A Cenote Lover’s Paradise Just Outside Mérida 🌊
Have you heard about Homun Cenotes? In this post, I will tell you about them.
Just an hour from Mérida, the small town of Homún hides some of the Yucatán’s most magical cenotes. From crystal-clear swimming holes to caves glowing with blue light, this spot is perfect for a day trip if you want to escape the city and dive into nature.
I live in Mexico, not far away from the area, and I have visited these cenotes multiple times. In this post, I will tell you all about my favorite cenotes in Homun and what makes them special. You will also learn how to get there from Merida or Cancun, either by renting a car or using local transportation. (Both are possible options)
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Anillo de los Cenotes (cenote ring): Homun Cenotes and Cuzama Cenotes Overview
Situated at about a 40-minute drive from Merida, “El Anillo de Los cenotes (the cenotes’ ring) is an area that is blessed with an infinite number of cenotes, and not all of them have probably been discovered yet.
Among Merida Cenotes, Homun and Cuzamà are among the most popular sites to see the best of Yucatan Cenotes.
It’s not by chance that the Anillo de los Cenotes is situated right on the same imaginary line caused by the popular meteorite of Chicxulub.
The evidence of so many cenotes helped put the two small towns of Homun and Cuzamà on the map for savvy travelers in search of natural beauty, as they are home to the major concentration of cenotes within the entire Yucatan Peninsula.
After the growth of interest among tourists from all over the world, both towns have been organizing tours for those who prefer to be guided, even though the majority of the cenotes are easily reachable and well-marked.
Of the two towns, Homun has been the one that made the best of it, thanks to the huge number of cenotes on its premises.
I have visited both Homun and Cuzamà. In this post, I am talking about Homun Cenotes only. You can read about Cuzama’ in my dedicated post..
Homun Cenotes
In Homun, some of the cenotes are within walking distance of the town, such as the caves of Santa Rosa, the cenote Santa Rosa, San Antonio, and Tzu Jun Cat.
All the rest are in the surrounding area, but you will need transportation to get there. Here is the list of what I have seen and some others that I have missed. ( I will talk about how to get to the cenotes at the end of the post)
1. Cenote Bal-Min
It means “hidden cenote” in the Mayan language (or so I was told). It’s about 7 meters deep, and you can find beautiful giant stalactite and stalagmite formations beside rock paintings.
It’s easily accessible, as two metal stairs are conveniently placed for the descent and ascent, respectively. You can find rustic changing rooms and bathrooms before entering the cenote.
2. Cenote Tzau Jun Cat
Meaning “sounds of mud”, it’s 8 mt ( about 24ft) deep. This one is the oldest, one of the first to be discovered, and it’s a public one as opposed to the others, which belong to private owners.
It costs 20 pesos only. It’s located right outside town on the way to Cuzamà. It’s within walking distance of the town center.
3. Cenote Holcosom
Situated on the same unpaved road as Cenote Balmain, it’s smaller and probably less impactful, but it’s still worth a visit. The descent is comfortable on metal stairs.
4. Cenote San Antonio
This is not one of my favorites, because they had to build a concrete platform to access it. The entrance and platform are tiny. You cannot jump because the deep water is far from the platform.
Here, they also have cabañas with hammocks, or where you can set up your tent for 80/100 pesos
On another side of the main road, you will find another group of cenotes, two of which are quite remarkable.
5. Cenote Santa Rosa
This other beautiful example of the cenote is relatively smaller but certainly worth a visit. They also have cabañas where you can stay and, of course, changing rooms and toilets.
6. Cenote Canunchen
On the same road to Bal Mil, they are quite similar in structure. You have stairs to ascend and descend, very easy to access, and a wooden platform. Canunchen is a little smaller inside. Both have changing rooms and bathrooms in the outside area.
7. Santa Maria Caves
I can’t believe I had them right beside the hotel where I was staying and I didn’t go, despite I knew. Mysterious games our minds play every now and then. I hope to go back someday.
They are popular for their healing mud, which can be worn on the skin. Not sure how healing it is, but it’s sure fun. Once you get there, they explain how it works.
You will walk into the caves in a subterranean river until you bump into a cenote of crystal clear waters. I am sure it must have been a beauty. If you are a little claustrophobic, consider asking how long the walk will last.
8/9. 3 Oches (2 cenotes)
The meaning is 3 foxes. It’s the one in the main picture of this post. As you can see, it’s very narrow and deep with wooden stairs and a wooden platform from where you could jump.
It’s 9 mt deep in the center. I really love it as it’s more natural without any cement platforms, which are helpful to facilitate access, but they take away the charm of such a natural work of art.
