Tour Valladolid, Cenote Suytun and Cenote Oxman from Mérida

This 12-hour day trip from Mérida focuses on Valladolid and three of its cenotes, combining swimming stops with a guided visit to the heart of the Magic Town to learn about its history and culture. The operator, Colibrí Travels, runs modern air-conditioned vans with certified guides, and the tour is bilingual in Spanish and English within the same van.

The day starts at 07:00. It takes about 45 minutes to leave Mérida, then the van stops at a self-service store where you can buy water and snacks for the road. The itinerary gives about 180 minutes for the leg to Valladolid, although it also mentions a two-hour drive, so ask when booking if the exact time matters to you.

The first cenote is a cavern cenote where you get an hour and a half to swim and take photos. The source adds that two Maya warriors present a purification ritual. The second is an open cenote in Hacienda San Lorenzo, with an hour to swim. The third lies inside a hacienda with a tropical atmosphere; you have an hour in the water and then move to the hacienda restaurant for a buffet lunch that includes a flavored water. Entrance to the cenotes is included and a mandatory life jacket is provided.

In Valladolid you get about an hour and a half with the guide, who takes you to the most important places: the Cathedral, the convent, the museum, the friars' causeway and the Choco Story store. Afterwards you have free time in the main square to photograph the colorful Valladolid letters.

The tour ends back at the meeting point between 06:00 and 06:30 p.m., after a return drive of about two and a half hours from Valladolid. Bring swimming clothes, worn under your clothes, a separate towel and, ideally, water shoes. The van carries a cooler with ice for the drinks you bring, and the operator suggests a good breakfast before leaving.

Be punctual: the wait at the meeting point is a maximum of 10 minutes, and passengers board in the order they arrive at the office. The operator says it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy, and travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Included are the certified guide, life jacket, round-trip transportation from Mérida, a refrigerator on board, cenote entrance tickets, a snorkel mask and lunch. Tips and lockers are not included.