All about Cenotes Santa Bárbara in Yucatán (2025 Guide)

You might be surprised to learn that the Yucatán Peninsula is home to an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 cenotes. The ancient Maya considered these natural sinkholes sacred, believing they were portals to the mystical underworld.

Cenotes Santa Bárbara isn’t exactly a hidden gem – it’s touristy and fully set up for visitors. But honestly, I didn’t mind. If you’re looking for a relaxed and fun way to explore multiple cenotes in one go, I can totally recommend it.

The Santa Barbara cenotes are located on private land in a region known for its incredible concentration of cenotes – right between the small towns of Cuzamá and Homún.

If you’re planning a trip to this area, you’ll have plenty of choices, with more then 20 cenotes to explore. Santa Bárbara alone features four stunning cenotes, each with its own unique character:

• Cascabel

• Chacksikín

• Xooch’

• Pool Cocoon

Important to know: Like I mentioned before, Santa Bárbara is by far the most developed and popular cenote spot in the area. If you don’t feel like venturing into smaller, less touristy cenotes, I’d personally recommend this one as the best option.

The World of Cenotes

Cenotes are natural sinkholes formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock, exposing groundwater beneath. They are connected through an extensive underground river system, making them an important freshwater source in the Yucatán Peninsula.

Today, they are popular for swimming, diving, and exploring underground cave systems.

If you’re curious about the fascinating formation of cenotes, want to discover the best cenotes and tours, explore their cultural significance, or simply learn what to keep in mind when visiting cenotes, be sure to check out Cenotes: Background & Tips.

The Santa Bárbara Site

The cenotes at Santa Bárbara are located on a large property. The roughly 2 km path to reach them can be walked, cycled with a rental bike, or taken by horse-drawn cart. The trail is a bit uneven, and there’s a slight incline along the way.

If you’re traveling with small children or want to avoid exertion in the heat, the horse cart is probably the best choice. Just keep in mind that you’ll be sitting on wooden planks, so the ride is a quite bumpy.

As is often the case in Mexico, the horses, unfortunately, didn’t seem to be in the best shape – and they looked a bit underfed to me.

On-Site Facilities

The entire facility is well-equipped, and you’ll find everything you need. Right at the entrance, there are changing rooms, toilets, showers, and lockers. Free WiFi is also available in this area.

You can bring a bag with you, and life jackets are mandatory. Staff occasionally supervises their use. If needed, there’s an elevator providing access to the Cenote Pool Cocoon, but it’s reserved for people with disabilities, senior citizens, and pregnant women.

Traditional Yucatecan Food

There are two restaurants at Cenotes Santa Bárbara serving traditional Yucatecan food, including poc chuc, queso relleno (stuffed cheese), carne yucateca, panuchos, salbutes, and sopa de lima (lime soup).

Water Play Area for Kids

If you're visiting with younger kids, they’ll love the water play area – it has splash features, spraying arches, and a fun slide to keep them cool and entertained.

Just a heads-up – when the cenotes close around 5 pm, they also shut off the water, so plan it accordingly!

The Four Cenotes

Since 2023, four cenotes have been open to visitors at this site. After arriving - whether by car or on foot - the first three cenotes are relatively close to each other, making them easy to explore in succession. The last cenote is located back near the starting area.

At each cenote, you'll find staff from Cenotes Santa Bárbara, but there are no guided tours and no strict schedules apart from the general opening hours. That means you can take your time, swim, relax, and enjoy the surroundings at your own pace.

The first cenote, Cascabel, is entirely underground, with artificial lighting illuminating the space. It’s spacious and great for swimming, but compared to the others, it’s not the most visually impressive.

Cenote Cascabel is quite large, measuring about 26 meters long and 24 meters wide. The height from the water level to the ceiling is approximately 10 meters.

Unlike many other cenotes in Yucatán, Cascabel doesn’t have stalactites or stalagmites, giving it a more open and clear atmosphere.

Just a short walk away, you’ll find Cenote Chacksikín, and this one is truly breathtaking.

The ceiling is covered in stunning stalactites, creating an almost surreal atmosphere. Since the cenote is semi-open, natural daylight streams in, making the water glow in vibrant shades of blue and enhancing its beauty.

