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The whole lot You Have to Know Earlier than Visiting


Fascinated by a go to to Cenote Dos Ojos? We share every little thing you should know, from entrance costs to how one can get there to our first hand expertise visiting.

Cenote Dos Oyos with vines

Whereas we have been in Mexico, we had the nice fortune of assembly up with just a few touring households like ourselves.

One of many households we frolicked with was Erin and Josh from Journey With Bender. Not solely have they got their very own journey weblog, they’ve two younger ones as properly and it was nice to let our children hang around with youngsters their very own age.

After tons of backwards and forwards, our two households rented a few automobiles to take a look at Cenote Dos Ojos (Spanish for 2 eyes) simply outdoors of Akumal, which is between Tulum and Playa del Carmen.

Cenote Dos Ojos rightfully will get nice evaluations, and provide one thing for swimmers, divers and snorkelers (we weren’t diving that day).

steps leading to Cenote Dos Oyos by Tulum

Not like our go to to Cenote Cristalino, which we visited the final time we have been in Playa, Cenote Dos Ojos requires strolling down into its depth to entry the water. We weren’t positive what that may entail, however we knew it could be very completely different than Cristalino.

What’s a cenote, anyway?

If you happen to’re not aware of a cenote (pronounced Se-Noh-Tay), they’re massive sinkholes that happen naturally within the limestone rock on this space of Mexico. Typically they’re open air pits and typically they’re caved in caverns. With the huge community of underground rivers all through the peninsula, additionally they happen underground.

There are dozens of contemporary water cenotes from Cancun right down to Tulum within the Riviera and all the best way to Merida additional west within the Yukatan.

As soon as worshiped by the early Mayans as entrance methods to the underworld, in the present day cenotes are shortly changing into a strategy to entice guests and generate just a little earnings. Extra appear to be opening up on a regular basis.

The whole lot You Have to Know Earlier than Visiting
Planning a bounce!

Dos Ojos Cenote

We had heard that Dos Ojos was one of the crucial fashionable diving cenotes within the area. This didn’t absolutely hit house till we drove into the parking zone and listened to the diving pitch. The salesperson on the entrance appeared awed that we weren’t keen on doing a dive.

With two younger youngsters in tow, diving has taken a again seat these previous few years, however Micki and I are assured that after we are able to belief the children to not do one thing dumb whereas we’re gone we’ll undoubtedly take it up once more. To be completely sincere, Dos Ojos was the primary time since we had youngsters that I really wished to strap a tank to my again and plop a regulator in my mouth.

Cenote Dos Oyos by Tulum
Aquamarine water within the first cavern at Dos Ojos

How a lot is the doorway payment?

The doorway payment is 200 pesos or about $14 US {dollars}. You’ll be able to hire snorkeling tools for round a further 100 pesos.

After paying close to the doorway simply off the freeway south of Akumal (four-year-old Jordan was free), we drove the 2 graveled kilometers to the positioning correct.

We shortly understood that Dos Ojos is a critical diving vacation spot once we have been compelled to park our automobiles simply outdoors the principle gates whereas divers bought to drive proper in. As we walked the additional few hundred toes previous the automobiles, vans and vans stuffed with divers and their gear in numerous levels of preparations, we knew it could be busy.

Find out why the crystal clear Cenote Dos Ojos is a must visit near Tulum

The place do you swim?

There are two foremost platforms the place you may enter the water.

The primary platform is to your left after you undergo the doorway. That is the bigger platform the place we spent most of our time. The primary platform can be the place divers come out and in of the water, so it may be busy. There’s additionally a pleasant shallow space on the backside of the steps right here, nevertheless it tends to be fairly busy with divers, swimmers and snorkelers popping out of the water.

jumping off platform at Dos Oyos in Mexico

There’s additionally a pleasant space the place divers can fall backwards into the water, which doubles as leaping level for all of us non-divers. It was on this congested space that we spent most of our time.

The second platform is to your proper after you undergo the doorway. The platform right here is smaller, and mainly only a leaping off level to get within the water. There are stairs main into the water, and they are often slippery.

Cenote Dos Ojos Divers going up platform
Braving the robust slog up the steps on the bigger first platform at Dos Ojos

Is the water chilly?

