Cenote Samula: A Magical Spot Near Valladolid

This is a guest post by Kate Storm, writer at Our Escape Clause.

Visiting cenotes was one of our top things to do in Valladolid, Mexico – the town is conveniently located to almost a dozen of them–but there’s no doubt that Cenote Samula stuck out as one of the most striking cenotes in Valladolid!

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BUT FIRST, WHAT IS A CENOTE?

You might already know what is a cenote. After all, cenotes have become super popular these past few years. If that’s the case, feel free to skip this paragraph!

However, many people don’t really know what exactly is a cenote, and in my opinion it’s really important to understand what is their significance to the Mayans.

A cenote is a natural sinkhole dating back several centuries. When limestone caves collapse they expose a natural pool. This pool then gets filled with rain water and with the water flowing through underground rivers, to which these sinkholes are connected to. Voilà, you’ve got yourself a cenote!

The word cenote comes from the Mayan term dzonot, which means well. But not all cenotes look the same. there are essentially 4 types of cenotes:

• Open Cenotes – Open cenotes are like natural, open pools, and they can be more or less deep. Some of the open cenotes are also connected to an underground river passage (which makes them great for diving!). An example of an open cenote is Cenote Carwash near Tulum.

• Semi-Open Cenotes – As the name implies, this type of cenote has some parts that are exposed and some portions that are partially hidden by a cave. An example is Cenote Calavera (one of my favorite cenotes!).

• Cave Cenotes – This type of cenote can be accessed via a land-level entrance. Once you make your way in, it opens up to an underground pool which can have both shallow and deep areas. Cenote Samula, which I’ll tell you all about in this post, is a cave cenote.

Cenotes have great cultural and religious significance to the ancient Mayans, who believed that the cenotes were passages to the underworld. In fact, Mayans performed rituals in the cenotes and treated the sites as sacred.

This means that you should too. Please be responsible! Don’t litter the cenote, always take your trash back with you, and only apply biodegradable sunscreen before swimming in the cenote.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CENOTE SAMULA

Cenote Samula is set in a complex with nearby Cenote Xkeken (also known as Cenote Dzitnup), and while both are popular with tourists, they’re far enough away from the Riviera Maya that the crowds are not what you would expect at the cenotes near Tulum.

Cenote Samula is absolutely gorgeous, perfect for a long swim, and is set almost completely enclosed in a cave – the exception is a small, natural hole in the roof that forms a spotlight on the water.

The combination of the high ceilings of the cave, the cool water, and the dancing light make swimming at Cenote Samula a very magical experience!

FACILITIES AVAILABLE AT CENOTE SAMULA

The complex Cenote Samula is set in has more facilities than most cenotes we visited in the area.

Bathrooms & Changing Rooms

There are changing rooms available where you can change into and out of your swimsuit, and showers to rinse off before and after your swim. You’ll also find bathrooms on-site.

Food at Cenote Samula

There is a stall selling snacks and drinks at the cenote, though expect it to be somewhat overpriced. You’ll find a few restaurants in the area around the cenote, but you’d have to leave the park.

You can also bring your own food and beverages and make a picnic there.

Parking

You’ll find a large parking area between Cenote Samula and Cenote Xkeken, that is shared between the two.

Other Facilities

There are locker rooms to keep your belongings, souvenir vendors in case you want a small memento of your visit, and rental of life jackets.

Cenote Samula: Practical Information

How much does it cost?

The entrance fee of 250 MXN covers the entrance to both Cenote Samula and Xkeken, which are on the same park. You can otherwise choose to visit just one of the cenotes for 150 MXN.

READ ALSO: A Full Guide to Cenote Xkeken

Where is it located?

Cenote Samula is about a 15-minute drive outside of Valladolid, in a town called Dzitnup (7 km south of Valladolid on Highway 180). You can see it here on the map:

What are the opening hours?

The Samula Cenote is open from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Best Time to Visit Cenote Samula

The ultimate time to visit both cenotes is right when it opens in the morning, as you’ll find it pretty much empty. The cenote doesn’t really get very crowded in any case.

Is there anything prohibited at Cenote Samula?

Like all cenotes in the region, there are restrictions in place to ensure its ecosystem and flora and fauna are protected. These are some of the things you aren’t allowed to do:

Smoking.
Bringing alcohol.
Wearing sunscreen and mosquito repellent (you’ll be required to shower before swimming to remove any lotion from your body).
Any type of harassment or damage to the marine life or environment is completely forbidden, as well as loud noises and anything that could disturb other visitors.

HOW TO GET TO CENOTE SAMULA

From Valladolid, assuming you haven’t rented a car elsewhere in Mexico and are road tripping Yucatan (car rentals are hard to come by in Valladolid itself), you essentially have three options: taxi, bike, or colectivo.

Taxis are inexpensive and plentiful, and also the fastest option. I believe we paid just a few USD each way.

Colectivos (shared vans) leave from the center of town, across from the church. Ask around and someone will point you in the right direction. Taxis are so inexpensive, though, that we didn’t find the savings cost-effective for such a short ride.

If you’d like to get a little sightseeing in along the way, you can also rent a bike in Valladolid and ride to the cenotes yourself. There are bike paths that connect the cenote complex to town, and the ride is said to be fairly easy and safe.

BEST TOUR TO CENOTE SAMULA FROM VALLADOLID

▶️ Check out the beautiful cenotes that surround Valladolid by joining this Go Maya by bike in Valladolid (Local market-Cenotes-Mayan Family).

You’ll get to swim at 3 of my favorite cenotes, Cenote Oxman, Cenote Xkeken, and Cenote Samula. They’re unique, and not as crowded as the most popular ones in the region.

Your guide will also show you the market of Valladolid and bring you to a traditional Mayan village. Even better, the local tour operator donates 3% of your tour price to a local charity project. The tour also includes lunch. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

PROS AND CONS OF CENOTE SAMULA

Pros of Cenote Samula

✅ It’s one of the prettiest cenotes we’ve seen.

✅ Its high ceilings and unique lighting make it magical and memorable.

Cons of Cenote Samula

❌ The entrance fee is a bit higher than some other cenotes in the area due to the infrastructure that has developed around it.

❌ Cenote Samula is popular, so it can get crowded at certain times of day (though we found Cenote Xkeken to be both more crowded and less beautiful, and it’s set in the same place!).

Swimming at Cenote Samula, along with the pink lakes of Las Coloradas, was one of our favorite experiences from our time spent in Valladolid!

WHAT TO PACK FOR CENOTE SAMULA

Wondering what to bring with you on your cenote visit? You’ll need to pack more or less the same things for all cenotes, so this list will come in handy for all your cenote adventures.

➤ Swimwear: This is the most important, unless you’re not planning on swimming in the cenote but… why would you?!

➤ Snorkel Mask or Goggles: Snorkeling will likely be the highlight of your visit, so don’t forget your snorkeling gear. It’s worth the purchase if you’re gonna visit various cenotes in Mexico!

➤ Biodegradable Sunscreen: This is very important because regular sunscreen is not allowed at the cenotes since it’s harmful to the ecosystem and marine life. I recommend getting a 100% biodegradable sunscreen so you protect your skin and the environment.

➤ Water Bottle: Stay hydrated! Having a refillable water bottle will save you tons of money, and also reduce your consumption of single-use plastic. Remember that tap water in Mexico isn’t safe to drink, so make sure you refill it with drinking water or buy a LifeStraw water bottle that comes with a filter.

OTHER THINGS TO DO NEAR CENOTE SAMULA

I’ve spent quite some time around this area, so here are a few ideas for things to do once you’ve visited Cenote Samula.

▶️ Visit other less-known cenotes near Valladolid – two of my favorite ones are Cenote Oxman and Cenote Zaci.

▶️ Visit the Chichen Itza Mayan pyramids, one of the 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

▶️ Visit Las Coloradas Pink Lakes, a unique pink lagoon.

▶️ Visit the colorful and traditional town of Valladolid.