Catch Us in the Cenotes

If you asked me "Hey, do you want to go swim in a sinkhole today?" my answer would be an unwavering "No, thank you." But, if you asked me "Hey, do you want to go float in cerulean-blue cenotes?" I'd be slathering on the sunscreen, bikini-clad and ready to roll.

So when my husband suggested we check them out, I was all in. That was until I did a quick TikTok search and found cenote crocodiles (ahem...). After some soul-searching, I decided I'll risk the crocs and check it out.

We visited the Cenotes Casa Tortuga Tulum and to be honest, it was a little commercial. It felt like going to the zoo or an amusement park when you enter, which I don't love, but once you're inside you forget about the check-in and feel more connected to the beautiful natural cenotes. We paid ~$40 per adult and our toddler was free. The ticket included all-day access to the cenote and breakfast, which was nice. I would get a ticket directly, they look much more expensive if you book through a larger tour and usually the tours are hot, crowded and long. (I truly hate a group activity...)

You can do a cenote tour with a large group, but because we had a wiggly toddler with us and we didn't want to make this an all-day experience, we tagged along with the tour for a few minutes and then broke off to explore an open cenote alone. This turned out to be an expert move, because we had the gorgeous swimming pools to ourselves. (Again... I hate a group activity...)

After a THOROUGH scan for crocodiles or any other reptilian monsters, I felt brave enough to venture into the water. It was the perfect temp - refreshing, but not cold. The water felt pure, historic, and peaceful. I floated for a bit and then switched places with my husband, who was sitting on the edge with our toddler. She splashed on a ledge and enjoyed "swimming" in a shallow spot.

I'd definitely visit more cenotes throughout the region - add it to your list! Next time, I'd love to try to find some more natural cenotes, less commercially run. And if you're wondering - no, we didn't see any tortugas (but also, didn't see any crocodiles, so I consider this a win...)