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CONTENTS
THE HISTORY OF CENOTE X’CANCHÉ 🇲🇽
Swimming in Cenote X’Canché 💧 is an almost mystical experience. The Maya believed cenotes were passages to the afterlife. The word “cenote” comes from the Mayan dz’onot, meaning “sacred well.”
Cenotes are natural sinkholes, formed when the roof of a water-filled cave collapsed. There are an estimated 10,000 on the Yucatán Peninsula 🇲🇽! For the Maya, they were the main source of fresh water, and a place for offerings: precious objects, and sometimes even human sacrifices…
Cenote X’Canché is 1.5 km from the Mayan city of Ek Balam, about 30 minutes north of Valladolid. It’s a large open sinkhole surrounded by jungle, with gorgeous water. Adeline and I discovered it in October 2021, and it became our favorite cenote of the whole trip 😍.
THE MAP OF OUR MEXICO ROAD TRIP 🗺️
To help you plan your itinerary, we’ve gathered every place from our 30-day road trip in Mexico 🇲🇽 on an interactive map: cenotes, Mayan sites, beaches and stopover towns, from Yucatán to Quintana Roo. Click on each pin to discover the place in detail 📍. And to keep it handy during your trip, open it in Google Maps: you’ll find it easily on your phone 📱.
Our itinerary
Our trip to Mexico
1 month8 stops2 states: Yucatán & Quintana RooCar + ferry to the islands
The stops, in order
- 1
Cancún
1 night
Arrival by plane, then last night before the flight home
- 2
Holbox
3 nights
Beaches, sunsets and a timeless vibe
- 3
Valladolid
5 nights
Suytun, Oxman, Ik Kil, Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam
- 4
Mérida
3 nights
Uxmal and the 3 cenotes of Cuzamá
- 5
Bacalar
5 nights
The lagoon of seven colors and its cenotes
- 6
Tulum
4 nights
Ruins, Coba, Sian Ka'an, Cenote Azul and Calavera
- 7
Cozumel
4 nights
Scuba diving and snorkeling
- 8
Isla Mujeres
3 nights
Jet skiing, beaches and the end of the road trip
OUR VISIT TO CENOTE X’CANCHÉ 🚲
THE BIKES WITH NO BRAKES
Right after our visit to Ek Balam, we rode to the cenote on Mexican bikes… and it’s one of our best Mexico stories 😂. The bikes had no brakes, no gears, nothing at all! We rode about 1.5 km like that, on the jungle trail. Adeline wasn’t relaxed at all: “But how am I supposed to brake?!” 😅. We’d never done anything like it in our lives, and we laughed so hard.
When we visited, the bike rental was included. Today, you probably have to pay extra: ask at the Ek Balam entrance. There are also bike taxis with a driver, and you can walk it in 25 to 30 minutes.
JUMPS, FISH AND CRYSTAL-CLEAR WATER
When you arrive, there are changing rooms, with a locker included in the price when we visited. Showering is mandatory 🚿. Then you head down wooden stairs… and the view of this sinkhole is simply stunning 😍.
The water is crystal clear and full of fish 🐟: they even come and nibble at you a little, it tickles, nothing nasty 😄. You can swing on a Tarzan rope, jump from several platforms and even do a zip line or rappelling. As for me, I jumped from the highest platform, about 6 to 7 meters up: it was awesome! We didn’t do the zip line or the rappelling.
We stayed 1.5 to 2 hours, with ten or fifteen people around us at most. It was our 2nd cenote, after Ik Kil, and it completely won us over.
EK BALAM AND X’CANCHÉ IN THE SAME MORNING 🏛️
For us, it’s the perfect combo: the Mayan city of Ek Balam in the morning, with the climb up the acropolis in the heat, then a refreshing swim at X’Canché right after 💚.
- ⏰ Arrive at Ek Balam around 9 a.m., and visit the site for about 1.5 hours.
- 🚲 Head to the cenote by bike, bike taxi or on foot (1.5 km).
- 🏊 Enjoy the cenote for 1.5 to 2 hours.
- 🗺️ In the afternoon, continue to Cenote Hubiku or Cenote Secreto Maya, a bit farther north.
