How to visit Cenote Canunchen and have fun in Homun
Cenote Canunchen is one of the many cenotes that you can visit in Homún. This fortunate village is located 50 kilometers from Mérida and is well known for its beautiful cenotes.
Homún has been a popular destination for cenote lovers for years.
In fact, in this quiet town, you can visit so many spectacular cenotes to keep you busy for a week.
Cenote Canunchen is on the same dirt road as the Balmil, Chel Paak, Hool Kosom, and Chulul cenotes. Keep reading to know all the information.
What are the cenotes?
A cenote is a freshwater sinkhole formed by the collapsing of limestone soil, the type of stone that the Yucatan Peninsula is mainly made of. The cenotes allow us access to the water table. These holes are produced naturally by the collapse of the roof.
Sacred to the Mayan civilization they are now some of the main tourist attractions in the Yucatan Peninsula. Read more about the Mexico cenotes.
Things to know about Cenote Canunchen
The Canunchen cenote is a closed cenote that you reach by a wooden staircase about 10 meters high.
A wooden platform above the crystal clear water allows visitors to enjoy the interior of the cenote.
The crystalline waters of the Canunchen cenote and the beautiful vault of the place are one of a kind and make it one of the most spectacular cenotes in the area.
There is a rope that allows you to jump like Tarzan from the platform. The Canunchen cenote opened in 2016.
It has palapas where you can rest and eat your own food. It is one of the most beautiful cenotes to visit in Homún. Each cenote has its magic and charm, we never tire of admiring these natural wonders.

How to get to Cenote Canunchen
Cenote Canunchen is located 50 kilometers east of Mérida. When you arrive at Homún you must continue 2 kilometers from the eastern exit of the town.
Once you see the signs on the left, you must follow the dirt road for 1 and a half kilometers to the Canunchen cenote.

How to get to Homún (cenote Canunchen) by Car
From Mérida take Calle 59 to the periphery of the city, and follow the sign to Chichén Itzá. Continue on the road for almost 30 kilometers until the detour to Tahmek. Hocabá continues from here and then Homún.
On the road, you will see several people who will stop you to offer motorcycle taxi tours in Homún. Sometimes they are a bit insisting. Keep in mind that you can get to the Homún cenotes for free or tour them on a motorcycle taxi tour.
➣ When renting a car in Mexico we recommend Discover Cars because on their website you can compare different companies and their prices and you can choose between their car insurance or the ones offered by the car rental directly, or both.
When you choose your rental car we recommend including full insurance with 0 deductible so you will drive with no stress. On Discover Cars, you can purchase that too. Make sure you read the fine print.

How to get to cenotes Homún (cenote Canunchen) by Local Bus
From Mérida the bus leaves (medium van) from the colonial Centro (calle 52 x 65 y 67). Mini-vans from Mérida to Homún start running from 6 in the morning, and the last departure is at 5:30 pm.
From Homún to Mérida, the first departure is at 5:30 in the morning and the last between 5 and 6 in the afternoon. The price is 34 pesos per person.
The schedules of the buses are approximate as they leave when they are full. It is a very busy route, so it is easy for the bus to fill up quickly.
The ride is approximately 1 hour.
How to get to Cenote Canunchen by taxi
In Homún you will find motorcycle taxi services to get to the cenotes. They offer a selection of Homún cenotes, and you can make your choice by browsing through photos and consulting with the guides.
Typically, they will take you to the nearest cenotes, but there are multiple alternatives available. As seasoned travelers, we prefer to make informed decisions based on our preferences.
This is why we are here – to assist you as local experts and provide you with comprehensive details about the Homún cenotes.
The prices are around 250 pesos for a tour of the cenotes by motorcycle taxi. You can see from 3 to 5 cenotes depending on the time you spend.
If you want to visit other cenotes that are further away, such as Mani Chan, Caliskutz, or Che en Yuc cenotes, among others, you must agree on a price beforehand.

