Cenote Ik Kil

A round natural sinkhole beside Chichén Itzá, where hanging vines fall from a rim 26 m above the deep blue water. It is the most iconic cenote in Yucatán.

Cenotes are underground water pools that form when the limestone bedrock of the Yucatán Peninsula collapses. There are thousands across the peninsula, and the ancient Maya regarded them as gateways to the underworld and sources of sacred water. Ik Kil Cenote lies about 3 km southeast of Chichén Itzá and is part of an eco-park. It is an almost perfectly round open-air sinkhole. The opening is about 60 m across, the water surface lies about 26 m below ground, and the water is about 40 m deep. The walls are covered in ferns, and dozens of long roots and vines hang from the rim down to the water. Sunlight pours in from above and creates a dreamlike play of light, making it one of the most photographed cenotes on the peninsula. Stone steps carved into the rock lead down to a wooden platform at the water's edge, where you can swim or jump from a 5 m platform. Small black catfish swim in the water. Life jackets are required (you can rent one or it's included in the ticket). Shower before entering the water, and do not use regular sunscreen. Admission is about 250 to 300 pesos, including a life jacket, and there are changing rooms, lockers, and a buffet restaurant. Most day tours to Chichén Itzá stop here, so it is crowded around midday. If you drive, go when it opens at 9 a.m., or come after 3 p.m. once you have finished at Chichén Itzá. Nearby Cenote Suytun, with its round stone platform and light shafts through the roof, and the Zací cenote in Valladolid are also worth a visit.

Cenote Ik Kil

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