Cenote Escondido

Cenote Escondido is just south of Tulum town maybe 5 km or so. This large open cenote is simply beautiful. As you first walk down the long pathway from the main road to the cenote you cannot help but be in awe of the beautiful jungle around you.

Like something out of a fairytale, the long tree lined path calls you forward to something truly special. Suddenly a little wooden sign points you in the direction of the cenote! As you walk through the now- walking only path you come to a clearing that reveals the large open cenote that is simply too inviting.

On the close side is a set of stairs that take you to the water’s edge- but be careful because these are often very slippery. At this same end is a great jumping point into the cool clear waters beneath. Always check the water under the jump however because the cenotes are living and flowing- the water level and character changes. A jump that might have been fine a few months ago may not be now.

1 of my favorite spots at thi

s cenote is at the far end. There is a perfect little doc just ideal for sitting and putting your feet in and enjoying the warm Mexican sun. This is also where you can see that the cenote continues back into the jungle. This is a great spot for snorkeling and diving as there are many caves that are visible and just call you forth to come and explore.

The cool water of this cenote can be enjoyed for the same entrance price when you enter Cenote Cristal on the other side of the street.

Punta Laguna- Monkey Reserve***

This past Sunday my family loaded up the car and headed due East for Punta Laguna. I had heard that Punta Laguna was a wonderful thing to do while visiting Tulum. What I had heard was right. It was a wonderful place and the whole family. Punta Laguna did not disappoint as a great thing to do in Tulum.  **We know of some great taxi drivers that do this tour Coba ruins and the monkey reserve at a great price-- contact us for more info***

We started our adventure by having our favorite tacos from Tulum town and then we were off due West on the Coba road. After we got to Coba we decided to look around at some cenotes in the area. There were many cenotes to explore but most of them were cave cenotes. I do love cave cenotes but for this particular day we were looking for a wide open cenote that we could enjoy the warm day at. So we doubled back towards Tulum to go to Punta Laguna.

To get to Punta Laguna you take the Coba road from Tulum. After about 35 -40 minutes you will come to a round-a-bout. 1 direction leads you towards Cancun, 1 towards Chichen Itza and the last towards Coba. (The one you are on takes you back to Tulum- obviously!) You want to take the one that goes towards Cancun. You will drive for about 20-30 minutes on this road before you will see the sign for Punta Laguna. There were a number of other cenotes and spots of interest that I cannot wait to get out and see more of- but this trip was about Punta Laguna. So we continued past these places until we reached Punta Laguna.

When we reached the Laguna we went and paid our entrance fee which was very reasonable, something like 30 pesos. They advised us that we would have to walk a ways into the jungle to see the monkeys. Punta Laguna is a monkey reserve so you can easily spot these amazing creatures all around you if you pay attention. And hear them you most defiantly will. – Wow that sounded a bit like yoda- sorry. But you will. They are all around and you can hear the screeches and howls.

When we first started towards the Laguna- we noticed that there was a little corner store. It was the perfect place to buy a few more snacks and some ice. We had brought our cooler with us so we had stuff for sandwiches, juice and some beers- after and ice refill and some sweets for the kids we walked down towards the Laguna. The road is dirt and uneven and in her excitement to get to the water our daughter took a nose dive on the path. As a brand new 7 year old she is starting to get used to the scrapped knees and scuffed hands- but – a little hurt she picked herself back up. While she did so the wonderful family that lives there hurried to her rescue.

This is one of my favorite things about living in Mexico and the Mexican people in general—they love children and they love to help. In the states we have a very hands off approach to getting into each other’s lives. Here in Tulum- that is not the case- people are always there to help you and care for you at every turn. ESPECILLAY children. It is such a wonderful place to visit with kids. You never feel like your kids are imposing or that other people are annoyed with your kids. As a mother- and one who wants to enjoy herself too- I love this. But anyway… side note

As my daughter arose from her newly acquired injury- we were greeted by the warm smiles of a local Mayan woman and her husband who had rushed to her aid, followed closely by her 2 adorable kids. It was so sweet. They came out with tissue, smiles and a balm of some kind that they asked if they could put on her wounds. Knowing full well the magic of anything that Mayan women put on their kids I was willing and even a little eager. The balm they put on her immediately soothed her. I am sure that much of it was also the kindness of these people. After she was clearly okay, the family went one step further by the dad getting his tricycolo, often referred to as the Mayan Limousine, and giving Lena a ride down to the Laguna. It was so sweet.

