Cenote Oxman Valladolid – All You Need to Know

Ready to read for the ultimate guide to visiting Cenote Oxman?

Cenote Oxman Valladolid is one of the best Valladolid Cenotes you can visit! It is not only beautiful but also a great place to have some fun and relax. Oxman Cenote is also super easy to visit from Valladolid Mexico, and it’s a must-see place!

This post is a full guide to visiting Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman and includes a lot of useful information and tips to make your trip a success. 

Read also | Best Hotels in Valladolid Mexico for All Budgets

Cenote Oxman Quick Guide

Where Is Cenote Oxman?

Cenote Oxman is located 6.2 km southeast of Valladolid city centre or a few minutes drive by car or motorbike.

How To Get To Cenote Oxman Valladolid?

From Valladolid 

Cenote Oxman is super easy to get to from Valladolid. The best way to get to is to hire a car.  You can rent a car at Cancun Airport, downtown Playa del Carmen or in Tulum and drive to Valladolid.

You can check for the best rates and availability at Discover Cars. *Please note that at the time of writing this blog, there was no car rental available in Valladolid, so make sure you pre-arrange the car rental before you get there.

You can also rent a scooter in downtown Valladolid. You can ask your hotel for a recommendation or check the nearest scooter rental shops near where you’re staying. We used K’ox Balak and had an excellent experience. Expect to pay at least 500 pesos per day and don’t forget to ask for a discount if you’re renting for more than one day. 

Another great option for touring Valladolid cenotes Oxman included, is cycling. Bicycle rental shops are widely available in Valladolid, and some hotels also offer their guests free access to bikes. You can also go on a cycling tour of the local cenotes!

Cenote Tour Valladolid by Bike | On this Valladolid cenote tour, you will visit Cenote Oxman and Cenote Xkeken, as well as a local market and a Mayan village where you will learn more about the Mayan culture and learn how to make tortillas. 

You can also grab a taxi from Valladolid city centre to get to Cenote Oxman, situated in Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman. Expect to pay around 100 pesos for a one-way trip. 

From Tulum to Valladolid

The easiest way of getting to Valladolid from Tulum is to rent your own car with a pick-up in Tulum or Cancun. You can check for the best rates and availability at Discover Cars. 

Another easy way of getting from Tulum to Valladolid is the ADO bus. You can catch this bus from the Tulum bus station. The Tulum Valladolid ticket costs around 150 pesos ($8). 

From Cancun to Valladolid

If you’re travelling from Cancun, you can also use the ADO bus to get to Valladolid. Check the ADO bus website for the schedule. The trip from Cancun to Valladolid takes just over two hours. 

You can also book a private transfer from Cancun Airport to Valladolid with Viator, which will save you a big hassle at the airport. If your flight arrives during the day, you can take an ADO bus to downtown Cancun and then another bus to Valladolid. 

TIP | If you’re arriving late at Cancun Airport, make sure you booked your transfer in advance! Cancun Airport is notorious for ripping off tourists, and I, unfortunately, experienced it first hand!

What’s The Best Time To Visit Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman?

The best time to visit Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman Cenote is early in the morning at the opening time. This will allow you to enjoy Cenote San Lorenzo without the crowds, or if you’re a little lucky, you may have the whole cenote to yourself for a while!

And trust me, visiting an almost empty cenote makes a massive difference! You will be able to snap some great photos without people in the background, swim in peace and have the robe swing to yourself. 

We visited Cenote Oxman just after 8 am, and we enjoyed it with only a few other people, and it was the perfect experience.  

If you can’t make the morning, another good time to visit Oxman Cenote is in the late afternoon at around 3 pm, when most visitors have already left.  

What To Expect At Hacienda San Lorenzo & Cenote Oxman?

Out of all the cenotes Oxman was one of my personal favourites! It is located in the lovely hacienda Lorenzo Oxman and has a lot to offer! 

Oxman Hacienda is located just off the main paved road, and accessing it by car or motorbike is easy, with only a short part of the road being a dirt track. 

As you approach hacienda don Lorenzo Oxman, and you’ll find a large parking lot where you can leave your vehicle. There is a special part for motorbikes and another part of the car park for bicycles. On the left, you’ll find a few souvenir vendors, which you can check out on your way back from the Hacienda Cenote Oxman. 