I recently revisited these cenotes while updating this post, and they have done a wonderful job of making the descent easier in the first cenote. They are still very natural and have kept their original shape. Here are some pictures.
If you are feeling more adventurous the local guy, which is the son of the owner, can take you down a small cave I didn’t go as I am a little claustrophobic but if you do, please let me know.
10. Cenote Yaxchabaltun
Yaxchabaltun means green “mazorca” on stone – TUN meaning stone in Mayan ( So I was told)
This is located near Homun town, on the same unpaved road that leads to 3 Ochos and another.
Man-made stairs will take you to a concrete platform from which you can comfortably step down the stairs or jump into the cenote. The cenote is 15 mt deep. Suitable for families and kids.
11. Cenotes Santa Barbara
It’s a group with 3 cenotes, nicely organized and well-maintained, located on the premises of what was once an old hacienda in Yucatan.
You pay 250 mxn to see the 3 cenotes, including the use of the bike, or a ride on the horse chariot, life jacket, which is mandatory for safety reasons and you can include a local lunch for an extra 100 MXN ( I didn’t try it so I am not sure about the quality of the food, but I am sure it’s quite basic)
I chose to ride a bike and got to the 2nd cenote first, where I was on my own with the other 4 people.
You should then move on to the first cenote and, lastly, to the third, as it’s on the way back as you ride on a circuit.
But since they are only 50 mt apart, you can choose depending on how busy they are.
The first cenote was overcrowded, so I decided to take a couple of shots and leave.
I can’t enjoy a cenote when there are too many people. It takes away the magic.
Below are some pics.
Find the cenotes on Google Maps.
How to get to Homun
If you are traveling by bus, you will find regular buses from the bus terminal station in Merida and the “combi” – minivans- leaving from the same road just outside the terminal.
They are very frequent, so you don’t have to worry about availability. Buses to Homun also leave from Valladolid and from Piste (close to Chichen Itza).
If you are driving your car on the road to or from Merida, you need to follow the indication to Acanchè. Cuzamà is about 5 km after Acanchè, and Homun is the following town.
How to visit the cenotes of Homun
Whether you arrive in your own vehicle or by bus, you will find a local tricycle bike with a small chart that offers tours and will take you all around the area. Or better said, they will find you.
If you have your own vehicle, you have 2 choices: go at your own pace by car, or leave your car parked and ask one of the guides to take you. Either way is good. If you go on your own, you won’t get lost. The cenotes are all well marked, and you cannot miss them.
The majority are located along one small, unpaved, and narrow path in the jungle. You can see them one after the other along the road. The entrance is approximately 30 pesos each ( at the time I visited) – 1,50$.
If you decide to go with one of the tour guides, it’s still a good choice because they know their way around very well and they will tell you stories about the discovery of these cenotes, besides, you will help the local economy.
Usually, the tour lasts from 9 or 10 until 5, you set the time as it’s a private tour. It costs around 300/400 pesos ( about 15USD) and you have the guide all to yourself. A tip is always appreciated if you are happy with the service.
What to bring
Make sure you have your swimsuit, a towel, repellent (ideally an ecological one), and sunscreen, which should be applied only after swimming in the cenote.
If you plan to visit some cenotes, it’s advisable to bring your mask. Dress light, but I would recommend comfortable closed shoes to protect you from insects.
They are not dangerous but certainly annoying.
Cenotes rules
As in every natural place, I always like to recommend following some common-sense rules in order to preserve the environment, which I am sure you know already, but a gentle reminder is never in excess.
- Don’t wear any sunscreen or repellent before bathing in the cenotes
- Don’t leave anything that doesn’t belong in the place
- Don’t hang on to stalactites, stalagmites, or tree roots
- Don’t do anything that can damage the environment
Where to stay in Homun
In town, there is one modest but very decent hotel called Santa Maria, which is close to the beautiful Santa Maria Caves.
For sure, there are other small hotels in town, which you won’t find on a booking page, as they are small, family-owned properties that cannot afford to stay on the most popular sites.
You can just show up and ask for availability.
If you wish to have a luxury experience, among the luxury haciendas scattered around Yucatan, the closest to the cenotes is one of the best Yucatan Haciendas Sac chic, in Acanchè, just 5 km from Homun.
Homun Cenotes: Final Thoughts
Although these cenotes are already on the tourist radar and can get very crowded, I still believe they are well worth your time. Whether you go by car or by tour, you are going to love them. Make sure you include them in your Mexico travel planning.