After about 100 meters we were greeted with one of most beautiful images that I have seen. A large stunning Laguna- completely clear and empty. It was amazing. By the time that we had arrived it was about 1:00 in the afternoon. The sun was already casting shadows off the far end of the Laguna and the colors that rose off the water were incredible. We sat our cooler down and it took all of 4 seconds for the kids to go jumping off the dock into the amazing fresh water of the Laguna. We stayed there for about 2 hours- swimming- playing- talking and laying in the sun.

During our playing we had a few groups that were on walks in the reserve either coming or going stop for a moment to take some pictures. The Laguna does offer walking tours into the reserve and points out monkeys along the way and also give you information about the various plants and animals that you will find there. You can totally do the walk on your won- but you will get so much more out of it if you get the tour. They can tell you so many stories and facts that you would not otherwise hear or know.

We took the kids for a long walk in the jungle and it was so much fun. We walked and walked and took random turns and kept walking. It was great. You could hear the monkeys all around you. We saw many on our walk and such a fun time. Monkeys to kids are such magic. Well to anyone really and this place is full of them. It was a truly magical day and one that I think everyone who visits Tulum should experience.

Yaaj- Ximbal Jungle Tour

I had the wonderful experience of taking a Yaaj-Ximbal tour. This was a truly amazing experience and opened up a whole side of Tulum that I have not seen before. I am so thankful for this unreal opportunity and would strongly recommend that people take the tour.

The day started with my friend picking me up and taking me to the store where all the cooks buy the food fresh for that days meal. I rode out with the crew to one of the locations so that they could work on preparing the food. While we were getting the food out to the location, the rest of the guests were getting picked up at their hotels.

As we all met up and were introduced to the tour guides and each other I could tell that I was in for a treat. We were riding in very comfortable Land Rovers and I knew that these vehicles could handle any road in Mexico.

Thanks god because as we set off into the jungle it became very clear just how off road we were going to get. The road was very bumpy and all over the place but in a very fun and safe way.


For anyone who has ever been on the Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland can totally relate to the journey. This is just real and much more fun. There was a younger child in our group but I am not sure how much fun it was for him.

I would say that for both the parents and the kids to have the best of the experience probably kids 10 and older would be good. (If you need a babysitter you can contact mindyintulum@yahoo.com for babysitters in the area.)

As we forged ahead on the trail we were pointed out various trees and important foliage and given a lot of history and mythical tradition along the way. There were many beautiful sites to see along the trail.


There were stunning cenotes filled with lilies and beautiful foliage all around. At one point we came to a watchtower that was built of Zapote trees. This wood is amazingly strong and durable not to mention stunningly beautiful. The views from this tower were so beautiful.

Just beneath the tower is a cenote that also has a repel from the middle of the tower. I can imagine that would be very cool to do. We explored a cave and the Aluxes that lived there. These are mythical spirits, resembling trolls, that are believed to live all over the Yucatan. They are associated with nature such as jungles and caves which are numerous in the Tulum area. These mischievous little spirits are known to move things around a lot and cause quite a ruckus. Taking the form of stone during the day, they awaken at night to cause their mischief. You can see the old man in stone in this picture.

After continuing on our journey we made our way over to the location of the cenote, dry cave and zip line. This was very cool. With the help of our tour guides we got into our harnesses.

There was a group of 12 of us. All 4 daughters ranging with high school age all went on as did almost everyone else in the group. Including the 7 year old boy although he went tandem with one of the guides.



The zip line was very easy, fun and was over quick. Definitely not too bad for all who go on the tour. The "Mayan brakes" were large pieces of wood that would help to slow you down. One of the guides was also down at the bottom with the secondary and emergency breaks. I felt very safe and we all had a really good time.

This is probably a good time to mention one of my favorite parts of the tour... There is professional photographer following you around through out the whole thing taking great pictures. This is particularly handy at the moment when you are flying down the zip line. But you also get to pose at the bottom just in case your face is doing some crazy face.

