Cenote Samula
Cenote Samula
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Cenote Samula
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
53 within 5 kms
Attractions
30 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
624 reviews
Excellent
340
Very good
199
Average
55
Poor
16
Terrible
14
SilviaZaz
Berlin, Germany19 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Don’t trust people on the entrance, they will tell you that for a small tip they check your bags and explain you all about the cenote.
At the end we found out that they robbed us 500 pesos.
Plus they try to ask you a tip of 250 pesos, be aware.
At the end we found out that they robbed us 500 pesos.
Plus they try to ask you a tip of 250 pesos, be aware.
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniel Falcade
Vinhedo, SP12 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
We read some evaluations before going, so we knew there would be people on the front gate trying to make you accompany them and then charging you for it. There really are and they dress just like guides from the place, but they are not. In addition, if you rent life jackets for one cenote they don't let you wear it on the other. We also had read about that before, so we did not rent life jackets at all and it was totally fine. The ropes they put inside the natural pools so people can hold totally damage the wonderful view! I think there would be more intelligent solutions for that. The facilities outside the cenotes look abandoned, but maybe that is because of the pandemic.
Written November 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RxVacation
San Dimas, CA1,167 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
While visiting Cenote Samula, you can decide at the entrance when paying if you want to include the adjacent Cenote X’Keken. 80 pesos for one or 125 pesos to access to both. These cenotes have the same issue of having to walk through multiple vendors that are lined up along the walkways and it can get annoying to constantly have to deal with that. It kinda takes away from the peaceful and serene atmosphere cenotes are suppose to have :(
Both cenotes were okay, but for the price and the overall vibe, I would pick Cenote Zaci in downtown Valladolid in a heartbeat.
Both cenotes were okay, but for the price and the overall vibe, I would pick Cenote Zaci in downtown Valladolid in a heartbeat.
Written May 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shreyansh182
Houston, TX296 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
This is quite otherworldly. We went early so it was quiet. Water was alright (22 degrees). If you are here for chichen itza, definitely go here for a swim. This location has 2 cenote (xkeken and Samula) - both collectively known as Cenote Dzitnup. Samula is better. Tips:
1. Go early.
2. Get a life jacket from outside as both cenote have a rule to get a jacket before a swim and get charge 50 EACH TIME. (The locals have divided the market so that visitors pay twice for literally the same jacket for 2 cenote a across the road).
3. Do NOT let a guide talk to you at all. Coz you don’t need one and they expect a tip of 20 ISD for basically doing nothing.
1. Go early.
2. Get a life jacket from outside as both cenote have a rule to get a jacket before a swim and get charge 50 EACH TIME. (The locals have divided the market so that visitors pay twice for literally the same jacket for 2 cenote a across the road).
3. Do NOT let a guide talk to you at all. Coz you don’t need one and they expect a tip of 20 ISD for basically doing nothing.
Written December 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chowso
Gloucester, UK1,758 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
The cenote isn’t very impressive (go to Zacil Tunich!) compared to some others. It’s also quite commercialised and the ‘guided tour’ is a rip off so don’t be fooled by the people trying to sell you a tour on the way in. You can visit just Samula or Xkeken or both (depending what time you arrive - they close at 16.00 so you can’t visit both if it’s close to closing time) but neither are great.
Written December 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ojerio
Los Angeles, CA487 contributions
Jan 2022
We visited Cenotes Dzitnup, actually two Cenotes. You pay slightly more to visit both, they each have a different feel. It is a good plan to arrive early, there were very few tourists when we were there. First you have to run the gauntlet of tour guide wanna bees, although the young man who wanted to help us was very informative. But you don’t need a guide There are also gauntlets of vendors and the grounds of the two Cenotes are somewhat in need of care. There are a number of abandoned structures, perhaps once cabins - it looks like the heyday was some time ago. A bit of a ghost town feel.
Cenote Xkeken is a quiet cave, tranquil and clear. Interesting formations on the ceilings, like eggs. Some idiot had been smoking (who smokes in a cave?) which was unfortunate but not fatal.
Cenote Samula is on the other side of the site, it has a jumping platform and is therefore a less tranquil spot. Also very clean and clear, uncrowded.
Cenote Xkeken is a quiet cave, tranquil and clear. Interesting formations on the ceilings, like eggs. Some idiot had been smoking (who smokes in a cave?) which was unfortunate but not fatal.