The water temperature anyplace in Cenote Dos Ojos is a constant 24 or 25 levels Celsius (77 levels Fahrenheit) all year long. It’s comfy for swimming, and we discovered it refreshingly cool after coming in from the new solar outdoors.

The water is fairly deep across the second platform, nonetheless there are shallower areas across the first platform.

Will I see fish?

Completely! The water is filled with fish, however they’re principally fairly small.

You’ll want to make use of environmentally secure sunscreen.

What’s it wish to snorkel in Cenote Dos Ojos?

We determined to take a look at the primary platform and as we descended the lengthy steps right down to the doorway, divers have been all over the place. With a bunch of bench-like tables arrange for diving gear, we have been shocked there was no devoted space for the snorkelers. It undoubtedly made it awkward for the children and our luggage, however we discovered an empty area behind one of many tables and arrange store.

One factor good about recessed cenotes is that we didn’t want to use any sunscreen on the children. We’re undecided who loved that essentially the most, them or us. 😉

Tip! If you happen to’re snorkeling greater than as soon as within the Mayan Riviera, save the snorkel equipment rental payment (100 pesos), and produce your individual snorkel. You’ll be able to choose up an affordable equipment for round $250 Mexican pesos ($13).

Dos Ojos Cenote Diver Relaxing on his back Bubbles Mexico
Stress-free in Dos Ojos

Dos Ojos is unquestionably primarily a diver’s cenote, although there are many snorkelers. At Dos Ojos the divers are queen and king. There’s not quite a lot of of room to maneuver and the steps of the primary platform, which was one in all just a few handful of places our younger youngsters may contact the underside. The steps have been consistently busy with divers popping out of the water.

After all, anybody who’s ever lugged round a 40 lb tank strapped to their again whereas in full diving gear and sporting fins is aware of that mobility on land isn’t the best. We shortly realized to get out of the diver’s approach once they have been on the transfer.

Regardless, we had fun snorkeling and swimming at Dos Ojos.

Cenote Dos Ojos Shafts of Light
Daylight illuminating Dos Ojos

The contemporary, cool water is crystal clear, the sunshine robust sufficient to see fish and funky rock formations whereas snorkeling, and the water is deep sufficient that there’s loads of room for each divers and snorkelers as soon as they’re off the platforms and within the water. The drop down is spectacular, the caverns beautiful, and watching the divers enter the darkish tunnels from above made me want I used to be with them. It was wonderful to see how far the diver’s small flashlights reached at nighttime caves that they have been coming into.

Although divers consistently got here and went, for essentially the most half Dos Ojos was stuffed with playful snorkelers who swam across the first cavern. The youngsters loved a spherical of platform jumps and all of us had enjoyable.

Vines at Cenote Dos Ojos

After hour or extra on the first cavern, we made our strategy to the second cavern. By then we have been all ravenous and the children have been just a little drained so we didn’t spend a lot time there.

From a snorkelers standpoint, the second platform to enter was just a little darker and never as inviting as the primary entrance, so we determined to name it quits and jumped within the automobiles and headed to Tulum for lunch.

From a divers perspective, the second entrance regarded promising with an extended underground cave system linking the 2 caverns collectively.

There are beautiful stalactites and stalagmites within the caves.

When the water degree is excellent, you may snorkel to a bat cave. It’s accessible by swimming via a darkish, slim cavern, and our children weren’t , so we skipped it this time.

Don’t contact something within the caves, because the cave formations are fragile, and could be damaged simply by an errant fin.

You might also see different jungle creatures close to the cenotes, together with iguanas, snakes, and birds.

A shallow space by the second platform at Dos Ojos

I’d look into diving there if in case you have your certification and aren’t afraid of darkish, underground worlds. The place was featured within the 2002 IMAX Movie Journey into Wonderful Caves and the cave system is supposedly one of many longest underwater cave techniques on this planet.

There are dive excursions proper on website (although you may rent outdoors dive corporations as properly) and the costs appeared cheap for a dive. Sadly, I didn’t write any of the costs down so that you’ll have to buy round in case you determine to dive the place your self.

In all, Dos Ojos was an excellent cenote to take a look at and all of us loved our morning there. No matter whether or not you’re a diver or a snorkeler you’ll most likely get pleasure from what it has to supply.

What facilities are on the cenote?

