Cozumel's South Shore

Cenote Cristalino is about 25km south of Playa Del Carmen, and is built up to handle crowds. The cenote is surface level, although a portion of it leaves the mangrove jungle and heads beneath the limestone shelf, a nice contrast between open swimming and feeling as if you are in a cave. There is a 3 meter tall jumping platform, and benches around and half-submerged in the water for spectators. ...

The cenote is large with one main open swimming area, and several smaller more hidden areas. It is a favorite amongst local families, and tends to generally have a small crowd, although it is also spacious enough that it doesn't feel cramped. With clear emerald blue water, it's a great spot for bringing a snorkel to or renting one onsite. Visitors can jump from a 4 meter tall ledge into the wat...

This cenote is popular with divers, owing to its access to a complex underground cave system reaching a depth of about 15 meters, entering into multiple rooms. While popular amongst divers, swimmers will likely find no one else on the water's surface, so it makes for a quiet and relaxing stop. The cenote lies in a limestone depression, with the water filling the perimeter while an island in the...

Charts display the numerous species of fish which may be seen in the lagoon, and the area's rocky underwater canyonlike terrain mixed with mangrove roots providing shelter for the fish offer an interesting landscape to snorkel through. There are two businesses that provide access to Yal Ku Lagoon - visitors can follow signs from the town of Akumal to the lagoon area. At reaching a T-intersectio...

Just 25km north of Tulum and 39km south of Playa del Carmen lies Akumal Bay. Despite its proximity to the big vacation destinations and massive resorts, Akumal remains relatively quiet. There are several ways to get there, the easiest being by rental car which are insanely cheap in Mexico. Parking is 70 pesos if that's the route you choose. The second, and possibly the best option is by collect...

A cenote is a natural sinkhole that appears when bedrock collapses and exposes groundwater beneath. The exposed water can be above ground, or in a series of underground caves and rivers. The Yucatan Peninsula is somewhat known for cenotes, and a trip to the area isn't complete without a swim in one. Las Mojarras is a big, open, above-ground cenote. The water is clear, deep, and surrounded by ju...