Cenote Samula is on the other side of the site, it has a jumping platform and is therefore a less tranquil spot. Also very clean and clear, uncrowded.
Written January 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ndantonio
New York City, NY246 contributions
Nov 2020
We went for a refreshing dip in this Cenote after a hot tour of the Xkopek Beekeeping Park that's outside Vallodolid. It was easy to access and had a lovely flow of water coming down over the edges with trailing vines that reached nearly to the water. The grounds of this cenote are clearly organized to accommodate large tour group although crowds were small due to the pandemic. There were restaurants, gift shops and outdoor eating areas with fountain and lovely colonial Spanish architecture. We enjoyed floating on our backs with the life preservers and watching the swallows fly around in swarms and then disappear back into their camouflaged mud nests on the limestone walls.
Written November 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Noemie S
New York City, NY92 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
I reviewed Xkeken and the same applies to this one. Gorgeous cenote, but annoying that you have to go through multiple vendors to get to it. The place looks like an abandoned resort. We paid for both cenotes and enjoyed it, although we did enjoy Zaci in downtown Valladolid more (cheaper too. Only 30 pesos).
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristin S
Dallas, TX141 contributions
Aug 2022
We really wanted to visit these cenotes that make up Dzitnup because a waiter at our hotel said it was really interesting and we wanted to see more cave cenotes. However, after driving all the way over to this one we found out it was closed (Monday 8/1/2022 at noon) because of a vendor dispute with the owners per the people we talked to on the side of the road heading in. Luckily, we were right next to Saamal, which we were also planning on visiting and headed there instead.
Written August 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sebastian S
2 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
There are two cenotes, that you can pay for. The entrance for one is 80 , for both 125. Its nice but nothing special. Terrible is the fact that they have some parrots that they show at the entrance, which are chained, or almost nailed to a piece of wood where they sit on. Defenetly not cool... Rather go to valladolid in the centre, theres a big open cenote, much cheaper and just nicer.
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there change rooms, showers, and lockers here?
Written February 12, 2022
Bree
Poplarville, Mississippi
How long is the horseback ride and where does it take you?
Written June 28, 2020
Hello, is it possible to visit this place with small kids? Or is t water to cold/entrance too dangerous? Thanks
Written January 26, 2020
Hola me indicas por favor el precio del paquete del buffete y ambos cenotes? Gracias
Written September 9, 2018
En este cenote y caverna el acceso a 1 es de 90 pesos y a los 2 es de 170 pesos. Si incluye alimentos el precio es de 230 pesos mexicanos por persona. Sería ideal revisar si los precios ya los actualizaron. Disfruta tu estancia. Saludos
Written September 10, 2018
elasticous
San Francisco, California
Hi Jamal, are there facilities to spend the day there? places to eat, shower, beds to lay out?
Thanks!
Written June 22, 2018
Not likely somewhere you will spend an entire day, more a part of a tour. They have some small shops, change rooms ect but no beds to lay out on.
Written June 22, 2018
Price for both was 125 pesos. No guide or someone buying skip the line tickets is needed.
Take care that you arrive early in the morning to have the best experience.
Written November 3, 2017
We are coming via Cruise ship in October. Is there a cost to visit? Are there any places near by? Do you happen to know how we can get there from the port? Taxi? What is a good place to eat lunch?
There are 5 of us.
Thanks!
Written August 24, 2017
Hello :)
There is a cost to access to the cave, to be more specific the place has 2 caves ( X'keken and Samula)
They have other activities such as horse riding, I believe and other I dont remember.
For the caves, I paid around 15 USD in total to access to both caves for 2.
You are coming from which port ? I believe for 5, it will be more efficient for you to rent a car instead of using a taxi, you will more freedom and independence and cost wise it will be easier to carry 5 persons.
If you want to eat lunch, the cave is near by Valladolid and there is a charming and gorgeous restaurant called El Meson Del Marquez inside a hotel they have a nice hotel with nice architecture inside and outside. They have a parking, the place is very nice, service is great and food delicious, it costs for my wife and I around 40 USD (3 meals, 3 drinks and sparkling water).
I hope it will help.
Written August 24, 2017
Showing results 1-10 of 13
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing