How to visit Cenote Santa Barbara
Cenote Santa Bárbara is one of the most attractive sites among the Homún cenotes. In fact, you can visit 3 cenotes within the premises and you can reach them by different types of transportation. We will tell you all about it in this post.
Quick Update: At the moment Cenote Chacsikín is under maintenance, but they have open a new spectacular open cenote called Pool Cocom, more about it later. 🙂
You can explore the Santa Barbara Cenotes by truck or bike.
The trucks are carts that move on rails. Previously they were pulled by horses but luckily they changed that and while horses are now enjoying their retirement, guests can enjoy the comfort of a motor train. This transport was used centuries ago to transport henequen, a cactus from whose fibers different materials were made.
The majority of the Haciendas that you can find in Yucatan, were dedicated to the cultivation and production of henequen.
The use of this kind of transportation as a tourist attraction was first used in the area by the neighboring town of Cuzama, which is taking guests to see three amazing cenotes by truck. This has been a hot topic as you cannot help but wonder if it’s an ethical practice to exploit the horses in this way and most of all if they horses are treated fairly. But we’ll talk about Cuzama another time. Let’s go back to the beautiful Santa Barbara Cenotes.
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Things to know about cenote Santa Barbara
The Cenote Santa Bárbara provides a unique experience for visitors. It’s exceptionally well-organized, offering excellent facilities and a restaurant service. Spanning a maximum distance of 4 kilometers, the route connecting the three cenotes is very well marked, ensuring visitors won’t lose their way.
Whether opting for a bike ride or a truck tour, you are guaranteed to thoroughly enjoy your visit. The truck is operated by a driver who awaits guests at the exit of each cenote.
It’s important to note that once you leave a cenote to proceed to the next, returning is not permitted, so make sure you make the most of each cenote while there.
If you go by bike you will find ample parking available and you can go back and forth to the cenotes as you like.
But let’s talk about each cenote separately.
What are the cenotes?
A cenote is a freshwater sinkhole formed by the collapsing of limestone soil, the type of stone that the Yucatan Peninsula is mainly made of. The cenotes allow us access to the water table. These holes are produced naturally by the collapse of the roof.
Sacred to the Mayan civilization they are now some of the main tourist attractions in the Yucatan Peninsula. Read more about the Mexico cenotes.
#1 Cenote Santa Barbara: Cascabel
The first cenote of the tour, because we must all go in the same clockwise direction, is the Cascabel cenote. It is a cave cenote, well lit, and with comfortable wooden stairs to access the crystal clear waters.
#2 Cenote Santa Barbara: Cenote Chacsikín
A large wooden staircase leads you to a platform at the foot of the crystal-clear waters of this beautiful cenote. The platform is surrounded by water. The place is beautiful, the rock formations, and the color of the water, are beautiful. It is semi-open.
#3 Cenote Santa Barbara: Cenote Xooch’
This cenote is the last one and the most beautiful. The Alamo tree that towers over the entrance makes it even more spectacular and by all means photogenic.
#4 Cenote Pool Cocom
This is the new addition to this group of cenote. It’s a beautiful open air cenote with emerald green water, a canal and a natural waterfall. Also great to enjoy some swimming and relax surrounded by a thriving nature.
How to get to Cenote Santa Bárbara
The Santa Barbara cenotes are located 50 kilometers east of Mérida at one of the entrances of the town of Homún. It’s the same path that also takes you to other more distant cenotes, but equally beautiful, which are Mani-Chan and Cleotilde, and Cenote Caliskutz (these are 4 kilometers inland).
How to get to cenote Santa Bárbara in Homun by Car
From Mérida take 59th Street to the city’s outskirts, and follow the sign to Chichén Itzá. Continue on the road for almost 30 kilometers until the turnoff to Tahmek. From here follows Hocabá and then Homún.
On the road, you will see several people who will stop you to offer motorcycle taxi tours in Homún. Sometimes they are a little pushy.
Once you arrive in Homún, you can reach the cenotes on your own or tour them on a motorcycle taxi tour.
If you are renting a car we recommend Discover Cars because on their website you can compare different companies and their prices and you can choose between their car insurance or the ones offered by the car rental directly, or both.
When you choose your rental car we recommend including full insurance with 0 deductible so you will drive with no stress. On Discover Cars, you can purchase that too. Make sure you read the fine print.
