Cenote Ik-Kil
We’d read all sorts of things about the Ik-Kil cenote – that it’s too touristy and has lost its charm because of its proximity to Chichén Itzá.
I disagree. It’s a beautiful cenote!
We arrived around midday after visiting Chichén Itzá. There were already quite a few people there, yet we didn’t have to queue for even a minute; we got changed without any trouble and even had a lovely swim in the cenote.
Ik-Kil isn’t a hidden gem known only to the locals. However, it’s beautiful, well-maintained, and we’d happily visit it again in exactly the same way.
How to plan a visit to Ik-Kil?
- Have you hired a car? Set off in the morning from Valladolid/Mérida to Chichén Itzá, then carry on via Ik-Kil to Hacienda Oxmán.
- Are you staying in Cancún or Tulum without a car?
- 👉 The easiest option is to book a tour that includes Chichén Itzá and Ik-Kil
- Would you like to follow the same itinerary as us? Spend the night in Valladolid. We chose the Hotel Colonté
Chichén Itzá in the morning, Ik-Kil afterwards
If we had to choose between a less crowded Ik-Kil and a morning visit to Chichén Itzá, we’d go for Chichén Itzá again.
It was the highlight of our itinerary and we didn’t know in advance how long we’d be staying at the site. What’s more, the weather is nicer in the morning and there are fewer people around the Pyramid of Kukulkán.
It wouldn’t have made sense to organise our whole day just so we could be at Ik-Kil right when it opened.
We drove from Chichén Itzá to Ik-Kil around midday. We then carried on to the Hacienda Oxmán cenote.
We’d recommend this order to others as well:
- Set off from Valladolid in the morning
- Visit Chichén Itzá
- Drive to Ik-Kil
- Have a quick swim
- Continue to Hacienda Oxmán and on to your destination (we went all the way to the harbour on Isla Mujeres)
Check car hire prices at Cancún Airport
The crowds didn’t spoil Ik-Kil for us
Ik-Kil is touristy, but in my opinion it hasn’t lost its charm.
There were quite a few people here around midday, yet we didn’t have to queue anywhere and had plenty of space in the water.
If you’re looking for peace and quiet, choose a different cenote, but as a stop-off after Chichén Itzá, Ik-Kil is a fantastic place.
A 45-minute visit is enough
We spent about 45 minutes at Ik-Kil, including getting changed. We managed to take photos, shoot some videos and have a quick swim.
Unlike some other cenotes, there isn’t much else to do here.
You arrive, look down into the chasm from above, get changed, walk down to the water and have a swim. For most travellers, therefore, 45 to 60 minutes will be enough.
You should only plan a longer visit if you want to swim at your leisure or make use of the buffet restaurant.
Admission and what’s included
The standard admission fee for an adult in 240 mxn.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | 240 mxn |
| Child under 11 | 150 mxn |
| Admission including a buffet lunch | 530 mxn |
The standard admission price includes:
- parking
- locker
- life jacket
- changing rooms and showers
Ik-Kil is open every day from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. You can find current prices and information on buying tickets in advance on the official Ik-Kil website.
We didn’t buy our tickets in advance, and we didn’t have to queue even at around midday.
Swimming at Ik-Kil
A long stone staircase leads down to the water, which can be wet and slippery. You must have a shower before entering the cenote, and a life jacket is compulsory.
The water is deep, and you shouldn’t expect to find a spot where you can comfortably stand on the bottom. Ik-Kil is best suited for swimming or simply floating in your life jacket.
Bring your swimming costume, a towel and a change of dry clothes. You do not need to bring your own life jacket or a padlock for the locker.
How to get from Chichén Itzá to Ik-Kil
Ik-Kil is situated approximately 3 km from the main entrance to Chichén Itzá. The journey by car takes about 5 minutes.
By car
A private or hire car is by far the most convenient way to travel between Chichén Itzá, Ik-Kil and Hacienda Oxmán.
You won’t have to check timetables or make your way back to the entrance of the archaeological site after a swim.
Parking at Ik-Kil is included in the admission price.
Taxi
Taxis are available outside the Chichén Itzá visitor centre. For the short journey to Ik-Kil, expect to pay around 250 mxn for the whole car.
Agree on the price before getting in. If you want to continue on to Valladolid after a swim, it may be better value to arrange the whole journey in one go.
We do not recommend walking. The distance isn’t great, but there is no proper footpath along the road.
Colectivo
Colectivos travelling from Chichén Itzá to Valladolid may stop at the turn-off for Ik-Kil. Tell the driver your destination before getting on.
This option is cheap, but less reliable.
After your visit, you’ll have to wait by the main road for the next available colectivo heading towards Valladolid. What’s more, the minibuses travelling in this direction are often already full from Chichén Itzá, so they frequently won’t stop at all.
We describe the various transport options from Valladolid and other parts of Yucatán in detail in our guide ‘How to get to Chichén Itzá’.
An organised tour is mainly worthwhile if you’re coming from the Riviera Maya
A separate trip from Cancún or Tulum just to visit Ik-Kil doesn’t make sense.
If you don’t have a car, choose a full-day tour that includes Chichén Itzá, a cenote and transport from your hotel.
When booking, check the specific name of the cenote. Many tours promise only a general ‘visit to a cenote’ but actually head to Saamal, Chichikan, Hubiku or Nool Ha.
We wouldn’t book an organised tour from Valladolid. Having your own car offers greater freedom, and the trip to Ik-Kil takes less than an hour.
Where to stay
In our opinion, it’s not worth changing hotels just for Ik-Kil.
Valladolid remains the best base for the whole trip, offering a wider choice of restaurants and cafés, as well as a lively nightlife.
We stayed at the Hotel Colonté in the centre of Valladolid. In the morning, we set off for Chichén Itzá and then continued via Ik-Kil to Hacienda Oxmán.
If you want to stay overnight right by Ik-Kil, a practical and affordable option is the Hotel Doralba Inn Chichen, which is situated directly opposite the cenote.
It’s about a 10-minute walk from Ik-Kil and has its own restaurant, swimming pools and car park. Its main advantage is its location, not the atmosphere of the surrounding area.
For most travellers, however, we would still recommend staying in Valladolid.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Yucatan.
Any questions left?
If you have any questions or comments about the article...
