Best Local Cenotes in Tulum: Cenotes Cristal and Escondido
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which earn me a small commission from bookings at no extra cost to you. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!
Want to explore lesser-known cenotes in Tulum? How about visiting two for the price of one?
Cenote Cristal (also known as Cenote Naharon) and Cenote Escondido (sometimes called Cenote Mayan Blue) are my favorite cenotes in Tulum.
Cenotes Cristal and Escondido lie right across the street from each other, just south of Tulum’s town.
They’re both less crowded than some of the other more popular cenotes. Both have crystal clear water, fun jumping ledges or swinging ropes, and oasis-like atmospheres.
Swimming in a cenote is one of the best things to do in Tulum, so you can’t miss out on either one of these, especially if you enjoy snorkeling or diving.
Cenote Cristal is the perfect setting for hanging out with family or friends, jumping in the water, and snorkeling. You might even see some turtles!
It is also one of the more family-friendly cenotes in Tulum.
Cenote Escondido, located in the jungle on the other side of the highway just south of Tulum Pueblo, offers a more adventurous swim with neat rock ledges and a fun swing rope.
With your PADI Open Water diving certification, you can explore this cenote’s underground, flooded caverns.
If you want to visit both cenotes in Tulum, you’re in the right place!
Here is your ultimate guide to Cenote Cristal y Escondido.
Guide to Cenote Cristal y Cenote Escondido in Tulum
How to Get to There From Tulum
Getting to Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido from Tulum is easy as they’re located only 3.8 miles (6 km) south of town.
It takes roughly 10 minutes to get there by car or 20 minutes by bike.
I wouldn’t recommend walking to get there from town, like you can for Cenote Calavera.
However, if you are feeling up to the task, we often ride our bikes here, although remember that you’ll be biking alongside the highway, which can sometimes be busy with cars and oversized trucks.
If you don’t have a rental car and want to go by taxi, ask to be dropped off at Cenote Cristal first.
It should cost around 100-200 pesos. Note that if you go by taxi, you’ll have to walk across the street to reach Cenote Escondido, which is about a 10 to 15-minute walk.
Cenote Cristal is located on the right side of the highway, heading south from Tulum. It is well-marked with a big sign and a small free parking lot with trees where you can lock your bike.
Cenote Escondido is located just opposite Cenote Cristal on the highway.
It isn’t well marked, but you can find it if you walk across the highway to the dirt/gravel road that veers down a path into the jungle.
From the highway to the cenote takes about 3-5 minutes by bike or 10 minutes on foot.
Entrance Fees
Cenotes Cristal and Escondido each cost $150 MXN pesos ($9 USD) to enter. You can also pay a joint fee of $300 MXN to get into both.
The price and proximity to each other are why Cenote Cristal is often visited in addition to Escondido (and vice versa). You’ll receive a red wristband that you should keep on to visit both cenotes.
If you want to go cavern diving in Escondido, you’ll need to pay a $200 MXN diving fee.
Cenote Cristal y Escondido Opening Hours
Cenote Cristal and Escondido are open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
I highly recommend going to Cristal in the morning and then to Escondido.
🚿 There are outdoor showers for rinsing off lotions and creams (remember not to wear sunscreen) and rustic toilets at both cenotes. You’ll also find picnic tables, ideal for plopping down and having a snack. If you do bring food and drink, please pack out all the trash you pack in!
How Deep Are Cenotes Cristal y Escondido?
Cenote Cristal is a fairly deep cenote with a max depth of about 49’. Cenote Escondido is about 65’ deep, which is one of the reasons it’s great for scuba diving!
What to Know About Cenote Cristal in Tulum (Cenote Naharon)
- Price: $150 MXN
- Directions: Cancun – Chetumal 307 (2.5 miles south of Tulum Pueblo)
- Hours: 9-5 PM
- Camera Fee: No
- Facilities: Toilets, outdoor shower, picnic tables
- Features: Jumping deck, turtles, jungle oasis
Cenote Cristal is a stunning, open-air cenote ideal for swimming and splashing in the water.
Unlike Cenote Escondido, which is longer and slimmer in shape, Cenote Cristal is round and pond-like.
A small gravel trail around the cenote leads to the base of a 12’ wooden jumping deck. On a sunny day, you can see straight through the water to the bottom of the cenote.
The water is so clear and blue-green; it truly feels like paradise when you jump in!
