First off, do not use Apple maps to find this place as it will divert you to some dive shop in the…read moremiddle of town. You'll need to use Google maps to get you to the exact location. This was our very first cenote on this trip. It's 500 pesos for adults and 250 pesos for kids that are less than 4'5" or so. Cash only. (If paying in US dollars, it's $30 US and $15 for children.) Be sure to collect your ticket. There is free parking out front as well. Once you go in, there are outdoor showers that you are expected to use to rinse off. No sunscreen is allowed. And before you get your Personal Flotation Device (PFD), they will check that you have showered. However, no one is actually watching you as you rinse off as some reviews have mentioned. They'll also provide a snorkeling mask too. You'll need to walk down some stairs and there's an option to rent a locker for 30 pesos. Some people left their belongings unattended, but you'll get a key for your locker and they'll hold your ID card until you return the key. It's a small area to snorkel around and you'll see a lot of turtles. There are some darker areas, and a waterproof flashlight would have been very useful during those parts. The water is super clear, so let's keep it that way. There's a large grassy area to dry off and relax. I would suggest bringing some snacks if you want to relax out in the sun because it does get cold in the water after awhile. There are no in and out privileges though. Overall, it's a nice little cenote to visit. I would recommend 1-2 hours depending on how much time you want to swim around. Park hours: 8:10 am to 4:45 pm, last entrance at 4:15 pm.

One of the best cenotes in Tulum. The entrance cost at the time of this review was 500 pesos in…read morecash per person. They didn't have any ATM and they didnt accept credit. Locker rental was 30 pesos and equipment rental (livejacket) was included, just need to leave a security (ID, passport, etc) The experience was amazing as you get to swim along fish and turtles. You get to see them in action underwater. The sights underwater are incredible. The water is pretty clear and a bit chilly at the beginning but as you keep on swimming your body temperature adapts to it and it gets used to it Overall, it was really pretty and an amazing experience. Definitely worth coming here and checking it out. : )

Tulum was a pre-Columbian, walled Mayan city that is located on a cliff on the Yucatán Peninsula…read moreoverlooking the Caribbean Sea. It was inhabited from the 13th to 15th centuries and played an important role in defense and trade. My husband and I toured the Tulum ruins with a tour guide. The site was walkable, although the weather was very sunny and hot. We saw the structures El Castillo, a castle overlooking the beautiful shore; the Temple of the Frescoes, which has wall murals; the Temple of the Descending God; Casa del Chultun; and many others. The ruins were roped off, so we could see them only from a distance and not touch them, but they still looked impressive and interesting. We also enjoyed seeing wildlife such as iguanas. We have visited other Mayan ruins in Mexico and in Belize, and in comparison, I do recommend visiting Tulum.

Our 2nd time to Tulum Ruins was great! We joined a tour this time and enjoyed it. Our guide was…read moreknowledgeable and very accommodating when questioned. We went on a March weekend and was surprised it was not crowded which was great. I would love to come back during sunset next time - the dramatic scenery, combining ancient ruins with a beautiful beach and the ocean view, will definitely be worth it!

Sian Ka'an will forever be a special place. Not just because it's an UNESCO world heritage site,…read morebut because of it's natural beauty, biodiversity and the fact that I got engaged here. I highly suggest getting out on a boat to tool around the reserve, photograph the Beautiful birds, check out the manitees, and float in the Mayan channels. It's a special place!

This review is for Punta Allen, at the end of the Sian Ka'an bioreserve. Holy moly where do I…read morestart? We were thinking about a day trip to Holbox, but we met a local Yucatan couple at a cenote one day that said Punta Allen would be a much better option. The main deterrent is the road to get there, and that's what keeps the place such a hidden gem. They told us we would be fine in our little tiny rental car, but every blog/article online said you needed a 4x4. I read horror stories about getting stuck in the sand and the idea of getting a flat on a tiny strip of land in the middle of the ocean with nobody around for miles definitely scared us. We proceeded to ask local people, and they pumped us up to go, so off the hell we went! It was definitely the craziest drive I've ever experienced. There are so many dips everywhere, if you're not a good driver or a nervous driver it might not be a good idea. It is also one of the most beautiful drives through the jungle with glimpses of the ocean every now and then and watch out for the iguanas crossing the road. And then finally you reach the little town of Punta Allen, with no cell phone service and electricity only at certain times of the day. Amazing. There are plenty of eco tour options in the area, they're all connected so you're going to get the same price and tour. We were having lunch at one of the restaurants on the beach, and one of the tour boats was right there, so we finished up our super fresh seafood lunch and got right on the boat. Our host was amazing and man can he drive a boat! He's a local that's dedicated to this and knows this part of the ocean like the back of his hand. He took us to see dolphins, then to see sea turtles, then to snorkel around the coral reefs, and finally to the "natural pool." This was such an amazing experience! This was one of the most magical experiences in Tulum, which is already magical. The hardest roads sometimes lead to the most beautiful places. I don't know whose bumper sticker I read that on but it fits. The rough journey makes it that much sweeter, and I'm so glad we made it.