Cenotes that you find on the same road that cenote Canunchen
- Cenote Bal Mil
- Cenote Chulul
- Cenote Wolpoch
- Cenote Hool Kosom
- Cenote Chel Paak
- Cenote Sastal -Ha (very close, 100 meters further on, following the main road)
Each of them is different and surprising. We talk about all of them so you can decide which one to go to. We love helping you enjoy this land and the magical world of cenotes.

Things to do in the Cenote Canunchen
Cenote Canunchen
- Swim and chill – you can just enjoy the cool waters and the cave
- Snorkel – we always recommend wearing a mask if you like to observe the place carefully. The water is crystal clear and there is good visibility.
- Do the Tarzan – there is a rope that you use as a liana to launch yourself and let you fall on the water.
- Jump – there is a platform to jump into the water

Practical information
Canunchen Facilities
- Showers
- Toilets
- Life jackets are included in the price, they are mandatory
- Hammock area
Cenote Canunchen Entrance fee –
50 pesos each person (3 USD approx)
Cenote Canunchen Opening Hours
Open every day from 10 to 17

How to visit Cenote Canunchen and respect the environment
We would like the cenote (and nature in general) to stay as beautiful as it is. The good part is that it’s not that difficult. We have put together some simple rules to follow in order to inflict as little damage as possible to the environment.
💙Don’t be loud
💙Don’t trash
💙Don’t use any kinds of cream spray or protectors on your skin as it would contaminate the environment (even the so called – eco friendly)
💙Always take a shower before entering in a cenote (available at the entrance)
💙Don’t hang on to the stalactites or stalagmites or any roots
💙Just don’t do any foolishness that can damage the environment
If we appreciate the environment we will learn to respect it.

What to bring to Cenote Canunchen
- Swimsuit
- Change of clothes
- Towel to dry off
- Mosquito repellent to wear after you come out of the water as there are many mosquitos around
- Mask and snorkel gear and life jacket are available for rent but it would be much better if you have your own, both for hygienic purposes and saving
- You can walk on your flip flop although I always like to wear closed shoes when I am in the wilderness, mainly to avoid bugs bites. But it’s totally up to you
What we like about cenote Canunchen
👍🏽The extraordinary rock formations
👍🏽The fact that it’s in a cave
👍🏽The clear water
What we don’t like about Canunchen
👎🏽It is one of the most popular cenotes and the platform is not very large, so it can be a bit uncomfortable to visit with a lot of people. We recommend you go early.
INSIDER TIP – try to avoid weekends and be there early morning when they open if you want to avoid crowds.
Tips to photograph the cenote Canunchen
A wide-angle lens like the ones we use, 14 and 16 mm, are optimal thanks to its wide field of vision, which favors showing the entire space of the cenote.

Category – family
Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
What to visit near Cenote Canunchen
- Ruins Acanceh 24 km/15 miles 40 minutes by car
- Ruins Mayapan 46 km/28.5 miles 1 hour by car
- All the Homun Cenotes 😁
Where to stay near Cenote Canunchen
The closest town to the cenotes where to stay is Homun. This small village has grown a lot over the years and you can now find many different kinds of stays from the simplest local hotel to more sophisticated luxury places. Here below we will share our hotel recommendations.
🏨 Hameki
Great laid-back luxury glamping just outside Homun downtown. Guests also love their pool and deck chairs and the on-site restaurant offering also vegan dishes.
👉 Check availability and rates on Booking.com
🏨 Hotel Santa Maria
Simple local hotel for a budget stay. The rooms are not fancy but spacious and clean. They have a pool and an indoor restaurant with local dishes
👉 Check availability and rates on Booking.com
🏨 Reset Atemporal
Interesting luxury stay just outside Homun downtown. This new hotel offer luxurious cabañas equipped with thoughtful details.
👉 Check availability and rates on Booking.com