The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Cenote Oxman, Valladolid
Visiting Cenote Oxman is one of the best things to do in Valladolid, Mexico. Spend a whole day visiting the incredible cenotes nearby, where you can swim, snorkel, chill out, and jump off the platform into the crystal clear water.
Valladolid is the best base for visiting the Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman. But you can also take a day trip from Tulum, Cancun, or Playa del Carmen.
This ultimate guide to Cenote Oxman includes the best time to visit, how to get there, practical information, and entrance fees.
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- The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Cenote Oxman, Valladolid
- Where is Cenote Oxman?
- How to Get to Cenote Oxman from Valladolid
- Best Time to Visit Valladolid, Mexico
- What is a Cenote?
- Cenote Oxman Opening Hours
- Cenote Oxman Entrance Fee, Tickets
- Cenote Oxman Tour
- What to Pack
- Tips for Visiting
- Where to Stay near the Cenote
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Where is Cenote Oxman?
Located just a 15-minute drive from the center of Valladolid, in the Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman complex on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
How to Get to Cenote Oxman from Valladolid
You can get to Cenote Oxman by car, taxi, bike, or scooter. We couldn’t find reliable information about the colectivo (shared transfer), so we recommend asking the locals. The best way to explore the Valladolid area if you don’t have a car is to rent a scooter and drive yourself.
Since we arrived in Valladolid by car from Cancun, we easily explored the nearby cenotes and visited Chichen Itza.
The taxi fare is 150 MXN (7 USD) for one way. Motorbike rental costs around 500 MXN (24 USD), and bicycle rental costs 150-300 MXN (7-15 USD) for a full day.
You can also book a private transfer, which includes a visit to Chichen Itza and 3 cenotes.
Good to know
There is a large car park, and parking is free at the hacienda.
Are you thinking of renting a car? Be sure to read our guide to renting a car in Mexico and driving around the Yucatan Peninsula.
Best Time to Visit Valladolid, Mexico
Valladolid’s tropical climate makes it a popular destination all year round. The best time to visit Valladolid is usually from mid-November to the end of April. The weather is pleasantly warm during this period, and rainfall is rare. However, this is the peak season in Valladolid, when prices are higher, and there will be crowds at the main attractions.
Many people visit Valladolid in May when there are fewer tourists and lower prices. But the weather will be warmer, and heavy rains should be expected.
Recommended post → How to Spend 3 Days in Valladolid
What is a Cenote?
Cenotes are natural freshwater sinkholes that form after an underground limestone cave collapses, exposing the groundwater underneath. The cenotes are filled with crystal clear, cold underground and rainwater. These cenotes and underground rivers provided the Maya with drinking water and were used for bathing and irrigation.
The cenotes were a sacred place, and Maya people believed that the cenotes were a passage to the underworld and the afterlife. Therefore, during Mayan rituals, they offered valuables and human sacrifices to their gods.
There are different types of cenotes: open cenotes, semi-open cenotes, cave cenotes, and underground cenotes.
Visiting the cenotes is one of the best things to do in Mexico. You can escape from the heat, swim, snorkel, and enjoy the scenery of natural sinkholes. Cenote Oxman was one of our favorite places in Valladolid, and we loved jumping into the water.
See also → Best Cenotes near Valladolid
Cenote Oxman Opening Hours
It is open daily from 7 AM to 5 PM.
Cenote Oxman Entrance Fee, Tickets
You can choose from three different entry packages to visit the cenote. Each package includes a life jacket (which you must wear), a locker, and access to the cenote and pool.
- Basic Package: The entrance fee to Cenote Oxman is 200 MXN (10 USD) for adults and 100 MXN (5 USD) for children.
- The Plus Package costs 400 MXN (19,50 USD) for adults and 250 MXN (12 USD) for children. Consumption bonus for food and drinks in the restaurant or bar (300 MXN for adults and 150 MXN for children).
- The Premium Package costs 550 MXN (27 USD), which includes a 300 MXN consumption bonus at the restaurant/bar, tequila & mezcal tasting, and a Maja blessing with a shaman.
Bring enough Mexican pesos, as card payments do not always work.
Cenote Oxman Tour
Cenote Oxman is an underground cave-style cenote located in a collapsed cave. It offers fantastic views with hanging roots and an open roof as natural light illuminates the water below. Before going down to the cenote, enjoy the view from the platform above. After entering the cave, there are about 70 descending steps leading to the cenote, so be careful not to slip.
There is a platform with a rope swing where you can jump into the crystal clear water, which is a fantastic experience. Wearing a life jacket is mandatory for swimming! You can spend a few chilling hours by the pool or in the hammocks, relaxing in the picnic area, sunbathing, swimming, or jumping in the cenote.
Good to know
If you don’t want to jump into the water with a rope swing, you can use the stairs to get down into the cenote.
You can book a full-day tour from Tulum or Playa del Carmen to visit the famous Chichen Itza, Cenote Oxman, Suytun Cenote, and the beautiful colonial town of Valladolid. The tour price includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, transport by air-conditioned vehicle, lunch, bottled water, and entrance fees.
Read our → Yucatan Peninsula Itinerary
What to Pack
- Quick-dry towel: This microfibre quick-drying towel is ideal for traveling, hiking, swimming, bathing, and sports.
- Power bank: An essential accessory for anyone who needs reliable power on the go.
- Grayl Filtered Water Bottle: The Grayl filter removes viruses and bacteria and filters microplastics, chemicals, and heavy metals. Fill up your filtered water bottle anywhere and drink crystal-clear water wherever you go.
- Swimsuit
- Biodegradable sunscreen
- Water shoes
- Dry bag
- Camera gear
- GoPro or Waterproof phone bag
- Plenty of Water
- Local money
Tips for Visiting
- Avoid weekends and arrive early.
- The hacienda has changing rooms, bathrooms, showers, a swimming pool, a restaurant and a bar.
- As petty theft is common, leave your valuables in a locker or carry them in a dry bag. You can rent a locker for a refundable deposit of 50 MXN (2.50 USD).
- You cannot wear sunscreen or insect repellent, and you must shower before entering the water at the cenote.
- Bring your snorkel gear if you want to snorkel.
- Use the bathroom before going swimming.
- If you’ve spent enough time here, we recommend visiting Cenote Suytun, a 15-minute drive away.
Where to Stay near the Cenote
The nearest town is Valladolid. But most people take a day trip from Tulum, Cancun, or Playa del Carmen. These are our accommodation recommendations.
Best hotels in Valladolid, Mexico
- Luxury: Oriundo Luxury Nature Villas
- Mid-Range: Hotel Waye or Meson del Marques
- Budget: Hotel Casa Bamboo
Best hotels in Tulum
- Luxury: Casa Malca or Kan Tulum Hotel
- Mid-Range: Uman Glamping
- Budget: Hotel Casa Tortuga Tulum
We have a detailed post on the best areas and hotels in Tulum.
We hope you found our guide to Oxman Cenote useful and will inspire you to visit Valladolid, Mexico. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
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