There’s Something Truly Magical About Cenote Suytun
For those exploring the breathtaking Yucatan Peninsula, Cenote Suytun is one of the most essential stops if you’re into gorgeous photographs and breathtaking views.
The real beauty of Cenote Suytun, and what makes it unique, is the circular platform that sits directly underneath the opening in the roof. When you stand on the platform as the light beams into the space, it’s an otherworldly experience that you won’t find anywhere else.
What Is A Cenote, Anyways?
A cenote is an underground chamber of a cave which contains permanent water. So basically, it’s a natural sinkhole where the ceiling of the cave has collapsed.
Cenotes come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, depending on environmental factors as well as how much time has passed since the collapse of the ceiling. The most common types of cenotes are cave, semi-open, and open cenotes. Cave cenotes are the youngest, and the open cenotes are the oldest as the cave ceiling has fallen into itself.
The Suytun Cenote Is Far From The Only Cenote In The Yucatan
The Yucatan Peninsula is home to some of the world’s longest underground cave systems. In fact, there are over 6,000 cenotes in the area. The geological conditions have been perfect for their formation.
The cenotes of the Yucatan are natural wonders; beautiful to see and so refreshing to swim in. A lot of the time, they’re hidden by jungle, or even surrounded by ruins.
The cenotes are an experience to remember, just as much as a sightseeing trip. The Yucatan has some of the very best cenotes in all of Mexico. Natural conditions and the geological history of the area have contributed to thousands of these spectacular underground pools.
How To Get to Cenote Suytun
Located close to Valladolid, Yucatan, the Cenote Suytun is about 14 minutes away if you’re driving. You can rent a moped by the hour, take a cab, or of course rent a car and go that way.
If you’re coming from Tulum, it will take you about an hour and 15 minutes to get to Cenote Suytun. It’s easy to rent a car in Riviera Maya, and it’s also quite cheap. Another benefit to this option is that you can take advantage of having your own transportation, and explore the surrounding areas.
There are also some tours that visit this epic cenote. Go here to check out all the tours, and keep in mind that you can pack more than one into a day. This might be interesting to you if you’re short on time, or if you want to allow for more pool time at your resort.
The Pier
The circular platform that extends into the water of the cenote was installed by the government as a way for tourists to enjoy the cenote. Because of this, the cenote is known as “the most instagrammable” in all of Mexico.
You can take pictures of the pier from above as you walk into the cave. The top of the staircase is great for photo ops, as well as for checking out the full views of the cenote.
Keep in mind, however, that most people who visit this cenote want to take pictures on the pier. It’s therefore considerate to take your photographs and then move along, so others can do the same.
If You Time It Right, You Can Enjoy Some Epic Sun Rays
You can actually plan your visit around the sunbeams. How romantic is that?
The beams of light are likely to be directly above the cave opening around mid-day. Generally speaking, this is going to be around 12-3pm, so keep that in mind when you’re planning your trip.
This is not a necessity for visiting the cave, but it can really add that otherworldly element to your visit… and to your photographs.
Can You Swim In The Cenote?
Swimming is encouraged in this gorgeous spot! However, you’re required to wear a life jacket to swim in the cenote. You’re also required to rinse off to get rid of any creams or perfumes on your body so you don’t disturb the ecosystem.
The life jackets are actually provided to all tourists upon entry if you plan to swim. However, you’ll find that the water does sometimes have a murky appearance because the cave is quite dark.
If you manage to be there when the light is overhead, your visibility will be much better. You can swim over to the limestone cave walls and see some really cool rock formations!
Overall, this cenote is one of the most memorable in all of Mexico!
Related: Think you can stomach the Krubera Cave? It’s the second deepest cave in the whole world.