Hidden Underground Places on Cozumel
Does Cozumel Have Cenotes?
Most visitors to Cozumel know the island for its coral reefs and cruise port. Few realize that beneath the jungle and limestone surface of the island lies a network of submerged caves and cenotes. These underground spaces formed thousands of years ago when the island’s limestone was exposed to air and freshwater slowly dissolved the rock. When sea levels rose, many of these caves flooded, creating the underwater cave systems that exist today.
Chempita (Jade Cenote)
Located in the southern jungle of the island near El Cedral, Chempita is one of the most unusual cenotes on Cozumel. Unlike most caves beneath the island, Chempita drops quickly and reaches depths of about 160 feet (48 meters).
Aerolito
The most visited cenote on the island, Aerolito is located near the Caleta boat marina. Tourists visit this small body of water almost every day of the year. There’s even a resident crocodile that can sometimes be seen sunning itself on the bank.
Quebrada (Chankanaab)
The longest documented cave system beneath the jungle of Cozumel, Cueva Quebrada has 15 documented cenotes and 3 additional openings along the shoreline. The main shoreline opening is located inside Chankanaab National Park.
Sin Nombre
Two cenotes located near the cruise terminal area provide access to the Sin Nombre cave system. Exploration began in the late 2000s and has resumed in recent years as divers continue to survey and map new passages.
Cocodrilo Cenote
Located on the grounds of one of the resorts south of San Miguel, Cocodrilo is sometimes visited by tourists spending the day on the beach. There’s a resident crocodile that can sometimes be spotted nearby.
Tres Potrillos
Tres Potrillos is accessed through an extremely small cenote hidden in the jungle. The entrance is only large enough for a single diver at a time and leads to a decorated cave chamber with a deep pit reaching approximately 125 feet.
Kuuchi T’uuchtaj Cenotes
Two cenotes located deep in the jungle of Cozumel provide access to the Kuuchi T’uuchtaj cave system.
The Hidden Karst Landscape of Cozumel
Although only a few cenotes are visible on the surface, the island’s limestone geology suggests that many caves exist beneath the jungle without obvious openings.
These submerged passages are part of the same karst landscape that created the famous cenotes across the Yucatán Peninsula.
See also: Map of Cave Systems on Cozumel
Return to Cozumel Cave Systems