Cenotes near Coba

Which cenotes are closest to Coba?

Choo-Ha, Tamcach-Ha and Multun-Ha, three cave cenotes 6 to 10 km south-west of the ruins, a 10-minute drive.

The three compared:

Prices come from 2026 visitor guides (Bucketlist Bri); some report a combined 300 pesos for all three and some a little more per cenote at peak times. All three charge cash only.

What is each cenote like?

Choo-Ha is shallow with dense stalactites, Tamcach-Ha is deep with jumping platforms, and Multun-Ha is a large, deep cave at the bottom of a long stairway.

• Choo-Ha is the gentlest: clear water mostly a few metres deep over a rocky floor, with stalactites hanging low over the surface. Good for children who can swim a little.
• Tamcach-Ha, also spelled Tankach-Ha, means deep water in Maya. A spiral wooden staircase leads down, and two platforms let you jump in from height. The bike and boat tour's guests mention platforms of 25 and 35 feet. Bats roost in the roof.
• Multun-Ha is the deepest underground, about 60 feet below the surface, down roughly 80 to 100 steps into a lit cavern, with a rope across the water to hold on to.

A guest on the private cenotes tour summed up the pair it visits: "The two cenotes were amazing, both very different."

How much do the Coba cenotes cost in 2026?

About 100 pesos each for foreign adults, plus about 50 pesos for a life vest. Bring cash.

The cenotes aren't INAH sites, so their prices aren't set nationally and they move a little from season to season. Budget 100 pesos per cenote, 300 for all three, and 50 for the vest. A locker, where offered, is a few pesos more.

On tours the price is usually included, and the budget tours charge for the life vest: $4 on the Playa day and $6 on the 4-in-1 from Cancun.

Do you need a life jacket, and what are the rules?

Life vests are rented at the entrance, and many cenotes make them compulsory for weaker swimmers. You must shower first, and sunscreen and repellent are not allowed in the water.

• Shower: every cenote has a shower at the top of the stairs. Use it.
• No sunscreen or repellent: even the reef-safe kind; it clouds the water and harms the cave life. Put it on after.
• Life vests: about 50 pesos. On the Kuxtal cenote used by the budget tours the listing says a vest is mandatory to swim, and the Chichen Itza combo says the same for its cenote.
• Stairs: wet wooden steps, some steep. Water shoes help.
• Opening hours: about 9:00 to 18:00, so the cenotes come after the ruins, which open at 8:00.

Which Coba tours swim in which cenote?

Only two tours here swim at the cenotes next to Coba. The others use Multun-Ha, a cenote at Punta Laguna, the Nohoch Nah Chich cave near Tulum, Kuxtal near Cancun or a cenote near Valladolid.

From the listings' itineraries:

Nohoch Nah Chich is part of Sistema Sac Actun, one of the longest underwater cave systems in the world, and on the Cancun day you swim through it with lights behind a guide. Guests rate it the highlight: "going inside the cave was absolutely [...] A must do!"

Your own guide at Coba, then two cave cenotes next door, Multun-Ha and Tankach-Ha, with lunch and every fee included.

★ 5.0 · 6 to 7 hours · from $245

Explore the private Coba and cenotes tour → Tour details

How do you get to the cenotes without a tour?

By car or taxi: they are 6 to 10 km from the ruins on a side road off the Coba highway.

From the Coba car park, drive back towards the highway and follow the signs for the cenotes along the side road. With a rental car you can do Coba at 8:00, two cenotes in the late morning and be back in Tulum for a late lunch. Without a car, agree a price with a taxi in Coba village for the drive and the wait. Directions for the main road are in getting to Coba.

Are cave cenotes OK for kids and non-swimmers?

Yes, with a life vest and a calm one to start. Choo-Ha is the shallowest; the guided cave swim on the Cancun day is optional.

Cave cenotes are cool, about 24 to 25°C, dark at the edges and deeper than they look. A vest solves most worries. One Cancun day guest wrote that his wife was nervous at first, but "the guide was extremely helpful and stayed with her during the swim." On that tour the listing says the guided cave swim is optional and you can stay at the cenote's facilities.

For small children, Choo-Ha is the gentlest of the three near Coba. For teenagers, Tamcach-Ha's platforms are the main event: a guest on the Playa day wrote that their 14-year-olds enjoyed "jumping into the Cenote!"

What should you bring to a cenote?

Swimwear under your clothes, a towel, water shoes, cash and a waterproof phone pouch. Leave the sunscreen in the bag.

• Cash: pesos for entry, vests, lockers and a drink.
• Water shoes: for the stairs and the rocky ledges.
• Phone pouch: a guest on the Cancun day advised to "take a cell phone water proof bag to take photos inside the cave."
• Mask or goggles: another guest's tip: "Definitely take goggles or a mask and snorkel to get the best out of this experience!"
• Dry clothes: changing rooms are at every cenote.

Frequently asked questions