After the zip line you continue the tour into a dry cave. For people who do not want to do the zip line there is an easy way to join the group at the bottom. The dry cave was beautiful. You could clearly see the stalagmites and stalactites. They are so beautiful and the guides are really full of knowledge and are a lot of fun.

We headed off to get in our swim suits for the cenote part of the day. Almost all of my favorite days involve a cenote and this day was no exception. We walked down a long steep stair case and came into a beautiful cave. The water was as clear and perfect as you could imagine.

There was a very nice area to swim right then we were taken around a little area, through a tunnel area that showed some really beautiful roots, stalagmites and stalactites.

There was one point were once the roots of the trees above ground reach the water they eventually build a base. These bases are floating. It is a very cool site. I wish I had a waterproof camera with me at the time. It was very beautiful and such a unique look at the under side of Yucatan. I am not a cave diver as of yet but the guides did take me and show me some of the entrances to the caves. Once I try my hands at diving I really want to go back and explore.

After we all climbed up and dried off it was time to eat. I have been on tours before that included lunch and it was usually some bagged lunch or something. This meal was amazing. There was a very large grill on which a very traditional meal was being prepared.

There was pot of black beans, fluffy rice, a fantastic salsa and warm tortillas. There were 2 different meats on the grill. One was a marinated chicken and the other a flat steak. There was also a large amount of cut fruit and salad. Lunch was truly amazing and the perfect conclusion to the day.



The group loaded up into the van to get taken back to their hotels. It was a wonderful tour and one that really shows a side of the jungle that not many people get to see. Tulum and the whole Rivera Maya have so much to offer and this tour really puts some of the best parts into one trip.

Some important things to note when you go... 1) Take bug spray but please make sure that it is eco-friendly and or biodegradable. You will be in contact with a very delicate eco system. The waters of the cenotes feed the lively hood of the entire Yucatan peninsula. It is important to respect them and care for them. and 2)I would start your day off with a good meal. Lunch is the last part of the day and you do not want to be hungry. This tour is a full day thing.


This tour is amazing. Again, probably best for kids 10 and over although they will accommodate children, it will probably be more fun for parents and kids if there is a babysitter. Again... if you are looking for a babysitter you can email mindyintulum@yahoo.com to find a babysitter in the Tulum area.

Casa Cenote***

Casa Cenote is a beautiful cenote just north of Dreams Tulum and about 10 minutes north of downtown Tulum. It is down a road about 3 km from the main road. We took a collectivo from Tulum to the entrance road for 15 pesos per person. The kids sat on our lap so they were free.

Once out of the collectivo, we walked down the dirt road towards the cenote. It was a long walk but not terrible. There were some beautiful houses down this way and many of them seemed to be for rent.

The cenote was 20 pesos per person. I think if you are scuba diving it is a little more, around 40 pesos. This cenote is very near the ocean so you can hear all of those beautiful sounds and the water is more salty then some of the other cenotes.

The cenote extends back into the jungle about 200 meters. It was a beautiful swim. The cenote is very deep and crystal clear. Make sure to bring your snorkel masks.

There were many houses in this area that are for rent. It is a very peaceful area, far away from any troubles in the world.

There is a few restaurants in the area as well. We ate at the Casa Cenote restaurant. The food was great and the margarita was perfect. Not served in that crazy tourist fishbowl but in the correct short glass. The restaurant is under a beautiful palapa and is right on the beach.

This is also a hotel with newly renovated rooms. It listed the prices in the restaurant menu and the prices for the rooms were very reasonable. It also stated that the cost of the room included breakfast, snorkel and kayak rental.

This part of the beach is called Tankah Bay. It is beautiful. A car would be very handy here though.

Cenote Cristal ***

Tulum has so many beautiful cenotes. Cenotes are underground freshwater sink holes that are all over the Yucatan peninsula. They are wonderful places to swim, snorkel or scuba dive. The water is so fresh and clear. It is a truly amazing experience to swim in the cenotes around Tulum.

One cenote that we love to go to is Cenote Cristal. Cenote Cristal is about 3km south of Tulum town. To get to Cenote Cristal you can take a taxi for about 40 pesos. We do not see the collectivos that go south to Carrillo Puerto as often and it less expansive for the 3 or 4 of us to take a taxi. Entrance cost to the cenote may vary but when we went to the cenote the cost was 40 pesos for an adult and 20 pesos for kids. The prices of the cenotes vary.

