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CONTENTS
THE HISTORY OF CENOTE HUBIKU 🇲🇽
Swimming in Cenote Hubiku 💧 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…
Hubiku is an underground cenote: a huge cave with a single opening in the ceiling that lets in a beam of light, and roots hanging down to the water. It’s near Temozón, about 30 minutes north of Valladolid. Adeline and I visited it in October 2021: it was our first underground cenote 😍.
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 HUBIKU 🚗
A SCARY ROAD… ALL THE WAY TO PARADISE
It was our 3rd cenote, after Ik Kil and X’Canché. Getting there left an impression 😂: in 2021, the last 1.5 kilometers were a disastrous road full of potholes, where we drove at 5 km/h 🕳️. It was the first time we’d taken a road like that in Mexico, and we really wondered where we were going to end up… And in the end, it was paradise.
We arrived early, around 9:30 a.m., and we were alone in the parking lot, just our car. Alone in the world in the cenote, it was incredible… and a little intimidating too 😅. Around 10:30-11 a.m., as we were leaving, the first tour bus arrived: Hubiku is often included in tours from Cancún and Chichén Itzá.
GOING DOWN INTO THE CAVE
As at every cenote, you first go through the changing rooms and the mandatory shower 🚿, since it’s a sacred place. Then you go down stairs carved into the rock… and discover this huge chasm, lit by a single shaft of light in the center. It’s just incredible 😊.
A submerged walkway lets you stand in part of the cenote: reassuring before you head into the deep water. The water is a bit cooler than in other cenotes, between 22 and 25°C, a nice change from the Mexican heat. There’s no jumping here: it’s all about swimming and the calm 😎.
HUBIKU OR IK KIL? 🤔
They’re two cenotes very close to Valladolid, but they’re different:
- 🦇 Hubiku: an underground cenote, in a cave with a single shaft of light. The atmosphere is mysterious, and the walkway lets you stand.
- 🌿 Ik Kil: an open cenote, with vines hanging down to the water, right next to Chichén Itzá. Very beautiful, but very busy.
Both often get swamped by tours around 11 a.m.: arrive early, whichever one you choose.
COMBINING HUBIKU WITH EK BALAM AND X’CANCHÉ 🗺️
Hubiku is north of Valladolid, on the same road as the Mayan city of Ek Balam and Cenote X’Canché. If you stay in Valladolid, you can easily do these visits back to back, and add Cenote Secreto Maya, a little farther north, which we did a day or two later.
HOW TO GET TO CENOTE HUBIKU ⏳
BY CAR
Hubiku is at km 1.5 on the Valladolid–Tizimín road, near Temozón. Allow about 30 minutes from Valladolid, 2.5 hours from Mérida and 2.5 hours from Cancún or Playa del Carmen. We were staying in Valladolid with our rental car.
BY TAXI, ON A TOUR OR BY TREN MAYA
There’s no direct bus. From Valladolid, the easiest option is a taxi, negotiating the round trip before you leave. Hubiku is also often included in tours to Chichén Itzá. Since our trip, the Tren Maya has served Valladolid, where you can take a taxi.
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 arrive before the buses and enjoy the cenote alone 🚗. 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 HUBIKU PRICES AND HOURS ⏰
- 🕰️ Hours: every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- 💸 Our experience: in 2021, we paid 150 pesos per person (€6.50).
- 📈 Today: expect about 200 pesos (€10) according to recent sources, ideally in cash.
- 🦺 Life jacket and locker: extra. Since there was no one there, we didn’t need them.
- 🅿️ Parking: free.
- 💵 Payment: bring pesos. We explain everything in Where to withdraw money in Mexico.
THINGS TO KNOW 🥰
As always, here are our tips for visiting Cenote Hubiku:
- ⏰ Arrive at opening: we were alone at 9:30 a.m., and the first bus arrived around 10:30-11 a.m.
- 🚌 Lots of tours stop at this cenote.
- 🚗 The access road was in very bad shape in 2021: drive slowly.
- 🚿 Showering before you swim is mandatory.
- 🌡️ The water is a bit cooler than in other cenotes, between 22 and 25°C.
- 🚫 No jumping here.
- 🌿 Don’t touch the roots and vines: they’re sacred.
- 🍽️ There’s a restaurant on site, which we didn’t try.
- 🥃 Some tours combine the visit with a small tequila museum next to the cenote.
- 🦺 Life jacket not mandatory (if you’re like me, swimming is so much better without one).
- 💻 No need to book online.
VISIT CENOTE HUBIKU ON A TOUR
Would you rather be taken care of from start to finish? For 90% of our visits, we didn’t book anything, because our rental car made us independent. But Hubiku is often included in tours to Chichén Itzá and Valladolid; here are a few 👇
OUR TAKE ON THIS UNDERGROUND CENOTE 💭
It was our first underground cenote: the first two were open, and the atmosphere is nothing alike 😊. When you go down the steps and discover this huge chasm, it really gets to you, even more so when you’re alone 💥. Absolute calm, and just one thing on your mind: diving into this sacred water. The beam of light that lights up the whole cave is truly incredible.
After a road that made us doubt, we arrived in paradise. We recommend Hubiku to discover an underground cenote, as long as you arrive early. Going in October meant few crowds throughout our road trip, and let us enjoy these places in a different way.
👉 What about you? Do you prefer open cenotes or underground cenotes like Hubiku?
FAQ: YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT CENOTE HUBIKU ❓
Here are the questions we get asked most often about Cenote Hubiku. Got another one? Ask it in the comments 😉.
In 2021, we paid 150 pesos (€6.50) per person. Today, expect about 200 pesos (€10), with life jacket and locker extra.
It’s open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arrive at opening to avoid the tour buses.
Near Temozón, at km 1.5 on the Valladolid–Tizimín road, about 30 minutes north of Valladolid.
No, there’s no jumping at Hubiku. You enjoy the swim, with a submerged walkway where you can stand.
No, it’s not mandatory, but you pay extra if you want one, as with the locker.
The water is a bit cooler than in many other cenotes, roughly between 22 and 25°C.
Right at opening: we were alone at 9:30 a.m., and the first bus arrived around 10:30-11 a.m.
Hubiku is an underground cenote with a mysterious calm; Ik Kil is an open cenote with vines, right next to Chichén Itzá. Both are worth it if you arrive early.
By taxi from Valladolid, or on a tour, which often pairs it with Chichén Itzá.
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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