Valladolid is home to many cenotes, but Xkeken really stole the show for us. Located right next to Samula, we visited both, but Xkeken quickly became our favorite. While Samula is larger and more open with its striking blue water, Xkeken offers a more intimate, underground experience that feels like stepping into a hidden wonderland. We just had to share our love for this magical spot!
The entrance to Xkeken is through a narrow, spiral stone staircase that takes you into a pretty small, yet very beautiful cave. Beware though, it can be slippery so take your time! Inside, the cenote has a very intimate and mystical vibe. The sunlight filters in through a tiny opening in the ceiling that illuminates the clear water. The cave walls are lined with gorgeous stalactites and stalagmites for that amazing, almost surreal atmosphere. The water is cool but refreshing, with plenty of places to swim. But of course, as with most cenotes, you’ll want to be cautious around the rocky paths and avoid touching the delicate formations.
You can swim almost everywhere, but we actually liked looking at the natural beauty of the cave itself even more. And because we arrived pretty early on the day, we had the whole cave to ourselves for about an hour. And that on a Saturday! For a relaxing, yet magical cenote experience, Xkeken is definitely the one we’d recommend.
💰 226 MXN for both Cenote Samula and Cenote Xkeken (around € 10)