Cenote Zaci Valladolid, Mexico: Visitor’s Guide (2024)

Cenote Zaci Valladolid is one of the best cenotes in town and I highly recommend adding it to your list of things to do in Yucatan.

Featuring a cave-like cenote filled with freshwater, cliff jumps, and an on-site restaurant, this cenote is a great place to hang out for a few hours during your visit to Valladolid.

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

CENOTE ZACI VALLADOLID – OVERVIEW

Let me start this guide with all the basic information you should know before visiting, such as the cenote’s location, how to get there, the Cenote Zaci price, and more.

WHERE IS CENOTE ZACI?

Cenote Zaci is located in the middle of Valladolid which makes it one of the easiest cenotes to visit while you are in town.

It is so conveniently located within the city center that anyone can reach it easily.

It’s far away from all the tourists who are staying in Cancun and Riviera Maya which means that most group tours will not even bother coming here and if you go early in the morning you might even be lucky and have the cenote all to yourself.

Click here to see the location on Google Maps.

HOW TO GET TO CENOTE ZACI?

If you are staying in Valladolid you can walk to the cenote as it’s located smack bang in the middle of the city.

From the main plaza in Valladolid, you can either walk, cycle or arrive by taxi or by car.

If you decide to walk, it will take you about a 7-minute walk from the main square.

Bicycle rental is generally around 150 MXN per day and you can find a set of wheels at your hotel or from one of the bike rental stores in the main town.

A taxi ride from Valladolid to the cenote should be no more than 50 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 more than that but you shouldn’t pay more than 50 MXN.

The easiest way to get to Cenotes Zaci is with your own car. If you have your own rental car, you can drive to this location and park in the gravel parking lot behind the main entrance or on the side of the road.

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 and book car rentals in Mexico as they generally offer the best rates.

WHAT ARE ZACI CENOTE ENTRANCE FEE & OPENING HOURS?

The entrance fee to Cenote Zaci is 60 MXN which makes it one of the most affordable cenotes in Yucatán, Mexico.

The Cenote Zaci opening hours are 8:00 am to 5:30 pm – 7 days a week.

ARRIVING AT CENOTES ZACI

Whether you arrive by foot, bike, taxi, or car you’ll first have to find your way to the ticket office before passing through to the Zaci Cenote.

Located next to the entrance gate is a restaurant that has a viewing platform overlooking Cenotes Zaci.

Some say if you go straight to the restaurant and order some food and drinks you’ll be able to get access to the cenote without having to pay the entrance fee at the ticket office.

After paying the Cenote Zaci entrance fee, you’ll be in for a treat!

Make sure you rinse off in the showers before going swimming in the cenote to remove any sunscreen, insect repellent, or body oils as this helps to preserve the water inside the cenote.

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WHAT TO EXPECT AT CENOTE ZACI VALLADOLID

Once you’ve purchased your ticket at the ticket office you’ll be able to go down the stone staircase that leads into Cenote Zaci Valladolid.

All along the staircase, there are great photo opportunities as it’s only half covered and there’s always sunlight coming in.

If you want to go for a swim you can leave your valuables on the ledge of Cenotes Zaci and dive on in.

If you don’t feel like swimming, you can just sit by the ledge and dip your toes into the cool water.

There are also bathrooms available in the park but you’ll have to pay 5 MXN to use them. You can also rent life vests for a small fee if you need one.

Also, my personal recommendation is to take a quick-dry travel towel and slip-on waterproof shoes, both will come in handy when visiting the cenote.

This cenote is very unique compared to other cenotes in Valladolid because its shape resembles a massive cave, but only half of it is covered which means that there is a lot of sunlight shining through.

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Lush greenery

Plenty of leaves and greenery cover the rock walls, giving the cenote that fairy tale look.

There are also a couple of man-made waterfall streams that fall down like a curtain into the natural swimming hole below.

Apparently, the water is up 100 meters in the deepest areas.

Another unique thing about this cenote is that there is a pathway around the entire area, making it easy to explore the entire circumference of the sinkhole. 

If you’re up for an adrenaline rush then you can jump off the platform, which is about 8 meters high.

Otherwise, you can easily enter the water via the numerous staircases on the edges of the swimming hole. Beware that the staircase might be slippery when wet.

Feeling hungry? Grab a bite to eat at the restaurant, and on the way out, you can go shopping for souvenirs at the market stalls located near the exit.

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

Not only is it within walking distance from the main square in Valladolid but it is also the cheapest cenote I visited in Yucatán.

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

Travel Tip → Remember the Cenote Zaci hours and get there as early as possible when doors open at 8:00 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.

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OTHER CENOTES IN VALLADOLID

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

• Cenote Oxman
• Cenote Ik Kil
• Cenote Suytun

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 – ZACI CENOTE VALLADOLID

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions, please leave me a comment below this post 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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