a few mosquito bites, but you can avoid the worst of it with bug spray! How to find it and rekindle your small town love, No more Covid-19 test for most arrivals in the United States, Masks are now voluntary in the state of Quintana Roo.

Most open cenotes though have more opaque water since leaves and dust fall into them.

Its one of the easiest cenotes to access, as the stairs down to the surface are well paved. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Generally speaking, these tours will reach Ek Balam in the mid-morning, visit the site, and then take people over to Cenote Xcanche, so mid-morning and mid-day are the most crowded times to visit.

The typical way to handle your belongings at Xcanche appeared to be just finding a dry place along the edge of the cenote and shoving your items to the side therenot unlike many other cenotes weve visited! ), 17 Best Things to Do in Isla Mujeres, Mexicos Laid-Back Island Paradise, How to Take a Traghetto (Cheapest Gondola in Venice! Most Instagrammable Cenote in Valladolid (Underground Cenote), Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 8 km | Entrance: 120 pesos | Hours: 9 am 5 pm daily. Heres everything you need to know before visiting these beautiful locations in Mexico for yourself! Its located in an underground cave but only requires a short flight of stairs to access. Managing your own trip to Ek Balam will add lots of flexibility to your day, and be far less stressful than worrying about picking up a taxi after you explore, too. Check out my full guide to the best Valladolid hotels to find the right one for you! Also note that during the rainy summer season, the water levels can sometimes result in Cenote Suytuns platform being submerged and thus inaccessible. Gourmet taste and local prices at Calamar de la 10 Restaurant, May 2, 2022 in Everything Beyond Playa //, Daytrips, tours, activities and excursions, Contact email information for EverythingPlayaDelCarmen.com website, Things that are new or changed in Playa Del Carmen July 2022, Do you miss the old Playa?

Were full-time travel bloggers who have been exploring the world since 2016, visiting 50+ countries across 5 continents along the way. Best Cenote to Avoid Crowds (Underground Cenote), Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 10 km | Website | Entrance: 200 pesos for a ticket, lockers, and lifejacket, or 500 pesos with buffet | Hours: 9 am 5 pm daily. The cenote itself is deep. It is also one of the top four most visited Mayan ruins from the Riviera Maya. But dont let Ik Kils popularity deter you from visiting! Purell Hand Sanitizer We carry this everywhere, and never been sorry to have it floating around in our day bag. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions. Owing to its location smack in the middle of the Yucatan peninsula, Valladolid is pretty easy to access from Merida or the Riviera Maya. The water has a darker hue to is not a crystal clear water cenote. Plus, perhaps because of the (relatively) high entrance cost and distance from Valladolid, we even had the cenote all to ourselves! What did you like about this post? To get into the water, there are stairs to the water. Posted in Cenotes, Mayan Ruins // 1 Comment. If you click through a link on Our Escape Clause, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you happen to be staying in Valladolid, its incredibly easy to grab a taxi for Ek Balam (there are several taxi stands in the city, but the one right in front of the cathedral in the Zocalo is probably the easiest to find, and almost always has a few drivers around). You wont have to go far to find the most popular Valladolid cenotes. You can either take bikes or take the tricycle taxi if you dont want to pedal yourself. What separates this from other cenotes near Valladolid is the island in the middle of Cenote SAC-AUA, which was formed when the cave roof collapsed upon the cenote below. The main feature here is the (artificial) waterfall, which adds to the ambiance when youre swimming in the cenote. This is to help protect the fragile ecosystemsimilarly, you should not wear sunscreen or bug spray into the cenote (or any cenote, though some are better about enforcing the rule than others). We typically focus on travel in the USA and Europe (especially in our beloved Italy), but feature destinations across the world! There are also more fully covered underground cave cenotes, which give off the vibe of something in an Indiana Jones movie. ). Its very easy to access and not far at all from the parking lot! One is paid to the state, and one to a federal agency. Theres also a small restaurant next to Cenote Xcanchebut more on that below.

