A Complete Guide for a Visit to the Homún Cenotes

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

Tza Ujun Kat ("mud sound") The most popular in Homún, ask your guide to take you Facebook: Cenote Tza-ujun-Kat

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

Others contacts in 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

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:

• Yucatán Península

Read more about Cenotes:

• Discover the Underground Paradise of Yucatan: Cenotes in Homún
• The Surprises of Homún
• Cenotes, Underwater Sinkholes in Yucatán