This post contains affiliate links.

If the expensive pre-packaged tours aren’t for you, use this guide to visit the three cenotes near Coba without a tour.

Dan and I tackled this Tulum day trip on our own and had an awesome time. Now, I have all of the info you need to do it as well!

The three Coba cenotes you’ll visit are Choo-Ha, Tamcach-ha, and Multum-ha. And the best part about visiting these three cenotes near Tulum is that they’re cheap and super easy to combine with your visit to the Coba Ruins.

Ready to go?

This Tulum day trip guide will get you there and shares everything you need to know to visit the Coba cenotes, including:

  • How much does it cost to visit the Coba cenotes?
  • How to get to the Coba cenotes from Tulum
  • How to get from the Coba ruins to the Coba cenotes (by bike or by taxi)
  • What to do at the Choo-ha Cenote
  • What to do at the Tamcach-ha Cenote
  • What to do at the Multum-ha Cenote
  • How to return to Tulum
  • And so much more!

Keep reading to learn exactly how to visit the Coba ruins and the three Coba cenotes (without a tour!) on this easy and fun day trip from Tulum!

 

swimming in the Coba cenotes on a day trip from Tulum

Swimming in the serene Choo-ha cenote near Tulum

 

How much does it cost to visit the Coba cenotes?

Tacking the cenotes near coba onto your Tulum day trip doesn’t drastically increase the price, but there are a few fees, like the bike rentals and cenote entrance fees, you should be aware of.

In total, our complete day trip from Tulum with the Coba ruins, two of the three Coba cenotes, lunch, and transportation cost:

  • Bus to the Coba Ruins from Tulum: 50 pesos
  • Entrance to Coba Ruins: 70 pesos
  • Lunch at El Faisan: 100 pesos
  • Bike Rental: 50 pesos
  • Entrance to Three Cenotes: 55 pesos each
    2019 update: The price for the cenotes has gone up to 100 pesos each – thanks Josef for sharing this info in the comments.
  • Bus Back to Tulum: 86 pesos at 3 pm or 50 pesos at 5 pm or 7 pm

Total Cost to visit the Coba cenotes: 471 pesos / 25 usd per person With the new cenote prices, a Tulum day trip including all three cenotes will cost 656 pesos / 34 usd per person.

 

How to Get to the Coba Cenotes from Tulum

Start your morning with the 7:20 am bus from Tulum.

It costs 50 pesos / 2.60 usd per person and leaves from the Tulum ADO bus station. (Click here to find the bus station on Google Maps, it’s easy to find in the center of town.)

This bus will take you to the Coba Ruins in about an hour.

I strongly recommend visiting the Coba Ruins, working up a sweat hiking to the top of the Nohoch Mul Mayan pyramid, and then visiting the three Coba cenotes for a relaxing swim before heading back to Tulum.

This Coba Guide is a partner article and has all the info you need to know about costs and transport – but I’m also going to go through it here as well.

The Coba ruins have one of the last Mayan pyramids tourists can still climb and I enjoyed taking in the jungle views and stepping back in time for a few hours as I walked through them.

Then, once I was done exploring Coba, it was cenote time.

 

Nohoch Mul Mayan pyramid in the Coba ruins

The Nohoch Mul pyramid at the nearby Coba ruins, which I strongly recommend adding to your Tulum cenote day trip itinerary

 

How to Get from the Ruins to the 3 Cenotes Near Coba (by Bike or by Taxi)

To get from the Coba ruins to the Coba cenotes, walk back out the entrance of the parking lot for the Coba Ruins.

This is where the bus drops you off, so if you decide to skip the ruins and just go to the Choo-ha, Tamcach-ha, and Multum-ha cenotes, you can still follow these directions.

If you do visit the ruins though, you’ll probably be hungry when you leave and I recommend getting lunch at the delicious El Faisan restaurant (get the puc-choc, a traditional Mayan pork dish) and afterward you’ll see a bicycle rental shop right near the parking lot entrance.

Rent a bike for 50 pesos / 2.50 usd – now you’re free to visit the Coba cenotes on your own.

You can also take a taxi to these cenotes, but the cost will be 420 pesos / 22 usd round trip with the driver waiting for you for 20 minutes at each one.

In my opinion, bikes are cheaper, more fun, and all around a much better option.

After we rented the bikes we rode down the road for about 25 minutes to the cenotes. Don’t get freaked out by this, theres not much traffic and the signs for the cenotes are clear and super easy to follow.

First, we arrived at the two cenotes which are next to each other, Choo-Ha and Tamcach-Ha. There’s a little stand at the entrance road where you will buy your tickets.

I recommend paying only the entrance fee for the first two here.

Why?

