Sight guide · Tulum · Mexico
Visiting Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha)
An open-air cenote on the road to Cobá, named because taxi drivers once washed their cars in it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Popo le Chien, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha) is a nature spot in Cobá road, Tulum. Allow 1 hour; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Nature
- Area
- Cobá road
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- nature, off the beaten path and kids
- Best months
- February–April
About Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha)
An open-air cenote on the road to Cobá, named because taxi drivers once washed their cars in it. Lily pads, fish and an underwater garden of algae make it good for snorkelling, and it is usually less crowded than the Gran Cenote.
Tip: Combine it with a visit to Cobá on the same day, since it is on the way.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Cobá road.
Best time to visit Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha)
Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha) is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- March: 30°C (86°F) highs, about 3 rainy days, very busy crowds.
- February: 29°C (84°F) highs, about 4 rainy days, very busy crowds.
- April: 31°C (88°F) highs, about 3 rainy days, busy crowds.
When to visit Tulum has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Tulum itinerary visits Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha) on day 2, together with Cenote Calavera, Dos Ojos cenote and Tulum Pueblo and Avenida Tulum.
- No. 7 of the 13 sights in our Tulum things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 5-day plan.
- One of the picks in outdoors in Tulum.
Near Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha)
Also in Cobá road, so you can walk between them:
- Cenote Calavera — 1 hour, low cost
- Gran Cenote — 2 hours, mid-priced
If you like Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha)
- Dos Ojos cenote — Tankah Bay, 2–3 hours
- Casa Cenote — Tankah Bay, 1.5 hours
- Laguna Kaan Luum — South of Tulum, 1.5 hours
- Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido — South of Tulum, 2 hours
Staying near Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha)
Where to stay in Tulum compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha)?
Plan 1 hour. With Cenote Calavera nearby, it fits a half-day in Cobá road.
+Is Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha) free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha)?
February–April for the most comfortable weather. Combine it with a visit to Cobá on the same day, since it is on the way.
+Do I need to book Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha) in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.