There are also some rules to remember when going to a cenote. One of the biggest ones is that you should not wear sunscreen or bug spray. There are some all natural ones on the market but really none is best. These cenotes are so beautiful and full of so many beautiful animals and we really do not want to damage that. This cenote is smaller then some others. I over heard a snorkel guide saying that the use of fins in this cenote may be damaging to plant and animal life in the water so you may not want to use them.

After paying our fee and walking down the pathway we came upon the cenote. It was beautiful. There were not a ton of people and it was very relaxing. There are 2 step entrances into the water. Do be careful because they do get very slippery. There was a rope to hold onto that crossed one section of the water and I saw a rope down at the bottom as well for those who are diving.

This is an amazing website that gives wonderful detail about many cenotes in this area. http://www.cenotesoftherivieramaya.com/5-5-caveguide.htm It gives the most in depth information on cenotes that I have found on the web.


Cenote Cristal is directly across the street from Cenote Escondido. Payment into Cristal gains you entrance into Escondido as well.

About Tulum

Tulum is a breathtaking piece of paradise that sits at the South end of the Rivera Maya. Tulum is home to the spectacular Tulum Ruins. Visitors travel from all over the world to see the breathtaking Mayan fortress built high on a cliff above the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean Sea.

Tulum beaches are known and celebrated as some of the most spectacular beaches in the world with their white powder sand that stays cool under the Mexican sun, the beautiful colors of the water that can only be described as “Caribbean Blue” and some of the world’s best underwater marine life. The beaches of Tulum boast and amazing array of eco-chic hotels, secluded cabanas that sit right on the sand as well as restaurants that will entice and please any palate. The jungle and cenotes of Tulum are special treasures that continue to impress the thousands of visitors that come to Tulum every year.

As this small Mayan town grows and changes new hotels, restaurants, and shops are popping up all over the main avenue in Tulum. We at Tulum Living want to celebrate all of the wonderful people that make Tulum such a special place.

Visitors that come to the small piece of paradise known will find themselves surrounded by loving and talented people that create a magical experience.

For those couples dreaming of a magical Tulum wedding on the beaches of the Caribbean have amazing and talented musicians, entertainers, and wedding planners in the area that specialize in creating the most magical of days perfectly tailored to reflect the personalities and dreams of each couple.

Come and Love Tulum.... We do and know that you will to. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at TulumLiving@yahoo.com.

Things to Do

Get Pampered:
Margo in Mexico Massage: Margo is one of Tulum's celebrities. Known for one of the best massages on the beach, you can get a Margo in Mexico right from the comfort and ease of your room or from any number of beautiful locations in Tulum.

Massages by Gina: A combination of reiki- reflexology and holistic massage- this Tulum healer has created her own amazing technique and her own beautiful studio featuring art from her huband and talented artist, Alfredo Hinojosa.


Classes:
Casa de la Cultura: A wonderful spot in Tulum Pueblo where adults and kids can take various classes such as dance, art, music and yoga. But also hosts cultural events for the whole communty. For a list of classes visit HERE!

InSpirit: A wonderful location on the south beach road with everything for your wellness from classes- natural juices and beautiful clothing and jewelry.

Tours:
Mayan Adventure:

Yaaj-Ximbal Jungle Tour: This exciting 4x4 trip through the jungle, exciting zip line and refreshing cenote is the perfect way to spend a day in Tulum

Cenotes:
****Please do not use sunscreen and bug spray if you are going to the cenotes. They cause a lot of damage. Environmentally safe bug repellent is available all over Tulum***

Casa Cenote: a beautiful cenote right next to the beach- also with a great restaurant.

Cenote Cristal: a great cenote just south of Tulum

Cenote Cristalino: This cenote is much further north on 307. There are 2 great cenotes here and you can bring a cooler with great food.

Cenote Escondido: This large cenote is south of Tulum and is included with the price of Cenote Cristal. A long walk down a dirt road leads you to this beautiful cenote.

Cenote Zacil-ha: at km 9 on the coba road, this small cenote has everything a young family needs.

Grand Cenote: One of the best known diving cenotes in the area, this is a great cenote to visit.