Visiting Cenote Azul, Playa del Carmen: A Traveller’s Guide
Planning a visit to Cenote Azul, Playa del Carmen while visiting the stunning Riviera Maya? Here’s all you need to know to visit one of Quintana Roo’s most beautiful cenotes.
Cenote Azul is a popular cenote on the Riviera Maya. It’s one of many cenotes you’ll find on the Yucatan Peninsula. It’s full of sparklingly clear turquoise pools surrounded by leafy, green jungle. It really is pure paradise. In fact, the water here is so blue, that the cenote is named after it.
Cenote Azul near Playa del Carmen is one of many wonderful cenotes to visit near Tulum, where you can relax for a few hours and escape the Mexican heat. It’s the perfect place to swim, snorkel and experience some of Quintana Roo’s stunning natural environment.
So, firstly, what is a cenote? A cenote is a natural sinkhole formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock, exposing groundwater. These stunning formations often hold crystal-clear waters, creating unique ecosystems and sometimes connecting to underground rivers.
There are many different types of cenotes in the Riviera Maya area; closed or cave cenotes, semi-open and open cenotes. Cenote Azul is an open cenote. It’s completely open to expose many different pools of one of Yucatan’s most complex underground river systems.
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Read more: A Tulum Itinerary for the Perfect Wellness-Focused Weekend
What You Need to Know About Cenote Azul, Playa del Carmen
↠ Firstly, it is worth noting that there is another Cenote Azul in Bacalar. This post is all about Playa del Carmen Cenote Azul but you might want to be aware of this in case you find conflicting information online.
↠ Cenote Azul is sometimes referred to as Azul Cenote or Azul Cenote Riviera Maya/ Azul Cenote Mexico.
↠ Cenote Azul in Playa del Carmen is also known as the natural fish spa cenote. The cenote is full of fish that like to feed off dead skin cells. If you sit in the water or dangle your feet in the water for long enough, the fish will begin exfoliating your skin. It’s nothing to be worried about but can be really ticklish too!
↠ Sunscreen and bug repellent are prohibited at Cenote Azul and all other cenotes in the Riviera Maya and across Yucatan. This is because the ingredients in sunscreen and bug repellent contaminate the natural environment and damage the fragile ecosystem of the cenote.
Even reef-safe sunscreen isn’t allowed in cenotes but opting for a reef-safe, non-toxic sunscreen in Mexico is a good idea anyway in order to better protect both yourself and the environment.
↠ As Cenote Jardin del Eden and Cenote Cristalino are just next door it’s worth popping in to visit these two when in the area. As they are separate cenotes, however, you’ll need to buy a separate entrance ticket for each one.
Where is Cenote Azul?
Cenote Azul is located just south of Puerto Aventuras between Playa del Carmen and Tulum in Quintana Roo, Mexico.
The cenote is located right next to Cenote Jardin del Eden and Cenote Cristalino. Cenote Azul is located right next to the Tulum-Playa del Carmen highway making it easily accessible from almost anywhere in Quintana Roo.
How to Get to Cenote Azul Playa del Carmen?
Cenote Azul is easily accessible from both Playa del Carmen and Tulum. It’s a little closer to Playa del Carmen. The best way to get to Cenote Azul is by rental car or by colectivo (shared minivan) from either Playa del Carmen or Tulum.
Getting to Cenote Azul from Playa del Carmen
From Playa del Carmen Cenote Azul is 20 minutes away by car. Otherwise, you can take a colectivo ( shared minivan) from Playa del Carmen (exact location here) towards Tulum and ask to be dropped off at Cenote Azul. Colectivos are cheap and they are the fastest and most direct way to take you to Cenote Azul.
It’s also possible to take a taxi from Playa del Carmen and flag down a colectivo on the Carretera Federal to take you back. You can also arrange for the driver to meet you later in the day to take you back.
Getting to Cenote Azul from Tulum
From Tulum town, driving to Cenote Azul takes about 35 minutes. Again, if you don’t have a rental car you can take a colectivo towards Playa del Carmen or Cancun which departs from the main highway/Avenida Coba junction. Ask your driver to stop at Cenote Azul.
Note that when coming from Tulum, Cenote Azul is located on the opposite side of the highway so you’ll need to find a safe place to cross. Take care as cars travel at really high speeds down the highway.
ADO buses are not a good idea to get to Cenote Azul because they won’t stop at Cenote Azul or any smaller places along the highway. They only go between bigger towns and cities on the Yucatan Peninsula. This is why a colectivo is the best and only form of public transportation that will get you to Cenote Azul.
Hours and Costs at Cenote Azul, Riviera Maya
How much is the entrance fee to Cenote Azul Tulum?
It costs 150 MXN ($8.50 USD) to enter Cenote Azul at the time of writing.
