Cenote 36 km west of Valladolid
A round, open cenote with vines hanging down to the water, a few minutes from Chichén Itzá; good for a swim after the ruins.
Ik Kil is a large, round, open cenote just east of Chichén Itzá, near the town of Pisté. The water lies about 26 meters below ground level, at the bottom of a sheer-sided shaft some 60 meters across, and it is around 40 meters deep or more. Vines and roots hang from the rim almost to the surface, and small streams of water drip down from above.
A stairway carved into the rock leads down to a swimming platform, and there is a ledge for jumping into the water. The setting is dramatic, and in 2010, 2011 and 2014 Ik Kil hosted stops of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Archaeologists have recovered bones and jewelry from cenotes in this area, and the Maya considered them sacred.
Ik Kil is part of an ecological park with a restaurant, shops and lodging, and because it is so close to Chichén Itzá it fills with tour groups from late morning. Going right after visiting the ruins early, or late in the afternoon, makes for a more relaxed swim.
What to see and do
Walk down the carved stairway and swim under the hanging vines.
Jump in from the diving ledge if you are comfortable in deep water.
Look up from the water at the ring of sky at the top of the shaft.
Combine it with Chichén Itzá on the same day.
Getting there
Ik Kil is about 40 minutes west of Valladolid by car on Highway 180, a few kilometers before Pisté and Chichén Itzá. Second-class buses toward Pisté can drop you at the entrance. Life jackets are provided and showering first is required.
36 km west of Valladolid
Directions from Valladolid on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather warm
Cenote Ik Kil shares the climate of Valladolid, 36 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec.
Make Valladolid your base
Cenote Ik Kil is an easy trip from Valladolid, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
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Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.