HOW TO GET TO CENOTE X’CANCHÉ ⏳
BY CAR
Park at the Ek Balam parking lot, then get to the cenote by bike, bike taxi or on foot. Allow about 30 minutes from Valladolid, 2 hours from Mérida and 2.5 hours from Cancún or Playa del Carmen. We were staying in Valladolid with our rental car.
BY COLECTIVO, TAXI OR ON A TOUR
There’s no direct bus. From Valladolid, you can take a colectivo or a taxi to Ek Balam, negotiating the round trip before you leave. Many tours also combine Ek Balam and X’Canché.
BY TREN MAYA
Since our trip, the Tren Maya has started serving Valladolid. From there, you need to get to Ek Balam by taxi or colectivo.
RENTING A CAR IN MEXICO 🚗
To explore Yucatán and Quintana Roo, we think a rental car is the best option: you’re free to string together cenotes, Mayan sites and beaches at your own pace, without depending on bus schedules or organized tours 🌴.
We did our whole one-month road trip by car, and everything went really well. Here’s the agency we used and recommend, plus an alternative if you’d rather compare 👇
Our rental tip
Renting a car in Mexico
The agency we used, and an alternative to compare.
TouraCancun
Car rental in Mexico
We rented with them for our whole road trip: we recommend them without hesitation!
Our budget€95028 days, insurance included · ~€34/day
- Tested for 1 month
- Pick-up in Cancún
- Our go-to in Mexico
DiscoverCars
Rental comparison site
To compare several rental companies in a single search.
Excellent rating290,000+ Trustpilot reviews
- 1,000+ rental companies compared
- Free cancellation
- 24/7 support
To compare before you choose
Good to know before you rent
- Third-party liability insurance is mandatoryIn Mexico, it's often not included in the price shown online: check before you pay.
- A deposit on a credit cardAn amount is held on your card for the whole rental. Bring a card with a high enough limit.
- Your French driving license is enoughIt's accepted for tourists. The international driving permit is optional: only if you want one.
- Photos and video at pick-upFilm the car from every angle when you collect it, to avoid any dispute when you return it.
- Filling up at the gas stationCheck that the pump meter is at zero before the attendant starts.
- Watch out for “topes”These speed bumps are everywhere, sometimes without a sign: slow down as you enter villages.
For us, the car was essential: it let us do Ek Balam, X’Canché and the other cenotes around Valladolid back to back without depending on anyone 🚗. All our tips are in our article on renting a car in Mexico without getting scammed.
DISCOVER THE NEARBY MAYAN SITES 🦎
Explore the Mayan sites near here through nearly 40 articles about the Yucatán and Quintana Roo 🌍. Discover our best tips, itineraries, history, reviews and much more to make the most of your travel experience and dive 100% into discovering Mexico! It’s the perfect time to carefully plan your vacation ✈️.
DISCOVER THE NEARBY CENOTES 🧐
Now’s the time to explore the cenotes near here on my Mexico travel blog to make the most of your stay 🌟! You’ll find details on the history of these cenotes, our honest review, and captivating photos of your future discoveries 🌍. These articles will be essential resources for planning your trip to Mexico! 🗺️📸
CENOTE X’CANCHÉ PRICES AND HOURS ⏰
- 🕰️ Hours: every day, roughly 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry around 4:30 p.m.). Some sources list an earlier closing time: check on site.
- 💸 Our experience: in 2021, we paid 150 pesos per person (€6.50), locker and life jacket included. An activity pack (zip line, rappelling, jumps…) cost 700 pesos (€30).
- 📈 Today: recent sources give about 90 to 150 pesos (€5 to €8) for entry only, with the zip line and rappelling extra. You can absolutely come just for a swim.
- 🚲 Bikes and bike taxis: about 70 pesos (€4) round trip by bike taxi, according to a recent source.
- 💵 Payment: cash only, according to several travelers. We explain everything in Where to withdraw money in Mexico.
THINGS TO KNOW 🥰
As always, here are our tips for visiting Cenote X’Canché:
- 🏛️ Combine it with Ek Balam, it’s right next door.
- 🚲 Try the Mexican bikes, laughs guaranteed 😂.
- 🅿️ The Ek Balam parking lot is guarded: leave the attendant a few pesos when you leave.
- 🤸 Jumps from about 2 to 7 meters, a Tarzan rope, zip line and rappelling.
- 🐟 The fish nibble at you a little, nothing nasty.
