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If you’re going to be visiting Cancun or anywhere else in the Mexican Caribbean during the summertime, there’s a good chance it will be pretty hot.
You can expect temperatures to rise above 90 during the hottest month, which is July, and even outside of that temperatures are typically in the high 80s.
With weather this warm there is no doubt you’re going to want to spend some of your time cooling off, and one way to do that is by enjoying the most popular type of Cancun tour for a hot summer day, a cenote tour.
What Are Cenotes?
Cenotes are swimming holes that are naturally formed when the ceiling of a cave collapses in on itself.
The hole then fills with water from underground rivers and rainwater to form a limestone swimming hole.
Often these cenotes are left with a hole in the top that is like a window to the sky, though some do maintain their cave-like structure.
These are referred to as cave or closed cenotes, whereas the others are called open or semi-open cenotes.
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Cenotes In The Mexican Caribbean
There are thousands of cenotes in Mexico and the bulk of them are in the Riviera Maya region.
And although there are none located directly in Cancun, there are plenty nearby.
In fact, there are well over 2,000 cenotes just in Quintana Roo, the home state to popular vacation destinations like Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Cancun, alone.
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Closest Cenotes To Cancun
The closest cenotes to Cancun are those that are part of the Ruta de Los Cenotes.
This approximately 20-mile route starts in Puerto Morelos, which is only about half an hour from Cancun.
Along it, you will find numerous cenotes on both sides of the road, surrounded by lush jungle vegetation.
Some of the cenotes that are along this route include Las Mojarras, Cenote Siete Bocas, Cenote Verde Lucero, Cenote Kin-Ha, and Cenote la Noria.
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Touring Cenotes On Your Own
It is possible to rent a car and tour cenotes on your own, but there are three things to consider before going this route.
- Some cenotes can only be accessed with a tour guide.
- Tour guides typically know where the best Cenotes are located.
- With a cenote tour your transportation is included and you don’t have to worry about getting lost.
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Cenote Tours With Guides
There are many guided cenote tours available, and most are actually quite affordable and usually include extra perks like lunch, snorkeling, or Mayan ruins tours too.
Prices for cenote tours range from about $29 for a tour that includes transportation, a visit to the Tulum ruins, and swimming in two cenotes, to as much as $109 for a tour that includes transportation, touring the Tulum ruins, snorkeling in the Caribbean, swimming in a cenote, and lunch.
So there are tours in pretty much every price and length range available.
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Tips For Visiting Cenotes
You want to make sure you have the best time possible visiting cenotes so we’ll provide a few essential tips.
- Bring a bathing suit and a quick-drying towel.
- Sandals are ideal for wearing after swimming.
- Don’t wear sunscreen, or use environmentally friendly sunscreen instead.
- Bring bug spray if you’ll be exploring the jungle during the trip.
- Be sure to pack water and snacks.
- Bring cash for entry fees if you didn’t purchase a tour.
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Cenotes In Mexico
While cenotes can be found in other places in the world, Mexico, and the Yucatan Peninsula specifically, is home to more than anywhere else.
The temperature of these cenotes averages around 77 degrees, making them perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day.
And when you visit Cancun, there are plenty to choose from.
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