Cenote 8 km east of Valladolid
A cave cenote with a stone walkway into the water, famous for the shaft of light that falls on it around midday.
Suytún is a cave cenote about 8 kilometers east of Valladolid, on the road toward Chemax and Cancún, and it has become one of the most photographed places in Yucatán. You go down a stairway into a large, dark dome of rock, and in the middle of the water a round stone walkway leads out to a small platform.
The picture everyone comes for happens when the sun is high: a single beam of light falls through a hole in the ceiling and lands on the platform, lighting up the water around it. That usually happens around midday, and on cloudy days or at other hours the effect is weaker or missing. The water is clear and you can swim in it, though much of the cenote is shallow around the walkway.
Suytún opened to the public in 2017 and is run as a small tourist complex, with a restaurant, shops and a few other cenotes on the grounds. It gets crowded, especially when tour groups arrive, and there is often a line to take photos on the platform.
What to see and do
Walk out on the stone platform in the middle of the cave.
Time your visit for midday on a sunny day to see the beam of light.
Swim in the clear water around the walkway.
Go early or late in the day if you want fewer people, even if you miss the light.
Getting there
Suytún is about 15 minutes from Valladolid by car or taxi, east on the free road (Highway 180) toward Chemax; the entrance is signed on the highway. Showering before swimming is required, and a life jacket is usually provided.
8 km east of Valladolid
Directions from Valladolid on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in Cenote Suytún
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Photos
Weather warm
Cenote Suytún shares the climate of Valladolid, 8 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec.
Make Valladolid your base
Cenote Suytún 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.