Thick tree roots hang down from the ceiling, reaching into the water and adding a mystical touch to the setting. Nearby, there are several caves worth exploring. If you’re up for an adventure, snorkeling or diving here is an incredible experience.

Like many other cenotes, Chacksikín has a wooden staircase leading down into the cave. The steps are easy to walk, but if you're on the taller side (like me), you’ll want to watch your head on the first few steps.

At the bottom, you’ll find a large wooden platform with benches all around. It’s a great spot to take in the surroundings before heading into the water. To get in, there’s a smaller wooden staircase leading straight into the cenote.

If you’re into photography, be aware that long-exposure shots can be tricky here. A tripod won’t be much help because, even though the platform is solid, there’s a constant, subtle vibration that makes sharp long-exposure images nearly impossible.

The third cenote, Xooch', is reached by descending a long stone staircase, unlike most cenotes where you’ll find wooden ladders or platforms. It has a large, circular opening at the top and is easily one of my favorite cenotes in Yucatán.

Inside, you’ll hear the calls of Toh birds and swallows as they fly in and out of the cenote, while small fish swim in the crystal-clear water.

Right at the edge of the opening, a large poplar tree stands with its thick roots reaching all the way into the water, creating a stunning contrast against the rocky walls.

This spot is perfect for photography. With a wide-angle lens (I used 12mm full-frame), you can capture the entire scene, the turquoise water, the rugged rock formations, the towering poplar, and the bright blue sky.

For the best shot, I recommend using HDR to balance the extreme contrast between the cenote’s shadowy interior and the bright sky above. Luckily, there’s a solid rock surface where you can set up a tripod, making long exposures much easier.

The fourth cenote, Pool Cocoon, is a huge open cenote with an elongated shape and several cascading waterfalls (artificial, but still very nice). It's about 15 meters deep and 30 meters wide, making it one of the larger cenotes in the area.

Added in 2023, Pool Cocoon now features a comfortable stone staircase for easy access and even an elevator, making it one of the most accessible cenotes, including for individuals with disabilities.

Because of its size and depth, this cenote is great for swimming, whether you just want to cool off or actually get some laps in. The waterfalls create a relaxing atmosphere, and at the far end, the cenote leads into a small cave, adding to the adventure.

How Much You'll Pay

The entrance fee of 250 pesos covers access to all cenotes, an obligatory life jacket, and your choice of transportation around the site, either by bicycle or a horse-drawn rail cart.

There’s plenty of free parking right in front of the place. With everything that’s included, I’d say the price is more than fair.

For an additional 80 pesos, you can also book lunch at the on-site restaurant. If you’re traveling with young children, they’ll probably enjoy the water playground, but keep in mind that the water is turned off at the end of the tours, around 4:00 pm.

Visiting Tips

Since the site is quite popular, it tends to attract many visitors. However, its spacious layout helps disperse the crowds a bit. Generally, the earlier you arrive, the fewer people you'll encounter, as larger tour groups typically arrive later in the day.

Here are further key tips at a glance:

• Waterproof bag or fanny pack: Protects valuables; no locker needed.

• Waterproof camera: Especially useful with a flash for darker cenotes.

• Waterproof cell phone holder: Keeps your phone safe for taking pictures.

• Water shoes: A must for the slippery rocks and wooden stairs.

• Quick-dry towel: Perfect for drying off after a swim.

• Biodegradable products: Required for eco-friendly swimming.

• Snorkeling gear: Optional but great for spotting fish.

• Life jackets: They are required and provided at Cenotes Santa Bárbara.

• Cash: Optional, not necessary here.

To delve deeper into the history of cenotes, explore additional guided tour options, or find more tips and a comprehensive guide to the best cenotes on the Yucatán Peninsula, be sure to visit our dedicated page on cenotes.

A Special Tour Recommendation

For a cenote adventure plus a stunning 17th-century hacienda, a tour of the Santa Barbara Cenotes and Hacienda Mucuyché is a great pick. This Viator Tour handles all the planning for you.

I won’t sugarcoat it – it’s not the cheapest excursion. Whether you book a tour or go on your own, entrance fees and transport add up. But if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience, this places are absolutely worth it.

In my opinion, Hacienda Mucuyché is not only one of the most beautiful haciendas on the Yucatán Peninsula, but it also has two cenotes that are among the most stunning I’ve seen.