The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Cenote Suytun, Mexico

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Cenote Suytun, Mexico

Cenote Suytun is a famous attraction in Valladolid, Mexico. The platform in the middle of the cave offers fantastic photo opportunities, but try to plan a visit when the sun is shining directly from above. Sometimes the water level can flood the platform, other times you can walk on it.

Valladolid is the best base for visiting the cenote. But you can also take a day trip from Tulum, Cancun, or Playa del Carmen. Combine your visit with the stunning cenotes nearby to make the most of your experience.

This ultimate guide to Suytun Cenote includes the best time to visit, how to get there, practical information, and tips for visiting.

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Where is Cenote Suytun?

It’s just a 15-minute drive from the charming colonial town of Valladolid on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

How to Get to Cenote Suytun from Valladolid

The distance between the center of Valladolid and the cenote is about 10 km, 15 minutes by car or 40 minutes by bike. Since we arrived in Valladolid by car from Cancun, we easily explored the nearby cenotes and visited Chichen Itza.

You can get to Cenote Suytun 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.

The taxi fare is 250-350 MXN (12-17 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.

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.

Good to know
There is a large car park, and parking is free at the cenote.

Alternatively, you can take a day trip from Tulum to Valladolid and cenotes. Book this excellent private tour.

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 Suytun is well worth a visit, and we loved exploring it.

See also → Best Cenotes near Valladolid

Cenote Suytun Entrance Fee & Tickets

The entrance fee to Cenote Suytun is 280 MXN (13,50 USD) for adults and 230 MXN (11 USD) for children (5-11 years old), which includes a life jacket and access to the other smaller cenote (Kaapeh).

Tickets can be purchased at the entrance or online. The official site usually offers discounted tickets.

You can also buy a ticket that includes the entrance fee with food and drinks, which costs 350 MXN (17 USD) for adults and 300 MXN (14,50 USD) for children.

TIP
Be sure to bring enough Mexican pesos, as not all places accept card payments.

Cenote Suytun Opening Hours

It is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. The last entry is at 4 PM.

How to Take Photos at Cenote Suytun

The Cenote Suytun is an underground semi-open cenote with a small hole in the ceiling from which light shines directly onto the platform. You can only go down to the cave by a steep stone staircase. If you want to visit when the natural light is shining onto the platform, you should visit between noon and 2 PM.

Unlike most cenotes, there is no jumping platform. Due to the shallow depth of the water (1-5 meters), diving is not allowed. Although swimming is allowed in the cenote, most people only come here to take photos.

Read our → Yucatan Peninsula Itinerary

It is good to know that the platform is not always underwater, depending on weather conditions. In the dry season, you can usually walk on the platform, which is a fantastic experience. However, in December and January, you may only be able to reach the platform by swimming as the water is up to your chest.

We tried to take photos from every angle to find the best photo spot. In our opinion, the best way to get the perfect shot is to stand on the platform and have someone take a picture of you directly from above (at the cave entrance).

Since we were taking pictures of both of us, we had to stand in line twice, but we were lucky because there weren’t many people.

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
• Camera gear
• Plenty of Water
• Local money

Tips for Visiting Cenote Suytun

• Arrive as early as possible, because you have to stand in line to take photos.
• Keep an eye on your valuables while you take photos, or rent a locker for 50 MXN (2,50 USD).
• Don’t forget that the last entry is at 4 PM, so if you arrive late, you won’t be able to visit this impressive attraction.
• Plan to spend at least 1-2 hours at the cenote, which gives you enough time to explore and take great Instagram photos.
• Be careful, as stairs can be slippery.
• Once you’ve taken enough photos, we recommend visiting Cenote Oxman, a 15-minute drive away.
• There are changing rooms, bathrooms, showers, a souvenir shop, a bar, and a restaurant on site.
• Wearing a life jacket is mandatory for swimming.
• You cannot wear sunscreen or insect repellent, and you must shower before entering the water at the cenote.

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 Suytun Cenote useful and will inspire you to visit Mexico. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.

Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway

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