Explore Oxkintok’s Mayan labyrinth, swim two contrasting cenotes—Carlota and Azul Maya—and spend the afternoon at Hacienda Mucuyché on this full-day trip from Mérida. History, geology, and clear cenote water combine for a varied outdoor experience.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You step off the van into a different rhythm: dry limestone underfoot, a canal breathing cool air between stone walls, and the hollow calling of a cavern cenote ahead. The morning light scours the low jungle around Oxkintok, and the Mayan stones—weathered, stepped, and precise—hold a quiet gravity that pulls you up narrow stairways toward views across unexcavated mounds.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
8–9 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most travelers who can manage short hikes on uneven ground and swimming/snorkeling in calm cenote water.
Wildlife
History
Oxkintok preserves one of the region’s complex Mayan ceremonial centers, including the tza tun tzat labyrinth and chultunes tied to water management; many local haciendas were shaped by the 19th-century henequén economy.
Conservation
Cenotes are ecologically sensitive—avoid lotions and plastics in the water, use designated paths, and follow guide instructions to limit impact.
Reserve your spot on the Adventure to Hacienda Mucuyche & Oxkintok, 2 cenotes from Mérida today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Bring biodegradable sunscreen
Cenote ecosystems are sensitive—use reef-safe, biodegradable sunscreen to protect water quality and aquatic life.
Wear water shoes
Cenote edges and the canal path are rocky and can be slippery; water shoes improve traction and protect feet.
Carry small cash
Lunch at the hacienda and small purchases are not included—bring pesos for the restaurant and souvenirs.
Mind the stairs
Oxkintok has steep, uneven stone steps and narrow passages—descend slowly and use handholds where available.
Swimsuit
Required for swimming and snorkeling in the cenotes.
summer
Water shoes
Protects feet on rocky cenote edges and the canal path.
Biodegradable sunscreen
Protects your skin and prevents chemical runoff into cenotes.
summer
Quick-dry towel & change of clothes
Useful for the drive back and to stay comfortable at the hacienda after swimming.