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Visiting Cenote Hubiku Near Chichen Itza

May 29, 2019 |

During a recent trip to Cancún, I was able to scratch one really fun item off my bucket list — I was able to swim in a cenote (underground cave) for the first time. And yes, it was just as cool as it sounds! I visited Cenote Hubiku, which lies deep in the jungle of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Collage of a woman and a man sitting in an open straw hut while a monkey plays around them.

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Learn what it's like to swim in a cenote (underground cave) deep in the Yucatán Peninsula. #cenote #cancun Click To Tweet

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What is a Cenote?

Cenotes are underground limestone caves filled with fresh water, plus all sorts of other interesting things. Some contain fish, some contain treasure, and some even contain human remains — which you'll read more about below!

Cenotes are very similar to what we refer to as sinkholes or “swimming holes” here in the U.S. The two swimming holes in Texas that most closely resemble the cenotes you'd find in Cancún are Krause Springs and Hamilton Pool — although the Texas ones are both above ground.

Where to Stay in Cancún

I went on this particular trip with my best friend, Christopher, so you'll see him in many of my photos. Christopher and I stayed at The Westin Cancun Resort & Spa in Cancún. Our favorite part of the hotel was a toss-up between the never-ending supply of delicious food and the beautiful white-sand beach directly in front of the hotel.

The word WESTIN engraved into a window overlooking palm trees, a large pool, and the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean.
We opted for the Westin because the price was fantastic, and because it had incredible beach-front views on the front side and tranquil lagoon views from the back of the property.

The hotel takes up prime real estate at the southern tip of Cancun (Club Med was the only hotel further south), which means it's located at the quieter end of the “hotel zone”.

That was perfect for us, because we were able to spend our days relaxing on the beach, and it was quiet and peaceful at night when we were ready to sleep. We didn't have to venture far to get to the “party zone”, but we also didn't have to deal with the noise of drunks 24/7.

Two full glasses of Pina Coladas, a man sitting at a bar sipping a cocktail while looking out at the beach, and multiple trays full of colorful chocolate desserts with fresh fruit toppings.
The drinks and desserts at the Westin Cancún were EASILY worth all the calories we consumed. Christopher and I still text pizza pics to each other saying, “Remember that pizza by the beach in Cancún? Best ever!” It was THAT good.

Top perks of the Westin: Free WiFi throughout, absolutely incredible views of the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean from the pool area at the front of the hotel, bonus views of the lagoon on the back side (there were multiple hammocks where you could relax while ocean breezes drifted through the palms), the complimentary breakfast buffet where we stuffed our faces each morning, happy hour at the bar, and some of the best wood-fired pizza we've ever had from the hotel's own restaurant on the beach.

Getting to Hubiku Cenote

Our tour was an all-day trip that included Cenote Hubiku, a jungle tour to meet local artisans, a buffet-style lunch, a visit to UNESCO World Heritage site Chichén Itzá, and a brief stop in the beautiful town of Valladolid, Mexico.

  • Our Tour: Chichén Itza All-Inclusive Tour with Cenote Hubiku & Valladolid

Cenote Hubiku was about a two hour and fifteen minute bus ride from our hotel in Cancún. A driver in a van came to our hotel, then drove us to the bus and dropped us off. (I'm just letting you know in advance so you won't think it's sketchy if an unmarked van and driver arrive to pick you up!)

FYI: The vans pick up at any hotel on the Cancún strip for this particular tour.

It was so nice taking an air-conditioned bus and sleeping while someone else did the driving! The guides were very knowledgable, and I'm told they pointed out lots of interesting details about the region during the drive — which I missed because I was busy snoozing. Go figure!

⭐Insider Tip: If you plan to rent a car and drive yourself, note that there are few places to stop for food or fuel. Take snacks, bug spray, and lots of water. Make sure to fill up with gas prior to your departure, and definitely wear comfortable shoes! You also need pesos to pay for the few areas where there are toll roads. (We didn't have to worry about that, since we opted for the all-inclusive tour.)

There are private places to change once you arrive, so there's no need to wear a swimsuit under your clothes and feel uncomfortable during the drive. Toss one into a bag and change when you arrive, then change back into dry clothes when you leave!

Swimming isn't mandatory, so you can wander around and explore the area if you prefer.

