Cenote 10 km northeast of Tulum
A mangrove-lined cenote at Tankah that flows like a river and connects to the sea underground; fish from the reef swim in it.
Casa Cenote, also called Cenote Manatí, is a long, narrow cenote that winds like a river through the mangroves at Tankah, on the coast just north of Tulum. Locals say it got the name Manatí because manatees once swam in from the sea, and the connection is real: a rocky tunnel of a few hundred meters runs underground from the cenote to the Caribbean on the other side of the beach road.
That link to the sea is what makes it special. Where cool fresh water from the cenote meets warmer salt water coming in from the ocean, the two layers do not mix and the water blurs like heat haze, an effect divers call a halocline. Sea fish come in through the tunnel, so snorkeling along the mangrove roots you can see tarpon, needlefish, crabs and schools of small fish that you would normally see on the reef.
It is shallow and calm, so it suits beginners and families, and it is also a classic easy dive, with an open, sunlit cavern route. Across the road is the beach of Tankah Bay, with a restaurant beside the cenote, so it is easy to spend a whole day here.
What to see and do
Snorkel along the mangrove roots and look for tarpon and other sea fish.
Look for the shimmering halocline where fresh and salt water meet.
Do an easy guided cavern dive if you are certified.
Cross the road to swim at the beach of Tankah Bay.
Getting there
Casa Cenote is about 15 minutes north of Tulum. Take Highway 307 north and turn toward the sea at the Tankah turnoff, then follow the beach road a short way to the cenote. Colectivos toward Playa del Carmen can drop you at the turnoff, from where it is a walk of roughly a kilometer. Entry is paid on site.
10 km northeast of Tulum
Directions from Tulum on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in Casa Cenote
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Weather warm
Casa Cenote shares the climate of Tulum, 10 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.
Make Tulum your base
Casa Cenote is an easy trip from Tulum, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
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Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.