If you prefer not to drip-dry (or collapse into a hammock for half an hour to dry) after visiting Cenote Xcanche, youll want to be sure to throw a towel into your day bag. Stairs have been built that lead you down to the water here at Cenote Fantasma. The downside, of course, is that youll be running on someone elses schedule and usually spend a bit more out of pocketbut if youd rather kick back and relax than negotiate with taxi drivers or drive yourself, its the perfect solution. Conveniently located just a five-minute walk from the city square, Cenote Zaci is a gorgeous oasis offering a relaxing way to quickly retreat into a bit of nature. Climbing to the top of El Torre while visiting Ek Balam and swimming in the cool waters of Cenote Xcanche rank among our favorite travel experiences in the Yucatan peninsulawhich is extremely high praise considering how much we love the area. Heres what you need to know! It is about 12 feet (4 meters) off the water. Xcaret discounts, sales coupons and ways to save money on your trip! Click on a star to rate (you can leave feedback after clicking submit). This can be a good place before or after a visit to Ek Balam. Cenote Xcanche is one of those places where its easy to understand why the Mayan religion purports that cenotes are the entrance to the underworld. To enter Ek Balam, youll need to pay 413 pesos (around $22 USD)/person. When scrambling up 30 meters of sometimes slippery steps to reach the top of El Torre, youll be glad you have them! Just aim for something comfortable to wear, not flashy, and medium-sizedwe used aNorthface Jester backpackfor years and loved it as well. The restaurant is on the north end of Temozon and has a large palapa roof. There were only about 15-20 other people at the site with us, and there were plenty of moments we were completely alone with the ruins. We mainly recommend taking the package with bike and cenote combined. We saw more than a few fish swimming in the waters. Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 28 km | Entrance: 70 pesos | Hours: 8 am 5 pm daily.

The showers are located right next door to the cenote, so its very easy to pop in before going swimming. With that said, the Yucatan peninsula is home to literally thousands of cenotes, located in everything from schools to Costco parking lots, so it is possible to find some cenote without an entrance fee. Parking is free, technically speaking, and there are even signs saying so, but there will be people around who will watch your car and expect a small tip in return. If you are visiting the Ek Balam ruins you might also like to read our guide to the best hotels in Valladolid to stay in. Id suggest coming in the morning, taking a refreshing swim before it gets crowded, then hitting the buffet afterward. Ready to visit Ek Balam?

There is one rope swing where you can drop into the water. The climb up is steep and tested my fear of heights quite a bit, but the views from the top are well worth the effort. Road bike rentals and pedicabs are easy to come by, though. You visit as part of a tour that involves strapping on a helmet and navigating your way through the cave complex. Since most people come to the cenote after visiting the ruins, they want to change clothes. There are areas that are dry and fairly easy to keep your eye on. Note that Cenote Xcanche does carry a separate entrance fee from the Ek Balam ruins. Valladolid is a charming colonial town just about 30 minutes south of Ek Balam. This is the small town you pass through on your way to Ek Balam if you are heading north from Valladolid. Be sure to stop on your way up to check some of the incredibly ornate carvings still located on the structure! Just be aware that taxi drivers have a tendency to bail (happened to me several times).

Just see our clickable map below for more ideas. Or how can we improve it to help you travel better? Ek Balam is increasing in popularity, and more and more tours are starting to pop up. The crowd loves cheering as people take turns on the rope swing! Most cenotes require the use of life jackets, and personal flotation devices are a good idea even when they dont in order to minimize your risk. He has traveled to 65+ countries across six continents around the world and writes about emerging travel destinations at TravelLemming.com. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, Im working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA. Sunscreen Sunscreen isnt allowed in Cenote Xcanche in order to preserve the fragile environment, but youll definitely want to have some on when visiting Ek Balam! Dont miss a chance to go swimming in Cenote Xcanche! The lockers and showers are new and spacious, there is plentiful parking, and the cenote itself has a zip line and even a kayak you can take out into the cenote. Some links throughout this site are affiliate links. This is a large cave cenote, with a small opening to the sky above. Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 17 km | Entrance: 100 pesos | Hours: 9 am 5 pm daily. It is only possible with a car since there is no public transportation options available nor taxi. While the above are my top 11 recommendations, there are so many amazing cenotes in Valladolid to consider. Cenote Suytun is undeniably the most beautiful cenote in the Valladolid area, though be advised that sometimes the line on the stairs to take a shot can back up during peak periods. Fast forward all the way to the 1980s, and excavations began in the city. Thats it for this guide to the best Valladolid cenotes! In all Cenote Samula was my least favorite of the two, though that may have been because there was a very upset child swimming whose cries echoes through the cave walls. We visited Ek Balam in the late afternoon and loved it! Cenote Saamal is located in Hacienda Selva Maya, which features solid facilities with lockers and outdoor showers.