There are just a few little snack outlets on website and hammocks strewn up right here and there within the stress-free zone at Do Ojos.

There are additionally bogs and contemporary water obtainable for the divers to rinse out their gear.

Is there a rest room?

Sure, there’s a washroom on website.

Are there lockers and altering rooms, and may you hire tools?

Sure, there are lockers on website, in addition to altering rooms.

You’ll be able to hire snorkeling gear (masks, fins and snorkel) for 100 pesos additional.

Dos Oyos (Two Eyes) Cenote locker rental

Is there a restaurant?

Sure and no. There’s no restaurant immediately on the Dos Ojos Cenote. Nonetheless, there are eating places on the first freeway entrance, and additional down the street on the best way to Dos Ojos.

Restaurante Dos Ojos and Restaurante Juanita are close to the parking zone space.

What does admission value?

You should buy a ticket on the entrance. Present admission is 350 pesos in 2019 (roughly 18 USD) for adults. (This can be a enormous enhance from our 2013 go to once we paid 100 pesos)! Kids beneath six are free.

Life jackets are included within the worth of your entrance ticket.

At 350 pesos an individual for snorkelers, the value appeared just a little excessive to me, however Cenote Dos Ojos is gorgeous and enjoyable so it’s not a ridiculous payment.

families at Cenote dos Oyos

Can I take a tour?

Sure. You should buy a tour on website while you arrive, or purchase a tour earlier than you go to.

Dos Ojos excursions

If you wish to purchase a tour forward of time Get Your Information affords a tour right here.

See costs for a Viator non-public tour that provides cenote admission and a Mayan lunch (it additionally contains resort pickup and drop-off from Playa del Carmen to Tulum lodges).

Extra Viator tour choices right here.

Dos Ojos excursions on the gate

Once you arrive on the gate, you’ll be pitched snorkeling and diving excursions.

For diving, we’d suggest visiting with a good diving college as a substitute, and reserving forward of time.

If you happen to purchase a snorkeling tour on the first entrance on the freeway, guarantee that it takes you to Cenote Dos Ojos. Excursions offered on the entrance entrance will typically take you to different cenotes within the complicated, and never Dos Ojos. We’ve heard good issues in regards to the excursions, simply know that you could be not be going to Dos Ojos particularly.

The place is Cenote Dos Ojos positioned?

Cenote Dos Ojoys, often known as Two Eyes Cenote, is between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, Mexico, however nearer to Tulum. It’s just a bit bit south of Akumal.

How do I get there?

We discovered that taking a automobile was, by far, essentially the most reasonably priced possibility for the 4 of us. It value us round $25 USD per day for a rental automobile, and that allow us go to Cenote Dos Ojos, go to different cenotes and take a look at Playa del Carmen, Akumal, and Tulum as properly.

By automobile, Cenote Dos Ojos is a 40 minute drive south of Playa del Carmen. Flip proper simply after Xel-Ha onto the marked gravel street.

Once you drive in, you’ll enter Parque Dos Ojos. On the street to Cenote Dos Ojos, you’ll move Cenote Jaguar (with a zipper line), Cenote Nic Te Ha, and Cenote Tahal Tulum, with Cenote Taak Bi Ha additional down the street.
Be sure to cease at Cenote Dos Ojos, which is an entrance on the left hand aspect.

From Playa del Carmen, a colectivo (shared bus) ought to value round 30 pesos per individual (roughly $2.50 USD). You’ll be able to catch the colectivo in Playa del Carmen on Calle 2 Norte between Av. 10 and 15. It’s a couple of two kilometers (1.25 miles) stroll to the Cenote Dos Ojos from the doorway on the freeway.

A taxi to Cenote Dos Ojos from Playa del Carmen prices round 600 pesos a technique (roughly 32 USD).

Cenote Dos Ojos can be known as Sistema Dos Ojos, Two Eyes Cenote, and Cenote 2 Ojos, and typically (incorrectly) spelled Cenote Dos Ojos.

How to visit Cenote Dos Ojos near Tulum Mexico

Love Cancun? Take a look at the perfect issues to do in Cancun, our issues to do in Cancun with youngsters, and our issues to do in Cancun on a finances.

Cenote Dos Ojos is a must visit near Tulum
Cenote Dos Ojos Mexico
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