How to Visit the Spectacular Kaan Luum Lagoon in 2022

Located only 10 minutes drive from the trendy Magic Town of Tulum on the bustling Riviera Maya, Kaan Luum Lagoon is one of the most spectacular natural wonders of Mexico.

It is in fact a cenote but it’s located inside a lagoon and from an aerial view you can see the many shades of blues revealing the different levels of depth of the water.

So, close to shore it will be light green which gets more vibrant and intense the more you get close to the dark blue cenote.

In fact, the Kaan Luum cenote is about 80 mt deep, one of the deepest in the area, and you are not allowed to swim there for safety reasons.

So, why would I go visit, if I cannot swim in it? you may ask! Keep reading and you will find out.

In this post, we will share all you need to know about Kaan Luum Lagoon and how to make the most out of your day trip.

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 LAGOON KAAN LUUM AND CENOTE

Kaan Luum means Tierra Amarilla in Mayan language (Yellow earth in Spanish). It’s a huge round lake surrounded by mangroves and thick tropical vegetation, only accessible by a dirt road from the federal highway Tulum – Chetumal.

Located at only 10 km from Tulum the best way to get there is by car, but we will talk about it later on in this post.

Kaan Luum Lagoon became very popular over the years, which cause the entrance fees to increase but, on the positive side, many additional facilities were provided to make the place even more accessible and enjoyable.

Because of the high number of people visiting every day, they built more sitting space, hammocks on the water, a second pier and also, the most important, a tower from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the multiple shades of blue.

It is indeed a beautiful sight that makes this place very photogenic.

We even bought a drone because we wanted to capture Kaan Luum Lagoon in all its beauty.

The lagoon itself where you can easily swim is about 2 meters dept an very safe to swim, but they rent life jacket if you don’t feel comfortable.

Kaan Luum Map

HOW TO GET TO KAAN LUUM LAGOON FROM TULUM

Visit Kaan Luum Lagoon by guided tour

Although it’s always more recommended, at least by us, to have your own car and move around, sometimes it’s much more practical to join an organized tour for two main reasons

You are on your own and you prefer to share these amazing experiences with other likeminded travelers

You are short of time and you want to see as much as possible in one day.

These guided tours make it all possible because they put together a small group of people and they take you to more interesting places in one day or half a day.

This way you don’t have to think about transportation and logistics, just have fun and take pictures.

Here we have selected the top-rated tours for your convenience. Just click on the one box, check out the details, and book.

How to get to Kaan Luum Lagoon by Car

Getting to Kaan Luum by car is the best option and very easy. From Tulum drive towards Chetumal and after 10 km you will find the Kaan Luum sign on your left.

Turn into the gate (if it’s still closed at 9 am, wait there because sometimes they arrive late) and continue for a couple of km until you find the parking lot.

➣ 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.

How to get to Kaan Luum Lagoon by local bus

You can get to Kaan Luum lagoon by local transportation, the minivans that go to Felipe Carrillo Puerto from Tulum. Just tell them to stop by the Kaan Luum entrance.

From there you will need to walk about 2 km before reaching the entrance. We wouldn’t really choose this option, but if you do, make sure you have closed shoes, mosquito repellent, and water.

You will need to shower it off before entering the lagoon, remember that.

How to get to Kaan Luum Lagoon by taxi

Getting by taxi is probably the less complicated option but I suggest you ask for a recommended driver at your hotel reception or your Airbnb host because taxis in Tulum have become quite expensive and most of the time they will inflate the rats when they deal with foreigners.

Make sure you agree on the price beforehand and tell them to pick you up at a certain time but don’t pay in advance.

THINGS TO DO IN LAGUNA KAAN LUUM

✅ lay on one of the wooden platforms and enjoy the beautiful views and the sun

✅ take a swing in one of the hammocks in the water

✅ rent the kayak and go on a self-guided tour along the coast

✅ rent a paddleboard and float along the coast on the lagoon

✅ go diving in the cenote – you can do it only with a certified teacher or guide

✅ look at the spectacular view from the tower

✅ swim in the shallow water of the lagoon

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Kaan Luum Facilities

✔️ Bathroom

✔️ Showers

✔️ Life Jacket Rental

✔️ Kayak

✔️ Paddleboarding

✔️ Snack Bar

✔️ Platforms

✔️ Benches

✔️ Hammocks

Kaan Luum Lagoon depth

Maximum depth – 80 mt/ 240 ft
Min depth – 2 mt

Kaan Luum Lagoon Entrance fee

300 MXN (15 USD) / 200 MXN (10 USD) for residents –
Drone use permit 150 MXN (8US)

Kaan Luum Lagoon Opening Hours

9 am – 5 pm – every day.

Insider tip – Avoid Sundays and Saturdays unless you love big crowds

HOW TO VISIT KAAN LUUM LAGOON AND CENOTE AND RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT

🔴 You CAN NOT wear any type of sunscreen
🔴 You cannot bring any kinds of speakers for music
🔴 You are not allowed to bring any alcohol
🔴 You CAN NOT smoke
🔴 Pets are NOT allowed
🔴 Don’t trash

WHAT TO BRING TO LAGUNA KAAN LUUM

Remember you are not allowed to use sun screens.

✔️ A rush guard to protect you from the sun
✔️ Sunglasses
✔️ Beach towel
✔️ Go Pro Hero 10 for stunning underwater pictures
✔️ DJI Mini 2 fly combo to capture the spectacular lagoon shape and color
✔️ A reflex camera to take great pictures. We have a Canon 5D Mark III and I love it.
✔️ A plastic waterproof phone bag
✔️ Water

You can buy soft drinks and snacks in a little shack by the lagoon.

INSIDER TIP – try to avoid weekends and be there early in the morning when they open if you want to avoid crowds.

THE BEST OF KAAN LUUM LAGOON AND CENOTE

✅ The spectacular views from the lookout tower

✅ The piers where to enjoy the sun ( when there are not too many people)

✅ 9 am when there are only 3 people besides you (hopefully)

THE WORST OF KAAN LUUM LAGOON AND CENOTE

🔴 After 10.30 pm it starts to get very busy.

TIPS TO PHOTOGRAPH KAAN LUUM LAGOON AND CENOTE

In the morning the sun will be at your right, so from the towers, you can get great panoramic shots of the main pier and the hammock but also the cenote.