During my March 2023 vacation to Cancun and the Riviera Maya, I hired private transportation with Friends Travel Cancun to take myself and my travel partners around to different cenotes for the day.  This was the second time I had booked with this company for the same reason–just provide private transportation to places of my choosing without giving me a tour, please.  And they certainly delivered.  Not only did we get a modern and reliable vehicle along with courteous service, but they also provided  complimentary water, beer, and tequila shots!  Since we were not the ones driving, that was a nice touch for us.

The price for roundtrip transportation from Catalonia Royal Tulum to outside the town of Tulum (Gran Cenote) to Ecopark Kantun-Chi and back to my resort was $250 USD for three adults for the day. (Don’t forget to tip afterwards).  Probably not the cheapest you can get, but certainly less than what my go-to transport with USA Transfers had quoted me for the same itinerary.  We were picked up at our resort and returned to our resort with no problems whatsoever.  I would highly recommend this company for your private transportation needs (their “bread and butter” is roundtrip transportation from Cancun airport to resorts).

Ecopark Kantun-Chi is amongst a group of various cenotes which are situated along the main highway about four miles north of Puerto Aventuras.  For those more familiar with where resorts are located in the Riviera Maya, this entire cenote area is basically right across the highway from Barcelo Maya Grand Resort which is a 25 minute drive south of Playa del Carmen.  Clustered cenotes include (north to south) Chickin-Ha, Ecopark Kantun-Chi, Cristalino, Jardin del Eden, and Cenote Azul.  Ecopark Kantun-Chi is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Since the Kantun-Chi entrance was a bit of a walk from the main highway, we were driven up to the parking lot area where we arranged a pick-up time with our driver.  Signage was fairly good all around the park, and we simply walked about five minutes to the ecopark entrance where we paid for our choice of package for the day, put our things in our chosen locker, took a shower in the provided outdoor area (you have to, they will not give you your flotation vest if you do not), got our vests, put on bug repellent, examined the park’s huge on-site cenote map, and were on our way.  FYI:  Cenotes’ freshwater relies on visitors not wearing any deodorant, sunscreen, or perfume prior to entering cenote waters.  That’s why you must take a shower prior to entering any cenote in the Yucatan Peninsula.  Just don’t apply any of those items on your body prior to arrival to aid in this endeavor.   Also, PLEASE USE THE PROVIDED BUG REPELLENT AND APPLY IT LIBERALLY.  I literally had insect bite welts for two weeks after I got back from this adventure for my haphazard application.

Ecopark Kantun-Chi has a total of five cenotes plus an underground cavern for guests to enjoy.  They include Cenote Kantun-Chi, Cenote Saskaleen-Ha, Cenote Uchben-Ha, and Cenote Zacil-Ha.  However, cenote #5 (Zihil-Ha) is not available for those who didn’t pay for guided tours of some type. There are various admission prices depending on what you want to do. Admission price for all tours and the do-it-yourself package includes access to the cenotes listed in your package deal, a flotation vest, and a locker if you need one–locker deposit was 100 Mexican pesos.  Lockers were large enough that my entire party of three were able to put our day packs into just one without any problems.

While the ecopark’s website only lists three different types of packages, the actual price list at the payment window listed four–the Grotto Adventure, Magical Waters, Grotto Adventure with the four cenotes available for do-it-yourselfers, and the do-it-yourselfer package deal.  Here’s a little more info on what each package deal offers:

• Grut Aventura +Aguas Magicas:  Means Grotto Adventure and Magic Waters, and it includes the cave cenote/underground river experience with lots of stalagmites and stalactites plus all five cenotes and a lunch.  The use of a safety helmet, snorkel, mask, vest, and water shoes are also thrown into the tour price.  This guided tour lasts 3 1/2  hours; tour times are on the hour from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.  $102 USD p/person.
• Grut + 4 TravesÍas:  Grotto Adventure plus the four cenotes available for the do-it-yourselfer visitor.  I’m not sure if this one includes cenote #5–Zihil-Ha, since the title only refers to the four cenotes accessible to non-guided tours.  $84 USD p/person.
• Aguas Magícas:  Means magical waters, and it includes all five cenotes plus lunch.  The use of a mask, snorkel, and vest is also included in the tour price.  This guided tour lasts 2 1/2 hours, tour times are on the hour from 9 a.m. to noon.  $71 USD p/person.  There is an option of using bicycles on this guided tour.
• Vista a 4 TravesÍas:  The website lists this as the 4 Crossings Experience, and it is the do-it yourselfer package deal.  It includes access to life vests and use of a locker along with a deposit fee which is returned as long as you return the key.  Recipients have access to Cenote Kantun-Chi, Cenote Saskaleen-Ha, Cenote Uchben-Ha, and Cenote Zacil-Ha.  Since this is not a guided tour, it doesn’t matter when you arrive.  $45 USD p/person.

Cenote #1 (Kantun-Chi) was a partially open cenote which included a seating area at the mouth of the cenote, a small waterfall, and a kayak; while it was artificially lit within (it did not have a ceiling opening) it was still a dark cenote overall.  There appeared to be a roped-off section with a staff member seated at the opposite end of the cenote, it looked like there was a tunnel or shaft off the main cenote area so I am guessing they don’t want visitors getting lost or injured in that dark space.  If you are a snorkeler you’d probably be wasting your time looking for underwater life at this one.

Cenote #2 (Saskaleen-Ha) was another partially open cenote which also included a seating area at the mouth of the cenote with only a couple of chairs, a small waterfall, and two kayaks.  This was another very dark cenote–again, snorkelers would be wasting their time at this one.

Cenote #3 (Uchben-Ha), was an open cenote teeming with underwater life so snorkelers would have a field day here.  There was a hammock on an upper level by the cenote entrance and there were several places from which to jump into the water.  Try the two little “islands” first, if that is not challenging enough then you’d have to go back up to the top of the cenote by the hammock area and walk around to the other side to find a suitable jumping platform.  Use caution if you decide to do so since this is one of the more shallow cenotes with depths from only 3 to 13 feet at various points.  Also, be aware that pieces of the cenote ceiling which collapsed ages ago and which now reside on the bottom can be slippery, so watch your step as you make your way to the open water.

Cenote #4 (Zacil-Ha) was our personal favorite.  It was another partially open cenote which really gave off an old world Mexico vibe.  After all, cenotes were supposed to be the openings to the underworld according to Mayan beliefs, and access to such revered places had to be OK’d by the spirits to do so.  This cenote had that kind of vibe–an underlying spiritual sense difficult to explain but impossible to ignore.  We had this cenote to ourselves and just spent time swimming around enjoying all the stalactites and niches which this cenote offered.  Don’t miss this one.

The do-it-yourself package deal did not include cenote #5 so I don’t know much about it other than it is a beautiful open cenote which can be rented out to private parties for an exorbitant amount.  If you are into guided tours maybe you’d find this one attractive enough for the added price.

Since there are guided tours which include lunch, be aware that there is an on-site restaurant called Lol-Ha which is located near the entrance building.  If you have the time you may want to take advantage of the ambiance of being in the jungle while dining.  Staff do not check bags when entering this ecopark, so you could bring in some snacks or food of your own without any negative repercussions, just don’t litter or you may change that ability to do so.  Don’t forget to bring water and have everyone in your travel party carry their own water around if you are going to stash your bag in a locker.  You have to walk quite a bit here and it can get beastly hot, even in places with partial shade.  There are several restroom areas at this park including Area de Descanso which was between cenote #2 and #3; it offered restrooms, seating areas, and a hammock area.

Well, what did you think?  Would you consider visiting Ecopark Kantun-Chi?  Below is a picture gallery; take a moment or two and look at some pictures of the park–you can click on any pic to get a larger view, or you can use the arrows to move from picture to picture.