Walk through the yellow gate until you reach the building, where the ticket office is located. After purchasing your Cenote Oxman tickets, continue further inside the property. The entrance to the cenote is located behind the cenote sinkhole. 

Cenote Oxman is a semi-open cenote with lush lianas and tree roots hanging from the top. Two sets of wooden stairs provide access to the cenote pool, and there is also a jumping platform with a Tarzan robe, which is the best part of Oxman Hacienda Cenote. 

You hold to the robe to swing into the cenote and release the robe when you’re ready to jump in. Jumping from the robe was so much fun, and we kept doing it over and over again! Bringing back the robe requires a little skill, but you can quickly learn the stable movement it requires.  

If you’re visiting in the morning, after the shower, you can just take your backpack with you inside the Cenote Oxman cave because there is plenty of space to safely leave it by the shore. 

Cenote Swimming At San Lorenzo Oxman

Oxman Cenote’s depth is 45 meters, but because it gets a lot of light through the collapsed limestone roof, the cenote water visibility is extremely good, and Oxman is perfect for enjoying cenote snorkeling! 

Swimming in the cenote is also more enjoyable, not only because of the crystal clear water but also because the water isn’t as cold as it can be in cavern cenotes! 

Wearing a lifevest is mandatory, and it makes floating in the cenote really easy. The lifevests are located inside the cave, by the cenote entrance. Make sure you pick the right size – not too big, so it doesn’t fall off when you jump into the water, and not too small so that you can easily float in it. 

Hacienda Oxman Cenote Facilities 

In front of the underground tunnel to the cenote, there are toilets, showers, changing rooms and lockers where you can leave your belongings before you head underground to enjoy the cenote. If you walk further, on your right, you’ll find the swimming pool, and the pool access is included in the standard ticket price. 

The pool area also features sunbeds and a bar serving light bites and drinks, where you can chill out after swimming in the Cenote Oxman. If you have more time, Oxman is definitely the best Valladolid cenote for relaxing and even spending the whole day! 

There is also a set of hammocks for visitors to enjoy, situated under the trees.  

Make also sure you check out a small raised terrace, from where you can get a panoramic view of the cenote. You can find it before the cenote sinkhole and by the pool. 

If you’re planning to stay for lunch, I recommend choosing the 300 pesos ticket that includes 250 pesos credit to use at the Cenote restaurant or bar. The meal prices vary from 100 to 200 pesos, so for that credit, you easily would be able to get a meal with a drink.

The restaurant menu serves mainly Mexican dishes and also includes a small section for vegetarians, which is great. Alternatively, you can purchase the 350 pesos ticket and eat as much as you want at a buffet lunch. 

Cenote Oxman Mexico Opening Times 

Cenote Oxman opening time is 8 am to 5 pm. If you’re visiting in the afternoon, make sure you arrive at least one hour before the official closing time. 

Cenote Oxman Entrance Fee

So, how much does Cenote Oxman cost?

The basic ticket costs 150 MXN ($7.4) and includes a cenote entrance fee, the use of lifevests and swimming pool access. 

The plus package costs 300 MXN (200 pesos for children), and in addition to the cenote and pool access, you get 250 MXN credit to use in the cenote bar or restaurant. This is a fantastic option if you’re planning to stay at Oxman Cenote Valladolid longer. 

And for 350 pesos ($17.2) (250 pesos for children), you get a buffet lunch. 

San Lorenzo Oxman Cenote Rules 

Take a shower | At all cenotes near Valladolid, you are required to take a shower before entering the cenote pool. The mandatory shower is enforced in order to protect the cenote pool from contamination with chemicals such as suncream, deodorant or any body lotion or skin moisturiser.

Please be respectful and a mindful traveller, and let’s make sure others can enjoy the cenotes in the years to come.

Wear a lifevest | The use of lifevests at Cenote Oxman Yucatan is obligatory, and the cost is included in the cenote ticket. Most cenotes that I have visited also had lifevests mandatory, and some required extra payment for lifevest rentals, such as Cenote Xkeken and Cenote Samula.

