Q: WHAT IS THE BEST CENOTE IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN?
A: The best cenote in Playa del Carmen is Aktun Chen National Park, located south of town near Tulum. You can explore the fascinating cave and you can snorkel in the underground river as well. It is very cool and is the most famous cenote in the Riviera Maya. However there are dozens of others that are also amazing in their own way. If you don't want to snorkel but want to see underground caverns close to Playa del Carmen, Rio Secreto may be perfect for you. Xenotes immerses you in a variety of incredible cenotes experiences and cultural aspects and is highly recommended if you have the time.
Q: CAN I SNORKEL IN THE CENOTES AND SEE FISH?
A: Snorkeling in the cenotes is amazing in its own way, but don't expect to see many fish. Cenotes are fresh water, not ocean water, and there is no coral reef for them to live on. You will probably see a few small fish, but mostly the attraction of cenotes snorkeling is to see incredible things like tree root systems, stalactites and stalagmites under the water and it is so clear it's surreal.
Q: DO YOU HAVE OTHER TOURS THAT VISIT THE CENOTES?
A: Yes for sure! Many of our other tours in other categories also visit a cenote. Some are caverns you can snorkel in, others are open where you can just swim and cool off. The excursions in the cenotes category are purely focused on cenotes, while the other adventures have other focus points but visit a cenote as part of the experience.
Q: I'M ON A CRUISE SHIP - CAN
I DO THESE CENOTES TOURS?
A: Most of them. You can do excursions that
are 6 hours or less, in general. More than 6 hours
and it will be difficult for you to meet your ship's schedule.
Q: DO I NEED TO USE BIODEGRADABLE
SUNSCREEN?
A: Yes. All water activities in Playa del Carmen
require that you use only biodegradable sunscreen.
See our
biodegradable
sunblock page for more information.
Q: ARE ALL CENOTES SIMILAR
IN SIZE AND VARIETY OF FORMATIONS?
A: Not at all. Some cenotes are very small
and not very interesting. Others are fascinating examples
of subterranean formations that have been featured in IMAX
movies and DVDs. Every one is unique and different,
with very special features.
