Jumping in Cenote Calavera (Temple of Doom) in Tulum, Mexico
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Cenote Calavera (Cenote Esqueleto, Skull Cenote, or Temple of Doom) is one of the most famous cenotes in Tulum—and for good reason!
Cenote Calavera has crystal clear water, thrilling jumping holes, incredible rock formations, and swaying hammocks hooked between the surrounding shady trees.
But its real draw lies below the surface.
The Temple of Doom connects underground flooded caverns and features a stunning halocline layer, which can only be seen by scuba diving (for those with advanced PADI certification).
Many people call Cenote Calavera (Cenote Esqueleto) the Skull Cenote or Skull Cave because its shape takes the form of a skull—two small holes for the eyes and one large hole for the mouth. 💀
Jumping in Cenote Calavera through its small “eyes”—an 8-foot drop into the water—is what most people come for.
It’s a fun cenote to swim in but even better for diving as it’s connected to the Sac Actun cave system, which makes up one of the longest subterranean rivers in the world.
Here is everything you need to know to visit, play, splash, jump, or dive into Cenote Calavera in Tulum!
Everything to Know About Tulum’s Cenote Calavera (Esqueleto/Skull Cenote)
Quick Details for Visiting the Temple of Doom
- Price: $250 MXN, cash only!
- Directions: Q.R. Hwy 109 toward Coba (4 miles from Tulum Centro)
- Hours: 9-5 PM
- Camera Fee: $250 MXN
- Facilities: Toilets, showers, lounge chairs
- Features: Cave-like overhangs, jumping holes, bats
How to Get to Cenote Calavera
Getting to Cenote Calavera is relatively easy, as it’s one of the closest cenotes to Tulum Pueblo.
Just 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from the center, it takes roughly 5 minutes by car and 10 minutes by bike to get there, depending on where in Tulum you start.
From Tulum town, take Coba Road (QROO 109) toward Coba to reach the entrance to Cenote Calavera.
If you’re coming from Tulum’s hotel zone, you will already be on Avenida Coba — follow the road straight in the opposite direction of the beach.
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Biking to the Skull Cenote
We always went to Cenote Calavera by bike.
It is a 10-minute bike ride from downtown Tulum, pedaling briskly (though it feels longer than that sometimes, lol).
Biking around Tulum is one of the best ways to get around—and it’s inexpensive!
If you do decide to bike to Cenote Calavera, be careful. You’ll be biking on the highway’s side and big trucks pass you.
Drivers are used to seeing hikers and bikers on this road and typically give you space, but its still wise to be wary of your surroundings.
Can you walk to Cenote Calavera from Tulum?
If you want to save on the taxi fare, you could technically walk to the Temple of Doom.
It’s pretty close to the center of Tulum Pueblo and takes around 30 minutes. We’ve seen many people do it, but again, you’ll be walking on the edge of a busy highway.
I recommend covering up a little (dress appropriately) even if you are going for a swim later. Nothing will happen to you, but I know it makes me feel more comfortable walking/biking in public when people in their cars are less likely to stare at me if I’m dressed more low-key.
By Car/Taxi:
If you have a rental car in Tulum and are going with friends or family to Cenote Calavera, it’s easiest to take the car.
There is a small (free) parking lot at the entrance.
Otherwise, if you don’t have a car and aren’t feeling like renting a bike either, then hopping in a taxi will be the second-best option for getting to the Temple of Doom from Tulum.
Remember that if you take a taxi there, you will need to wait alongside the road for an available taxi to take you back into town afterward.
Costs & Camera Rules at Skull Cenote
While one of the most unique, Cenote Calavera is one of the most expensive cenotes in Tulum.
The adult entry fee costs $250 MXN pesos per person (as of May 2024) and is cash only.
On top of the admission fee, if you want to use your professional camera or underwater camera (GoPro or Osmo Action) in Cenote Calavera, you’ll need to pay an extra $200 MXN pesos.
