Aug 3, 2025
The Best Time - Felipe is the best!! Run don’t walk to go see the Mayan Tom Crusie ! The experience was amazing and the atmosphere was giving.
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Oct 20, 2024
Lovely Hidden Gem - After seeing pictures of this AMAZING cenote online, I couldn't wait to visit. Certainly glad we did.
My hubby and I got to visit this lovely spot, as part of a trip to EK BALAM RUINS. We have been to more than one dozen different cenotes over the years in Mexico, but CHICHIKAN was my favorite.
Beautiful location, hidden from highway. We visited during SEP2024, so very empty. This establishment is one of the few cenotes where I felt that the management CARED about me. They are very interested in YOUR safety, which is not always the case.
After entering, you are directed to the changing area (to put on your bathing suit). Very well organized, with lockers, bathrooms, and showers. After walking down a SMOOTH path, you are directed to take a shower and pick up a life jacket. Then comes the REAL journey.
The cenote is circular, open to the sky, with a beautiful waterfall. HOWEVER to get down to the platform, you must walk down a million, tightly wound uneven wooden stairs, SOMETIMES WITHOUT RAILING, all at a very steep angle. You really DO not see this from the website, or any pictures I have seen. There are very few landings to rest; once you commit, it's DOWN DOWN BABY - with no turning back!
And going down is MUCH easier than coming back up. Again, this is not a journey for the faint of heart. Several people (older, or with knee/back difficulties) turned back. My own husband, who has severe arthritis, did NOT come down with me. This is NOT a handicap accessible site, or a place for pregnant women.
Anyway, once you are down, you find yourself standing on a rubber covered walkway. Not crowded at all, and there are even places to dive/jump into the water. The water is TEEMING with fish: catfish, tetras, and other small freshwater types. Plus tons of aquatic plants, and a BEAUTIFUL WATERFALL. It is truly a magical setting; one I have never seen in any other cenote.
If you do decide to venture into the water, IT IS FRIGID! Couldn't believe the water could be freezing 50F maybe, even though it was 105F that day. After a quick hop down the steps- yep steps- came right back up out of the water. And then the daunting journey back UP those horrific winding stairs begins. So stay down for a bit, even if it's just to catch your breath!
In the sunlight at the top of the cenote, you can relax for 10 minutes to catch your breath, stop shivering, and then return your life vest. After drying off and changing, most people head to the on-site restaurant.
The restaurant was REALLY good; authentic Mecican food (which we were not expecting). Real bar, so you can get a Margarita or Mezcal, if you want. And a wonderful woman hand cooking tamales on the grille. Fresh salads, tortilla soup, tacos, rice pudding - a very nice buffet.
After eating, there is a small village to visit, depicting traditional Mexican life, which you can walk through. There are also several stations to observe typical cooking, taste Tequilas etc. Watch native dances. It's not XCARET, but it's cute. So if you are handicapped, pregnant, or simply do not want to go into the water, there are still things to do in the village. There is a small craft shop, and I believe also a spa on site.
If you will be at CHICHZEN ITZA, COBA, EK BALAM or even in the area of Vallidolid, this cenote is a lovely excursion.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 30, 2024
Highly recommended visit - A wonder of nature. Great facility to access and very good facilities. The food very varied and with great taste
Review provided by Tripadvisor
May 14, 2023
Cenote and spectacular food - Excellent magical place, cenote buffet restaurant and excellent service, a place to bathe in the cenote eat drink and spend a day very comfortable
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Feb 13, 2023
Unforgettable experience in the most Valladolid cenote. - My favorite experience was everything in knowing the mystical Mayan city and all its customs and traditions as well as the cenote shamans with their cults and prayers to the dressers
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dec 10, 2023
A different experience!!!! - The visit to the Cenote, we loved the park, it is spectacular and we ate a buffet lunch there which was really very good!!! I want to highlight the attention of all the staff, especially the waiter Santos.!!! They know how to serve tourists
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 16, 2025
Cenote spectacular, mostly excellent experience. - From our arrival, the reception was clear and friendly. Facilities are well organized and services such as lockers and life jacket lending are very helpful. It is also positive to encourage the use of the watering can before entering the cenote, which helps its preservation.
The cenote itself is impressive: the water is clean, fresh and the natural environment is majestic. It is completely worth visiting.
However, the tequila tasting area needs improvement. Although we were informed of the timetables on arrival, the treatment by the staff was unprofessional. The attention was noticeably different for those of us who were not part of a foreign group. The experience was limited to two drinks without further explanation, while other visitors were offered more complete attention.
I believe that this point represents an excellent area of opportunity for improvement. Outside of that, everything else was excellent. In addition, we were able to take pictures with a beautiful macaw, which made the visit even more memorable.
Recommended for families, provided that bad weather is avoided with the tasting staff.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 4, 2025
Regular for what they charge - The experience was regular lack of information regarding the visit of the cenote there is not much to see and the firm they offer goes from regulating to bad drinks at gringo price or be charismos.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 29, 2022
I recommend it only for the Cenote - Extremely excessive cost for the offer. But not all to throw away, let's go for points:
- Mayan experience, to forget. The ceremony with the “sorcerer” was very embarrassing and the visit to the “huts” where they showed the approach of this magnificent culture to local products and resources was hasty and aimed at an ignorant and superficial public
- Buffet lunch included in the package: presented as a buffet of local cuisine and find some hot and watery fusilli was quite annoying, fortunately something washed
- Cenote: the only positive note for which it is worth coming here is the Cenote. Really impressive and spectacular. Near lunchtime and early afternoon we managed to avoid the tourist groups so we were practically alone
If we overlook the price I recommend it exclusively for the Cenote
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 13, 2024
Do not buy tequila at cenote! Scam! - We bought reposado tequila made by a distillery at the cenote and when got it home it was half water! They packaged it for me to fly home so of course I didn’t open it and when I gave it to my friend as a gift he told me it was very watered down. I paid $75 USD for nothing! Do not fall for this scam. I’m so disappointed!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor