Cenote Zaci, Valladolid: A Complete Guide [2024]

Visiting cenotes is one of my favorite things to do in Valladolid, Mexico and Yucatan and Quintana Roo in general, as the area is abundant with incredible sinkholes.

However, there are really no excuses for not visiting Cenote Zacì: check out why it’s one of the best cenotes in Valladolid, plus its location right in the middle of the town makes it incredibly easy to visit.

BUT FIRST, WHAT IS A CENOTE?

You might already know what a cenote is. 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 3 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 Ponderosa near Playa del Carmen.

• 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!), and so is Cenote Zaci.

• 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, located not far from Cenote Zaci, 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 ZACI

Going for a swim at Cenote Zaci is a great idea to escape the heat of Valladolid, and its location is so convenient that anyone can reach it easily.

It’s also far enough from the crowds staying in Riviera Maya and Cancun or the groups tours heading to Cenote Ik Kil, so if you’re lucky you could even have the cenote all for yourself (but avoid visiting at mid-day or early afternoon when the cenote can get quite crowded).

What makes the Cenote Maya Zaci different from the others is that it’s a massive cave, but only half of it is covered, the other half is open to the sky, with tons of light coming in. It’s a beautiful cenote, with the rock walls covered in greenery, and even stalagmites and stalactites hanging.

The depth of the water is quite impressive, it goes from 25-30 meters in the shallow areas to over 100 in the deepest ones. Quite unbelievable that such a massive cave is in the middle of the city!

There’s a walkable path that goes all around the cenote, and if you’re feeling adventurous you can jump in from one of the ledges that are as high as 8 meters. Otherwise, you can get in the water by going down some stone steps (pay attention, they might be slippery).

There is also a rope across the cenote that you can hang on to when you get tired. The water is blue but quite murky due to the presence of algae in the water (and probably poor maintenance as well), so snorkeling is nothing special here.

Various species of animals live here, including bats and black fish that you can see in the water. If you don’t want to swim, you can even sit on a ledge on the side of the cenote with your feet in, and have a free fish pedicure!

THE FACILITIES AT CENOTE ZACI

There are a few facilities you can use at the cenote, though you won’t find the fancy amenities that other bigger cenotes, such as Cenote Azul, boast.

Bathrooms & Changing Rooms

There are bathrooms on-site, though there is a usage fee of 6 MXN (approximately $0,30). I’m guessing you can also use the bathroom at the restaurant if you purchase something.

There are no changing rooms, so I suggest you come with your swimsuit already on. Otherwise, I’ve also seen people changing behind their towels in an area that’s partially hidden by rocks.

Food at Cenote Zaci

The cafe/restaurant at the entrance of the cenote offers food and drinks, including beer. I’ve been told that if you first purchase something at the restaurant, then entry to the cenote is free, but I can’t be sure of this as I didn’t try it myself.

Parking

There’s a parking area at the entrance of Cenote Zaci.

Other Facilities

You can rent life vests for a small fee if you want, and get some souvenirs from the artisan stands outside the entrance.

No lockers are available, but everyone leaves their belongings on the side of the cenote and it seems to be totally fine. There are no lifeguards on duty, so make sure you are cautious when swimming or diving in.

CENOTE ZACI: PRACTICAL INFORMATION

How much does it cost?

The entrance fee to Cenote Zaci is 30 pesos (approximately $1,60) at the time of writing), which is considerably lower than the entrance fee to most other cenotes.

Where is it located?

Cenote Zaci is located in Valladolid, in the town center. The address of Cenote Zaci is Calle 36 between Calles 37 and 39. Here below you can see it on the map:

Cenote Zaci Opening Hours

The Zaci Cenote is open daily from 9 AM to 5.30 PM (although opening time changes fairly often so give it a half-hour margin).

What is the best time to visit Cenote Zaci?

If you want to make sure to avoid the crowds, visit in the morning or the late afternoon right before closing time, when all the group tours aren’t there.

HOW TO GET TO CENOTE ZACI

Cenote Zaci is literally in the middle of the city of Valladolid, so reaching it will be very simple. From the main square, you have four options: walking, by bike, by taxi, or by car.

READ ALSO: How to get from Cancun to Valladolid

On foot: You can easily walk to Cenote Zaci from the center of colonial Valladolid. It’s just a 7-minute walk from the main square. 

By bike: Renting a bike for a day is a good way to explore Valladolid and its surroundings. You can rent a bike at the MexiGo Tours office for as little as 25 MXN for an hour and 150 MXN per day.

By car rental: If you have rented a car (a smart choice in Valladolid, because it allows you to visit all the incredible places around Valladolid including Las Coloradas and Chichen Itza), there is parking available at the cenote.

By taxi: Taxis in Valladolid are plentiful and cheap, so you can easily find one to get you here for very little money.

BEST TOURS TO CENOTE ZACI

You also have the option to join a day tour that will bring you to Cenote Zaci, Yucatan. Check out these two very special tours.

▶️ From Valladolid: Check out this Colonial City Valladolid and 2 Beautiful Cenotes Private Tour that will let you tick off several Yucatan highlights in just one day. You’ll swim at Cenote Zaci and Cenote Suytun, two of the most famous in the area, then your guide will show you the colonial town of Valladolid (which is totally underrated!). ➥ BOOK IT HERE

▶️ From Cancun: This is a 3-Day Combo Xcaret, Xel-Ha & Chichen Itza with Food & Beverages. In 3 days, you will visit wonderful Chichen Itza and Valladolid with a stop at Cenote Zaci, and have adrenaline-inducing fun at the Xcaret and Xel-Ha parks where you’ll snorkel, watch cultural shows, and explore the jungle. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

READ ALSO: 6 Best Cenote Tours from Valladolid [2024]

PROS AND CONS OF CENOTE ZACI

Pros of Cenote Zaci:

✅ It’s a large and open-air cenote, with tons of light, which makes it less claustrophobic than many other cenotes.

✅ It’s right in the middle of Valladolid, which makes it very convenient to reach.

✅ It’s less visited than other cenotes, so in the morning and late afternoon it’s not crowded.

Cons of Cenote Zaci:

❌ It’s not as stunning as other cenotes in the area such as Cenote Samula or Cenote Oxman.

❌ the water is murky, so it’s more for swimming than for snorkeling.

WHAT TO PACK FOR CENOTE ZACI

These are some essentials you should bring with you when you visit the cenote.

➤ Swimwear: I mean, what are you going to the cenote for if not swimming?? Make sure to pack your favorite swimsuit.

➤ Biodegradable Sunscreen: This is very important, as it’s not allowed to wear regular sunscreen at the cenote. Using 100% biodegradable sunscreen will protect you and the environment.

➤ Water Bottle: Traveling with a refillable water bottle is a wonderful habit! It will save you money, and reduce your consumption of plastics. Remember that tap water in Mexico isn’t safe to drink, so make sure to refill your bottle with drinking water, or buy a LifeStraw water bottle that comes with a filter.

OTHER THINGS TO DO NEAR CENOTE ZACI

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

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

▶️ 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.