We had an amazing time at Cenote Taak Bi Ha, located just north of Tulum. If you haven't been to…read morethis cenote, I highly recommend it. This is a cave / underground cenote. We visited Taak Bi Ha through My Quest Concierge Private Tours, booked through Viator as "VIP Tulum Private Tour." Taak Bi Ha was the last of three stops on our day tour. My wife and I couldn't have been happier with My Quest. For details, including how much we paid, see My Quest's Yelp page here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/my-quest-concierge-private-tours-playa-del-carmen In regard to Taak Bi Ha, My Quest took care of transportation to and from, parking, tickets, translation with on-site staff, pictures, and a personalized guided tour. We entered the cenote just after 12:15pm on a Monday. We stayed until about 1:30pm. During that time, the cenote wasn't crowded at all. There were other groups, but not many. The cenote opening is narrow and steep (watch your head). As soon as you enter and take a look at the cenote from the first elevated platform, the view is stunning. This cenote is an example of nature at its finest. Cenotes have formed over millions of years. Inside, there are man-made platforms which are great for taking pictures. We put on life vests, provided at the check-in shack, and we had our own snorkeling gear and flashlights from My Quest. We got into the water and our My Quest guide gave us a full tour of the cenote, including a pitch-black section where our flashlights and my phone light were our only sources of light. We also swam through a tiny hole to get there. It was wild: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4_KKkAOYzd/?hl=en The water was cold. Bring water shoes to protect your feet. Snorkeling with flashlights is definitely the way to go as you'll be able to see the amazing caves, flowstones, stalagmites, etc. underwater. There's also beautiful coral and stalactites. Bring a waterproof camera. I used a waterproof phone pouch to take my pictures and videos. The water was so clean, clear, and blue. In addition, we saw bats. My wife absolutely loved the experience. She was incredibly happy and thought the cenote was so cool from a nature and science perspective. For her, this cenote was one of the highlights from our trip to the Yucatan Peninsula. I agree. She described the cenote as "other-worldly" and "like being on another planet." Cenote Taak Bi Ha has an official Instagram page @cenote_taak_bi_ha: https://www.instagram.com/cenote_taak_bi_ha/?hl=en They've even done weddings here! https://www.instagram.com/cenotetaakbiha/?hl=en Funny enough, inside the cave as soon as we entered, there was a sign posted with a QR code to connect to the cenote's Wi-Fi network. Restrooms and changing rooms are available outside.

Taak Bi Ha is a underground/cave ceynote that is privately owned by a Mayan family. It's deep in…read morethe Dos Oros ceynotes area - you'll turn off the main highway and go for several kilometers, past several other (larger, more commercial) ceynotes. When we arrived, we were the only ones there. Like other places, you need to shower off any sunscreen etc before entering. No bug spray either so move quickly because the short walk through the jungle will have you swarmed! The entrance is through a small cave opening with a very steep flight of steps - wear water shoes and watch your head! Once inside, you'll be in a wonderland! Crystal clear blue water, swooping bats (lots of them!!) and beautiful stalagtites and stalagmites everywhere. I understand why these spaces were considered sacred to the Maya - it is truly another world. We didn't swim but you certainly can. This is an especially good place for divers - we were told that the caves here connect to a much larger system (and ultimately the largest underwater cave system in the world). Really happy we had the opportunity to check this place out!!

It honestly was not as big of a wow factor as I had hoped…read more... Our tour guide for the cave was subpar at best! He did a very bad job at sharing the ecological (and anthropological) history of the area He did a bad job answering questions... We were rushed through the cave ........ It is a beautiful cave though, especially the part where you walk over the water over the bridge ((but definitely should not be a top 10 National Geographic cave walk!!!..?!!! I have seen much cooler caves!...) The animal park is very fun. They take nice care of the animals and they actually have a great variety. My two-year-old had a great time with the animals. The cenote Was ***extremely busy !...... full of loud obnoxious tour groups who completely ruined the whole vibe There are catfish in the water that do not bite The cenote is small. The water is crystal clear! It is very fun to explore! Bring a mouth piece for the snorkel, as they do not provide those (the thing that enables you to breathe while you are under water) The water is FREEZING cold Even colder than they advertise There are no wet suits We went Thursday at 1 pm for the cave, and 3pm for the cenote, so I was not expecting it to be busy..... The cenote is 10 minutes away from the cave ( you have to drive there) Aktun Chen is about 20 minutes down a dirt road- once you exit the highway, there are signs saying you are heading the right way to the cave/cenote, but I kept doubting myself.. as the dirt road feels very remote Glad I went, but honestly would not go back again... PS- they say no sunscreen to protect the cenote, but allow bug repellent lololol -- do you know how much more toxic bug repellent is than sunscreen?? Hire better staff, and I will feel inclined to give a better review It felt like a cattle corral ..... did not feel genuinely cared for ((or that the staff genuinely cares for the environment!..!.!.!)