Arriving at Cenote Hubiku

Upon arriving at the cenote, we had to walk through a touristy shop filled with vendors hawking their souvenirs. It's a bit annoying, to say the least! Unfortunately that's pretty standard practice for tourist attractions in Mexico.

If you decide to purchase anything, it helps if you speak Spanish and can haggle in the vendor's native language. Even if you don't speak Spanish, you should still attempt to get a lower rate. The majority of the items are overpriced and mass produced, and the vendors anticipate bargaining.

Cenote Hubiku Cancun welcome sign listing the rules, plus a wide-angle shot of the grounds with arrows pointing down different paths and a bright mustard-yellow building filled with tourists and vendors.
You'll have to stroll through the touristy building to enter the grounds of the cenote, and vendors are slightly pushy about attempting to sell their trinkets. Once on the cenote grounds, head to the (very nice and clean) bathrooms to shower and change into your swimsuit.

Once we made it past the souvenir shop, a photographer asked us to pose together for a picture. We obliged, and later you'll learn why he needed the photo!

After our snapshot, we had the option of swimming in the cenote or visiting the Don Tedeo Tequila Museum and sampling tequila. Since I have a habit of making very bad decisions when I drink tequila, we wisely opted for the cenote!

How to be Respectful in a Cenote

Cenotes were considered sacred areas to the ancient Mayans; their openings were believed to be a gateway to an underworld inhabited by Chaac — the God of Rain.

Although the cenotes are spectacularly beautiful, the surface below many of them is littered with bones from both humans and animals.

It is commonly believed that the remains were from sacrificial offerings during Mayan eras of extreme drought. Both people and animals were tossed into the deep waters and left to drown in an effort appease Chaac and bring much needed rain. Divers have also discovered gold and jewels.

NOTE: When entering a cenote, please keep in mind that you are a guest in a sacred place and act accordingly.

Before we could enter Hubiku Cenote, we were required to visit a shower area to rinse off, change into bathing suits, and stow our clothes in a locker.

With hoards of tourists visiting Mexican cenotes each year, this process is necessary to remove sunscreen, oil, and perfume residue from the body so the cenotes will remain clean and pure for many years to come.

Life jackets are available near the lockers, and towels are provided with the entry fee. Since our tour was all-inclusive, we didn't pay anything. If you're visiting on your own, expect to pay a nominal fee (less than $3).

⭐Insider Tip: Keep your flip flops or water shoes with you and wear them down to the cenote area since the walkways are very scratchy on the feet.

A cenote is actually a sinkhole that extends to the groundwater table. It's formed when limestone collapses to expose a window into beautiful underground river systems.

Getting Sidetracked by Monkeys

Prior to walking down the steps into the cenote, we were able to interact with a few adorable little monkeys. That ended up being my favorite part of the cenote trip! (I seem to have a habit of running into monkeys during my travels.)

A man and a woman sitting under a thatched-roof hut while a monkey jumps between them and then sits on top of the man's shaved head.
We tried to be responsible tourists and only let the handler manage the monkey, but he got loose at one point and climbed to the top of Christopher's head. (Not gonna lie, it made for a really cute photo op!)

As you begin the trek down the stairs into the cenote, there's a platform halfway down where you can pose with men dressed as ancient Mayan warriors. Christopher took full advantage of this to show off his fiercest warrior pose. FYI: Tips aren't mandatory, but they are appreciated.

A tourist posing as a Mayan warrior in between two Mayan descendants dressed as warriors.
It's a good idea to bring pesos along during your tour, because there are numerous opportunities for tipping.

Inside Cenote de Hubiku

Cenote Hubiku is semi-open, so when you're inside looking up, you'll see a large hole with sunlight streaming through to illuminate the water below. There are also long vines hanging down from the ground above and the water is very clear.

A man and a woman standing inside a cavernous opening with bright blue water behind them and sunlight streaming down from a hole in the roof of the cave.
I handed my cell phone over to one of the performers so he could take a couple quick shots of us at the entryway. The water is deep shade of turquoise, and the walls appear very mossy green from the algae. It's pretty magical!

It's difficult to tell just how cavernous it is inside the cenote from a single photo. I tried capturing a panoramic shot on my cell to give you an idea. (I kept my expensive DSLR camera stowed away in the locker so I wouldn't have to worry about it while swimming.)

