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Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

Adventurous Slomad Travel

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How to Visit the Coba Cenotes: Exploring the Mayan Underworld

Last Updated: January 5, 2023 · Mexico, Riviera Maya

There are literally thousands of cenotes near Tulum and beyond spread out across the Yucatan Peninsula, but some of my favorites are the underground cenotes nearby the Mayan ruins of Coba.

The Coba cenotes give you an extra sense of thrilling adventure as you must trek down below ground to reach the water.

Cenotes in Mayan culture are believed to be entrances to the underworld.

blue water of cenote escondido

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Every time I go, I can’t help but consider myself like the Tomb Raider whenever I hike down below the earth to splash in the crystal clear and cool freshwater hiding below. If anything, the Coba cenotes will leave you in awe and wonder.

Unlike the cenotes in Tulum, which are mostly open-air or semi-open cenotes, the Coba cenotes are entirely enclosed underground like a cave. I’ve heard before that the fully underground cenotes are the youngest in “cenote history” since the cave roof and walls have not yet collapsed in on themselves and that the oldest cenotes were the open-air, lagoon-type ones.

In any case, whether young or old, the Coba cenotes – with their stalactites and stalagmites, clear water, fish, and bats – are well worth visiting on a day trip to see the Coba Mayan ruins.

Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy the three cenotes near Coba! 

Table of Contents show
The Ultimate Guide to the Coba Cenotes
How to Get to the Coba Cenotes
How Much Do the Coba Cenotes Cost?
Cenote Choo-Ha
Cenote Tankach-Ha
Cenote Multum-Ha
Coba Cenote Tours
How to See the Coba Cenotes in 1 Day (Self-Guided Itinerary)
What to Pack for Coba Ruins & Cenotes

The Ultimate Guide to the Coba Cenotes

How to Get to the Coba Cenotes

map of coba cenotes from coba ruins
Directions from Coba Ruins to Cenote Choo-Ha, Tamkach-Ha, and Multum-Ha

The best way to get to Coba is to rent a car from Cancun Airport and drive to Tulum.

From Tulum to Coba, it’s only a 45-55 minute drive via Highway QROO 109. Once you’re there, having your own car (or carpooling) is the easiest because then you can go at your own leisure and also drive from the Coba ruins to the cenotes.

If you are coming from Cancun, you’ll simply take the road to Tulum and then turn right to follow Coba. If you keep going past Coba for another 30-45 minutes, you’ll end up in Valladolid.

Colectivo: Taking a white colectivo (mini van) from Tulum to Coba Ruins is another way to get there, but then you’ll have to organize with another van or taxi to reach the Coba cenotes. The colectivos leave from the main Avenida Tulum at the junction of Calle Osiris Norte and cost $50 MXN one-way. You can spot them easily enough because they have “Tulum – Coba” written on their windshield. The journey will take around one hour.

Bus: If you can’t find a colectivo, head to the ADO bus station in Tulum Centro (just 5 minutes walk from Calle Osiris Norte). There, you can buy bus tickets from Tulum-Coba via the Mayab bus line. The buses leave Tulum almost every hour of the day. If you take the bus, though, you will be dropped off at the ruins and not at the cenotes. Keep in mind the cenotes are another 5-10 minute drive from Coba ruins.

Taxi: Taking a taxi from Tulum to Coba cenotes is not ideal since it’ll cost you double or triple the price of a rental car. If you have no other option, you could always ask and see. It will cost at least $500 MXN or more for a one-way trip.

Once you arrived, I’d recommend combining a visit to the Coba Ruins and cenotes, since you’re so close to both. If you’ve already visited the ruins, though, and are back to see the cenotes, then carry on!

RELATED: The Ultimate Guide to Coba Ruins

How Much Do the Coba Cenotes Cost?

Coba Cenote Price: All the cenotes at Coba cost $100 MXN pesos each. While there used to be a “package” deal you could buy a couple years ago, they’ve stopped offering that and now just charge a $100 MXN fee per cenote. So if you visit all three, that’s $300 MXN or $15 USD. It’s still a good deal when you’re comparing to the cost of the cenotes in Tulum.

