Jardin del Eden Cenote a.k.a Ponderosa
Cenote Jardin del Eden really is a little slice of paradise on Earth! Often touted as one of the Playa del Carmen area’s most unmissable cenotes, Jardin del Eden Cenote is a large, beautiful pool of cool, perfectly clear water ideal for a relaxing dip if the glorious Mexican sun has left you in need of a break. Surrounded by stunning plant life and scenery, this cenote is a photographer’s dream.
Also commonly referred to as Cenote Ponderosa and Cenote Eden as well as several other variations, this is one of the most popular cenotes in the local area. As an open cenote, access to the water is very easy and it’s an amazing day out for all the family – as well as budding divers. Many people come just to enjoy the cenote’s beauty at surface level. Even just below the surface, snorkeling here is a truly memorable experience and comes highly recommended.
But, as with most of the best cenotes, cave diving is the thing to try. Cenote Eden has a large system of caves with rooms of all sizes. It’s the perfect choice if you are a less experienced diver, as Cenote Jardin del Eden will let you see a wondrous snippet of what cave diving has to offer. Swim beside various species of fish, keep an eye out for the slider turtles and enjoy amazing views of the underwater caves and speleotherms.
How to get to Cenote Jardin del Eden
Getting to Cenote El Eden is straightforward. It’s about a 20-minute drive – around 26 km – south from Playa, and around 40 km north of Tulum. You can choose to travel in a rented car or via one of the colectivos (collective buses), which are very affordable.
If you are travelling by colectivo from Playa del Carmen, take the one from 2nd Street in the direction of Tulum. You can ask for Cenote Eden or Cenote Ponderosa, or the Barceló Hotel. If you’re staying in the hotel, good news! Jardin del Eden Cenote is just the other side of the highway, though do be careful when crossing.
If you get off the bus at the hotel, you should see a large sign indicating Cenote el Jardin del Eden on the opposite side of the road. There is a very small entrance fee – though you will need to take a little cash with you – followed by less than a ten-minute walk to reach the cenote.
Jardin del Eden cenote – diving
Even without goggles and a snorkel, the clarity of the water at Cenote Ponderosa is truly impressive. With all of the proper equipment, you’re in for a truly spectacular experience. Even within the main snorkelling area, you will have plenty of natural beauty to see.
When you get into Garden of Eden cenote’s cave system – which links up with, or is part of, the next-door Coral Garden system – you will see incredible lighting effects as well as a roomy cavern with little danger of feeling closed in. There are also smaller rooms to explore along the routes of several different passages.
There are no showers here, but there are bathrooms. Drinking alcohol isn’t allowed. Of course, you should make sure that any bug spray or sunscreen you are using are biodegradable. This is important to keep the water quality of the cenotes high.
We will provide you with all the necessary equipment for this dive: 5mm wetsuit, boots, fins, mask, BCD or a plate with harness and wing, DIN regulators scuba pro, Hog, aqualung, apex, dive computer, lights and a Go Pro camera.
Classification: you need to have basic dive qualifications.
Snorkelling in the cenote
Cenote El Eden is very popular with all kinds of people. Not least of them keen snorkelers, who know the quality of marine life which can be found here beneath the mangroves. Not to mention the fact that the water temperature is a balmy 25 degrees celsius most of the year round.
There are a number of intriguing rock formations and a huge area to go snorkeling in – somewhere around 30 by 100 metres altogether. Take a break on the rocks on the cenote base and watch the fish swim around you, or try to spot one of the slider turtles which the cenote is known for.
You can also try out some cliff jumping from the 12-foot launch point at the side of the cenote. If you prefer a less adventurous way to access the water, there is very good wooden decking most of the way around.
Check the prices for Cenote Adventures
Cenotes – from Playa del Carmen |
Price |
Duration |
Get this tour |
👌🏼Full Day Adventure: Best of Playa del Carmen Cenotes – 3 Dives🌴 |
267USD |
8am – 4:30pm |
Book Now |
2 Cenote Dives from Playa |
204USD |
8am – 2:30pm |
Book Now |
🌿Playa Del Carmen’s Best for certified divers: Cenote & Ocean 🐠 |
174USD |
8am – 1pm |
Book Now |
🌿Best for non-divers: Discover Scuba Diving Casa Cenote + Snorkel Dos Ojos🌿 |
214USD |
8am – 2pm |
Book Now |
Discover Scuba Diving: 1 Cenote Dive + 1 Ocean Dive from Playa |
214USD |
8am – 1:30pm |
Book Now |
Full Open water course – 5 Dives + E-learning |
564USD |
2-3 days |
Book Now |
Advanced Open Water Diver Course from Playa + E-learning |