You may be like us and spend so much time at them you don’t have time to visit the third Multum-Ha cenote. If you do decide to visit it, you’ll have to pass by the stand again anyway, so it’ll be easy to pick up the third entrance ticket then.

My tip: Even if it’s not sunny when you go, two of the three cenotes near Coba are completely underground so it’s still fun to visit them on cloudy or rainy days.

 

 

What to do at the Choo-Ha Cenote

The Choo-ha cenote is so cool!

It’s honestly everything I had hoped for in my first cenote experience.

First, we showered off before we headed into the cave (this is super important to get rid of sunscreen, bug repellant, and other things that don’t belong in the fragile ecosystem).

Then, we descended the slippery staircase down into the underground cavern. I was immediately struck by the huge stalactites dripping from the walls and ceiling, and the super clear blue pool of water.

Once we got to the bottom, there was only one other man there (and this is on a Saturday in high season) and we jumped right in. I was expecting the water to be cold, but it was a surprisingly refreshing and comfortable temperature.

Some people brought snorkels but if you don’t have them don’t worry.

The water is crystal clear and I could easily see everything (not that there’s too much to see, it was mostly rocks and a few fish). It was a super strange and surreal experience, and definitely a uniquely Mexican experience.

We swam around enjoying the Choo-Ha cenote for about 45 minutes before heading to the next one.

 

What to do at the Tamcach-Ha Cenote

The Tamcach-Ha cenote is about a three minute bike ride from Choo-Ha. Here, we again descended a super slippery spiral staircase.

The Tamcach-Ha cenote is much bigger, deeper, and more crowded then the Choo-Ha cenote. It’s also my favorite because of the awesome diving platforms.

On the stairs coming down, theres a diving platform at ten meters (30 feet) and five meters (16 feet) for people to jump off of.

These are Olympic heights people!

I’d estimate there were about 30 tourists at the Tamcach-ha enote with us when we were there and plenty were brave enough to jump off the platforms. I loved the five meter platform, and though it took me awhile, I even worked up the courage to jump from ten meter platform as well (just once).

Everyone was laughing, talking with each other, and cheering on the ones brave enough to jump (and sometimes shouting encouragement when they got too scared and tried to turn back).

If you really truly only have the time to visit one Coba cenote during your day trip from Tulum, this is the one.

Unfortunately, we wanted to catch the 3 pm bus back to Tulum so we had to leave without visiting the third Coba cenote – Multum-ha – but I can still tell you what you need to know to go.

 

What to do at the Multum-Ha Cenote

This cenote is a bit separate from the other two Coba cenotes.

To get to it, you’ll have to ride back out to the main road, turn left, and continue until you see the signs for the Multum-Ha cenote on the right side of the road.

I didn’t go to the Multum-Ha cenote, but you should definitely check it out if you have the time.

First, it’s the deepest of the three so it’s the best for snorkeling. It also has a “hole” in the cave roof which lets in natural light, making it a bit different from the other two which are fully underground.

For only 100 pesos / 5 usd more, it’s definitely worth adding to your Tulum day trip. Just keep in mind that if you decide not to take the 3 pm bus back to Tulum, the next one won’t leave until 5 pm.

 

Use This Guide to Visit 3 Cenotes Near Tulum!

So, there you have it!

If you would like to see the unique Tulum cenotes without paying some of the outrageous entrance and tour prices you’re seeing online, this Tulum day trip is your best bet because it’s easy to do without a car or guide.

Combine the Choo-ha, Tamcach-ha, and Multum-ha cenotes with the Coba Ruins and you have an amazing experience that’s easy to fit into a single day trip from Tulum or even from Playa del Carmen.

If you’ve been to any of the Coba cenotes, I would love to hear your thoughts and comments below.

If you’re planning to visit soon, enjoy 🙂 This is one of the best experiences I’ve had in Mexico so far!

 

Ready to go?

Explore unique stays on Airbnb – like this glass-topped treehouse in the jungle or this Insta-worthy Airstream – and the top-rated hotels on Booking.com to plan the perfect night, weekend, or long-term stay in Tulum.

Then, check out more food, culture, and outdoor experiences in Tulum to round out your itinerary! 

 

This article is part of the Riveting Riviera Maya series. Read the rest below:

Coba Travel Guide: How to Get to the Coba Ruins Trom Tulum

How to Swim With the Turtles in Playa del Carmen

Everything You Need to Know to Visit Bacalar, Mexico

Then, explore the complete Mexico Series for more to insider tips on what to see, do, eat, drink, and discover in Playa del Carmen and beyond.

 

Like it? Pin it!

Coba cenotes Pinterest Pin

 

Did you know every time you read an article on Slight North, you're also planting trees for the monarchs in Mexico? Start here to learn more about our mission and how to get the most out of the site!