Cenote Choo-Ha

cenote choo ha via destimap.com

Cenote Choo Ha is one of the first cenotes near Coba you might visit, but it’s not the most popular. Choo Ha cenote is shallower than its neighbors. So while it’s great for families and parents with children, it’s not as daring to swim in as Tankach-Ha or Multum-Ha.

The hours for Cenote Choo-Ha are 9-6 PM, but rather than going mid-day, try to go earlier in the morning or in the late afternoon. (This is always a good way to visit the cenotes because there will be fewer crowds). At Choo-Ha, there are bathrooms and you’re required to rinse off before entering the water.

Pro Tip: Bring a quality scuba mask to snorkel in the shallow, clear water, but don’t forget to look up to see all the stalactites and stalagmites as well!

Cenote Tankach-Ha

cenote tankach-ha near coba mayan ruins

Cenote Tankach-Ha (or sometimes written Tamcach-Ha) is a deep underground cenote near Coba worth visiting. In the picture above, it is flooded slightly (taken November 2020), but normally the water is below the platform and you can easily wade out into the water.

This cenote is pretty neat because you have to climb down the wooden spiral staircase from the cave ceiling to reach the water below. Once inside, swimming in the Tankach-Ha cenote is like swimming in a big natural pool, except it’s a bit colder and there are bats flying around the stalactites!

If you have children, make sure they are wearing a life jacket since Tankach-Ha is known to be deep. After all, the name in Maya literally translates to “deep water”!

Cenote Multum-Ha

panoramic view of cenote multum ha near coba mayan ruins

Cenote Multum-Ha (or Multun-Ha with an ‘n’) is my favorite of the three cenotes near Coba because of its depth underground (about 60 ft below the earth), and because of it’s open, circular shape. To get there, you need to climb down about 80-100 steps to reach the wooden deck. There, you can jump in or take the ease-in stairs. Cenote Multum-Ha has such crystal clear, calm water that it’s simply mesmerizing to wade in. This cenote is also fairly deep, but not as much as cenote Tankach-Ha.

In any case, all the cenotes still have a safety rope extending through the water from either side of the cave walls to support you if you get tired of wading.

The light in cenote Multum-Ha is also not natural – it’s an artificial light just like the others and this is because these cenotes are entirely underground or closed cenotes, rather than semi-open cenotes like Dos Ojos or Gran Cenote in Tulum.

You can visit Cenote Multum-Ha between 8 AM and 6 PM. Likewise, I’d recommend going in the late afternoon after your visit to Coba Ruins or just before, in the morning (although it’s not as “refreshing” if you haven’t sweated from your jungle explorations just prior!).

Pro Tip: You’re allowed to bring your backpack down with you with your items like an underwater camera or towel. You can store it in a corner on the wooden deck while you swim.

Coba Cenote Tours

I would suggest touring the Coba cenotes on your own because it adds to the adventure and is MUCH cheaper (check my itinerary below).

However, for the sake of simplicity, you can also book a cenote tour and go with a guide to visit both the Coba cenotes and Mayan ruins archaeological sites as an organized day excursion.

Ruins + Beach + Cenotes Tour: This tour includes a visit to both the Tulum Ruins and Coba Ruins, as well as lunch and a stop by Paradise Beach and Cenotes Choo-Ha and Tankach-Ha. It doesn’t include Multum-Ha, however.

How to See the Coba Cenotes in 1 Day (Self-Guided Itinerary)

couple sitting atop coba pyramid @ coba mayan ruins
snorkeler in cenote tamkach-ha at coba

Morning

Wake up early to enjoy a nice breakfast in Tulum at DelCielo Tropical Bistro (Maria Maria’s or Ki’Bok Coffee are also good). Then hop in a colectivo or bus (or your car), and hit the road to Coba. Park at the Coba ruins and enjoy a tour around the Coba Mayan ruins site. Make sure to climb Nohoch Mul – the Yucatan’s tallest pyramid!

Pro Tip: It’s best (and faster) if you rent a bike inside Coba Ruins (the cost is around $60-75 MXN pesos) and explore the grounds that way, rather than walking everywhere.

It takes around 2-3 hours to fully visit Coba Ruins. For lunch, grab a typical Mexican meal at the nearby restaurants just down the road from the Coba ruins entrance (I believe the one we ate at was El Crocodrilo or just the one next to it).

