All about Cenote X'Batun in Yucatán (2025 Travel Guide)

I first came across cenotes in Mexico – no surprise really, since they’re pretty much unique to the Yucatán Peninsula. You won’t find them like this anywhere else.

These two cenotes aren’t exactly a secret, but they definitely fly under the radar. Hidden just off Highway 261, around 50 km south-southwest of Mérida, you’ll find X'batun and Dzonbacal – a pair of lesser-known spots that feel worlds away from the tourist crowds.

The cenotes are close together and belong to the small town San Antonio de Mulix, which is part of the municipality of Uman. There’s another cenote nearby, just a few kilometers down the road – it’s called Cenote Yax-Ha.

Cenotes like these are part of what makes the Yucatán Peninsula so special. They’re great for a swim, sure, but they’ve also been part of local life and stories for centuries.

A Little Tip in Advance

Here’s a little tip in advance: the journey from Mérida might feel too long if it’s just for the two cenotes. But why not make it an adventure? Combine your visit to the cenotes with a stop at the historic Hacienda Yaxcopoil or the Archaeological Site of Uxmal.

Cenote X'batun

X'batun is the better known cenote. It is an open cenote, but under the rocks it turns into a deep and elongated cave, making it suitable for a professional dive. The roots of the trees hang down from the edge of the cenote and reach into the crystal-clear water.

The trees mostly belong to the Ceiba species and other tropical tree species such as the Chaká or Chechen. These trees are known for their deep and expansive root systems, which enable them to draw water from great depths.

The surrounding vegetation provides shelter for various bird species, so the site is also suitable for birdwatching. The Yucatan Peninsula is home to over 500 bird species, making it one of the places with the most bird species in the world.

There are for example parrots but also oriols, bats, various fish or frogs. You will also find catfish and other small fish in the cenote that will nibble on your hands and feet if you don't move in the water. Other people have to pay money for this wellness treatment ;)

Cenote Dzonbacal

Dzonbacal is a semi-open cenote, completely surrounded by rugged rock formations. The water spans approximately 25 meters in length and 15 meters in width.

Both cenotes are shallow in parts but are also several meters deep in some areas. The entrance fee entitles you to stay in each cenote for 45 minutes, which is more than enough.

The name Dzonbacal comes from the Mayan language and means "stone slide". This name possibly refers to the characteristic rock formations and structures that can be found in and around the cenote.

Facilities and Services at the Cenotes

You shouldn't expect too much, but there are rustic changing rooms just outside the cenote area. You can hire a bike for the tour, as well as life jackets or snorkeling equipment.

The use of the life jackets is recommended, but it is optional. At the larger, more well-known cenotes, wearing a life jacket is usually mandatory and strictly enforced. If you're a strong swimmer, it can be pretty annoying.

In the small village San Antonio de Mulix there is a church, a store where you can buy a few snacks and something to drink and also a restaurant (Restaurante Búútuncito). But the place is otherwise not really worth mentioning...

How to Get to Cenote X'Batun from Mérida?

The cenotes are somewhat hidden. The last two kilometers you drive on a dirt road. It's a bit of an adventurous drive, but it's worth it. The place is a little off the highway 261 to Muna. At kilometer 39 you take the road to the west in the direction of the former cocoa plantation.

After 2.5 km you come to the San Antonio Mulix. The village consists of only two streets. At the crossroads you will find the Parque principal de San Antonio Mulix (San Antonio Mulix Main Park) with a small hut, where you pay the entrance fee.

After another 2.3 km on a dirt road in western direction you will reach cenote X'Batun. You can walk there, hire a bike or take the car. The two cenotes are about 900m apart and the entrance fee is for both cenotes.

Visiting Tips for Cenote X'Batun

Because cenote X'Batun is quite small (and no longer an insider tip), it can sometimes be crowded. In general, the earlier you arrive, the fewer visitors there usually are and it may well be that you have the cenote to yourself.

Here are further key tips at a glance:

• Water shoes: Essential for slippery rocks and wet stairs.

• Waterproof cell phone holder: Useful for photos in the water.

• Waterproof bag or fanny pack: There are no lockers on-site.

• Snorkeling gear: Also available on-site, but your own is more comfortable.

• Cash: Always carry enough, as card payment is often unavailable.

• Quick-dry towel: For after swimming.

• Biodegradable products: If you would like to swim (which you should).

• Life jackets: Available on-site and, luckily, optional.

If you’d like to learn more about the history of cenotes, discover additional guided tour suggestions, or get more tips and an overview of the best cenotes on the Yucatán Peninsula, be sure to check out our dedicated page on cenotes.

The Very Best Cenote Tour

If you are interested in getting to know the two best places with six cenotes and a 17th century hacienda in a private tour (Cenotes Santa Barbara and Hacienda Mucuyché), you should take a look at this Viator Tour. It's not really cheap, but a memory for life.

The World of Cenotes

Some interesting figures about cenotes:

The Formation of Cenotes

The Yucatán Peninsula is a limestone plateau shaped by underground rivers and the Chicxulub meteorite impact 66 million years ago. The impact fractured the bedrock, letting rainwater seep into underground caverns.

Additionally, the impact triggered geological shifts, forming numerous underground caves and hollow spaces. Over time, these natural processes gave rise to what we now call cenotes.

Nowhere in the world are cenotes more abundant than on the Yucatán Peninsula. Estimates suggest there are up to 10,000 of these natural sinkholes scattered across the region.

Beneath the surface, cenotes connect through a vast network of underground rivers. Open cenotes have a mystical feel, often framed by trees with roots reaching 20–30 meters into the water.

Thanks to natural limestone filtration, the water in cenotes is typically crystal clear. Many of these pools are home to small fish and catfish, adding to their serene, untouched beauty.

Spiritual Meaning of Cenotes

To the Maya civilization, cenotes were gateways to the underworld. According to their beliefs, when a Maya king died, he would descend into the underworld through the waters of a cenote, where he faced the lords of the underworld in battle.

After completing this journey, he would rise to the upper world (heaven), symbolizing rebirth and the path to paradise. Cenotes were also the setting for sacred ceremonies and offerings, including fire rituals, cave ceremonies, and human sacrifices.

One of the most well-documented sites is Chichén Itzá, where hundreds of individuals were sacrificed and thrown into the Sacred Cenote.

The discovery of numerous human skeletons at the bottom provides compelling archaeological evidence of these ancient practices.