At Cenote Palomitas, for example, the use of lifevest was optional. But, if you’re not a strong swimmer, I would highly advise getting a lifevest, just in case, even if it’s not required.  

Swim within the designated area | The designated area for swimming at Oxman is clearly marked with a robe, and all swimmers should stay within that area. This is to protect the swimmers from people that are using the swing robe and jumping into the water. 

How Much Time Do I need For Lorenzo Oxman Cenote?

How much time you need at Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman Valladolid really depends on your itinerary and exploring style. 1-2 hours will be enough to shower, change, take some photos, swim in the cenote and jump a few times.

However, because the standard ticket includes pool access, Cenote Oxman is also a fantastic place to spend the whole morning or an afternoon chilling by the pool. You can also get a ticket that includes some credit towards food and drinks purchased at the bar or cenote restaurant or a ticket that comes with a buffet lunch included. 

Other Nearby Valladolid Cenotes 

Cenote Suytun | One of the most famous cenotes in Mexico, and even the world, Cenote Suytun is a must-see place when visiting Valladolid Mexico! I bet you’ve seen a photo of it on Instagram! It’s the one with a circular platform in the middle of the cenote pool and impressive stalactites hanging from the cenote roof.  

Directly above the platform, there is a small opening in the cave roof, and at around midday on a sunny day, a beautiful sunbeam shines through the roof over the platform. Suytun Cenote is located 15 km east of Valladolid, and you can add it to your day itinerary when visiting Cenote Oxman. 

Cenote Dzitnup | Another great cenote to visit near (4 km) Oxman Cenote is Cenote Dzitnup. Dzitnup actually consists of two cenotes – Cenote Xkeken, which is a cavern cenote and a semi-open Cenote Samula, with crystal clear water and a large roof opening, which brings a beautiful light beam inside the cave.    

Cenote Saamal | Cenote Saamal is also situated near (only 2.6 km) Hacienda San Lorenzo Oxman Cenote, and you can combine the two cenotes into one visit! Saamal is an open cenote with a small waterfall feature and an awesome jumping platform. 

Cenote Hubiku | Cenote Hubiku is a cavern cenote located 17 km north of Valladolid on the way to the ruins of Ek Balam. The cenote is 27 meters deep and has 20 meters high cave. The water in the cenote is super refreshing and has around 20 degrees Celsius (68 F). The water is super clear and chilly!  

For more cenotes, check this post – A Guide to 15 Epic Valladolid Cenotes

Where To Stay In Valladolid

What To Take With You To Cenote Oxman?

Cash | Bring some cash with you to cover the ticket cost and lunch. Cenote Oxman is one of the cenotes that takes card payments, but due to its remote location, wifi is not always guaranteed. If that happens, make sure you have enough cash, as the nearest ATM is located in Valladolid. 

Action camera | Swimming in the cenotes is one of the best things to do in Mexico, and you may want to record some memories while you’re having fun! And, for that, there is no better camera than a Go Pro!

Well-fitted swimsuit | Visiting and swimming in Valladolid cenotes is definitely an adventure! As you’re likely to be jumping off the platforms, swinging into the water on a Tarzan robe or going on a zip line, I recommend wearing a well-fitted swimsuit that will stay in place while you’re having fun.

Fast-drying towel | You will also need a towel, and the best towels are the fast-drying ones made of microfibre, like the Fit-Flip Beach Towel. 

Flip-flops | Since you’ll be swimming and getting wet at the cenote, the easiest shoes to wear are flip-flops! And there are no better flip-flops than a pair of Havaianas. 

Thermal water bottle | Stay hydrated and bring with you a thermal water bottle to keep your water cool and help reduce the use of plastic. My favourite is Chilly’s Bottle. It’s a little more expensive, but the price comes with superb quality. Our water literally stays icy cold the whole day! 

What are Cenotes in Mexico?

So, what are cenotes? The term is mainly associated with the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, but cenotes can be found all over the world. Cenotes are sinkholes formed by collapsed limestone rocks that expose groundwater. Swimming in cenotes is super delightful and very refreshing.

