Cenote Cristal — Attraction in Quintana Roo

AtlasAdventured recommends visiting this cenote!

Definitely one of the better cenotes in the area, both in quality and in value. You get two cenotes for the price of 1 and they didn't charge us for our 5 year old daughter. It's 300 pesos per person (about $15 USD) and gives you access to both. You can't buy single cenote access for a cheaper price. The ticket counter lady said we could walk to the other cenote across the main highway but recommended we drive. That was good advice because its across the street and down the road quite a bit. Probably a 30 min walk if you decide to go that route.

The first cenote we swam in is the one right by the ticket counter, Cenote Cristal. It's a large circular swimming area with steps to get in, a small rope swing and a large platform to jump off. There are many different seating areas along the edge of the Cenote and lots of shade from the trees. You will see many fish swimming around and someone said they saw a turtle but we didn't see it. Water is cool but refreshing on a hot day.

Cenote Escondido is long and has lots of seating along the ledge and at either end of the cenote . There's a rope swing and multiple spots to jump off. It's deceptively deep since the water is so clear and it looks shallower than it actually is. There were scuba divers at the bottom doing a training course or something and there was still enough depth to jump off the ledges. There was a large family and another small group of people there during our hour or two there so it wasn't too crowded. We had one end of the cenote, the large family had the middle area and the small group was at the other end. Make sure you are aware of those around you. Unfortunately we had a slight incident where my daughter and I were snorkeling in the very end of the cenote where nobody was jumping but apparently one of the dad's from the other group decided to run and jump off by us and landed right on my head while I was snorkeling. Luckily he didn't land on my daughter because I was in a lot of pain for the next couple of weeks unable to move my neck much. That cut our visit to this cenote short.

Besides that mishap, we had a great time and really enjoyed these cenotes. A great option during sargassum season to beat the heat and swim in some clear,...

I visited Cenote Cristal & Cenote Escondido, which require a combined entrance fee of $300 MXN per person. You pay on the north side of the road, and the ticket is valid for both cenotes—no option to pay for just one, which felt a bit pricey considering there aren’t many amenities included.

Cenote Cristal is just 100 meters from the entrance. It’s smaller, surrounded by birds, and has a natural circular shape with a rock platform to jump from. There are wooden stairs, a few hammocks, and some picnic tables. Bathrooms are available, though not in the best condition.

Cenote Escondido is across the road and about 500 meters in. You can walk, bike, or drive. It’s larger, with wooden stairs on both ends and a rope for jumping. There are more fish and turtles here, but no hammocks. Like Cristal, the restrooms are poorly maintained.

Neither site seems to enforce basic rules (like no smoking or littering), and unfortunately, not all visitors are respectful of the environment. Still, the natural beauty of both cenotes makes them worth a visit—just go with the right...

Cenote Cristal & Escondido are amazing cenotes in a peaceful environment. Refreshing too! Nice that they have showers on site. $300 for both is a good deal too.

We have had an amazing time in Tulum and have been super cautious regarding safety but today we let our guard down: We came back to Cristal after exploring the area in the late afternoon (we are there in the morning and it was quiet) to just go in for 5 minutes. I wrapped my little bag in a towel and put it underneath a table and went for a splash with my friend. Something didn't feel right so I went back but bag still there so all good (I thought). Then half an hour after leaving I get notifications on my phone - fraud alert. We checked our bags, both wallets gone, but phones still there. Bag perfectly placed back. We now think back and there were 3 guys without swimming wear. We were extatic and dumb and they were probably waiting for an easy target like us. Advice: Go one for one or bring a lock for...