You can swim and snorkel in Cenote Cristal, but you can’t go scuba diving. For that, head to Cenote Escondido.
Nonetheless, many freedivers come to Cristal to practice their underwater skills because it’s so open, clear, and obstacle-free.
Bring a snorkel mask to see how clear the water is below the surface. You can also see several fish and the occasional turtle.
The best time to visit Cenote Cristal is during the dry winter, from October to May.
If you visit just after the rainy season from June to September (also hurricane season), there’s a high chance Cenote Cristal will be flooded.
In this case, the gravel trail encircling the cenote will be covered in water, and the water in the water itself will be murky rather than its usual clear.
What to Know About Cenote Escondido (Mayan Blue Cenote)
- Price: $150 MXN, $200 MXN for diving
- Directions: Cancun – Chetumal 307 (2.5 miles south of Tulum Pueblo)
- Hours: 9-5 PM
- Camera Fee: No
- Facilities: Toilets, outdoor showers, picnic tables
- Features: Swinging rope, flooded caverns, diving, jungle oasis
Cenote Escondido is a cenote for the more adventurous at heart and is surrounded by lush jungle.
Almost resembling a river with its elongated shape, this cenote is great for swimming and has a long safety rope to make your way from end to end.
If you bought entry to both cenotes, you can show your wristband at the gate near the highway leading to Cenote Escondido. A makeshift stall and staff member will be there to check.
Cenote Escondido has a gravel trail that you can follow, extending the length of the entire cenote. There are also outdoor showers and covered toilet cabanas.
At the start of Cenote Escondido, there is a deep end ideal for jumping from the ledge or swing rope attached to an overhanging tree. You can also enter the cenote via stairs that lead down to a dock for easy access.
Underneath the rock ledge on this side of the cenote is the entrance to the underground flooded cavern, which, according to the cave divers we spoke to, extends inland approximately 120 m (about 400 ft).
At the far end of the cenote is a quieter, more gradual entrance with a makeshift wooden ledge.
Like in Cenote Cristal (and other cenotes in Mexico), a safety rope always connects one side of the cenote to the other, which is fun to hang on to when swimming.
What to Wear & Bring to the Cenotes
When visiting Cenote Cristal and Escondido in Tulum, you’ll likely make it an all-morning or all-afternoon adventure.
Since you could easily spend hours at both, come prepared with comfy clothes, shoes, towels, gear, and snacks.
Please remember to visit responsibly and look after your stuff!
- Snorkel mask
- Bathing suit
- Change of dry clothes and coverups
- Waterproof phone case
- Hat + sunglasses
- Microfiber towel
- Bag
- Reusable water bottle
- Fruit/snacks
- Cash/wallet
- Camera / Underwater cam (optional)
There are no lockers at Cenote Cristal or Escondido, so you’ll want to watch your bag. Theft is uncommon at cenotes, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Remember that sunscreen is forbidden in Mexico’s cenotes due to its harmful impact on their fragile ecosystems. Instead, come prepared with a wide-brimmed hat, sun shirt, and other light clothing that will cover your skin. You can always bring sunscreen with you after you’ve finished swimming!
Responsible Tips for Visiting Cenotes Cristal y Escondido
Leave No Trace: Please bring a trash bag to the cenotes to store all your garbage. Also, if you see leftover trash, take it out and properly dispose of it. Let’s keep these cenotes clean! If you pack it in, pack it out.
Don’t wear sunscreen, even biodegradable: One more time for good measure – wearing sunscreen in the cenotes contributes to their increasing pollution. Never wear sunscreen in the cenotes!
Rinse off: Makeup, lotion, and deodorants are as harmful to the cenote and its living creatures as sunscreen. Please shower before jumping in the cenotes.
Before you go, check out my other guides to Tulum, Mexico:
- Coba Cenotes: How to Visit the Coba Cenotes
- Tulum Itinerary: Ultimate Tulum Itinerary: How to Spend Your Days in Tulum
- Day Trips: 12 Epic Day Trips From Tulum
- Tulum Ruins: Tulum Ruins Guide
- Art: Tulum Street Art
- What to Know: My Top 10 Tulum Travel Tips
I hope this guide to Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido in Tulum helps plan your visit! These cenotes are still relatively underrated, but I think they’re some of the best in and around Tulum. If you have any questions or thoughts, please drop them in the comments below!