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Gran Cenote

on the highway to Coba just outside of the city of Tulum, Tulum, Mexico
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Ranked #28 of 57 activities in Tulum
Type: Geologic Formations
172 visitor photos
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456 reviews from our community

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Seattle, Washington
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 15 May 2013

If you find the heat of this region to be a bit too much, take a break and visit this cenote. A tiny oasis of life, you will find unusual birds, bats, lizards, and all different colored butterflies here. The water is perfect for swimming. You can rent equipment there and actually do deep diving. Snorkling here is very interesting... More

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See 2 more reviews by mtboothby for Tulum
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
4 attraction reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 9 May 2013

This place was too crowded for us to enjoy on a Sunday afternoon. Small area for snorkeling, interesting to watch divers down below. The cave area is cool, kinda creepy with all the bats flying around but a great experience. Awesome place to take pictures.

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London
Senior Contributor
40 reviews 40 reviews
6 attraction reviews
Reviews in 23 cities Reviews in 23 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 15 April 2013

The Gran Cenote is definitely worth the trip. There is lots of space for swimming and you can swim under an large under hanging rock to the other open water area. The water was fresh and cool and the sun was streaming in. Basic changing facilities.

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See 2 more reviews by TWGLondon for Tulum
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 April 2013

Really cool cenote, not too many people in the afternoon. I didn't do any cave diving but that has more to do with my fear of drowning in a dark cave where no one would ever be able to find me. I would imagine it's pretty great if you're braver than I am.

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Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
3 attraction reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 April 2013 via mobile

Small area for snorkelling but would be incredible I believe for scuba diving. After snorkelling in one area, I stopped to stand in a cave area to look around. Incredible natural environment. As I looked up I could see many eyes staring back at me. Bats! I'm a city girl so that was a new experience. The overall snorkelling area... More

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Birmingham
Senior Contributor
34 reviews 34 reviews
5 attraction reviews
Reviews in 17 cities Reviews in 17 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 7 April 2013

This was our favourite cenote in Mexico. We went mid afternoon and it wasn't too busy. It's also very clean and visibility is good if you bring a snorkel. It's safe too - some of the others we saw had precarious steps etc but this one felt secure. It's an incredible underwater maze where you can swim with turtles and... More

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See 2 more reviews by evejackson for Tulum
New York City, New York
Contributor
15 reviews 15 reviews
8 attraction reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 April 2013

we came in the afternoon after seeing the tulum ruins. this is a very large cenote, with multiple areas to swim in. try to get here a little early in the morning like before 10am. since we came in the early afternoon the place was somewhat crowded and people were doing cannon balls into the water which is obnoxious because... More

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See 3 more reviews by Tom P for Tulum
Vancouver Island
Senior Contributor
23 reviews 23 reviews
6 attraction reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
19 helpful votes 19 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 April 2013

This centote has clear cool water, beautiful caves with incredible filtered light that adds to the beauty. Very accessible for all ages and experience levels. Worth the entry fee. We visited during peak period spring break and got there close to opening time. It was not too crowded to affect our enjoyment of this beautiful place.

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West Coast, US
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
5 attraction reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 2 April 2013

Took my 12 year old son and I here for the day. It was crowded but amazing. My son snorkeled around for hours and we both marveled at the natural beauty. It was a highlight in Tulum and one of my favorite days in Mexico. The pics say it all. The second side or opening is quieter, perfect to bring... More

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San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 31 March 2013

Nice swimming, nice turtles and enough space to absorb the crowds. My two-year old son enjoyed playing with the dog in the cafe although he refused to get in the water, which was a little colder than expected!

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