Where Homún is
Homún lies southeast of Mérida, about an hour's drive away. It's one of the municipalities within the Ring of Cenotes State Geohydrological Reserve, created in 2013, along with Cuzamá, Tecoh, Acanceh and Seyé, among others. Sitting on the rim of the Chicxulub crater explains the sheer number of cenotes here.
Why it's so special
Within a few kilometers, Homún packs in very different cenotes: dark vaults you reach by stairs, caverns with a hole where a beam of light falls through, and open pools ringed by greenery. It's the perfect place to understand the types of cenotes in a single day.
Many local families run cenotes on their own land, with stairs, life vests and basic facilities.
Santa Bárbara: four cenotes in one place
The Santa Bárbara site has four cenotes you move between by bike or cart:
- Cascabel: closed, cave-style, the most dramatic.
- Chaksikín: semi-open, with a descent between limestone walls.
- Xooch: semi-open, with an opening that lets light fall onto the water.
- Pool Cocom: open and surrounded by vegetation.
Tips for your day in Homún
- Shower before each cenote and keep sunscreen and repellent out of the water: it's part of the aquifer the region drinks from.
- Bring non-slip shoes and a light towel.
- Wear a life vest if you're not a confident swimmer.
- Carry some cash for small expenses.
Homún from Mérida
Mary Tours' Santa Bárbara Cenotes trip leaves Mérida for Homún, visits Cascabel, Chaksikín, Xooch and Pool Cocom, and includes a regional lunch with handmade tortillas. You can also pair it with Izamal on Izamal and the Santa Bárbara Cenotes, or go at your own pace with the Izamal and Santa Bárbara transfer. The office is on Calle 61 in Mérida's historic center; prices are in the booking section.
| Cenote | Type | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| Cascabel | Closed (cave) | Dim water, the most dramatic |
| Chaksikín | Semi-open | Descent between limestone walls |
| Xooch | Semi-open | A beam of light on the water |
| Pool Cocom | Open | Greenery all around and a channel to swim |
Fun facts
- Homún sits on the rim of the Chicxulub crater.
- At Santa Bárbara you get from cenote to cenote by bike or cart.
- Many Homún cenotes are run by local families.
Related tours
Cenotes · 7 h
The four cenotes of Santa Bárbara
Four different cenotes and a lunch made by hand
from $1,450 MXN per person
See itinerary
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · daily
- 10:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Homún, through the ring of cenotes.
- 11:00 AM Cascabel cenote — Closed, cave type. You descend inside and the water sits in half-light: the most striking of the four.
- 11:30 AM Chaksikín cenote — Semi-open. You go down between limestone walls painted with Maya-themed murals.
- 12:00 PM Xooch cenote — Semi-open, with a shaft of light that falls straight onto the water mid-morning.
- 12:30 PM Pool Cocom cenote — Open and surrounded by vegetation. You swim along a channel out to the wide part.
- 1:30 PM Regional lunch — Home cooking with hand-made tortillas. Plenty of time to eat without rushing.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — An hour back, arriving around five.
Included: Transport, Certified guide, Entry to all four cenotes, Regional lunch
Not included: Drinks with lunch
Cenotes · 9 h
Izamal and the Santa Bárbara cenotes
Izamal early, and the whole afternoon in four cenotes
from $1,550 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Izamal.
- 9:00 AM Izamal — The San Antonio de Padua convent, raised on a Maya platform, the Kinich Kakmó pyramid and the yellow streets.
- 10:30 AM On to Homún — An hour and a quarter through small towns to the cenote grounds.
- 12:00 PM Santa Bárbara cenotes — Five hours inside: Cascabel in a cavern, Chaksikín with its shaft of light, and Xooch and Pool Cocom in the open. You move between them by bike or cart, and lunch is served on site.
- 5:00 PM Back to Mérida — An hour back.
Included: Transport, General culture guide, Entrances, Lunch
Not included: Drinks
Towns · 9 h
Izamal and two cenotes
Izamal’s yellow first, then two cold cenotes
from $1,300 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road. The guide uses it to explain where Izamal comes from before you arrive.
- 9:00 AM The yellow town — The convent and its atrium, among the largest on the continent, the baroque altarpiece, and then free time around the streets.
- 10:20 AM On to the Homún ring — Forty more minutes to the cenote area.
- 11:00 AM Yaxbacaltún cenote — The first swim, landing right after the morning’s walking.
- 12:15 PM San Antonio cenote and lunch — A semi-closed cenote that feels nothing like the first one, and lunch served right there.
- 3:15 PM Back to Mérida — Back to Mérida, arriving around five.
Included: Transport, Guide, Entry to both cenotes, Lunch
Not included: Drinks
Transfers · 8.5 h
Transfer to Izamal and Santa Bárbara
The yellow town and four cenotes, with no group schedule
from $2,650 MXN per vehicle
Frequently asked questions
How far is Homún from Mérida?
About an hour by road.
How many cenotes does the Santa Bárbara trip visit?
Four: Cascabel, Chaksikín, Xooch and Pool Cocom.
Is Homún inside a reserve?
Yes, the Ring of Cenotes State Geohydrological Reserve.
Do I need to know how to swim?
Not necessarily: life vests are available. Wear one if you're not confident.
