Do you want to be amazed and delighted like never before? Visit the cenotes of Yucatán. Are you looking for an experience that will awaken your senses and spirit? Swim in a cenote…or many.
There are over 16 to visit in the community of Homún; I visited 12 of them, each with its own incredible beauty, the way the water glimmers with the natural light, the depth (some of them go more than 10 – 12 meters underground), the whimsical silhouettes on the walls with still developing stalactites, or the birds and fish that live there.
Between 5000 and 8000 cenotes (“dzonot” in Maya) are estimated to exist in the state of Yucatán. Most of them are located in what is known as the “Anillo de Cenotes” (ring of cenotes), a semi-circular line related to the fall of a meteorite more than 50 million years ago that spreads over more than 25 municipalities; good for water supply and tourism.
Located inside the zone known as the “Anillo de Cenotes” (ring of cenotes), only an hour from Mérida, Homún has developed its touristic calling taking advantage of the vast quantity and variety of cenotes and caves in the region. There are more than 285 certified guides, “mototaxi” stands (located next to the church, the park, and the entrance from Acanceh), tourist booths with services (life jackets, dressing rooms, picnic tables), restaurants, cabanas, and hotels. The church and ex-convent dedicated to San Buenaventura complete the visit.
In the access points and downtown Homún you’ll be received by guides with a photographic catalogue of the cenotes, willing to provide the tour service. There are many to choose from. They work side by side with guides, co-ops in charge of the cenotes, and tourist information offices, owners of restaurants, as well as families that make and rent life jackets. The whole community is dedicated to showing and preserving these natural wonders with their biggest smiles.
How to explore the cenotes in Homún?
You can explore the cenotes with family, friends, or your significant other; the kids will particularly enjoy discovering the nature, looking at the butterflies, floating in a cenote. When you arrive, hire a local guide, they’ll take you on a “mototaxi” (4 people max.) to visit from 3 to 4 cenotes for $250 pesos during approximately 3 hours, whether you have some in mind or you ask for recommendations for your adventure level. All of them are open from 9 am to 5 pm, and the entry fee at each one is $30 pesos per person for as long as you wish to stay. Remember: don’t use sunscreen, bronzer, or repellent. You can rent life jackets or snorkeling accessories.
How to choose the right cenote for you?
If you are looking for a more peaceful experience, visit Tza Ujun Kat, the clear green of its waters will amaze you; you’ll want to stay in this refreshing paradise. Experience the terns’ lair in Hool Kosom, and verify that where is a cottonwood tree there will be a cenote, like in Balmil. Awaken your mystical side trying to find the figures on the stone formations or the pots in the bottom of the Chulul cenote.
For the more adventurous who love to dive from a vine or a “Tarzan’s rope,” in Canunchén or in any of the Los Tres Oches cenotes this is possible. I would return to dive again more than 7 meters in the cenote Ch’el P’aak, one of my favorites. Feel the heat of the earth in the caves and cenote La Candelaria, a natural “temazcal” bath.
Yaxbacaltún has an open cenote with a spectacular view; it also has a zoo, hammocks, rappel, and a restaurant. For kids, or those who don’t know how to swim, the cenote Santa Cruz is ideal. There’s also a zip line, temazcal, and they serve delicious regional food. The cenote Parador San Antonio is open 24 hours (prior notification), and you can kayak there and exfoliate with the sand on the bottom. The ecotouristic park Santa Rosa offers a well-lit cenote, handcrafts store, and much more.
Cenotes and Touristic Spots
Hameki
Tourist information with Glamping
www.hameki.com.mx
Facebook: HAMEKI
Instagram: glamping_hameki
- Hameki
- Hameki
- Hameki
Tza Ujun Kat (“mud sound”)
The most popular in Homún, ask your guide to take you
Facebook: Cenote Tza-ujun-Kat
Hool Kosom (terns’ hole)
Heraclio Chan Ek
Cel. 9981 01 97 93
Facebook: Cenote Hool kosom
Balmil
One of the most popular in Homún, ask your guide to take you.
Chulul
Marcelino Oy Cel. 9994 37 78 85
Manuel Oy Cel. 9991 49 17 37
FB: Cenote Chulul
Canunchén (“ripe well”)
FB: Cenote Canunchen
Parador Los Tres Oches
Leonardo Huchim Canto
Cel. 9997 39 91 06
Ch’el Páak (“rainbow wall”)
Mario Alberto Espinosa
Cel. 9991 10 94 80
Cave and Cenote La Candelaria
Andrés Dzul
Cel. 9991 40 35 40
FB: Gruta Santa María Homún
Ecotouristic Stop and Cenote Yaxbacaltún
Miguel Molina
[email protected]
Cel. 9992 16 69 50
FB: Parador Ecoturístico Cenote Yaxbacaltun
Touristic Stop and Cenote Santa Cruz
José Clemente May Echeverría and Martina Ramírez
Cel. 9991 59 51 18
FB: Santa Cruz Turismo de Aventura
[email protected]
www.cenoteyucatan.com
Ecotouristic Stop and Cenote San Antonio
Cindy Cabrera
Cel. 9992 28 65 24
Calle 8 x 11, Homún
FB: Cenote y Restaurante San Antonio ExHacienda
Touristic Park and Cenote Santa Rosa
Tel. (999) 164 2435, Cel. 9993 30 93 26
FB: Parque Ecoturístico Cenote Santa Rosa
Otros contactos en Homún
Cenotes and Restaurant Santa Bárbara
Tel. (999) 965 1198
FB: Cenotes & Restaurant Santa Barbara
Los Angelitos Restaurant
Entrance street to Homún, across from the cemetery
Cel. 9995 52 50 57
8 am – 8 pm every day
Guides Sites and Mototaxis
Gabriel García (at the entrance from Acanceh)
Cel. 9993 55 51 51
Baa Dzonot, “swimming in the cenotes” (next to the restaurant El Cenote)
Juan Carlos Garrido León
Cel. 9997 35 85 10
Eloy Pisté (also rents life jackets)
Cel. 9992 47 75 67
El Domo (next to the ball court)
Jorge Garrido (don Polo)
Cel. 9991 64 88 20
Francisco Pérez
Cel. 9991 38 49 79
How to get there from Mérida
Collective bus to Homún (Calle 67 x 50 y 52, Centro) with departure times approximately each hour. 1 hour and 15 minutes, 30 pesos
By car, departing from Periférico towards Chichén Itzá, turn off toward Chetumal (Km 14), heading to Acanceh, passing Cuzamá and then arriving to Homún.
Editorial by Violeta H. Cantarell
Photography by Violeta H. Cantarell and Andrea Mier y Teran for use in Yucatán Today
Photo of Cenote Tza Ujun Kat by Descubre Calakmul
Download the map for:
Read more about Cenotes:
- Discover the Underground Paradise of Yucatan: Cenotes in Homún
- The Surprises of Homún
- Cenotes, Underwater Sinkholes in Yucatán
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