Many tourists choose to just visit Valladolid as part of a day trip from Tulum, Playa del Carmen, or Cancun, often in combination with a tour to Chichen Itza. The buffet was quite expansive and surprisingly delicious. Google Maps | +52 985 856 0721 | Entrance: 30 pesos or free with meal purchase | Hours: CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS AS OF FALL 2021. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Eventually, Ek Balam receded into the jungle, and large pockets of its story remain unknown. While honestly not the most beautiful of the cenotes near Valladolid, you cant argue with the convenient location. If you want to sample some local specialties, Carnes Concepcion is one of the best places. You can get to Valladolid by renting a car and driving, taking the ADO bus, or via tour. If you are looking for a good restaurant, Restaurant Temozon is one of the best in town. Cenote Samula is one of two underground cenotes near Valladolid that together make up the Dzitnup cenote complex, along with Cenote Xkeken. This cenote is a little off in the distance from the ruins and in a wooded area. I use and love World Nomads personally, but be sure to compare policies! ), How Choosing a Life of Travel Changed Everything, If youd like to consider driving to Ek Balam, we recommend searching for rental cars through. Finally, if you dont mind a little exercise, some cenotes (especially the Dzitnup cenotes and Hacienda Selva Maya) are fairly easy to access via bike trails from Valladolid, Mexico. For 250 pesos, we got admission, a buffet, lockers, plus life jackets (which are mandatory). Sure, its a little touristy, but Cenote Hubiku is still one of my favorite cenotes near Valladolid. At times, Cenote Saamal can attract just a few too many tourists for my taste. If it were closer to Valladolid, this cenote might just top this list. and were thrilled with the choice. Temozon is known for its smoked meats and handmade furniture. Its large, with several platforms for taking photos, jumping, or swinging on a rope swing. There are male and female changing areas with lockers, but you need to bring your own lock. Open Cenote Near Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins, Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 38 km | Entrance: 80 pesos | Hours: 8 am 5 pm daily. Boasting vivid water, tree roots that snake down the deep, stone walls, rickety wooden staircases, a wooden swing bridge, and iguanas that like to scitter along the walls, it is truly something special. Tips for Visiting Cenotes from Valladolid.

There is a large platform for entering the cenote, so its one of the better options if youre visiting with kids. I recommend timing your visit to Cenote Zaci for lunch at the nearby Restaurant Zaci. I travel there frequently and have visited dozens of cenotes. Overall, Cenote Oxman is a great choice if you also want the benefit of the swimming pool, the large hammocks, and the decent drinks from the bar. Youll also have the option of visiting a nearby cave that was recently opened and features various sacred Mayan artifacts nestled amongst the stalactites. You just have to time your visit for the early morning or late afternoon, when the tour buses arent at Cenote Ik Kil. We found that most of the structures in Ek Balam were able to be at least partially climbed, and the various viewpoints provided great angles to admire the rest of the city. Sometimes referred to as the Ek Balam cenote, Cenote Xcanche is located literally within the Ek Balam ruins complex. There are two sets of stairs that descend into the cenote, one being much steeper than the other. Cenote Xcanche is a deep cenote. There is also a zipline available for an extra fee. If that does happen, though, most cenotes have staff that will call you a taxi you just might have to wait a bit. Honestly, I did find the buffet a little paltry (especially given the price). Comfortable Day Bag We currently usePacsafes sleek anti-theft backpackand love it, but if you dont want to shell out the cash for this trip, thats totally understandable. If you are traveling by yourself, you can pay 70 pesos for the entrance and walk to the cenote. Opening a business in Playa Del Carmen -is it for you? You have the option of just paying 150 pesos to use the cenote, or you can spring for a day pass and lounge out at the beautiful pool and enjoy the restaurant. In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Weve driven all over the Yucatan peninsula and find the driving extremely easydefinitely easier than driving most places in Europeand tons of fun. If you want something a bit more secure, though, there are lockers near the showers. ), Is a Colosseum Night Tour Worth the Splurge? The cenote itself is stunning. But its worth the drive and, as Cenote Secreto Mayas name suggests, its a bit of a secret still you wont have compete with as many crowds. The entrance booth is located just past the first grouping of souvenir stalls that you pass after buying tickets for Ek Balamor theres a more direct path you can take from the parking lot, too. Nate Hake is a digital nomad from Denver, Colorado who has been traveling the world full time since 2016. When visiting, people also can visit the cenote that is nearby.

Taking a tour is the perfect solution: with a tour, your day is virtually guaranteed to run smoothly, people who know exactly where theyre going will be in charge of your transportation, and youll have a guide to show you the best of Ek Balam. If the thought of driving in Mexico scares you, another way to visit many cenotes in one go is to join a guided tour to various cenotes. My friend Christopher and I visited during a rainstorm, which made for a pretty special experience as water poured down through the narrow opening in the cenote opening. Getting Mexico travel insurance is just the sensible thing to do. Cenote Sac Aua is an open cenote with a small island in the middle. But considering just how beautiful the cenote is, and how modern the facilities are, Cenote Chukum is for sure one of the best Valladolid cenotes! Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 6 km | Entrance: 80 pesos | Hours: 9 am 6 pm daily. Driving through town, you will notice many places selling both. Your email address will not be published. The menu was limited, but the food was excellent and prices great (80-100 MXN, or between $4-6 USD) for a mealwe paid less there than at an average restaurant in Valladolid. On the far side you can see the area where they rappel. Powered by Mai Theme, What to do in Amsterdam in Winter 20 Fun Activities, Mayan people used the cenotes as water sources, If youre not a confident swimmer, you can. After you travel down the trail to the cenote you know you have arrived when you see this sign. Cenote SAC-AUA is one of the more unique cenotes to add to your Yucatan itinerary. You can get a combined ticket to enter both cenotes, though annoyingly you have to separately rent a life jacket at each. Around the cenote you will find a large restaurant that offers buffet service, a touristy Mayan village and super touristy Tequila tasting. Wild and wonderful, Cenote Xcanchesometimes referred to as the Ek Balam Cenote because of its very close locationis among our favorite cenotes in the Yucatan peninsula. We hope you get to explore all around our area. Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 5.4 km| Entrance: 80 pesos for adult & 50 pesos for children | Hours: 9 am 6 pm daily.

