Valladolid, Cenote Suytun & Cenote Oxman tour from Mérida

Two cenotes, one colonial town, and a buffet lunch in a single day from Mérida

This full-day tour from Mérida visits Valladolid and two cenotes—Cenote Suytun, a cavern cenote where you swim beneath the rock ceiling, and Cenote Oxman, an open-air cenote on a hacienda property. A certified guide leads you through Valladolid's cathedral, convent, and main square, and lunch with a drink is included at the hacienda restaurant. Round-trip transport, life jackets, and snorkel masks are provided; the tour departs at 7 a.m. and returns by 6:30 p.m.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Valladolid and nearby cenotes

• Depart Mérida at 7:00 a.m.
• Stop at store for water and snacks
• Travel to Valladolid
• Visit and swim at Cenote Suytun
• Watch Mayan warriors purification ritual
• Visit and swim at open cenote in Hacienda San Lorenzo
• Swim at tropical cenote inside hacienda
• Enjoy buffet lunch with flavored water
• Guided tour of Valladolid's main attractions
• Free time at Valladolid main square
• Return to Mérida, arrive between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m.

The Experience

The day starts in Mérida at 7 a.m. with a 45-minute drive to a stop where you can buy water and snacks, then a two-hour journey to Valladolid. The van is air-conditioned and carries a cooler with ice for drinks you bring along. Your certified guide speaks both Spanish and English, and the same guide stays with the group throughout the day.

Cenote Suytun comes first—a cavern cenote where you descend into an impressive interior chamber and swim beneath the rock ceiling. A life jacket is mandatory and provided, and you'll have an hour and a half to swim and photograph the space. The cenote entrance is included, and you'll also see a presentation by two Mayan warriors performing purification rituals. From there, you move to Cenote Oxman, located within Hacienda San Lorenzo. This is an open-air cenote with a tropical setting where you swim for an hour, then walk to the hacienda restaurant for a buffet lunch and a drink of flavored water.

After lunch, the guide takes you through Valladolid itself for an hour and a half. You'll visit the Cathedral, the convent, the museum, and the friars' causeway, with free time to explore the main square and photograph the Valladolid letters. The return to Mérida takes two and a half hours, with arrival between 6 and 6:30 p.m. at your original meeting point.

What’s included

• Round-trip transport from Mérida in an air-conditioned van with a cooler on board.
• certified bilingual guide (Spanish and English) for the entire day.
• entrance fees to both Cenote Suytun and Cenote Oxman.
• life jackets and snorkel masks.
• buffet lunch with a drink of flavored water at the hacienda restaurant.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Viajes Colibrí Yucatán TOURS

Is this one for you?Book this tour for a full day away from Mérida when you want to see both cenotes and a colonial town without arranging separate transport or managing multiple bookings—the guide, timing, and meals are all planned around the route, so you move through the day as a group.

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Top questions

What is Cenote Suytun like compared to Cenote Oxman?

Cenote Suytun is a cavern cenote where you swim inside a cave chamber beneath a rock ceiling, while Cenote Oxman is an open-air cenote set in a tropical hacienda environment. Both include entrance fees and life jackets, and you spend roughly the same amount of time swimming at each one.

Is lunch included in this tour from Mérida?

Yes, lunch is a buffet meal served at the Hacienda San Lorenzo restaurant after you finish swimming at Cenote Oxman, and a drink of flavored water is included with it.

How long is the drive from Mérida to Valladolid?

The drive from Mérida to Valladolid takes approximately two hours after an initial 45-minute drive and a stop for snacks and water.

What does the guide do during the Valladolid portion of the tour?

The guide leads you through the Cathedral, convent, museum, and friars' causeway, pointing out the most important sites. You also get free time to walk the main square and take photos at the Valladolid letters.

What time does this tour return to Mérida?

The tour returns to your original meeting point in Mérida between 6 and 6:30 p.m., after a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Valladolid.

Do I need to bring my own snorkel gear?

No, snorkel masks are provided as part of the tour, and life jackets are mandatory at both cenotes and are also provided.