Explore Valladolid & Cenotes Suytun Oxman Dzonot

This full-day "Valladolid Premium" tour from Merida combines three cenotes with a guided visit to the colonial town of Valladolid.

The day starts early, with pickup around 7:00 a.m. and a stop at a store along the way to pick up snacks and drinks. The first stop is Cenote Suytun, an underground cenote lit by natural light through an opening in its ceiling, where you'll have time to swim and take photos; a Mayan warrior purification ceremony is also part of the visit here, and a life vest is provided.

From Suytun, you'll continue to Cenote Oxman, known for its clear water, where you can swim and take photos (entrance and life vest included), before moving on to Cenote Real Dzonot at Hacienda Guadalupana. There, you'll have time in the water followed by a buffet lunch with a refillable drink (flavored water), with entrance and a life vest also included at this stop.

In the afternoon, the tour moves to the historic center of Valladolid for a guided visit that takes in the cathedral, a former convent, a local museum, the Calzada de los Frailes, the main plaza, the city's landmark letters and the Choco Story chocolate museum store. The return trip to Merida takes you back into the evening, with the tour typically wrapping up between about 6:45 and 7:15 p.m.

Transportation departs only if a minimum of three people are booked, so departures can vary with demand, and there is no hotel pickup for this tour — you'll need to reach the designated meeting point on your own. It's suitable for all physical fitness levels but not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health.

Bring a swimsuit, a towel, a change of clothes, biodegradable sunscreen, water and some cash; sunscreen should be avoided in the cenotes themselves and used afterward for the walk through Valladolid instead. Buffet lunch typically includes traditional Yucatecan dishes such as lime soup, chilaquiles, cochinita pibil and pork poc chuc, among other options.

Included in the tour are entrance fees to the cenotes, life vests and a snorkel mask, the buffet lunch with one refillable drink, a cooler with ice in the van, air-conditioned transportation, use of the cenotes' pools, hammocks, restrooms and showers, and a certified guide throughout. Beverages ordered separately and tips are not included.