Wide angle view showing the opening to the sky above Cenote Hubiku with sunlight streaming down into a caverous opening where swimmers encircle turquoise water.
Here's a wide angle shot of Hubiku Cenote, where you can see the large opening above and some of the vines hanging down. You can sit on the edge of the platform and dangle your feet in the water if you don't want to swim.

Once in the cenote, Christopher jumped in the water first. He said it was refreshing, so I boldly stuck an exploratory toe in and thought it felt pretty good!

As soon as I climbed in, I discovered he stretched the truth slightly to get me in the water. Trust me when I tell you the cenote water is very cold once it hits your tummy!!

I wimped out long before he did and climbed out after less than 10 minutes. FYI: Most of the guests agreed with Christopher and found it refreshing.

Turquoise and green underwater scene of sunlight streaming through the water and the silhouette of two divers.
Cenote diving is a very popular activity, but we didn't spot anyone diving during our visit.

Christopher's favorite part of the day's excursion was swimming in the cenote. He stayed in until the guides made him get out. He said it's very surreal if you find a spot away from the crowds and float on your back while looking up towards the ceiling, so that's what he suggests you do.

In case you're curious, this particular cenote is about 150 feet deep and it's full of tiny black catfish. We saw hundreds of them! They didn't bother us, we didn't bother them, and it was pretty peaceful to watch them swimming all around us.

Tequila don Tedeo Souvenirs

Once we finished our swim and headed back to our bus, we discovered we'd picked up additional passengers. They came bearing tequila from the museum and received a hearty welcome from our entire tour group! They proceeded to pour samples of flavored tequila and passed them out to everyone — even the teenagers, much to our surprise.

Next they produced bottles of tequila personalized with the photos they'd taken of us when we arrived on site. Those bottles were available for purchase, of course, and they said we wouldn't have any problems getting them through customs. Well played, tequila marketing team; well played.

Of course we purchased one. We're suckers.

Christopher planned to take our personalized bottle home as a souvenir, but a crafty TSA agent foiled that attempt when he confiscated it in the security line. (Next time, we'll crack it open and have a party at the airport!)

Somewhere in Mexico there's a a very drunk and happy TSA agent, and I'd like to imagine him toasting to us as he drank.

Cheers Cenote Hubiku end of tour tequila pour Personalized tequila bottle from the Cenote Hubiku tour near Chichen Itza

Advance Planning for Your Trip

You can save money by booking your reservations prior to your trip, which I definitely recommend. As I mentioned previously, our tour was an all-day event that included the transportation, lunch, pre-paid entry to all of the attractions, and two very knowledgeable guides who each spoke (fluently) in both English and Spanish.

⭐Purchase Tickets in Advance: Chichén Itza All-Inclusive Tour with Cenote Hubiku & Valladolid

We really appreciated our guides!! They kept a close eye on everyone, and it's almost like the hustlers knew not to mess with us because our tour guides wouldn't put up with it.

If you're a solo female traveler, I highly recommend this tour or a similar one. You're able to wander around and explore Chichen Itza, the cenotes, and Vallodolid on your own, which is nice. However, the guides made certain to double-count each person before moving to any new location.

It's a great way to explore freely and know you'll be safe at the end of the day!

What to Pack When Visiting a Cenote

Since many of the stops along the tour weren't shaded, it's a good idea to bring sunscreen. However, it's important to research carefully and make sure you bring a biodegradable option.

  • Badger Broad Spectrum SPF 35 Sunscreen Cream – Badger sunscreen products are approved by the Environmental Working Group as reef-safe, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly sunscreen products.
  • Reusable & Environmentally Friendly Rain Poncho – Sustainability tip: Help save the environment and avoid disposable ponchos by selecting a reusable one. This one folds up in a pouch the size of your hand, so it's easy to stick in your purse or even your pocket. You'll be extremely happy to have it when afternoon rain-showers pop up!
  • Chapstick Medicated Lip Balm – It's drying to be out in the sun all day. I kept reaching for my chapstick, so I suggest making sure you stick one in your pocket for the trip.
  • Underwater Ultra Wide Angle Lens Camera – The water in the cenotes is surprisingly clear, so I suggest bringing a special underwater camera along if you're interested in capturing some unique shots of the cenote. Underwater cameras are surprisingly affordable these days!
  • Adult Inflatable & Portable Life Jacket – [This is optional, because you can rent vests on-site.] There's no shame in using a life vest when swimming the cenotes. It's more relaxing to wear a life vest than it is to tread water for an extended period of time. This one folds down almost to the size of your cell phone, so it's easy to tote around.
  • Waterproof Phone Case – Need I say more? Always take protection!