Make sure to bring cash as the entrance fee can only be paid in cash. You’ll also need cash for any other drinks/snack purchases you want to make or for snorkel equipment rental.
What are Cenote Azul opening hours?
Cenote Azul is open from 8.30 am until 5.30 pm daily.
It’s one of the most popular cenotes in the Riviera Maya due to being very easily accessible. This means it does get pretty crowded, even during the week. Make sure to get here early if you’d like to enjoy the cenote without crowds for a few hours.
What to Expect at Cenote Azul Mexico
As soon as you enter you get to the ticket booth where you’ll pay your entrance fee. Things are still quite relaxed at Cenote Azul, you can swim here without a life jacket and you can enter with a large camera without needing to pay any additional fees.
Once you pay you’ll be asked to head to the showers to rinse off before heading to the cenote. No sunscreen or mosquito repellent is allowed as it affects the local cenote biodiversity so make sure to rinse it off thoroughly.
To get to the main cenote area you’ll walk down a lovely jungle path where first, you’ll reach two smaller turquoise pools which are never too crowded. The main cenote area is located a little further down the jungle path. There are many spots to leave your belongings before you jump in.
Alternatively, lockers are also available.
Swimming at Cenote Azul
Cenote Azul is a fantastic place to swim and snorkel. The cenote is pretty shallow in many places so it’s great for families.
Note that it’s very shallow in some places with many large rocks jutting out in all directions so you’ll need to take care. The rocks can also get slippery so it helps to have some water shoes.
There are also two platforms from which you can jump into the water on the deeper side of the cenote. There’s also a cliff jumping spot where you can jump around 15 feet into the deep water below.
The cliff jumping spot is also a great spot for taking photos of the whole cenote.
Snorkeling is also great at Cenote Azul, you can bring a mask and snorkel but fins aren’t permitted. There are so many fish and marine life in this cenote that it’s well worth doing.
You can easily spend a few hours swimming, relaxing and spending time in the sun. It’s also worth bringing some food and snacks yourself so you can have a small picnic too.
Cenote Azul really is such a gorgeous, pristine location that honestly, it’s difficult to leave at the end of the day.
Facilities at Cenote Azul Playa del Carmen
Lockers, changing rooms and bathrooms are available at Cenote Azul. Private showers are also available but for a small fee.
There is a small snack bar where you can buy soft drinks, water and basic snacks. There isn’t really much of a restaurant but they allow you to bring your own food so if you’re staying for a while make sure to bring your own food if you fancy something more concrete.
Entering the cenote with alcoholic drinks is prohibited.
Cenote Azul does have its own car park but it is fairly small and it does fill up quickly. If you have a rental car and you’re planning to drive to Cenote Azul make sure to arrive early to get a parking spot, especially when visiting on the weekend. Parking is free.
What to Bring to Cenote Azul
You can easily spend the whole day or even half a day swimming and enjoying Cenote Azul Mexico. Here are a few things you need to bring and others you might want to think about bringing to make your experience more enjoyable.
- Bring a swimsuit, towel and change of clothes so you can fully enjoy swimming in the stunning, clear water.
- A camera and/or GoPro is a great way to take photos and videos underwater of all the fish and marine life.
- Snacks/food and soft drinks/water. Make sure to bring plenty of water to avoid dehydration and some food and snacks. Snacks are available but they are pretty basic and processed.
- If you want to snorkel, bring a mask and snorkel but as I said earlier fins aren’t allowed. You can also rent snorkelling equipment at Cenote Azul.
- The rocks in some of the shallow areas and secondary cenote pools can be quite slippery so it’s worth bringing water shoes if you have them too.
- Make sure to bring cash to cover your entire visit to Playa del Carmen’s Cenote Azul.
Where to Stay near Cenote Azul, Mexico
When visiting Cenote Azul Tulum and Playa del Carmen are generally the best places to stay. The same goes for Cenote Jardin del Eden and Cenote Cristalino which are just next door. Some of my favourite places to stay in Playa del Carmen and Tulum are:
Hotel Bardo (Tulum town) – One of the most idyllic adults-only luxury boutique hotels in Tulum town. Beautifully designed and decorated suites with plunge pools, great food and serene courtyards.
Nomade Tulum (Tulum beach strip)– My favourite property on the beach strip, Nomade embodies that Tulum boho chic like no one else. We love their wellness ethic and focus too.
Read more: 23 Best Luxury & Boutique Hotels in Tulum, Mexico
Palmaïa – The House of Aia (Playa del Carmen)– THE Riviera Maya wellness resort, perfect for long beach days, excellent gastronomy and spa and wellness facilities. A great base for the entire Riviera Maya.
Casarte Boutique Hotel (Playa del Carmen)– Artsy boutique hotel in central Playa del Carmen. Brilliant courtyard pool and rooftop and fabulous service.
Do you have any questions about visiting Cenote Azul, Playa del Carmen? Let me know in the comments below.
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