564USD |
3 days |
Book Now |
2 Snorkel Locations Tour from Playa |
124USD |
8am – 12:30pm |
Book Now |
1 Cenote Fun Freedive from Playa |
144USD |
8am-12pm |
Book Now |
2 Cenote Fun Freedives from Playa |
214USD |
8am-2pm |
Book Now |
SSI Discovery Freediving – 1 dive |
154USD |
8am – 12pm |
Book Now |
🐊Crocodile Night Dive Cenote Tour from Playa🐊 |
214USD |
6:30pm-10pm |
Book Now |
🐊Crocodile Night Snorkel Cenote Tour from Playa🐊 |
164USD |
6:30pm-10pm |
Book Now |
Cenotes – from Tulum |
Price |
Duration |
Get this tour |
2 Cenote Dives from Tulum |
204USD |
8am – 1:30pm |
Book Now |
🌿Tulum’s Best for certified divers: 1 Cenote Dive + 1 Ocean Dive 🐠 |
174USD |
8am – 1:30pm |
Book Now |
🌿Best for non-divers: Discover Scuba Diving Casa Cenote + Snorkel Dos Ojos 🌿 |
214USD |
8am – 1:30pm |
Book Now |
Discover Scuba Diving 2 dives: 1 Cenote + 1 Ocean Dive from Tulum |
214USD |
8am – 1:30pm |
Book Now |
Full Open water course: 5 Dives + E-learning from Tulum |
564USD |
3 days |
Book Now |
Open Water Diver Course + 2 Dives in Dos Ojos from Tulum + E-learning |
684USD |
3 days |
Book Now |
Advanced Open Water Diver Course from Tulum + E-learning |
564USD |
3 days |
Book Now |
1 Cave dive from Tulum |
204USD |
8am – 1:30pm |
Book Now |
2 Cave dives from Tulum |
249USD |
8am – 3:30pm |
Book Now |
2 Cenotes Snorkel: Dos Ojos & Casa Cenote from Tulum |
124USD |
8am – 12:30pm |
Book Now |
2 Snorkel Locations from Tulum |
124USD |
8am – 12:30pm |
Book Now |
1 Cenote Fun Freedive from Tulum |
144USD |
8am – 12pm |
Book Now |
2 Cenote Fun Freedives from Tulum |
214USD |
8am – 2pm |
Book Now |
SSI Discovery Freediving – 1 dive |
154USD |
8am – 12pm |
Book Now |
🐊Crocodile Night Dive Cenote Tour from Tulum🐊 |
214USD |
6:30pm-10pm |
Book Now |
🐊Crocodile Night Snorkel Cenote Tour from Tulum🐊 |
164USD |
6:30pm-10pm |
Book Now |
Cenotes – from Puerto Aventuras |
Price |
Duration |
Get this tour |
👌🏼Full Day Adventure: Best of Puerto Aventuras Cenotes – 3 Dives🌴 |
267USD |
8am – 4:30pm |
Book Now |
2 Cenote Dives from Puerto Aventuras |
204USD |
8am – 2:30pm |
Book Now |
1 Cenote Dive from Puerto Aventuras |
174USD |
1:30pm-4:30pm |
Book Now |
Discover Scuba Diving: 1 Cenote Dive + 1 Ocean Dive from Puerto Aventuras |
214USD |
8am – 1:30pm |
Book Now |
Discover Scuba Diving: 1 Cenote Dive from Puerto Aventuras |
154USD |
8am – 1:30pm |
Book Now |
Full Open Water Course: 5 Dives + E-learning |
564USD |
2-3 days |
Book Now |
Advanced Open Water Diver Course + E-learning |
564USD |
3 days |
Book Now |
2 Snorkel Locations Tour from Puerto Aventuras |
124USD |
8am – 12:30pm |
Book Now |
🐊Crocodile Night Dive Cenote Tour from Puerto Aventuras🐊 |
214USD |
6:30pm-10pm |
Book Now |
Get a Quote View All Tours
1-4 people small group visits – every day
Cave diving certification is required for cave diving
For private tours, please contact us, so we can provide an exclusive offer for you.
Prices include:
Transportation from our dive shop in Tulum or Playa del Carmen or Puerto Aventuras
High-quality dive equipment rental: full dive gear set and torches
Prices are fixed, regardless of the number of people in the group.
The topography of the cavern
Garden of Eden Cenote is large and open. When you first see it, you might be forgiven that it is a simply stunning open-air swimming pool. This absolute gift of a natural sinkhole can actually get very deep in some areas. The part of the cenote where the diving routes begin is actually off to one side.
The surface
When you see this paradise in the flesh, you will see that it’s called the Garden of Eden for a reason! The surface of this cenote is a jaw-dropping natural pool surrounded by mangroves and subtle but sturdy wooden decking in all the right places to allow easy access to the water.
The light
The incredible transparency of the water here makes for excellent light. There is a halocline layer in the deeper cave portions.
The bottom
The open part of the cenote’s bottom has numerous interesting rock formations. Many people like to sit there and allow the little fish to play around them.
Deeper diving
Deeper diving in this cavern is a wonderful experience, probably more suited to beginner and practising divers.
Cenote Eden FAQ
Q. How deep is the cenote?
A. The cenote is around 15 meters (50 feet) deep.
Q. What time of day is best to dive here?
A. Cenote Jardin del Eden is open every day (except for Saturday) from 9 am to 5 pm. It is a very popular area. But thanks to its large size, it rarely feels that busy. If you want to increase the chances of it being quieter, you might want to try visiting early in the morning or towards the end of the day.
Q. Is the cenote fresh water or salt water?
A. This cenote is fresh water.
Q. Can I bring a camera?
A. Like all cenotes near Playa del Carmen bringing a camera is not only allowed, it is actively encouraged! Please mind that there might be a GoPro usage fee for some cenotes.