If youre headed to Ek Balam, considering adding in a stop to Cenote Hubiku along the way.

Hat + Sunglasses Be sure to protect yourself from the sun! There is an easy-to-use, expansive parking lot onsite that you can use for access to both the ruins and the cenote. There are so many incredible and affordable hotels in Valladolid to choose from, most of them locally owned. You might miss this town if you blink, but there are a few little things of note here. Your email address will not be published. Even if youre not sure if you want to swim, we recommend bringing itafter sweating through your Ek Balam tour, you might be glad you have it. Cenote Zaci is a large open cenote that is partially open to the sky. If youre visiting Valladolid from Cancun, check out this highly rated cenote tour from Viator. We chose to have lunch onsite when visiting Cenote Xcanche, in large part because all of the swimming left us starving. All in all, if youre with a group, Cenote Saamal is a great one to visit. The cenote itself is large and mostly enclosed. Mexicos Yucatan peninsula is famous for its cenotes, covered or partially open swimming holes fed by underground springs. This cenote is a little further off the beaten path, but work taking the time to get there. As an Amazon Associate, Our Escape Clause earns from qualifying purchases. Known as El Torre, or The Tower, this structure is one of the largest Mayan ruins to be found on the Yucatan peninsula. If it is a hot day and you dont want to walk to the cenote, a bike rental or taxi is recommended. We personally drove to Mexico from Valladolid (though heres a very important tip if you choose this route: rent your car before arriving in Valladolid!) The Ek Balam cenote is officially called Cenote Xcanche. Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 29 km | Entrance: 190 pesos for entrance to cenote, cave, and kayak | Hours: 8 am 5 pm daily. There are no shallow areas for young children. Here is everything you need to know about visiting the cenote and options. Heres what to know before you (literally) dive in. Be sure to protect yourself from the sun! During our Ek Balam visit, both tickets were handled seamlessly with one purchase, so there was no need to think much about it! If youre staying in Valladolid itself, there surprisingly arent many cenote tours to choose from. I hope it helps you to find a relaxing cenote to swim in, and I hope you love Valladolid as much as I do. Theyre located less than a 3-minute walk from the cenote. The walks to and from Ek Balam and Cenote Xcanche are fairly shaded, but the ruins themselves are primarily in direct sunlight. Although you might be on a self guided trip and have time to visit the two during your time in the area. There are other options that include bike rental or the tricycle taxis.

Despite being a fit further away from the popular Riviera Maya destinations of Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen than Chichen Itza or Coba, Ek Balam is still very simple to access. There is so much to see and discover. For more information, check out my guides to how to go to Valladolid from Cancun and from Tulum. You can find excellent car rental deals by searching the Discover Cars search engine, which lets you compare lots of different agencies and their reviews (Mexican rental car agencies are known for shady practices, so pay close attention!). If youre physically able, its definitely a unique experience! Several trees have even grown on the island, and you can take kayaks or swim around it. Open Cenote With Excellent Pool & Restaurant, Google Maps | Distance from Valladolid: 33 km | Entrance: 150 pesos (cenote only) or 500 pesos (day pass including pool & restaurant) | Hours: 10 am 5 pm daily. Here are my 11 favorite cenotes to visit in the Valladolid area: Disclosure: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. Most cenotes that you can swim in are privately owned and carry some sort of entrance fee, though often this is a relatively small fee of as little as 30 pesos ($1.50 USD). Magical Valladolid, Mexico: Things to Do + Travel Guide, The Ultimate 2 Weeks in Mexico Itinerary for First Time Visitors, 13 Out-Of-This-World Things to Do in Oaxaca, The Ultimate 10 Day Yucatan Road Trip Itinerary, 25 Fascinating Ruins in Mexico to Visit (Mayan, Aztec + Beyond!

Want to avoid dealing with logistics but still see the best of Ek Balam and Cenote Xcanche?