Cenote Lázaro Cárdenas, Quintana Roo Municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas Holbox and Yum Balam
Freshwater spring on the mainland shore of the Yalahau lagoon, west of Chiquilá; a boat-tour swim stop from Holbox.
Reached by boat from Holbox: 30 min each way. How to get there ↓
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Plan your visit to Yalahau
Where to stay near Yalahau
Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Yalahau.
Tours to Yalahau
Day trips and guided outings from Isla Mujeres often include Yalahau; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Holbox Plus: All-Inclusive Tour + Yalahau Cenote and Isla Pasión
★ 4.9 (15) · From US$160
How to get to Yalahau
- Reached by boat from Holbox: 30 min each way.
- From Playa del Carmen: about 1 h 55 min by road (~124 km)
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Popular tours to Yalahau
Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.
About Yalahau
Yalahau is a freshwater spring (ojo de agua, usually sold as a cenote) on the mainland shore of the lagoon that shares its name, about 10 km west of Chiquilá and facing Isla Holbox across the water. It is not on the island, although almost everyone visits it from there. The spring lies within the Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protection Area and is run as a small ecotourism park by a private company, Grupo Yalahau.
Before piped water, the spring was the main source of fresh water for the people of the area. Local stories link it to the pirates who sailed this coast, above all the corsair Miguel Molas, said to have lived nearby for some forty years and to have buried a treasure that was never found. Its other legend gives it its nickname, the fountain of youth: bathing in it is supposed to take years off.
The water is clear and calm, and the park has life jackets for swimmers, a hammock and swing area, and a wooden boardwalk through the forest to a viewpoint; raccoons and birds are often around. Mornings are quieter, as the spring fills up when several tour boats arrive together later in the day. Visitors are asked to swim only with biodegradable sunscreen and to use the bins.
How to get to Yalahau
Drive from Playa del Carmen to Holbox: 1 h 55 min, 124 km
Yalahau is visited by boat. Launches leave from the Holbox pier and from Chiquilá; from Holbox the ride south across the lagoon takes about 30 minutes. Most people come on the Three Islands tour, which combines it with Punta Mosquito and Isla Pájaros; the park entrance is paid separately on arrival.
Reached by boat from Holbox: 30 min each way.
Directions to Yalahau on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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From the nearest cities to Yalahau
- Playa del Carmen · 124 km by road, 1 h 55 min to Holbox, then 30 min by boat
- Tizimín · 124 km by road, 2 h 5 min to Holbox, then 30 min by boat
- Cancún · 146 km by road, 2 h 15 min to Holbox, then 30 min by boat
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Before you go to Yalahau: hours, prices and tips
- Entry
- Entrance M$200 per person since 1 December 2025 (previously M$100), paid at the park, not included in tour prices. Ruptura360 (2025) · checked Oct 2026
- Best time of day
- Go in the morning; later in the day the spring gets crowded. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
- Guide or tour
- Usually visited on a boat tour from Holbox or Chiquilá; in 2023 the shared tour (Yalahau, Punta Mosquito, Isla Pájaros) cost M$400 and ran 10:00–14:00. Tours: Viator GetYourGuide Por Esto (2023) · checked Oct 2026
- Rules
- Biodegradable sunscreen only; use the bins provided. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting Yalahau: what to see and do
Swim in the clear fresh water of the spring
Walk the wooden boardwalk to the viewpoint over the forest
Relax in the hammock and swing area by the water
Look for raccoons and birds around the park
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Yalahau
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Yalahau.
Tours & activities
Day trips and guided outings from Isla Mujeres often include Yalahau; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at CUN (Cancún), 26 km from Isla Mujeres as the crow flies; Yalahau is 74 km beyond the pueblo.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Cancún (CUN), 26 km from Isla Mujeres, the base for Yalahau.
Travel insurance
If you plan on swimming or snorkeling at Yalahau, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Isla Mujeres: download a map of the way to Yalahau before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
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When to go to Yalahau warm
Yalahau shares the climate of Isla Mujeres, 74 km away. The best months to visit are February, March, April, and July.
Underground water keeps much the same temperature all year, so Yalahau is good in any month and coolest to visit in the hottest ones (June, July, and August).
See the month-by-month climate of Isla Mujeres
Weather in Yalahau now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
The closest Pueblo Mágico: Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Yalahau, with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Closest to Yalahau
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Chiquilá · Village · 8 km away
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Isla Pájaros · Island · 11 km away
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Punta Mosquito · Beach · 11 km away
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Holbox · Island · 15 km away
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El Cuyo · Village · 29 km away
Near Yalahau
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Lists with Yalahau
Cenotes in Quintana Roo · 10Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.