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CONTENTS
THE HISTORY OF CENOTE SUYTUN 🇲🇽
Swimming in Cenote Suytun 💧 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 word dz’onot, which means “sacred well.”
Cenotes form naturally: they’re sinkholes in the earth’s surface created when the ceiling of a water-filled cave collapsed. According to estimates, there are about 10,000 cenotes on the Yucatán Peninsula 🇲🇽! For the ancient Mayan civilizations, they were the main source of fresh water, and many offerings were made in them in the form of sacrifices, such as valuables or human beings… It’s an underground cenote in a large cavern, and the hole that lets the light in formed when the roots of a big tree collapsed 😱.
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 ARRIVAL AT CENOTE SUYTUN 🚗
We were starting to know cenotes pretty well, especially since we’d already done Cenote Ik Kil, X’Canché and Hubiku! Just a few kilometers from Valladolid, Cenote Suytun is one of the most Instagrammable places in Mexico 📸! You’ve very likely already seen this famous cenote several times on TikTok or Instagram (without really knowing it) 😂. Luckily, as for most of our Mexico road trip in October, very few people were lining up for that famous photo 🙃. This shot on the platform is really beautiful, and you may well find yourself next to influencers who come here for the photo.
This platform, lit up by the sun’s rays ☀️, makes the place unique, and one of the most visited cenotes in the Yucatán, but not necessarily the most beautiful 😉. To visit this cenote, there’s a time limit, which was 1.5 hours max during our visit 😕 (some sources now say 1 hour). To be clear, most cenotes don’t belong to the state but to private citizens. That really surprised me, since these places have so much history and their preservation should be regulated by the Mexican government. What do you think 💭?
The water is cooler than in other cenotes, which makes sense since you’re in a large cavern with very little sun. Cenote Suytun looks a lot like Hubiku. It’s a cenote worth doing if you’re in the area, since the place is still really beautiful!
HOW TO GET TO SUYTUN ⏳
To get to Suytun, you can go:
- By car 🚗: It all depends on where you’re staying, but from Mérida it’s a 2-hour-10-minute drive, from Cancún/Playa del Carmen 2 hours and from Valladolid about 15 minutes. We were staying in Valladolid and had a rental car. Don’t forget that Mexico is big, and if you want to be free and independent in getting around, a car is a great compromise. Feel free to check out my article on renting a car in Mexico.
- By bus 🚌: Unlike Chichén Itzá, there are far fewer direct buses to Suytun. It’s probably doable by colectivo… The bus is often cheaper than the car, but slower 😎. It’s a very popular stop for travel agencies.
- 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 Suytun and other places without relying 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.
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 SUYTUN: PRICES AND OPENING HOURS ⏰
▶️ The site is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry around 4 p.m. We recommend arriving right at opening: it’s the best time for the platform photo without too much waiting. Between about noon and 3 p.m., the famous beam of light falls on the platform, but that’s also when it’s busiest.
💰 During our visit in October 2021, we paid 150 pesos per person (about €6.50) for admission, life jacket and locker included. Today, the price has gone up a lot: count on about 250 to 280 pesos per adult on site (a bit less if you book online), with access to the nearby Kaapeh cenote included. These prices change regularly, so check them before you come.
💵 Bring pesos in cash in case cards aren’t accepted. To find out how to get organized, read our article Where to withdraw money in Mexico.
DISCOVER CENOTE SUYTUN ON A TOUR
A lot of you aren’t sure whether to book ahead or on the day. For 90% of our outings, we didn’t book online because we had our rental car, which let us be 100% independent. Here are a few Cenote Suytun tours that might come in handy if you’d rather keep things simple and have someone take you around during your trip 🌐.
THINGS TO KNOW 🥰
As in all our articles, here are a few tips and tricks for visiting Cenote Suytun:
- No place to eat right next to it 🍽️(A few kilometers away, there’s “Restaurante Ahumados” (which we knew as “Que Café”), one of our favorite restaurants in Mexico).
- Lots of tour operators stop at this cenote (plan to arrive early)
- Parking is free and large 🅿️.
- 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.
- 1.5 hours max in this cenote (someone notes your arrival time at the entrance)
- You might run into international or French influencers 🤳.
- Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds ☺️.
- No need to book online.
- There’s no jumping here.
- The water temperature is around 22°C (72°F).
- Water depth: about 5 meters (16 ft) at the deepest point.
- Life jacket not required 🦺 (If you’re like me, swimming without one is so much better).
- 🌧️ In the rainy season, the platform may be partly underwater: the photo is less spectacular then.
👉 Planning your trip? Also read our 10 things to know before visiting Mexico.
OUR REVIEW OF THIS INSTAGRAMMABLE CENOTE 💭
Now that we’re used to visiting and swimming in cenotes, this one is worth discovering if you have time 😀. It has its charm, especially with the platform 😍. Being in a cavern or cave makes for a different experience compared with open cenotes. Still, there are much more beautiful cenotes than this one, like X’Canché and the 3 cenotes of Cuzamá… It’s a cenote worth doing and visiting, because it’s a real feast for the eyes.
Cenote Suytun is reasonably priced compared with Mexico’s east coast, where you’ll pay twice as much for cenotes that aren’t any more beautiful than those in the Yucatán 🙁. Traveling in October let us discover places with few tourists and more easily savor the moment.
👉 What about you? What did you think of Suytun?
FAQ: YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT CENOTE SUYTUN ❓
These are the questions people often ask before visiting Cenote Suytun. Feel free to ask yours in the comments, and I’ll add to this FAQ 💬.
Today, count on about 250 to 280 pesos per adult on site, a bit less online, with Cenote Kaapeh included. In October 2021, we paid 150 pesos: the price goes up regularly, so check it before you come.
The cenote is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry around 4 p.m. Come at opening time to avoid the crowds.
The beam of light falls on the platform between about noon and 3 p.m., depending on the season. It’s gorgeous, but it’s also the busiest time: you’ll often have to wait in line for the photo.
It’s about 15 minutes from Valladolid by car, in the Yucatán. Allow about 2 hours from Cancún or Playa del Carmen, and 2 hours 10 minutes from Mérida.
No, tickets are sold on site. Booking online can be a bit cheaper, but it isn’t required.
The pool is about 5 meters (16 ft) at its deepest. A life jacket is included in the price, but it wasn’t required during our visit.
Time is limited: it was 1.5 hours during our visit, and some sources now say 1 hour. Someone notes your arrival time at the entrance.
Yes, swimming is allowed, with a mandatory shower beforehand. There’s no jumping, and the water is cool, around 22°C (72°F).
For us, yes if you’re around Valladolid, for its cave atmosphere and its platform. But it’s not necessarily the most beautiful: we preferred X’Canché and the 3 cenotes of Cuzamá.
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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