If you have a bit more of a budget, you could consider splurging at the nearby Coqui Coqui Residence & Spa, a 4-star hideaway that invokes a sense of luxurious serenity. The restaurant, which aims to source only sustainable agriculture from its orchard while supporting the local Mayan community, is situated on the ground floor just beyond the shores of the Coba lagoon. The atmosphere is calm and tranquil and you’ll be in for quite a treat.

Afternoon 

After your lunch break, hop back into your mode of transport to head to the Coba cenotes. (If you arrived by bus or colectivo you will probably find a taxi to go to the cenotes). The closest cenotes will be Choo-Ha and Tankach-Ha (on the left side of the road) and Multum-Ha will be further down the road located on the right.

Pick which cenotes you’d like to visit – Choo Ha, Multum Ha, or Tankach Ha (or all three) – and enjoy your time splashing in the Coba cenotes!

wooden staircase down to cenotes near coba
stairs leading down to cenote tamkach ha near coba

What to Pack for Coba Ruins & Cenotes

You should wear comfortable clothing (i.e. breathable shirts and pants or shorts depending on the season) to visit the Coba Ruins. It can be SUPER buggy in the forest/jungle, so go prepared with eco-friendly mosquito balm.

Other things you may want to pack to visit the cenotes and ruins at Coba are:

  • Bathing suit
  • Non-slip shoes for climbing the pyramid
  • Sandals or flip flops for exiting the cenotes
  • Quick-drying towel
  • Underwater camera or waterproof phone pouch
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Portable snacks (i.e. banana, apple, nuts)
  • Cash (pesos) for making tips and change

Do not use sunscreen (even if it’s eco-friendly) in the cenotes. You are required to rinse off all body products before entering the water to protect the ecosystem.

I hope you enjoyed this complete guide to the cenotes near Coba! If you have any questions about visiting Coba cenotes or exploring the Mayan village, feel free to drop a comment below.

Make sure to check out my other guides to plan your trip to Quintana Roo:

  • 21 Epic Things to Do in the Riviera Maya
  • Tulum Street Art: Exploring the Pueblo’s Muralism Culture
  • 12 Epic Day Trips From Tulum You Cannot Miss
  • The Complete Guide to Scuba Diving in Tulum, Mexico
  • Floating Down Ancient Mayan Canals in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

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By: Bri · In: Mexico, Riviera Maya · Tagged: Cenotes

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Comments

  1. Laura says

    June 22, 2021 at 11:15 am

    Thank you so much for the info. i’ve been to the first cenote twice. now i know I HAVE to see the other two.

    Reply
    • Bri says

      June 22, 2021 at 11:30 am

      Happy to share, Laura! I love the Coba cenotes so much!

      Reply

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I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

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Traveling solo in Nepal has awakened in me a confi Traveling solo in Nepal has awakened in me a confidence & sense of self (at the risk of sounding cliché), of “my essence” and inner Knowing, and where my compassion and passions mingle and thrive. I was reading some of your comments on my recent Reel about solo travel and how I put myself at great risk/in danger. But as I was telling my Tibetan friend, Sonam, tonight (yes, the new one I made last week!), I inform my decisions mostly by 1. Asking myself, “Would this make a good story?” and 2. Listening to my body and emotions. Yes, it’s risky to travel solo, to be a female in a male-dominated culture, to go out after hours with people you just met, etc. But doing that — and all the magic that followed by “allowing” — reminded me exactly of who I am at my core: Curious and open to the world, willing to get uncomfortable for the sake of finding magic and serendipity. Some of you said, “I’m too scared to do this, how do you overcome that fear of personal safety?” And to this I say, I don’t! Fear accompanies me along the journey. Living life is one big risk. It’s uncomfortable to be open, vulnerable, and unsure. But once you accept that and once you begin to let compassion and curiosity guide you rather than your fear, the real magic starts to happen in all areas of life, not just travel. I find these moments most in travel though, when I’m confronted with contrast and am left vulnerable to the world and the kindness of my fellow humans. My Reels are not meant to romanticize or gloss over very real risks/threats in life, but rather to share a real account of what’s possible (adventure, connections, love, etc) when you worry less about societal norms and what’s “safe not safe” “right not right” and allow your over-active fears to take a backseat. 
This is your reminder to trust your inner compass to guide you in writing your epic life story. ✨✨

