Cenote Yax-kin — Attraction in Quintana Roo

A bucket list location for the whole family: Family friendly Cenote!

Cenote is a body of still cool water, there are various found through these areas, of different depths and sizes.

This one is a good size, and perfect for families with smaller children as there are varying depths, but many shallow parts as well as an easily accessible gradual walk-in entry to the Cenote. Yax-kin is great for smaller children, such as baby’s and toddlers too - in the shallow areas toddlers (depending on age and height) may comfortably stand and walk, assisted (as there are some variations in depth throughout).

The Yax-kin Cenote was fairly empty when we arrived, which was around 11 (I believe they open at 10) and left around 1:30 when it began to get busier. It gets busier throughout the day.

Good to know:

Currency: Cash only (pesos).

Language: basic Spanish is great while traveling to the Tulum area, but not a must.

Getting there: You drive in off the main road and there is a kiosk where you’ll be stopped, greeted, and asked how many people will be going to the Cenote - if traveling with children, their ages. You will then be provided with a post-it with your total that’s due later at the entrance, then you drive towards the parking area, park and walk down the path towards the Cenote (with your post-it). This post-it then is taken to the booth at the entrance of the Cenote area, where you pay the amount noted.

Cost: Children under 4 are free, and above 8 pay as an adult. Adult entry: 150 (pesos). This is very affordable, considering the costs of other Cenotes in the area, additionally it is close in to Tulum.

Eco Tip: Please shower before entering the Cenote, to help preserve and keep it clean. Although there are mosquitoes, avoid wearing bug spray as it is harmful to the water environment and the flora and fauna living inside and around the Cenote. Once in the water the mosquitoes don’t bite. Sunscreen is advisable, however use coral reef safe sunblock (on dry skin) and wait a little for it to absorb before submerging to avoid any excess from seeping into the water. Waxhead is a great brand, nontoxic and environment safe.

Tip: keep an eye out for wildlife. It’s a great place to...

We stopped here on our way back from Coba to PDC. Read that there were shallow areas for babies, so we took our 5 month old with us.

120 pesos per adult and free for baby. No mandatory life jacket, but can be rented onsite. Snacks and drinks can also be purchased at the ticket hut.

This Cenote is not very big, but the water is refreshingly cool after a hot morning carrying a baby, trekking around the ruins. We saw little fishes swimming around us, it was fascinating for the baby to see.

Organic sun screen as not to pollute the cenote. We had our baby in a hat and 50+ long sleeve swim suit, so didn't need to apply sun screen. Other children were in similar outfits.

There were sunbeds stacked, available for use in 2 areas. One area with entry to shallow water and the other at the deeper end (4m at deepest). We took our hotel beach towels to use there. Outside food and drink is allowed, we didn't see the onsite restaurant in operation in the afternoon.

We were there around 1pm and there were only a handful of people, who were mostly sunbathing.

The toilets are... Rustic! No flush, you have to take a metal bucket and fill it with water from the big blue drum, then manually flush with water in the bucket. No baby changing facilities, so we changed our baby on the sunbed.

All in all a wonderful hour spent cooling down at one of the few cenotes which...

What a great find! Highly recommend! Everyone here was so nice, especially the guy in the booth. He was very excited to tell us about the birds and wildlife in the area. Here’s some tips…

So much to explore: There are two different pools, both of which have two-ish sections. There were lots of areas for picnics.

Facilities: There were bathrooms(use the bucket to flush!), changing areas, and a shower(mandatory before entering the cenote). There was a restaurant and the check in area had some necessities you could purchase. There were also free chairs you could sit on and keep your stuff by.

Water: The water was very clean and clear with fish in it. There was a lot of algae in some areas, but wasn’t bad. Very nice temperature.

Locals: We came on a Saturday and there were a lot of locals here, which is awesome! Lots of families. Probably wouldn’t be so busy during the weekdays. Not many tourists...