⚠️ Drones are not allowed at the Temple of Doom!
The staff does routine checks while you’re swimming to see if anyone is using a camera without having paid, and they’re very quick to call you out.
However, taking photos and videos on your phone is entirely FREE.
You may want to buy and pack a waterproof phone pouch to visit Cenote Calavera.
With the clear water, excellent jumping holes, and pretty beams of sunlight, you’ll want to take your phone in the water with you.
Opening Hours at Cenote Calavera
Cenote Calavera opens at 9 AM and closes at 5 PM.
I recommend getting there right at 9 AM to have the swimming hole primarily to yourself.
Amenities at Cenote Calavera
Although Cenote Calavera does have a few amenities, like restrooms, showers, and lounge chairs, you won’t find any snack shacks or lockers!
Be sure to bring something to eat if you think you’ll get hungry and plenty of water. Since there are no lockers, you must take your day backpack and set it down on one of the lounge chairs, hammocks, or tables dotted around the cenote’s main entrance.
Always remember to pack your trash out if you decide to bring snacks.
Please make sure to rinse off any lotions and sunscreens. (Yes, even biodegradable sunscreens too!)
If you are afraid to get sunburned, I recommend wearing a loose shirt or sunhat and spending more time in the shade than in the sun.
Like many cenotes, Cenote Esqueleto is considered sacred to the Maya. It’s worth protecting and abiding by the rules!
After your tour of the showers, you can now jump into the Temple of Doom… If you dare… hehe!
What It’s Like to Swim and Jump in the Temple of Doom
Cenote Calavera has an 8-foot jump into its “main entrance,” or you can descend and exit the cenote via a giant wooden ladder!
It also has two smaller holes nearby that are great for jumping in.
But before you do that, after you pay, you will be asked to shower and rinse off in the outdoor bathrooms before you enter the cenote.
💦 Remember, rinsing off before entry is required no matter which cenote you visit in Mexico because it helps protect the cenotes’ fragile ecosystem.
When you’re in the water, you’ll see ample swimming space for snorkeling and exploring.
The cave is home to many bats and birds, who fly around and nest in little holes in the rock ceiling.
🪨 BE CAREFUL when jumping into the Skull Eyes—the two smaller holes—as they are not very big, and a forceful jump could end badly (scraped knees and foreheads are typical).
Instead, I recommend playing it safe by stepping into the holes rather than jumping!
It’s about an 8-10ft drop, and you’ll splash into the water before you know it.
It would help if you also planned to bring your snorkel mask (I use the electric blue Beuchat dive mask) to see the bottom of the cenote and the light rays that enter through the cenote holes and shine light beams in the water.
The water inside the cenotes is crystal clear, so investing in a snorkel mask for your time in Tulum is worth it, especially if you know you’ll visit more than one cenote!
Scuba Diving in the Temple of Doom
Don’t forget that Cenote Calavera is a diving cenote!
It’s one of the most exciting locations for cavern diving in Tulum because of the unique rock formations, tight tunnels, and a spooky halocline layer created when freshwater and saltwater meet.
It costs 10 USD to dive in Cenote Calavera, plus whatever you pay for the tour.
🚨 You cannot scuba dive inside this beautiful cenote without a dive instructor or shop.
Unfortunately, Cenote Calavera isn’t a good option if you’re new to diving. Only advanced cave divers with their Open-Water PADI Certification and good buoyancy are allowed to dive inside this underground cave.
Even if you are a pro cave diver, note that Calavera has some tricky tight spots if you’re claustrophobic.
If you decide to dive, you must do a 3 m (10 ft) stride into the main cenote entrance.
Once inside, you’ll see plenty of fruit bars and nesting birds in the rock ceiling. Below the surface, your descent into the cavern line below the surface will begin at around 6 m (20 ft) and go to 16 m (53 ft) max depth.
What to Wear & Bring to the Skull Cenote
When planning your adventures to Cenote Calavera, you should consider your gear, clothes, and backup dry clothes to change into (depending on what you plan to do after your swim).
