IK KIL CENOTE MEXICO
Ik Kil Cenote is only 5 km from Chichen Itza and it makes a great day trip to visit them both. We did this day trip to Chichen Itza and Ik Kil Cenote in March 2021 and fell in love with the cenote. We think it's out of this world and it's clearly the most beautiful cenote we saw in Mexico. There are more than a thousand cenotes in Yucatan but Ik Kil is a really special place. It's an open sky cenote and 30 meters below ground level. There are hanging vines from the top to the water surface, which makes Ik Kil Cenote look heavenly. The water is fresh but dark, yet, it's really cool. After seeing here, we kind of related with the Mayans that believe cenotes are a portal to the netherworld.
We were very tired after Chichen Itza but Ik Kil Cenote felt like a much needed rest and we are glad we saw them on the same day. You can plan your trip as w did and go to Chichen Itza in the morning, then stop by Ik Kil Cenote and head to Valladolid for the night. It makes a great weekend trip in Yucatan. We shared our guide for visiting Ik Kil Cenote below, hope you'll find it helpful!
IS IK KIL CENOTE OPEN?
Yes, it is open. We visited this cenote in March 2021 and Ik Kil Cenote covid measures were in place. They take your temperature when entering the premises, you have to wear a mask unless you are in the water or eating. Ik Kil Cenote hours are from 9 am in the morning to 5 pm in the afternoon. Make sure to check their official page before coming. Most people suggest that the best tim to visit Ik Kil Cenote is early in the morning to avoid crowds but we did the opposite and went there around 4 pm. It wasn't very crowded and we enjoyed the afternoon cool weather.
HOW MUCH IS IK KIL CENOTE?
Ik kil Cenote price depends on the package you prefer. There are two types of Ik Kil Cenote tickets, one of them includes entrance, life jackets and locker and the other one includes a lunch on top of this. The basic Ik Kil Cenote entrance fee without lunch is 150 pesos and the one with lunch is 350 pesos. Credit cards are accepted and parking is free in Ik Kil Cenote. We preferred the basic package and enjoyed the snack bar afterwards. There are tours that take you to Chichen Itza, Ik Kil Cenote and Valladolid with lunch, you can get one of them. You can also check out many other Ik Kil Cenote Tours from here.
HOW DEEP IS IK KIL CENOTE?
The depth below water level is 50 meters at this cenote. Since the water surface is already 30 meters below ground level, this makes the total Ik Kil Cenote depth 80 meters. Don't worry, wearing life jackets is mandatory here. However, jumping from the top is not allowed. You can jump from an elevated platform, though. Gokay opted for jumping and the Ik Kil Cenote jump height was around 3 meters from the water surface. There are also life gurards present here.
VISITING IK KIL CENOTE
After you park in the free parking lot, you head to the ticket office and buy your preferred ticket for Ik Kil Cenote. Next, you pass the entrance and head to the cenote passing by a cafe and a restaurant. There are lockers, showers and changing rooms just behind the cenote. Locker and life jackets are included in every Ik Kil Cenote ticket, so you get a key from staff and head to the changing rooms. The changing rooms and toilets are really clean and always kept maintained by cleaning ladies. Just wear your swimsuit and take only what you can take to the water. Leave everything else in your locker because there is no place to hang out or leave your stuff next to the water.
You can hang your key to your neck like a necklace and head to the life jacket desk. They will know your size and hand you a disinfected lifejacket. From here, you head to the open air shower, just flush some really cool water on yourself and start descending the stairs to Ik Kil Cenote. Mind you, the stairs can be slippery. There are two viewpoints while you descend to the water. You can take breathtaking photos from these viewpoints and watch Ik Kil Cenote from different viewpoints. Lastly, you leave your flip flops on the side of the stairs and get into the water directly at the end of the stairs. At this stage, the water is up to your knees. Then, you can opt to jump from the platform or go into the water from pool-like wooden stairs that lead to the deeper part of the cenote. Gokay jumped but I preferred to take the stairs and started swimming slowly. Swimming in Ik Kil Cenote is like a fairy tale but snorkeling is pointless as there are only small black fish in Cenote Ik Kil and the water is almost completely dark.
HOW DID IK KIL CENOTE FORM?
Cenotes form within millions of years. The rainfall wears down the limestone and forms water holes. When the weight is much heavier, the bottom sometimes collapses and forms natural sinkholes. Ik Kil cenote is formed like this as well.
HOW TO GET TO IK KIL CENOTE?
Renting a car in Mexico is a very convenient way to travel around. Driving in Yucatan is very easy and the highways are in good condition. Getting to Ik Kil Cenote by car is very straightforward, it's just off Highway 180 between Valladolid and Merida. We rented a car from Playa del Carmen and drove directly to Chichen Itza. You can drive from Cancun to Ik Kil Cenote and then head to Merida from there as well.
How to get to Ik Kil Cenote from Chichen Itza
After you exit Chichen Itza and reach Carretera Costera del Golfo, turn right and drive for 5 kms straight. You will see Ik Kil cenote directions on the way, the cenote will be on your right.
How to get to ik kil cenote from Cancun
The best way to do this is to rent a car in Cancun and drive straight on Highway 180 for 195 km. However, you can choose to take Ado Bus from Cancun. They are reliable and comfortable. The price of Ado Bus from Cancun to Chichen Itza is between 250- 350 pesos. From Chichen Itza, it's best to take a taxi to Ik Kil Cenote.
How to get to Ik Kil Cenote from Valladolid
You can take a bus, colectivo or a taxi. The taxis charge around 300 pesos because it's 40 km from Valladolid to Ik Kil Cenote. Or, you can take a colective from Valladolid to Ik Kil Cenote. Colectivos leave from Calle 39 in Valladolid and costs 35 pesos. They will depart when they are full but they work all day. If you choose to take a bus from Valladolid to Ik Kil Cenote, head to Calle 39 and Calle 46 and choose Oriente Bus. It's around 30-40 pesos per person.
You can watch our Ik Kil Cenote day trip vlog below:
WHAT TO EAT IN IK KIL CENOTE
There is a restaurant and a snack bar in Ik Kil Cenote. There was also a small place where you could buy water and ice-cream. If you choose the all inclusive package in Ik Kil Cenote, there is a buffet lunch in Restaurant El Jardin included in the package. We heard it's average but we chose to buy the cheaper ticket and had a sandwich in the snack bar. We shared a club sandwich and a chaya pineapple juice, which made us very happy. The music and the cooling fans were fantastic while we ate watching the tropical plants around us. The staff were very positive and we loved their traditional Mayan clothes.
WHERE TO STAY IN IK KIL CENOTE
There are a few bungalows in Ik Kil Cenote, that belong to Ik Kil Hotel. You can stay here and access Ik Kil Cenote outside opening hours. Or there is the Hotel Doralba Inn Chichen just across the road. It's slightly cheaper and convenient but it doesn't give you the chance to see the cenote after hours. We chose to stay in Valladolid as it's a historic city. Hotels in Valladolid have a range of prices but you'll get a pretty decent place for 30 USD per night for two including breakfast. We stayed in El Zaguan Colonial by GuruHotel and loved their inner court with a swimming pool.
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