How to Visit Cenote Cristalino Playa del Carmen in 2024

Do you want to visit Cenote Cristalino in Playa del Carmen? You’ve come to the right place!

I’m a travel blogger that lives in Playa del Carmen, so I’ve become very familiar with all of the incredible cenotes in the area.

Cenote Cristalino is one of my favorites and is a beautiful cenote to spend the day snorkeling, swimming, or just hanging out in a natural setting.

In this post, I’m sharing everything you need to know about visiting Cenote Cristalino, including how to get there, opening hours, entrance fees, what to expect, things to do, and top tips for visiting.

Read on for my ultimate Cenote Cristalino Playa del Carmen guide!

Meaning “Crystal Clear Cenote,” Cenote Cristalino is a beautiful open cenote located less than 30 minutes south of Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Native to the Yucatan peninsula, cenotes (pronounced “say-know-tay”) are freshwater swimming holes that are formed when limestone collapses to create a natural sinkhole.

Cenote Cristalino is known for its crystal clear water and stunning underwater rock formations.

Visitors can take a dip in the refreshing waters, swim through a cave, jump from a ledge, or snorkel to explore the underwater life.

Visiting a cenote is a totally unique activity where you can get to experience the natural beauty of the Riviera Maya region.

It’s the perfect activity to escape the heat or when there’s a large amount of seaweed on the beaches.

What makes Cenote Cristalino unique is that there are so many different things to do from cliff jumping to snorkeling to floating through stalactite caves.

Plus, there’s even a gorgeous hidden cenote at the back that shouldn’t be missed!

Cenote Cristalino is located about 13 miles (21 km) south of Playa del Carmen, right off the main highway 307.  It’s about halfway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.  

The entrance is on the right side of the highway just past Puerto Aventuras and across the street from the Barcelo resorts.  

Driving times from nearby destinations are as follows:

• Playa del Carmen to Cenote Cristalino: 25 minutes
• Tulum to Cenote Cristalino: 30 minutes
• Cancun to Cenote Cristalino: 1 hour 30 minutes

Travelista Tip: At the same location, you’ll find two other popular cenotes  – Cenote Eden and Cenote Azul. You can visit all three cenotes in one day or choose to spend your time at just one.  

Cenote Cristalino Map

The easiest way to get to Cenote Cristalino is by driving or renting a car in Playa del Carmen, which gives you the freedom to explore the cenote at your own pace.

Follow the Cenote Cristalino directions on your GPS and drive south from Playa del Carmen on the main highway 307 for about 13 miles (21 km). 

The cenote is located directly off the highway on the right side just past Puerto Aventuras and there are highway signs to direct you. 

Once you arrive at the cenote entrance, free parking is available on-site.

👉 For a hassle-free experience, book your car through my favorite rental service Discover Cars by clicking here!

If you don’t have a car, you can also easily hail a taxi from Playa del Carmen or Tulum but it will be more expensive.

You can expect a Playa del Carmen to Cenote Cristalino taxi to cost around $400 pesos ($20 USD) each way.

But keep in mind that securing a taxi for the return trip will be much more difficult so it’s best to try and pre-arrange pickup with the same taxi driver that dropped you off.

The cheapest way to get to Cenote Azul is to take a colectivo from the main bus depot in Playa del Carmen near the Chedraui grocery store and Highway 307 (behind the McDonald’s).

Once you get on, you’ll want to tell the driver you’re going to Cenote Cristalino and you’ll pay upon exiting.

It’s best to track the GPS on your phone so you know when you’re getting close. It takes about 30 minutes and the stop is just past Puerto Aventuras.

The cost should be around $40 pesos (~$2 USD) each way and you’ll want to make sure you have small bills on hand (pesos are best) as most drivers don’t have much change.

When taking a colectivo to Cenote Cristalino Riviera Maya, you’ll be dropped off on the side of the highway, and it’s just a short walk to the entrance from there.

Related Reading: How to Get from Playa del Carmen to Tulum

From Tulum, the process is the same but you’ll want to get on a colectivo headed north from Tulum to Playa del Carmen.

Once you get off the colectivo, you’ll need to carefully cross the highway and walk to the cenote entrance.

The best time to visit Cristalino Cenote Playa del Carmen is on a weekday.  I went on a Sunday and it was very crowded with local family gatherings. 

As a general rule, cenotes are much busier on the weekends when most locals have the day off. 

The standard Cenote Cristalino entrance fee is $200 pesos (~$11 USD) for foreigners, which include a life jacket rental. 

In addition to the Cenote Cristalino price for entrance, you can rent lockers for $100 pesos (~$5 USD), as well as snorkeling gear and plastic lounge chairs.

Here’s a breakdown of the Cenote Cristalino prices:

• Standard Entrance Fee: $200 MXN for adults | $150 MXN for children
• Mexican Nationals: $170 MXN for adults | $120 MXN for children
• Quintana Roo Residents: $150 MXN for adults | $100 MXN for children

Cenote Cristalino is an open cenote offering a lush natural setting with many different bodies of water to explore, snorkel, or simply relax in the water. 