Cenote Valladolid 

If you love the whole cenote experience as much as we did, there are numerous other Yucatán Cenotes nearby. Here are additional options near the city of Valladolid:

  • Cenote Zaci – large, open-roof cenote
  • Cenote Samulá – cavernous cenote with a very small opening
  • Il Kil Cenote – one of the most popular and most crowded cenotes in the area
  • Cenote Xkeken – very tiny opening, but lots of stalactites hanging from the roof
  • Cenote Suyton – this one has a platform in the center, so plan on seeing lots of Instagrammers there trying to get selfies for the ‘gram (Must they ruin everything?!!)

You can read more about our trip to Cancún here, including the fun times we had setting baby sea turtles free. Have you visited a cenote before? If so, what did you like most about it? I'm so curious to know if your experience was similar to ours!

Still have questions? I answer fastest on Instagram!

Pin It for Later: Tips for Visiting Cenote Hubiku in Cancun

Signature reading XOXO, Erin

PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

Photo sources: Cenote underwater diving shots via Flickr CC 2.0 ©TS Lane. Photo 1 & 2. Twitter & Facebook images ©LRafael via Adobe Stock | Purchased

Post updated May 2019.

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Filed Under: MEXICO, TRAVEL |

About ERIN

Erin Clarkson is an award-winning photographer, Savannah-based blogger, and author of the Savannah First-Timer's Guide. She spends her days exploring the Lowcountry and writing about its unique beauty. A true Southerner, she'll stop to chat with anyone, and that gift of gab has led to many off-the-beaten-path discoveries. Learn more and connect on Pinterest.

Comments

  1. Scarlett says

    June 7, 2019 at 7:49 PM

    I think I’d be too claustrophobic to visit a cenote! They look so beautiful though!

  2. lorrin sell | photographer of wild things says

    January 3, 2017 at 8:57 PM

    this looks amazing! we just went to playa del carmen this summer. it was amazing, BUT we didn’t do anything like this because of the ages of the kids. if they were all a little older, we definitely would have tried this. we love stuff like this.

    • ERIN CLARKSON says

      January 5, 2017 at 9:02 PM

      It was so fun! I absolutely loved the entire trip! I’m like a kid in a candy store when I travel and I just love taking everything in. 🙂 I hope you get to go one day because I’d LOVE to see the pictures you’d take there. (I was bummed bc I broke my favorite lens the day we went to the cenotes.)

    • Coni says

      June 7, 2019 at 6:25 PM

      Cenotes are one of the most beautiful things you can see! I went to a couple of them in Mexico many years ago, and I’d love to go back! I’m happy you decided to go on this tour and tell us about it! Super helpful post! ❤️

  3. Lena P. says

    March 21, 2016 at 4:49 AM

    Mexico looks to beautiful! Can’t wait to visit some day. (:

  4. clojo9372 says

    March 5, 2016 at 4:59 PM

    I am so jealous. 😉 lol! Mexico looks like a beautiful country to visit!

  5. jennifer peters says

    February 25, 2016 at 8:20 AM

    Sounds like an amazing trip. We always say we never travel enough.

    • ERIN CLARKSON says

      March 4, 2016 at 5:02 PM

      Same here. I would love to spend more time traveling and seeing the world!

  6. Kim Pincombe Cole says

    February 16, 2016 at 11:00 AM

    Swimming in the Cenotes is on my bucket list!!

    • ERIN CLARKSON says

      February 19, 2016 at 10:03 PM

      It’s a good bucket list item, Kim. 🙂

  7. Linda Manns Linneman says

    February 11, 2016 at 6:49 PM

    This looks awesome. I would love to be able to take this trip. Thank you for sharing

    • ERIN CLARKSON says

      February 13, 2016 at 7:56 PM

      You’re welcome. It’s a unique experience! If you ever have the opportunity…go for it!

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