The cenote water is typically cool and very clear, thanks to the water being filtered through the ground. The colour of the water varies from deep blue to bright emerald and depends on the rock type and fauna. Cenote depth also varies, ranging anything from a few metres up to hundreds of metres in depth!

Mexican Cenotes in Mayan Culture

The name cenote is derived from the Mayan word Dz’onot, which means ‘cave with water’. During the Mayan civilisation, cenotes were an important source of water. Apart from having a practical meaning, Mayan cenotes also had a spiritual significance.

They were considered to be the gateway to the underworld (Xibalba), a place where gods met and a sacred place of worship where Mayans had their spiritual ceremonies and left offerings.

Types of Cenotes

There are hundreds and hundreds of cenotes on the Yucatan Peninsula, and you’ll be pleased to know that some of the top Yucatan cenotes are located near Valladolid. If you want to explore some of the best cenotes near Valladolid, I highly recommend staying at least 3-4 days in the city. There are at least four types of cenotes Mexico is renowned for. 

Underground cenotes in Mexico (cavern cenotes) | Underground cenotes are the youngest water wells that are entirely covered by rock mass, with only a small opening in the cave roof that lets in minimal sunlight.

They are super interesting to visit, so make sure you include at least one cavern cenote during your visit. Cavern cenotes in Valladolid include Cenote Xkeken and Cenote Palomitas.  

Semi-open cenotes | Semi-open cenotes are much older than cavern cenotes. For millions of years, part of the limestone that covered the well has been eroded and collapsed inside, exposing the underground water. These cenotes let in more light and have more vegetation.

If you visit them at the right time, usually around midday, you can witness an amazing spectacle of light when a light beam comes through an opening in the roof, illuminating the water inside the cenote, creating an extraterrestrial-like effect. The best semi-open Valladolid Mexico cenotes include Cenote Suytun and Cenote Samula.

Open cenotes | Open cenotes are the ones where the cave roof entirely collapsed, exposing the whole water well to the outside environment. These cenotes have the most lush vegetation and are great for a day out. Xcache and Oxman cenotes Valladolid Yucatan are open. 

Ancient Cenotes | Ancient cenotes are the oldest Riviera Maya cenotes that can even be 66 million years old! The roof, as well as the walls of the ancient cenote, are completely eroded, making ancient cenotes look more like lagoons. Most Bacalar cenotes are ancient cenotes. 

Cenote Oxman Valladolid: FAQ

How deep is the Oxman cenote?

The depth of the Oxman cenote varies depending on the season and rainfall. It is estimated at around 45 meters or over 147 feet.

Why can’t you wear sunscreen in cenotes?

Cenotes are natural sinkholes that contain freshwater connected to underground rivers. The algae and microbiota within the cenotes are essential to keep the ecosystem thriving. The chemicals in most sunscreens can be harmful to these creatures and disrupt their natural habitats.

While it may seem inconvenient not to wear sunscreen, especially when swimming for long periods in the water, it’s crucial to respect the cenotes and their delicate ecosystems. Instead, opt for sun-protective clothing or reef-safe sunscreen to protect yourself and these incredible natural wonders.

Should you wear water shoes in a cenote?

It’s up to personal preference. Some cenotes can have slippery surfaces around them, so water shoes may help protect your feet. However, most cenotes are super deep, so the water may be too deep for water shoes to make a difference. If you don’t owe water shoes, a pair of flip-flops is also fine.

Why are cenotes so clean?

There are several factors that contribute to the exceptional clarity of these pools, including the natural filtration provided by their underground origins, as well as the absence of human pollution and contamination. The natural filtration process also helps keep the water clean, as water slowly seeps through porous limestone rocks and soil before reaching the cenote.

Cenote Oxman Valladolid: Final Word

All in all, visiting Cenote Oxman was a super fun experience. The contrast between the warm sun and the cool blue of the cenote made for a perfect afternoon.

Jumping off the Tarzan rope was such a thrill – feeling the free fall and then finally being submerged in the water – that left me buzzed and energized.

After that, it was pure relaxation mode by the pool with plenty of snacks to enjoy. Whether you go with friends or alone – this is definitely my favourite cenote to spend a whole afternoon at!