Cuzama Cenotes
A Group Of Cave Cenotes Entered By Long Ladders And Stairs Into Cool Blue Pools, Reached From A Village By A Mule Or Horse Drawn Cart On Old Henequen Rails Across The Fields. Run By Local Families As A Cooperative, With Fixed Prices Per Cart. A Half Day Trip From Merida With Swimming In Each Cave. Cooler Than The Better Known Cenotes Near Valladolid · Cuzama, Yucatán
The Cuzama cenotes are three cave pools, Chelentun, Chansinic che and Bolonchoojol, in the flat henequen country about 50 km south-east of Merida in Yucatan state. You reach them from the village of Cuzama by a small open cart that rides on old henequen rail tracks and is pulled by a horse or mule, a ride of a few kilometres through fields and scrub. At each stop a ladder or steep stairs leads down into a cave with clear blue water, light falling from a hole in the roof and tree roots hanging down. The carts and cenotes are run by local families in a cooperative with a fixed price per cart. It suits families, couples and travellers who want a hands-on half day from Merida, with local drivers and small groups instead of big tour buses. It is worth the detour for the swim and the rail ride; it is not worth it if you cannot manage steep ladders or if the heat of the middle of the day is too much. Bring water shoes.
The three cenotes of Chelentun, Chansinic'che and Bolonchoojol near Cuzama, about 50 km south-east of Merida, reached by horse-drawn rail cart; coordinates approximate, Cuzama, Yucatán, Mexico
The cenotes usually open daily from morning to late afternoon, with the carts leaving from the village or the ticket point as long as there is daylight; confirm current times because they are local and can shift. Heavy rain may CLOSE one or more cenotes or the track. Seeing the village and the fields from the road is FREE, but the cart, the entries and any parking or lockers are charged. Weekdays are quiet and some stalls may be closed, while Sundays bring local families.