RELATED: The Ultimate Packing List for Mexico (+ Free Printable)
Here is what I would recommend packing for Cenote Calavera:
- Cash
- Bathing suit
- Loose romper or cover-up dress for the gals
- A change of shorts and a shirt for the guys
- Phone + waterproof case
- Hat + sunglasses
- Microfiber towel
- Bag
- Reusable water bottle
- Fruit/snacks
- Camera / Underwater cam (optional)
Remember: You don’t need to pack sunscreen for the cenote, but take it if you are walking/biking back to town afterward since you will be in full sun on the road.
You can read my complete Tulum packing list here!
FAQ’s About Cenote Calavera
Can you walk to Cenote Calavera from Tulum?
Walking to Cenote Calavera from Tulum is possible but not the best option for getting there. You’ll have to share the road to reach the cenote with large trucks and other traffic, and it takes about an hour to get there on foot.
Biking or driving are much better methods of transportation!
Can you visit Cenote Calavera without a tour?
Yes! If you’re not planning to scuba dive, you don’t need to be on a tour or have a guide to visit Cenote Calavera.
That being said, if you’re looking to dive, you’ll have to join a guided tour and have some experience.
Do you need water shoes at Cenote Calavera?
Bringing water shoes or waterproof sandals to Cenote Calavera is a good idea. The area around the cenote is rocky, and you’ll need to climb the wooden ladder to exit the hole.
Are drones allowed at Cenote Calavera?
Drones are not allowed at Cenote Calavera. On top of that, if you want to bring a professional camera, you’ll need to pay a $250 MXN fee (about $15 USD).
Alternative Cenotes Nearby
There are dozens of epic cenotes in Tulum!
Here are a few more famous and worthwhile cenotes to explore while visiting the Riviera Maya.
Cenote Dos Ojos
Named “two eyes” for its nearby sister cenotes, Dos Ojos is one of the most famous cenotes in Tulum for a reason—it’s beautiful!
Visitors can snorkel or swim in Dos Ojos crystal clear water, but one of the biggest draws is the ability to dive here.
This cenote is only partially covered, which means the atmosphere is cool and cave-like, even including a few bats.
Gran Cenote
Possibly the most famous cenote in Tulum, Gran Cenote is the most expensive cenote in the area but has plenty of amenities like restrooms, snorkel rentals, lockers, and even a restaurant.
This cenote is worth it for the jungle vibes alone. Get here early!
Casa Cenote
Also known as Cenote Manatee, Casa Cenote is a scuba diving hot spot, surrounded by dense mangrove forests.
This open-air cenote is most well-known for its resident crocodile, Pancho. Tucked near the ocean, you’ll also find many other wildlife like fish and crabs.
Cenote Escondido y Cristal
The twin cenotes of Escondido and Cristal are just across the street from each other. Cenote Cristal is surrounded by vegetation and has a few safety ropes for crossing and hanging out on.
Cenote Escondido is a thin cenote hidden in the forest and can be accessed by rope swings! Both have restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and decks to jump off.
Final Mindful Travel Tips for Visiting the Temple of Doom
Leave No Trace:
Pack in and pack out all of your trash! While Cenote Calavera is on its way to becoming one of the more developed cenotes in the Riviera Maya, it still has much room for improvement.
If you bring trash in (plastic bags or bottles), pack it with you and dispose of it properly at your hotel/Airbnb in town. If you want to stay somewhere mindful, check out my guide to sustainable hotels in Tulum.
Don’t wear sunscreen:
To reiterate, sunscreen pollutes cenotes, creates algae blooms, and harms the critters that make them home.
Even though people know this, they STILL put on sunscreen after “fake showering” first. Please don’t do that!
Rinse off all makeup and lotions:
Makeup and lotions or deodorants are just as full of chemicals as sunscreens. If you think, “I’m only one person,” consider that 90% of people think similarly.