- 🌿 Don’t touch the vines, they’re sacred.
- 🚿 Showering before you swim is mandatory.
- 🧴 No sunscreen or bug spray, to protect the cenote’s water.
- 🦺 Life jacket not mandatory (if you’re like me, swimming is so much better without one).
- 🍽️ No food right next to the cenote: bring a snack.
- 💻 No need to book online.
OUR TAKE ON THIS MARVELOUS CENOTE NEXT TO EK BALAM 💭
X’Canché is our favorite cenote of the whole trip 😍. It was one of the first ones we did, there was almost no one there, the water was gorgeous, and we have amazing memories of the brakeless bikes. For us, places like this are a real discovery: we don’t have them in France 🇫🇷, and it’s still magical.
Here, there’s no time limit: you enjoy the fish, the jumps and the crystal-clear water for as long as you like. Cenotes in the Yucatán are also much cheaper than those in Quintana Roo, like Calavera near Tulum. We’re lucky to get to discover all this 🍀: let’s make the most of it while respecting these places as much as we can.
👉 What about you? Would you brave the brakeless bikes, or walk to the cenote?
FAQ: YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT CENOTE X’CANCHÉ ❓
Here are the questions we get asked most often about Cenote X’Canché. Got another one? Ask it in the comments 😉.
In 2021, we paid 150 pesos (€6.50) per person, locker and life jacket included. Today, expect about 90 to 150 pesos (€5 to €8) for entry only, with activities extra.
It’s open every day, roughly 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry around 4:30 p.m. Check on site, as hours can change.
The cenote is 1.5 km from the Ek Balam entrance: by bike, bike taxi or on foot in 25 to 30 minutes.
Yes, from several platforms up to about 7 meters, and there’s also a Tarzan rope. Always check that no one is below.
Yes, adventure activities are offered as extras or in a pack. We didn’t do them, but you can absolutely come just for a swim.
No. When we visited, the life jacket and locker were included in the price.
We stayed 1.5 to 2 hours. With Ek Balam, plan a good morning.
Yes, it’s actually the ideal combo: Ek Balam in the morning, then a swim at X’Canché right after.
It gets fewer visitors than the best-known cenotes. When we visited, there were ten or fifteen of us at most.
WHERE TO STAY IN MEXICO 🏨
During our one-month road trip in Mexico 🇲🇽, we stayed in 8 different towns, alternating between Airbnbs and hotels. And we were always very happy with where we stayed 😇.
We deliberately avoided “All Inclusive” packages. It’s not our idea of travel: we’d rather be in the heart of towns and villages, eat local and discover the country at our own pace 🌮.
OUR TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLACE TO STAY
- 📅 Book ahead in high season: the best places go fast and prices climb.
- 🚗 Private or secure parking if you’re traveling with a rental car. You’ll see, it’s not always available, but depending on the town it can be really worth having.
- ❄️ Air conditioning: essential in Yucatán and Quintana Roo, where it’s hot all year round.
- 🏊 A pool: up to you whether you want one at some of your stays, because it can quickly push the price up.
- 📍 A place close to the center: so you can do everything on foot in the evening. That said, if you like places outside town and you have the car, nothing forces you to stay near the center
- ✅ Free cancellation, to keep your itinerary flexible.
AIRBNB OR HOTEL IN MEXICO?
Both have their advantages. An Airbnb is ideal for more space, a kitchen and living like a local. A hotel is more convenient for one or two nights passing through, with a reception desk and often breakfast included. As for us, we liked both. It all depends on what you want, whether you’re with family, solo or as a couple, and how you like to travel.
HOW MUCH DOES ACCOMMODATION COST IN MEXICO?
There’s something for every taste and every budget. We paid between €40 and €100 a night for two. To be completely transparent with you: €1,800 for 29 nights, or about €62 a night on average (that was in 2021, prices may have changed since).
👇 Here are the 8 places where we slept during our road trip, with our review of each one.
Tested during our road trip
Our 8 places to stay in Mexico
AirbnbHotel
-
AirbnbHolbox
An incredible room, with the pool right next door to cool off. Just perfect!
- Room
- Pool right next door
- Incredible room
- Hotel
Valladolid
A stunning setting and a super spacious room, ideal for catching your breath between two cenotes.
