Cenote Suytun In Valladolid, Mexico – Visitor’s Guide

Cenote Suytun is arguably one of the best cenotes in Valladolid and perhaps the entire Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico!

Featuring a monolithic cave filled with shallow turquoise water and an idyllic stone pathway that stretches out into the middle of this amazing cenote!

I have put together this complete travel guide of Suytun Cenote including where it is, how to get there, how much it costs, and what to expect when you arrive.

WHERE IS SUYTUN CENOTE?

Cenote Suytun is a short 15-minute drive from the center of Valladolid in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. It’s pretty close to the city center and very easy to get to.

I personally visited Suytun Cenote from Tulum which is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes drive. If you are coming from Tulum or Cancun and planning to arrive as soon as the cenote opens at 9:00 am, don’t forget to set your watch back 1 hour to allow for the time difference.

Click here to see the location on Google Maps.

SUYTUN CENOTE TOUR

There are a number of different tours available to experience the magic of this cenote, departing from either Cancun or Playa del Carmen.

SEARCH ALL → CENOTE SUYTUN TOURS

DIY VISIT TO CENOTE SUYTUN

If you plan to visit without a tour, the easiest way to get there is with your own rental car, and it’s safe to park in the gravel parking lot out the front near the entrance. 

Yucatan Peninsula is said to be the safest place to drive in Mexico when it comes to getting behind the wheel yourself, so it’s definitely an option to consider.

I always use Discover Cars to search for and book car rentals in Mexico, as they generally offer the best rates.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi ride from Valladolid to the cenote, which should be no more than 100 MXN, so if there are a few of you it works out better to split the cost. Some cab drivers will try to charge you 150 – 200 MXN but you shouldn’t pay more than 100 MXN for this short 15-minute drive.

CENOTE SUYTUN ENTRANCE FEE & OPENING HOURS

Cenote Suytun Mexico is not that cheap but not overly expensive with an entrance fee of 120 MXN ($6).

Suytun Cenote opening hours are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm – 7 days a week.

ARRIVING AT THE CENOTE

Whether you arrive by car, bike, or taxi you’ll first have to pay the entrance fee before continuing along the path to the cenote.

The parking lot is a good indicator to know how many people you can expect at the cenote. When I visited, there were no other cars in the parking lot and sure enough, I had the entire place to myself.

RELATED ARTICLE: BEST VALLADOLID CENOTES

There are bathroom and changing room facilities available in the park right next to the ticket office. There is also a restaurant that serves food and drinks.

There are actually two cenotes at this location, and both of them are included in the entrance fee, although visitors often forget the second one. Definitely make sure to check both of them out during your visit. If you are unsure where to go, ask the ticket officer to point you in the right direction of the second cenote.

Make your way down the path to Cenote Suytun where you’ll see a life jacket renting stand. The price to rent a life jacket is an additional 30 MXN, and it’s mandatory to wear one if you plan to go swimming inside the cenote. 

The entrance to the Cenote is via a steep concrete staircase that leads underground and to where it opens up inside the cave.

I also suggest bringing a quick-dry travel towel so you can dry off after swimming.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT SUYTUN CENOTE

The reason why this cenote is so unique is that it’s a cave cenote with a spark of natural light beaming down into the middle of the cave through a hole in the roof. The cave is pretty dark inside though there are a few hanging light bulbs lighting the way down the steps.

There’s an idyllic stone pathway that stretches out into the middle of turquoise waters that you can walk on and it makes for some great photo opportunities.

If you are wanting to see the beam of light through the hole in the top of the cave then you are best off visiting around midday because that’s when the sun is directly above and shines through. The only downside when visiting at midday is that there will be a lot more tourists around as opposed to visiting early morning.

Unfortunately, the dark conditions within the cave make it hard to get a great shot with just your phone camera so it’s best to have a DSLR camera if you want unblurry shots. 

There are various different angles to admire the cenote and the most popular perspective is from the top of the staircase. There’s also a little platform at the end of the staircase which will allow you to have the hole in the roof in your picture.

The best time to visit is in the early morning as soon as it opens at 9 am. It can get very crowded with tourists swimming in the water and everyone wanting to take photos on the platform in the middle.

However, the cave itself is very spacious, like that of an amphitheater, which means that there are plenty of places to hang out and other photo opportunities to be had.

One of the most fascinating things besides the beam of light shining through is the incredible rock formations and stalactites on the roof. You can also expect to see and hear a lot of bats within the cenote. 

Also, my personal recommendation is to take a pair of waterproof shoes which will come in handy when visiting the cenote.

THE 2ND CENOTE

Many people forget that there are actually two cenotes at this location and the entrance fee includes both of them so be sure not to miss it. 

The second one is located near the main entrance and it’s best to ask the ticket officer to point you in the right direction. This one is another underground cenote so you will have to walk down a concrete staircase to gain access.

What makes this cenote so unique is that it’s covered in greenery with leaves hanging all around the walls and there are even a few trees growing inside. 

Unfortunately, you can’t swim in this 2nd cenote but it’s magnificent to marvel at nonetheless!

RELATED ARTICLE → 20 EPIC THINGS TO DO IN TULUM

My visit to Cenote Suytun was one of the best adventures I had in the Yucatan Peninsula and I can’t recommend this place enough!

Its natural beauty and unique features are what make this cenote one of the best in the area and it’s for sure not to be missed on your Mexico itinerary!

Travel Tip → Remember to get there as early as possible when doors open at 9 am as it’s a much better experience without hoards of other tourists around during the day. Also, try to avoid visiting on a weekend because it’s a popular place for the locals to hang out too.

BEST YUCATAN TOURS

OTHER CENOTES IN VALLADOLID

Some other Cenotes in Valladolid that are definitely worth checking out are:

• Cenote Ik Kil
• Cenote Zaci
• Cenote Oxman

BEST TIME TO VISIT VALLADOLID

The best time to visit Valladolid is during the winter season from December to April. During this time there is little to no rainfall and the temperatures are just perfect. 

The rainy season in Valladolid is typically between May and October which sees higher temperatures due to the humidity. The only plus side to visiting Valladolid during these months is there will be fewer tourists and prices are less inflated.

WHAT TO PACK FOR MEXICO

When visiting Mexico, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:

FINAL THOUGHTS – SUYTUN CENOTE VALLADOLID

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions at all about Cenote Suytun Mexico, please leave me a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

THANKS FOR READING

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