Cenote de la Bruja

The basics

The Cenote de la Bruja lies at the south end of the town of Bacalar—you can walk to the cenote from downtown in about 20 minutes. Though it is essentially part of Lake Bacalar, it’s much deeper than the long, narrow lake and has darker waters. There is little access from land—to reach the cenote, paddle out on kayaks, or take boat tours of the lagoon that stop to marvel at the cenote’s cavernous depths.

Things to know before you go

• There is very limited public access to the cenote from land.

• The cenote is free to visit but can usually be reached only by water.

• Check with nearby hotels for kayak rentals.

• The cenote has no public facilities of any kind.

• Avoid using tanning oils or sunscreen if you plan to enter the water, as they can harm the ecosystem.

How to get there

Among the cenotes in Bacalar, the Cenote de la Bruja is closest to the city, about 1 mile (1.5 kilometers) south of the center. The best way to reach the cenote is by paddling there yourself or by booking a lagoon boat tour.

When to get there

The cenote doesn’t keep operating hours and is free to visit and open to the public—though you may want to arrive in the morning to avoid tour groups. Bacalar is a year-round destination, with a high season roughly from January to March and a rainy season from September through November.

Cenotes near Lake Bacalar

Cenote de la Bruja is one of four cenotes near Lake Bacalar, three of which are part of the lagoon itself. Cenote Cocalitos has deep waters and a beach club; Cenotes Esmerelda is known for—you guessed it—emerald blue waters; and Cenote Azul, the deepest of the bunch, is the only one of the three that isn’t part of the lagoon itself, though it lies right next to it.