- Very spacious room
- Pool
- On-site massages
- Airbnb
Mérida
A whole house just for us, with a small pool to relax.
- Whole house
- Small pool
- A bit out of the way
- Hotel
Bacalar
A gorgeous place right in the town center, with a superb pool.
- Hotel
- Superb pool
- Town center, far from the lagoon
- Airbnb
Tulum
A whole place with a pool, but very far out: you'll need the car.
- Whole place
- Pool
- Far out, car essential
- Airbnb
Cozumel
A clean, well-located studio, so you can do everything on foot from the town center.
- Studio
- Clean and well designed
- Close to the center
- Hotel
Isla Mujeres
A beautiful seafront hotel with a magnificent pool.
- Hotel
- Magnificent pool
- Seafront, a bit out of the way
- Hotel
Cancún
Right next to the airport: perfect for the first or last night of the trip.
- Hotel
- Close to the airport
- Ideal for the 1st or last night
MY MUST-HAVE TRAVEL GEAR 🧳
It’s a question that comes up a lot when preparing a trip “What should I bring?” That’s why you’ll find below some essential travel accessories to set off on vacation with peace of mind (your documents kept safe) 🛡️ . Planning ahead and getting these items in advance helps you save money and avoid paying for some of them on the spot, where they’ll cost you much more 💸 These are the accessories we took to Mexico and still use for every destination we travel to 👇.
Our road trip checklist
What to pack for Mexico?
Most of these items came with us throughout our 30-day road trip.
0 / 12 in my suitcase · check what you already have
- Essential
ElectronicsUniversal travel adapter
In Mexico, outlets are the American type: French chargers won't fit.
- Essential
ElectronicsPower bank
Long days between ruins and cenotes: your phone lasts until evening.
- Essential
Health & protectionBiodegradable sunscreen
Mineral and biodegradable, kinder to cenotes and reefs.
- Essential
Health & protectionMosquito repellent
Mosquitoes are everywhere, especially in the evening and near the jungle.
- Essential
Cenotes & beachWaterproof phone pouch
To film in cenotes and at the beach without any risk.
- Recommended
Health & protectionFilter water bottle
Tap water isn't drinkable in Mexico: filter it and avoid plastic.
- Recommended
Health & protectionTravel first-aid kit
Band-aids, painkillers, anti-diarrhea meds: enough to handle small issues.
- Recommended
Cenotes & beachWaterproof bag
Papers and keys kept dry on boats, at the beach or by the cenotes.
- Recommended
Cenotes & beachWater shoes
For slippery cenote steps and rocky seabeds.
- Recommended
Cenotes & beachMicrofiber towel
Light and quick-drying: perfect for swim after swim.
- Bonus
Travel & securityTSA lock
To lock your suitcase on the plane, with no risk of it being broken at security.
- Bonus
Travel & securityAirTag
To track your suitcase if your luggage is delayed or lost.
OUR YOUTUBE VIDEOS IN MEXICO 
During our 30-day road trip in Mexico 
, we filmed everything! From Holbox to Cancún, by way of Valladolid, Mérida, Bacalar, Tulum, Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, we take you along with us step by step in our vlogs.
You’ll discover the cenotes we swam in, the Mayan sites we explored, the beaches that made us dream, our places to stay, our favorite spots to eat… and above all our honest take on each place: what amazed us, and what disappointed us a little 
.
If you’re planning your trip, or simply dreaming of getting away, these videos will give you a real glimpse of Mexico, far from the tourist brochures.
Our road trip on video
Our YouTube videos in Mexico
Now watching: Episode 1 · Discovering Mexico & Holbox
21 minEpisode 1Discovering Mexico & Holbox- 17 minEpisode 2Cenotes & Mayan cities
- 9 minEpisode 3Mérida, Uxmal, Cuzamá & the bats
- 13 minEpisode 4Bacalar, a hidden paradise
- 12 minEpisode 5Tulum, Coba, Sian Ka'an & Cenote Azul
- 12 minEpisode 6Cozumel, diving & snorkeling
- 17 minEpisode 7Isla Mujeres, jet skiing & the end of the road trip
21 min
17 min
9 min
13 min
12 min
12 min
17 minTHANKS FOR YOUR FEEDBACK
Thanks for reading this article all the way to the end 🙏! We hope it helps you plan your trip.
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