In the center, there is a main cenote with a moderately high jumping ledge, as well as many more secluded and shallow natural swimming pools to explore on the outskirts.

You’ll also find a stalactite cave that you can swim or float through, and a naturally hidden cenote at the back that shouldn’t be missed.

Check out my video below to see for yourself what Cenote Cristalino is like!

There are a few important rules to abide by when visiting Cenote Cristalino:

• No sunscreen (even biodegradable)
• No alcohol
• No smoking
• No diving
• No running

In the main swimming area, there is a cliff ledge where you can climb up to and jump into the cenote. 

The ledge is about 12 feet and doesn’t even look that high, but to be honest I had to work up the courage to take the plunge!  

One of the coolest things about Cenote Cristalino is a tunnel-like cave that you can swim through.

The ceiling of the cave is covered in stalactites and the water is the prettiest shade of turquoise blue. 

It’s a great spot to snorkel or idly float on your back to admire the unique rock formations. 

Travelista Tip: There are many jagged rocks under the water here so I would recommend wearing water shoes to protect your feet.

At Cenote Cristalino, there are several smaller ponds and bodies of water where you can sit on the ledge and dip your feet in the water. 

If you hold your feet still, the tiny cenote fish will come and give you some free exfoliation.  It’s kind of an odd tickly sensation but you will get used to it!

Travelista Tip: Don’t pay for an overpriced fish spa on 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen when you can get one for free at a cenote!

Towards the back of Cenote El Cristalino, there are signs that will lead you to Cenote Escondido, which is a hidden cenote that is more secluded. 

This area is much less crowded and one of the most beautiful parts of Cenote Cristalino.  Escondido Cenote really feels like a hidden natural sanctuary. 

Restrooms and showers are available at Cenote Cristalino in an enclosed building.

It is recommended to shower before entering the cenote to remove any sunscreen or residue.

Lockers can be rented for $100 pesos (~$5 USD) in order to keep your valuables safe.

However, most people just leave their personal items on the sides and keep an eye on them throughout the day.  

If you want to snorkel, snorkeling gear can be rented for around $100 pesos per person (~$5 USD).

However, to ensure the best fit and cleanliness, I would recommend bringing your own snorkel set.

Here are some of the pros and cons of visiting Cenote Cristalino:

Here are some important items I would recommended bringing when visiting Cenote Cristalino:

✅ Water Shoes

DOUSSPRT Women’s Water Shoes Quick Drying Sports Aqua Shoes US Size 5.5

✅ Beach Towel

Rainleaf Microfiber Towel Perfect Travel & Sports &Camping Towel.Fast Drying – Super Absorbent – Ultra Compact.Suitable for Backpacking,Gym,Beach,Swimming,Yoga

✅ Snorkel Gear

PRODIVE Premium Dry Top Snorkel Set for Adults – Tempered Glass Diving Mask, Anti-Fog Lens for Best Vision, Easy Adjustable Strap, Waterproof Snorkel Bag Included – Snorkeling Gear for Adults (Aqua)

✅ Waterproof Camera

GoPro HERO12 Black – Waterproof Action Camera with 5.3K60 Ultra HD Video, 27MP Photos, HDR, 1/1.9″ Image Sensor, Live Streaming, Webcam, Stabilization

✅ Rash Guard

TSLA Women’s UPF 50+ Zipper Rash Guard, Water Surfing Long Sleeve Swimsuit, UV/Sun Protection Swim Shirts Wetsuit Top, Full Zip Rashguard Mint, Small

✅ Waterproof Phone Pouch

JOTO Waterproof Pouch Cellphone Dry Bag Case for iPhone 11 Pro Max Xs Max XR X 8 7 6S Plus SE, Galaxy S20 Ultra S20+ S10 Plus S10e S9 Plus S8/Note 10+ 9, Pixel 4 XL up to 6.9″ -Black

Follow these tips to make the most of your Cristalino Cenote experience:

• Bring a rash guard: Sunscreen is not allowed at Cenote Cristalino (even biodegradable) so if you need sun protection, you’ll want to bring a rash guard. There are some shady spots at the cenote but still lots of sun.

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Cristalino Cenote:

If you have extra time when you’re done visiting Cenote Cristalino, then I would definitely recommend checking out Cenote Eden and Cenote Azul, which are located at the same site.

I have been to all three of these open cenotes and they are all worth visiting! Just keep in mind they each have separate entrance fees. Check out my full guides for all the details:

• How to Visit Cenote Eden
• How to Visit Cenote Azul

Of the three cenotes in the area, Cristalino Cenote is probably my favorite and the least well-known.

With so many unique (and secret) places to explore outside of the main cenote, it’s definitely worth a visit for a day trip if you’re looking for a cenote near Playa del Carmen or Tulum.

Check out my complete guide to the best cenotes in Playa del Carmen for even more amazing cenotes to visit in the Riviera Maya region.