We signed up for the combo package which included ziplining, then a cave tour and then the cenote…read more The whole family unanimously agreed Aktun Chen was the highlight of our 1 week trip to Mexico. The ziplining was 10 ziplines, and the tour guides were fun and allow you to go upside down or 2 people at once on some of them. Make sure to bring money to tip the tour guides! The cave tour was the weakest section but I admit I did learn a bunch of interesting geological sorts of stuff. The cave actually gets a bit muggy and so the cenote was a great way to finish the day and cool off. They have you do a very brief "tour" in the cenote and then we were given about 30 min of free, unsupervised play time there. The water is clear, cool, clean and you adjust very quickly to the temperature. The lighting and colors were MAGICAL and the kids loved swimming amongst catfish. Water shoes were perfect for the whole day. You get a locker at each site. Towels and change of clothes are handy at the end of the day- don't forget those! And keep in mind that getting to the front entrance of Aktun Chen is not the same as getting to the actual reception area - it's ~ 3.5 km down a windy dirt road. Something to consider if you get motion sick easily, or something to consider if you rent a tiny car that might have difficulty on dirt roads.

Very cool experience! The water was very clear you could see everything. We went with a tour guide,…read moreAngel Pepper, who made the experience great! He told us about the different fish and wildlife we may see and made us feel safe and have fun. There was a lot to explore and it was so beautiful. Highly recommend!!

Small cenote with opening into the ocean. It doesn't have caves but definitely you will see plenty…read moreof fish.

While staying in Playcar Phase I, we'd often pass these ruins while walking to the popular tourist…read morearea. I was curious to learn what the history was behind them but without any formal placard, I had to do some internet research. Turns out, these ruins are a small part of many building groups between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen that were used for Maya women to honor the Goddess Ixchel, a pilgrimage necessary for a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. Three remain - two in Playacar Phase II and one in Playacar Phase I, which is the one I visited. A short walk through the jungle connects all three. It's the only free Mayan rural site in Mexico, and the only Mayan ruins maintained in a contemporary residential communities; therefore, if you're interested in getting a taste of ancient culture while on your beach trip to Playa del Carmen, it might just be worth checking out!

The Xaman-Ha Ruins is the only free Mayan ruin site in Mexico - no entrance fees! Maintained by the…read morenearby community, it's still standing tall and proud today. It's very beautiful, super peaceful, we learned some wonderful facts for sure. I also learned from a previous Yelp Commentator of the Goddess Ixchel who was often praised and worshiped by the Mayan women for good health and childbirth. Super interesting to know. Apparently it's so expanded, that you have to pass "phases," which are sections, so in Playacar Phase I and Phase II, you can definitely see it and there are shortcuts through a small jungle to the actual Xaman-Ha Ruins. It's very beautiful!!

The staff were super friendly and checked up on us to make sure everything was good going above and…read morebeyond. The food was amazing quality and taste was amazing.

We stayed 3 minutes walk from this place, was recommended by our Airbnb receptionist since theirs…read moreopen later on the day, quick service good lattes great view! Thanks

Super fun adventure! The lagoon ride was so fun, and we saw a bunch of island creatures. The only…read moredownside was the businesses in the park require payment to use their beach chairs and stuff, even though you already have to pay to get into the park.

The park has a lot to offer if you're an explorer and like to site see. Unfortunately, I went on a…read morewindy day so was not able to enjoy any snorkeling (not the park's fault). The boat ride was short and sweet - saw one big croc. There's a variety of wildlife to observe, a trail to walk thru the forest, and a couple observation towers. The light house was fantastic! The museum under was nicely put together, however if you're a history buff, you'll need to be able to read Spanish fluently. Many areas to stop along the road and walk the shoreline. I rented a vehicle and was on my own terms to do what I wanted when I wanted - highly recommend. The only reason I gave a 4 stars instead of 5 is because the road is long and from beginning to end it is absolutely treacherous! It cost me $22.00 USD to enter.