The most photographed cenote in the Yucatán — a 26-metre-deep circular sinkhole with sheer limestone walls, hanging vines reaching down to the surface, and an open roof letting columns of sunlight pierce the green water. A spiral stone staircase carved into the rock leads down to the swimming platform.
Ik Kil sits 3 km south of Chichén Itzá and is the standard cooling-off stop on most organised day tours from Cancun. Coming independently with a hired car gives much more flexibility — arrive at opening (8 a.m.) for solo swimming before the tour buses turn up at midday. There is a small restaurant on site, a few cabañas if you want to stay overnight, and life jackets are included with the entrance fee.