Tulum Cenotes Tour: Dos Ojos & Gran Cenote — Ruins, Snorkeling & Turtles
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
11–12 hours
Fitness Level
Moderate fitness required — comfortable moving on uneven stairs, short swims/snorkels, and a long day on your feet.
Overview
Spend a full day where Mayan cliffside ruins meet cenote caverns. Visit Tulum’s dramatic coastal ruins, snap a shot at the Come to the Light sculpture, then cool off snorkeling in Dos Ojos and Gran Cenote.
Tulum Cenotes Tour: Dos Ojos & Gran Cenote — Ruins, Snorkeling & Turtles
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You step off the minibus as the Caribbean light slices across a low stone wall. The wind smells faintly of salt and jungle; behind you, the ruins of Tulum sit on a cliff like an old harbor watchman, white buildings facing turquoise sea. For a full day you travel this thin seam where Mayan history meets the Yucatán’s underworld of freshwater caverns: first the sun-baked terraces and sea-facing temples of Tulum, then the cool, subterranean blue of Dos Ojos and Gran Cenote.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Bring a snorkel mask and fins
While basic snorkel gear is sometimes provided, bringing your own mask and fins ensures fit and better visibility in cave passages.
Use reef-safe sunscreen
Apply biodegradable sunscreen before arrival to protect the cenote ecosystem and avoid having to scrub skin in the water.
Wear water shoes
Paths and steps around cenotes can be slippery and rocky—closed-toe water shoes improve traction and protect toes.
Charge and waterproof your camera
A small waterproof case or dry bag and a charged battery will let you capture underwater textures without risking gear damage.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Freshwater turtles in Gran Cenote
- Green herons and frigatebirds near the Tulum shoreline
History
Tulum is one of the few Maya sites built along the coast; it prospered as a port and trading hub in the late Postclassic period (c. 1200–1521 CE).
Conservation
Cenotes are vulnerable to contamination and overcrowding — follow guide rules, use biodegradable products, and avoid touching cave formations to help preserve them.
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Adventure Hotspots in Tulum
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Reef-safe sunscreen
Protects skin while minimizing damage to fragile freshwater and marine ecosystems.
summer specific
Snorkel mask and fins
Improves your ability to see and move through the cenote corridors and open pools.
Water shoes
Provides grip on wet steps and rocky shores at cenotes and the Tulum site.
Quick-dry towel and change of clothes
Makes the long day comfortable after swims and before the return transfer.