All about Cenote X'Batun in Mexico

Tucked away just off highway 261, about 50 km south-southwest of Mérida, lie two enchanting and contrasting cenotes - X'batun and Dzonbacal. Hidden slightly off the beaten path, these gems invite you to explore their unique charms and mysterious beauty.

The cenotes are close together and belong to the small town San Antonio de Mulix, which is part of the municipality of Uman. Another cenote of San Antonio de Mulix - but a few kilometers away - is Cenote Yax-Ha.

The area is renowned for its unique geological formations, particularly the cenotes, which are natural sinkholes filled with freshwater. These cenotes are not only significant for their stunning natural beauty but also hold cultural and historical importance for the local communities.

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 awe-inspiring 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, surrounded entirely by rugged rock formations that create a natural, tranquil haven. The water, spanning roughly 25 meters in length and 15 meters in width, shimmers with impressive clarity, inviting you into its crystal-clear depths.

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

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.

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...

The world of cenotes

Some interesting figures about cenotes:

The formation of cenotes

A cenote is a natural cave or pool of water formed by the collapse of a cave ceiling and filled with fresh water. These geological formations are typical of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, but can also be found in other parts of the world, such as the Caribbean and parts of South America.

Cenotes are often filled with clear, turquoise-colored water. For the Mayan culture in Yucatán, cenotes had great spiritual significance and were revered as sacred places.

Spiritual meaning

To the Maya, cenotes were sacred portals to the underworld, Xibalbá, revered as sources of life and fertility but also feared as places of sacrifice. These pools played a central role in Mayan rituals, from purifying baths to ceremonies designed to appease the gods.

Archaeological finds, including offerings and human remains, reveal that cenotes were sites of devotion where priests cast sacrifices into the depths to sustain cosmic harmony.

The very best cenotes 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.

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.

Tips

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.