Cenote Xkeken

Cenote Xkeken is a popular swimming area lying in a park that also has Cenote Samula. The area was developed by the community in an effort to build their economy with the presence of two popular cenotes: Xkeken and Samula. However, many of the buildings have long been empty and underutilized.

Visitors park and walk through the admission gate, where a menu of admission charges greet you. Guests may also purchase horseback and ATV rides, bicycle rentals, or pick and choose the cenotes they would like to visit. From here visitors are routed past a couple small animal enclosures, where employees encourage guests to pose with animals in order to purchase the photos before continuing into the grounds.

The walk to Cenote Xkeken winds through empty buildings and past vendors before reaching the steps into the cavern. The swimming area is small and modest, with no platforms for jumping, just several sets of stairs, where swimmers can enter the cloudy water. Edges of the cenote are shallow, so swimmers must be careful not to scrape themselves on the rock.

For those only visiting one cenote, Samula may be a better option. There is a lifeguard on duty, and life jacket rentals are available from a vendor while walking to the cenote.

Cenote Xkeken is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is MX$80 per person or MX$125 for Xkeken and Samula. Child ticket prices are MX$50 per cenote or MX$80 for both.