Few places underwater are as famous as Cenote Dos Ojos. Its name — “Two Eyes” — comes from a pair of round, neighbouring sinkholes that stare up at the jungle like twin pools of liquid glass, joined below the surface by a flooded passage. Starring in IMAX films and BBC documentaries has made it a bucket-list name for divers the world over, yet you do not need a tank to fall in love with it: snorkellers float over the same dazzling formations in some of the clearest water on the planet, a short drive from Tulum.
| What it is | A pair of joined cenotes (the “two eyes”) and one of the world’s premier cavern- and cave-diving sites, in the Sac Actun system |
| Where | About 20 km north of Tulum (and ~60 km from Playa del Carmen) off Highway 307, Quintana Roo |
| Do | Snorkelling and cavern/cave scuba diving among stalactites, plus the famous Bat Cave |
| Hours | Daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. — but last entry is 3:00 p.m. |
| Entry | Around 400 pesos for park access (snorkel or dive); a guided snorkel tour including the Bat Cave is about 800 pesos. Cash; a camera fee may apply |
| Best time | At opening (8 a.m.) or after 4 p.m. to dodge the tour crowds |
What and where is Cenote Dos Ojos?
Dos Ojos lies on the Riviera Maya about twenty kilometres north of Tulum, signposted off Highway 307 and then reached down a jungle track. The “two eyes” are two large, round cenotes sitting side by side, linked underwater by a 400-metre cavern passage; together they are a gateway into Sac Actun, among the longest underwater cave systems ever mapped, which winds for hundreds of kilometres through the Yucatán’s limestone. The water is famous for its clarity and its colour — a pale, glowing turquoise where the sun reaches and a deep sapphire blue in the caverns — and it was here that some of the most spectacular cave footage ever filmed, for IMAX and the BBC, was shot. It is comfortably one of the great cenotes near Tulum.
Snorkelling and world-class cave diving
Dos Ojos is best known to divers, who come for two classic guided routes through the caverns. The Barbie Line is the more accessible of the pair — a roughly 515-metre loop, no deeper than about 6.5 metres, with no current, threading past forests of stalactites and stalagmites lit by shafts of daylight, and open to anyone with an Open Water certification and a cavern guide. The Bat Cave Line (around 312 metres) is darker and more dramatic, leading toward an air-filled chamber full of bats. Beyond these lie the true cave passages, the preserve of fully trained cave divers. But you do not have to dive at all: snorkelling over the eyes, with a life vest and ideally a guide, lets you hover above the same cathedral of rock and watch the light dance through the water. Whatever you do, rinse off all sunscreen and insect repellent first — these caves are a living, fragile ecosystem.
The Bat Cave and beyond
Tucked within the park is a third, smaller cenote known as the Bat Cave — a partly enclosed chamber where shafts of light pierce the gloom and dozens of little bats roost in the ceiling. Reached on the guided snorkel tour, it is an eerie, magical counterpoint to the bright open eyes: you float in near-darkness, the only sounds the drip of water and the flutter of wings overhead, before emerging back into the sunshine. Together the open pools, the dive lines and the Bat Cave make Dos Ojos feel less like a swimming hole and more like an underground world to explore at your own pace.
Getting there, fees, hours and the best time to go
By car, Dos Ojos is a straightforward twenty-minute drive north from Tulum on Highway 307 (about forty minutes from Playa del Carmen), with free parking at the park. Without a car, hop on a colectivo from Tulum for around 40 pesos and ask for Dos Ojos — just note that it is roughly a two-kilometre walk or shuttle down the dirt road from the highway to the cenote itself. The park is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 3 p.m., so do not leave it too late. Standard access is in the region of 400 pesos, while a guided snorkel tour that includes the Bat Cave runs about 800 pesos; bring cash, and budget a little extra if you want to bring an underwater camera. As ever in this part of the world, arrive at opening or in the late afternoon to have the eyes closer to yourself. If you are touring the region’s blue water, weave in the turtles of Gran Cenote, the vine-draped Ik Kil by Chichén Itzá, and the seven-coloured lagoon of Bacalar.
Frequently asked questions about Cenote Dos Ojos
Where is Cenote Dos Ojos?
About 20 km north of Tulum on Highway 307 in Quintana Roo (roughly 60 km from Playa del Carmen), then a short track into the jungle.
Why is it called Dos Ojos?
“Dos Ojos” means “two eyes” — two large round cenotes that sit side by side and are connected underwater, looking like a pair of eyes from above.
Can you snorkel at Dos Ojos without diving?
Yes. Snorkelling is very popular here; with a life vest and ideally a guide you can float over the formations in the open eyes, and a guided snorkel tour also reaches the Bat Cave.
Do you need a certification to dive Dos Ojos?
The cavern lines (Barbie and Bat Cave) can be dived with an Open Water certification and a cavern guide. The deeper cave passages require a full cave-diving certification.
How much does Cenote Dos Ojos cost?
Park access is around 400 pesos for snorkelling or diving, and a guided snorkel tour including the Bat Cave is about 800 pesos. Bring cash; a camera fee may apply.
What are the opening hours?
Daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but the last entry is at 3:00 p.m., so arrive earlier in the day.
How do you get to Dos Ojos from Tulum?
It is about a 20-minute drive north on Highway 307. Without a car, take a colectivo (around 40 pesos) and walk or shuttle the last 2 km down the access road.
When is the best time to visit Dos Ojos?
Right at opening (8 a.m.) or after about 4 p.m., when the day-tour crowds from the coast have thinned out.
This cenote is part of our complete guide to the cenotes of Mexico — what cenotes are, where to find the best ones, and how to visit them.
