Cenote SAC-AUA in Dzalbay

Extraordinary natural formation, where tourists delight in the vagaries of the petreos located in the Yucatan Peninsula. Dzalbay is a village where its inhabitants have settled for many years in the eastern region of Valladolid city. The Cenote Sac-Aua is different from the other cenotes as it has an island in its central part surrounded by crystal clear water.

When you arrive at the place you will be welcomed by their carers in a palapa that works as a restaurant, they will guide you along a road very well delimited between the mountain welcoming you and making you enjoy the experience. You can rent a bike if you want to get there fast as if you have to walk about 15 minutes to get to the place. Before arriving at the entrance of the cenote you will be amazed by its showers decorated with images of walnut trees, snakes and corn, something you will not see anywhere else.

When you get close then you will see a huge hole in the ground with a handrail of wood that helps to prevent accidents, if you go to the left you will see the wooden stairs in a staggered way that you will come down to the island of windblown sand smooth where there are plants living in it.

All part of the mainland of the Cenote Sac-Aua is sheltered by stones to prevent it to mix with the water and this is kept crystal clear.

This cenote has a depth of between 1 to 12 meters and a diameter of 90 meters, its crystal waters of green color let you see the stalactites that have formed inside and that allow you to rest in them while enjoying the freshness of its waters.

What is a cenote?

A cenote (say it “seh-NOH-teh”) is a natural sinkhole — a place where the soft limestone bedrock of the Yucatán Peninsula has collapsed to reveal the cool, crystal-clear fresh water flowing through vast underground rivers below. There is nothing else quite like them on Earth. Geologists sort them into three kinds: open cenotes that lie wide to the sky like a jungle swimming pool, semi-open ones half-roofed by rock, and closed cenotes hidden in caverns and lit only by shafts of light through holes in the ceiling. Their water glows in impossible shades of turquoise and emerald, hung with stalactites and often home to little fish. To the ancient Maya they were sacred — doorways to Xibalba, the underworld, and a vital source of fresh water in a land with almost no surface rivers. Today they are the Yucatán’s signature adventure, perfect for swimming, snorkelling and even cave diving. Cenote Sac-Aua is a lovely, low-key example of the open kind.

Visiting Cenote Sac-Aua

What makes Sac-Aua special is that it is run by the Maya community of Dzalbay itself, so a visit feels worlds away from the big, busy tourist cenotes. You are welcomed at a thatched palapa that doubles as a little restaurant, then follow a marked path — on foot or by rented bike, about fifteen minutes — to the rim, where a wooden handrail and a staircase lead you down to the water and out onto that strange, perfect island of pale sand at its heart. The setting is reached most easily from Valladolid, roughly half an hour to the west, which makes it a natural addition to a day that also takes in the towering Ek Balam ruins just up the road. Bring cash for the modest entrance fee, your own snorkel if you have one, and reef-safe sunscreen (or none at all) to help keep the water as clear as you found it. If you love this kind of place, the turquoise lagoon of Bacalar further south is another Yucatán water wonder worth the trip.

Photos and video of Cenote Sac-Aua In Dzalbay

In this place you can perform several activities such as:

• Rappel
• Bike rides
• Kayaking
• Walking paths

It also has:

• Restaurant
• Kitchen
• Dining room
• Showers
• Bath
• Parking

The cost of access is $ 100 pesos for foreigners and $ 70 pesos for nationals.

100 peso = 5 US dollars

70 peso = 3.5 US dollars

Cenote Sac-Aua In Dzalbay on Google Map

Frequently asked questions about Cenote Sac-Aua

What is a cenote?

A cenote is a natural sinkhole in the Yucatán’s limestone that opens onto the fresh groundwater below. The Maya considered them sacred, and today they are famous spots for swimming and snorkelling.

Where is Cenote Sac-Aua?

In the village of Dzalbay, about 30 km (a 30-minute drive) east of Valladolid in Yucatán, only about 15 km from the Ek Balam ruins.

What makes Cenote Sac-Aua special?

It has a rare round island in the middle, created when the cave roof collapsed in an almost perfect circle, surrounded by crystal-clear water and stalactites.

How deep is Cenote Sac-Aua?

The water is between about 1 and 12 metres deep, and the cenote is roughly 90 metres across.

Can you swim in Cenote Sac-Aua?

Yes — you can swim and snorkel in its clear water, as well as kayak, rappel and walk the trails. There is a restaurant, showers and parking on site.

How much does it cost to visit?

Entry is around 100 pesos for foreign visitors and 70 pesos for Mexicans (roughly US $5 / $3.50). It is community-run, so bring cash.

How do you get to Cenote Sac-Aua?

Drive about 30 minutes east from Valladolid to Dzalbay; from the village it is a 15-minute walk or short bike ride to the cenote.

Is Cenote Sac-Aua worth visiting?

If you want a quieter, authentic, community-run cenote away from the crowds, yes — and it pairs perfectly with a visit to the nearby Ek Balam ruins.

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.