There are multiple cenotes across the street from the Barcelo Maya Grand. Courtesy Unofficial Barcelo Maya
When I last visited the Barcelo Maya Grand mega-resort back in July 2018, I had every intention of visiting one of the five cenotes which are basically across the highway from the complex. Unfortunately, I got way too comfortable in the Palace pool which is where I wound up after taking all my photos and filming on that vacay. Good choice for vacation mode, bad choice for being more productive.
Since I will be returning to the resort at the end of this month and staying at the new adults-only section, I will have a chance to redeem myself. I plan on seeing the Eden cenote since it is a larger cenote but not a huge trek from the highway.
Here are links to the cenotes in case you wish to learn more about them:
If you are not staying at the Barcelo, I’ve posted a video of how to get to these cenotes from Playa del Carmen (actually, you can use the colectivos to get there from anywhere along the road from PDC to Tulum). I like this video not only for the various cenote filming, but for highlighting traveling on the colectivos, or shuttle service primarily used by locals to get around the vast area of the Riviera Maya. I’ve taken them before during the day and they are a cheap form of transportation.
What do you think? Have you seen these cenotes or any others in the Riviera Maya?
great info- thanks for sharing! We’re headed down in October (hopefully!) Looking at a map it looks like you could just walk across the highway from the resort. Is that accurate? Also, if our Spanish is VERY minimal would the colectivos be easy enough to navigate? Are they like a taxi where there is a set price or is that to be negotiated? Thanks!
Hi Sonni: Yes, you can walk/run across the highway (it has a center divide so it’s 2 lanes at a time); the actual cenotes would be to your left once you cross all the lanes. I would exit the property at the main entrance/exit, go across, then start walking left. There are several cenotes here, so where you stop depends on which one you want to visit. Make sure to bring local money (pesos), some water, and depending where you are stopping decide what else to bring (if bringing equipment/cameras/phones, etc. make sure the cenote in question offers lockers if everyone’s going in at the same time). Colectivos are very easy to catch at the main entrance/exit–they stop right by it, you can flag one down if you are going north. If planning on going south (like if you want to see Tulum ruins or Tulum itself), again you have to cross the highway and flag one down. If they flash their lights they want to know if you want to be picked up; wave at them and see if they stop. They won’t if they are full. I speak minimal Spanish and we managed just fine. Taxis do have a set rate to various destinations; the staff at the entrance of each resort will tell you what it is before they call for a taxi for you. Hope you have a great trip!
Great post this. Thanks for the info. We are going in september 2021. I am hoping to se a few if not all of these!!!
Do you think its safe for 2 ladies to get the collectivos to go and see sites like Tulum? Also thinking of making my own way to other ruins on a bus or by taxi. Thanks again for the great post and advice x
Lesley: If you travel during the day you should be fine. Have you thought of hiring a private driver? I did last November and saw a couple of cenotes along Ruta de los Cenotes and it worked out great. I had my own itinerary and had someone drive me around and wait while I had fun. I wrote in more detail about my cenote experience in a post entitled My Cenote Visits During COVID–something like that. Just use the search bar in the blog on the upper right side. FYI: You may want to reconsider doing excursions away from water during Sept. The heat and humidity during late summer in this part of Mexico can get pretty uncomfortable. Tulum ruins has a swimmable beach and it is lovely, but Chichen Itza and Coba do not. Have a great time on your vacation!