From Merida to Cenote Santa Barbara Map
How to get to Homún by Local Bus
From Mérida, you will find minivans (combi) leaving from the “colonia Centro” (calle 52 x 65 and 67). Minivans start running from Mérida to Homún at 6 am and the last departure is at 5:30 pm.
From Homún to Mérida the first departure is at 5:30 in the morning and the last between 5 and 6 in the afternoon.
Bus Price: 34 MXN (1.5USD) pesos per person/one way.
The bus schedules are not very exact, they leave when they are full, but it is a very busy route, so it is easy for the bus to fill up quickly.
How to get to Cenote Santa Bárbara by local transportation
If you get to Homun by public transportation and you don’t have your car, you can get a taxi to go to Cenotes Santa Barbara.
In Homun there is a moto-taxi service only. They are usually the same ones that offer tours to the cenotes. But in this case, you will just need a ride to the entrance of the Santa Barbara Cenotes and once there you can visit on your own.
They should charge something like 30 pesos to go. And you can ask them to come and pick you up at a certain time.
Things to do in the Cenote Santa Bárbara
- Swim and chill – you can just enjoy the cool and transparent waters
- Try the truck Service- You have the opportunity to try this old local mean of transport
- Ride a bike- It’s a great place to enjoy a bike ride in nature. It’s all flat, so minimal effort is required.
- Enjoy the local food – There is a restaurant inside the premises and you can purchase a package that includes the restaurant as well. You can enquire at the entrance with you get your ticket.
Practical information
Santa Bárbara Facilities
- Showers
- Toilets
- Life jackets are included in the price, they are mandatory
- Handicraft shop
- Restaurant
- Free wifi
Santa Bárbara Entrance fee –
Package #1– 250 pesos for each person (14 USD approx). Includes transportation to the 3 cenotes, the vest, and the use of the facilities’ services (bathrooms, changing tables, showers, Wi-Fi, and parking).
Children from 4 to 11 years old – 125 pesos
Package #2 – 370 pesos each person (21.5 USD approx). In addition to what is included in the previous package, they add a main dish from the restaurant’s menu.
Children from 4 to 11 years old 245 pesos.
Cenote Santa Barbara Opening Hours
Open every day from 9 to 17
How to visit Cenote Santa Bárbara and respect the environment
We would like the cenote (and nature in general) to stay as beautiful as it is. The good part is that it’s not that difficult. We have put together some simple rules to follow in order to inflict as little damage as possible to the environment.
- Don’t be loud
- Don’t trash
- Don’t use any kinds of cream spray or protectors on your skin as it would contaminate the environment (even the so called – eco friendly)
- Always take a shower before entering in a cenote (available at the entrance)
- Don’t hang on to the stalactites or stalagmites or any roots.
- Just don’t do any foolishness that can damage the environment
If we appreciate the environment we will learn to respect it.
Cenote Santa Barbara Rules
You cannot enter with food or coolers, only with a bottle of water. You cannot wear fins, you cannot go with pets, or bathe in denim-type clothing. Preferably wear a swimsuit.
What to bring to Cenote Santa Bárbara
- Swimsuit
- Change of clothes
- Towel to dry off
- Mosquito repellent to wear after you come out of the water as there are many mosquitos around
- Mask and snorkel gear and life jacket are available for rent but it would be much better if you have your own, both for hygienic purposes and saving
- You can walk on your flip flop although I always like to wear closed shoes when I am in the wilderness, mainly to avoid bugs bites. But it’s totally up to you
What we like about cenote Santa Bárbara
The place is very well organized, I really like it. The 3 cenotes are beautiful, to our taste they become more beautiful as the tour progresses. An ideal place to go with the family for its comforts and facilities.
What we don’t like about Santa Bárbara
Personally, we don’t like the truck option, we prefer to go by bike.
INSIDER TIP – arrive as early as possible to enjoy the cenotes at your leisure.
Tips to photograph the cenote Santa Bárbara
The most photographic cenote of the 3 is the Xooch’ cenote. The Cascabel is the most difficult to take photos, of because it’s very narrow and dark. The Chacsikín cenote has different interesting angles. We always recommend a water camera or a case for your phone in the cenotes, have a lot of fun 🙌🏽
Category – family
Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
What to visit near Cenote Santa Bárbara
- Ruins Acanceh 24 km/15 miles 40 minutes by car
- Ruins Mayapan 46 km/28.5 miles 1 hour by car
- The other cenotes of Homún😁