To sum it up: 

1. Choose a life of adventure 
2. Stay curious
3. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable (otherwise said, seek discomfort)
4. Let love and light flow in and out 
5. Change is the only constant 

#solotravel #nepaltravel #solofemaletraveler #soloadventure #localtravel #trekkingnepal #adventurethatislife
The strength of women 💛 These ladies were lau The strength of women 💛 

These ladies were laughing so sweetly while filling up their water jugs at the Manga Hiti fountain in Patan. I watched them for a while and then plucked up the courage to ask if I could take their photos, which only made them giggle more. 

I've always felt that not being able to communicate in the same language makes for even more interesting encounters. Without words, we have to touch each other's humanity with eyes and gestures, and most of the time it leads to unspoken mutual understanding, acceptance, and love. We three walked away with the biggest smiles on our faces. I yelled out "Dhayabad!" (Thank you!) as they hoisted their jugs up the stairs, laughing all the way. I won't forget this shared moment between us 🙏 

Check stories for the landscape orientation for some of these photos ✨ 

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When you say “yes” as a solo traveler and stay When you say “yes” as a solo traveler and stay open to the randomness of life and the kindness of strangers, really wonderful memories can be made. Thank you Lama family and my new Tibetan friends for such a fun and insightful sequence of experiences 🙏 💛

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My first week back in the chaos of Kathmandu, 💛 My first week back in the chaos of Kathmandu, 💛 

Being back after 7 long years away has jolted my body, brain, and spirit. At first, I felt overwhelmed with the recurring thought of, "I don't know what to do with myself." It was only when acceptance knocked on my door, and I finally decided to let it in, that things began to shift and flow.
 
In Nepal, particularly Kathmandu, everything around me swarms like a hive. I have nowhere else to go but inside myself. I've discovered through years of slow traveling (and solo travel) that peace awaits me there -- a sense of independence, power, and knowing that is still, comforting, and safe. And I can tap into it whenever I need to.

Chaos and peace reside in all of us, and Nepal has a cosmic, ancient way of reminding you of just that. 

📍 Patan Durbar Square, Lalitpur

#nepaltravel #patan #durbarsquare #nepalphotography #slowtravel #nepal #solotravel #lalitpur
They ask, “Why?” I was 29 when I embarked on They ask, “Why?” 

I was 29 when I embarked on the plane on the 21st, and 30 when I disembarked on the 23rd. How fitting. I spent all of my 20s abroad (except for my two final semesters in undergrad), and moved to Nepal when I was 21. 

What better way to say goodbye to my twenties than by returning to the start? I felt the desperate urge to start my 30s this way—alone on a one-way ticket with no concrete plans. I have both feared and longed to come back all these years. You see, I had made a promise to one of my closest Nepali friends that I’d see her again, but the reality is that I no longer can. 

She, along with another dear friend, passed away from cancer a couple of years back. The thought of returning to my old life here without my friends made me, well, incredibly sad. I had thought that, upon landing in Kathmandu—or taking a bite of my first momo—after so long, I’d find myself bursting into tears of both grief and gratitude. But I didn’t. Instead, I found familiarity in the chaos and chaos in the strangeness. 

Just being here—and the decisions and actions it took to get here—has reminded me of the preciousness of this one very short life. And that, by choosing to celebrate mine—at the exciting turn of a decade no less—by coming back to Nepal on a solo trip that would force me into daring discomfort when I could instead retreat to the comforts of family or my partner, is how I want to live it.

Truth is, a couple of months ago the thought of Nepal felt out of reach. It felt risky, unattainable. But the idea itself pushed open, just a crack at first, a door that had been otherwise closed. I could have more easily ignored my “what if?” daydreams—calling them off as too hard, too uncomfortable, or too far-fetched to actually pursue—and kept it shut.
But sometime in mid-July, I decided to look at flights. And I found one (truly, just one) option that could work. And it just so happened that it would fall on my birthday, or rather bridge my birthday. The idea of getting on a plane at 29 and getting off it at 30—back in Nepal—sold me. I fell in love with the story, the adventure, the unknowingness of it all. 

So, yeah. That’s why. Or as I prefer, “Why not?”
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