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CONTENTS
THE HISTORY OF CENOTE CHOO-HA 🇲🇽
Swimming in Cenote Choo-Ha💧 is a sacred experience you could almost call mystical. The Maya believed cenotes were pathways to the afterlife. The word “cenote” comes from the Mayan dz’onot, meaning “sacred well.”
Cenotes are natural phenomena: sinkholes in the earth’s surface that formed when the roof of a water-filled cave collapsed. By some estimates, there are around 10,000 cenotes on the Yucatán Peninsula 🇲🇽! For the ancient Maya civilizations, they were the main source of fresh water and the site of many offerings in the form of sacrifices, such as valuable objects or human beings…
Cenote Choo-Ha is a large underground cavern, like Hubiku or Suytun. The only difference is that no light at all gets into this one.
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
CENOTE CHOO-HA: A MYSTICAL ATMOSPHERE 💀
Cenote Choo-Ha is just a few minutes from the Cobá ruins. You can easily do both on the same day. Cenote Choo-Ha is one of the 3 cenotes around Cobá; the other two are Multum Ha and Tankach Ha. Each cenote costs 100 pesos per person, or 300 pesos to visit and swim in all 3 🏊.
The three Cobá cenotes share the same ticket booth, a little hut at the start of the path. Tamcach-Ha is known for its jumping platforms, and Multun-Ha is also an underground cenote. We only did Choo-Ha, and it already left us with quite a memory 😍.
This cenote is even more mysterious than Suytun and Hubiku 😉. You find yourself in a cave with no daylight at all, which gives it that mystical atmosphere. You go down a few steps (careful, they’re slippery) and end up on a platform in the middle, with several swimming spots all around. The water is much cooler 🥶, but it’s still an incredible moment.
It’s so restful and relaxing to discover places like this, even more so when you’ve sweated a lot 🥵 on your visits: it’s a chance to cool off in stunning places like Cenote Choo-Ha. They do their best to keep the place as authentic as possible, even if facilities like the stairs and the lighting are necessary for the best experience 😃.
HOW TO GET TO CENOTE CHOO-HA ⏳
To get to Cenote Choo-Ha, you can go:
- By car 🚗: It all depends on where you’re staying, but from Valladolid it’s about 1 hour 20 minutes by road, from Cancún/Playa del Carmen 1 hour 20 minutes and from Tulum 50 minutes. We were staying in Tulum and had our rental car. Don’t forget that Mexico is big, and if you want to be free and independent on the road, a car is a great compromise. Feel free to check out my article on renting a car in Mexico.
- By bus 🚌: If you’re staying in Tulum, lots of buses go to Cobá, but not to these cenotes. You can easily do Cobá and then take a taxi for the last few kilometers. It’s also possible by colectivo… The bus is often cheaper than the car, but slower 😎.
- By taxi 🚕: There are plenty of taxis in Mexico, and you can arrange a round trip with them too. Of course, taking a taxi can get very expensive 💰 depending on where you’re coming from.
For us, the car was essential during our trip: it let us be 100% independent and visit Cenote Choo-Ha and other places without depending on public transportation like the bus.
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.
CENOTE CHOO-HA: PRICES AND HOURS ⏰
When we visited, the site was open every day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Note that according to recent sources, it may close earlier (around 5 or 6 p.m. depending on the time of year): we recommend coming in the morning. It’s often recommended to do the Cobá ruins and then continue with the cenotes, including Cenote Choo-Ha.
For the entrance fee, we paid 100 pesos (about €5) per person, with the option to do the other two cenotes, or 300 pesos (about €15) for all three. The locker and life jacket aren’t included in the price. And to be honest with you, the life jacket isn’t mandatory, since Cenote Choo-Ha is shallow, so you can see beneath your feet 👀. For the more cautious, you can rent a life jacket on site with no problem. No need for a locker either: you can keep your things with you.
💵 Bring cash: bank cards generally aren’t accepted at cenote entrances. To find out how to pay on site, read our article Where to withdraw money in Mexico.
THINGS TO KNOW 🥰
As always in our articles, here are a few tips and tricks for visiting Cenote Choo-Ha:
- No food area inside the cenote grounds 🍽️
- A fairly touristy cenote, since it’s a few kilometers from the Cobá ruins.
- Parking is free 🅿️.
- There are restrooms 🚾
- Lots of tourists arrive around 10:30-11 a.m.
- Respect the place by doing as little damage as possible to the cenote’s wildlife and plants.
- Showering is mandatory before swimming.
- Careful going down the stairs, they’re slippery 😅.
- Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds ☺️.
- No need to book online.
- The water temperature is cool.
- Water depth 2 to 3 meters maximum.
- Life jacket not mandatory 🦺 (If you’re like me, swimming is so much better without one).
- 💵 Cash payment only, so remember to bring pesos.
- 🩴 Water shoes come in very handy: the bottom is rocky and the steps are slippery.
- 🧴 No sunscreen or bug spray before swimming, to protect the cenote’s water (that’s what the shower is for).
👉 Planning your trip? Also read our 10 things to know before visiting Mexico.
OUR TAKE ON CENOTE CHOO-HA 💭
We love discovering cenotes because they don’t exist in France 😍! Cenote Choo-Ha is truly incredible, as it was very different from other underground cenotes like Hubiku or Suytun, and from open cenotes like X’Canché, Ik Kil… The atmosphere in this cenote was so unique and mystical that it’s an experience we absolutely loved 🥰.
Easy to reach: even if the last 300 meters can be tricky by car, we still made it there safely. If you have the time and the money, you can also visit the other two cenotes, which must be just as beautiful. We must have done about twenty cenotes, and every time we were spellbound by these places 😛! It’s a 1,000% must 👍.
👉 Cenote Choo-Ha was part of our month-long road trip in Mexico. Itinerary, real budget, places to stay, cenotes and Mayan sites: we’ve gathered it all on our Mexico travel blog.
👉 What about you? What do you think of Cenote Choo-Ha?
FAQ: YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT CENOTE CHOO-HA ❓
These are the questions people often ask before visiting Cenote Choo-Ha. Feel free to ask yours in the comments, and I’ll add to this FAQ 💬.
We paid 100 pesos per person (about €5), and 300 pesos to do all three Cobá cenotes. Life jackets are rented separately. Bring cash, as cards generally aren’t accepted.
The cenote opens from 9 a.m., every day. When we visited, it closed at 8 p.m., but some recent sources indicate it closes around 5 or 6 p.m.: come in the morning instead.
The easiest way is by car: allow about 50 minutes from Tulum. Buses go as far as Cobá but not to the cenotes, so you’ll need to finish by taxi or colectivo.
Yes, the cenote is just a few minutes from the Cobá ruins. Visit the site in the morning, then come cool off in the cenote.
No, there’s no need to book online: tickets are sold right at the entrance hut.
No. Cenote Choo-Ha is shallow and the water is very clear. You can still rent one on site if you feel more comfortable with it.
The water is 2 to 3 meters deep at most, and you can easily see the bottom. It’s one of the most accessible cenotes around Cobá.
A swimsuit, a towel, water shoes (the bottom is rocky) and pesos in cash. Avoid sunscreen and bug spray before swimming.
Yes, parking is free and there are restrooms. However, there’s no food area on site.
Choo-Ha is the most accessible, with its shallow water and stalactites, ideal for a first experience. Tamcach-Ha is known for its jumping platforms. If you have time, the combo ticket lets you compare!
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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