Xenotes Oasis Maya Tours

A tangled network of underground rivers runs through the Yucatán Peninsula’s limestone bedrock, accessible via cavelike openings called cenotes. With four of these scenic sinkholes on-site, this Riviera Maya adventure park invites visitors to swim, paddle, rappel, and zipline through caverns and crystal clear water.

 

Xenotes Oasis Maya offers various activities along with access to its four cenotes. Zipline into the water, paddle an open-top kayak, rappel into a cavern—or just go for a swim. Tours normally depart from Cancun or Playa del Carmen and spend the entire day at the adventure park; some include amenities such as picnic lunches and drinks.

 

It’s not possible to visit Xenotes Oasis Maya independently. Tours generally provide round-trip transportation from hotels in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and other Riviera Maya locations. Once you’re at the adventure park, transport among the cenotes is by van, and it can be a bumpy ride over unpaved roads.

 

Tours of Xenotes Oasis Maya typically take the whole day, with morning pickup times that vary according to the location of your hotel. The Yucatán has a dry season (November through May) and a wet season (June through October). During the wet season, the cenotes’ water may be tinted yellowish-brown, the harmless result of rain filtering through the surrounding jungle.

 

The Yucatán has thousands of cenotes, from hidden swimming holes to developed attractions. One top destination is Cenote Ik Kil (close to Chichen Itza), which has a small waterfall and hanging vines. Closer to Cancun you’ll find Cenote Nohoch Nah Chich, with the option to rappel or even scuba dive. There’s a large number of cenotes around Tulum, as well, including the easily accessible Grand Cenote (Gran Cenote).