As one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza is a highlight of any Yucatan vacation. This ancient site is the largest and best preserved set of Maya ruins in the entire Yucatan Peninsular. The renowned UNESCO site, which once supported over …
While it wasn’t my favourite cenote in the Yucatan, I still really loved Cenote Suytun. Its a bit further off the path for day trippers headed to Chichen Itza, but is still a very popular place to cool off in this region of Mexico, seeing …
Swimming in cenotes was one of my favourite things to do when I was exploring Mexico’s Yucatan Pensinular. These water filled sinkholes are the perfect place to relax for a few hours and escape the heat of the Yucatan sun (which I know something about, having been in the region in summer!). The Yucatan is filled with cenotes, so you’re spoiled for choice. If you’re looking up cenotes in Mexico, you’ll see Cenote Ik-Kil fairly early on. Its one of the most popular in the Yucatan and has become increasingly famous thanks to Instagram. Its green-blue waters, surrounded by lush vines and vegetation hanging down its walls from the surface say it all. Being so close to the regional highlight of Chichen Itza, if you only have time to visit one cenote in Mexico, you might as well make it Cenote Ik-Kil.
If you haven’t spent much time in Mexico, you might be wondering what a cenote actually is. In the simplest way I can put it, a cenote is a water filled sinkhole. They occur quite frequently in the Yucatan, as underground limestone caves collapse on themselves, exposing the groundwater laying underneath. The water in cenotes is sourced from beneath the surface, which explains the often cool temperatures of these pools of water (making them perfect for cooling off on a hot, humid day). In Mayan times, various cenotes were regarded as sacred sites, used for ritualistic sacrifices. All kinds of relics have been uncovered in cenotes, with many being located in heritage sites (such as Chichen Itza’s sacred cenote). Others, such as Cenote Ik-Kil are open for tourists, effectively serving as natural swimming pools.
Cenotes are important ecosystems, and they often contain various fish (such as black catfish) and other forms of aquatic life. Because of this, there are important rules when swimming in cenotes to protect the ecosystem.
There are three kinds of cenotes. Open cenotes are completely exposed to the elements and form when caves have completely collapsed on themselves. Cenote Ik-Kil is an open cenote (and is warmer than other types due to the direct sunlight it receives). Other kinds of cenotes throughout the Yucatan may be semi-open (mostly underground but with some openings in the ceiling) or underground (essentially in a cave with no natural light sources).
The term ‘Ik-Kil’ means “place of the winds” in Mayan. This cenote was an extremely sacred site at the peak of the Mayan Empire, with some groups believing the cenote was the home of the Rain God, Chaac. Sacrifices were carried out here to worship Chaac, with bones, jewellery and other artefacts having been discovered in the cenote’s deep waters. They also used it for recreational purposes (just like today!).
From a natural perspective, Cenote Ik-Kil is gorgeous. About 26 metres below sea level, the cenote’s waters are pristine and deep blue-green in colour. The walls of the cenote cavern are covered in a spectacular array of foliage, which makes it seem like you’ve stepped into another world when you swim out into the middle of the waterhole and look up to the sky far above.
Cenote Ik-kil is sixty metres across in diameter, and while it is heavily touristed, I found there to be plenty of room to swim around without getting on top of other guests. The cenote is 48 metres deep (there’s no way you’ll be going to the bottom of this one!).
The cenote burst onto the pop-culture scene following cliff diving competitions held from the top in 2010, 2011 and 2012. You won’t be doing that though. While you can jump into the water from platforms down in the main swimming area, diving from the surface is strictly prohibited.
This cenote was the first one I visited during my Yucatan trip. While there are many other beautiful cenotes in the region, Cenote Ik-Kil remains my favourite. The pictures don’t do it justice. You must take a dip in this magical wonder when you’re in the Yucatan.
The way you’ll get to Cenote Ik-Kil will obviously depend on where you’re coming from. I’m a strong advocate of the idea that the best way to experience Yucatan Mexico is by renting a car. If you have a set of wheels, you won’t have any troubles getting to the cenote. Its literally down the road from Chichen Itza, which I’m sure is a place you’ll be headed to during your Yucatan trip. Get on Federal Highway 180 and you’ll find the cenote between the towns of Valladolid and Piste (its only 10 minutes east of the latter). Cenote Ik-Kil has a huge parking lot (and parking is free).
If you’re not renting a car, fear not. With so many group tours heading out to the site, you’ll find many will include a stop at a cenote as part of the day trip. Chances are that cenote will be Ik-Kil, so you’ll get to experience it either way. I always use Viator to search for day trips when I’m travelling somewhere. Just bear in mind that it can be a really long day if you’re coming all the way from Cancun or the Riviera Maya. You’ll need to factor in around 3 hours both ways.
One of the best places to base yourself when visiting the cenotes around Chichen Itza is the charming colonial town of Valladolid. Cenote Ik-Kil is only about 45 minutes drive from here. Personally, I’d stay overnight and head to the cenote after Chichen Itza (the big tourist buses tend to show up in the early afternoon).
You can also get to Cenote Ik-Kil from Valladolid by collectivo (shared van transport). They leave from Calle 39 or between Calle 44 and 46 and the ride will only set you back $35 MXN each way. The earliest collectivo leaves Valladolid for the cenote at 7.00am. Alternatively, the local bus service from Valladolid departs from the bus station on the corner of Calle 46 and 39. There’s about 20 buses a day with the first one leaving at 8.30am.
Your admission to Cenote Ik-Kil covers entrance to the site, as well as locker and life jacket rental. I was surprised to learn that you have to wear a life jacket in the cenote, but considering how deep it is, I can understand that. There’s change room facilities on site so don’t waste any time after arriving and get into your swimming gear. Make sure you bring a towel (though you can rent them for an additional fee). Some people might like to bring swim shoes as well – the trail down to the cenote can be quite slippery. I didn’t have any, and I didn’t miss them here (unlike at say Cenote Suytun).
Before you can enter the actual cenote, you will need to shower off. This is common practice at cenotes throughout Mexico, in order to protect the water quality from skin oils and sunscreen products. There’s some outdoor showers near the cenote entrance that you will need to use. Be warned, the water is quite cold!
From there, you can enter the cenote by descending the set of stairs in a tunnel that lead to the water’s surface. Along the way, there’s a few view points that jut out, offering spectacular views of the cenote from above (the perfect opportunity for photos!). Once you get to the bottom of the tunnel, you can either enter the water by a set of wooder step ladders, or you can jump in from a platform some 5 metres above the water. Cenote Ik-Kil has fully vertical walls, making jumping from these platforms perfectly safe – you’ve got no chance of hitting anything on the way down. Lifeguards also monitor the cenote.
Cenote Ik-Kil’s property also contains a buffet restaurant, as well as small shops where you can buy snacks and drinks. There’s an additional admission package that includes food at the restaurant with your admission for $350 MXN ($230 MXN for children). Not ready to leave? Consider staying at the on-site hotel, which grants you cenote access rights for your stay.
Cenote Ik-Kil is a wonderful place to cool off while spending time in the heart of the Yucatan jungle. On a quick trip to the region, make this the cenote you experience. What do you think of Cenote Ik-Kil compared to other Mexican cenotes?
The Yucatan Peninsular is one of the most popular regions for tourists in all of Mexico. Comprised primarily of the states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo (and also Campeche, though I didn’t get there), this region of Mexico has attracted international acclaim since its luxury, …