Ruta de los Cenotes, Puerto Morelos

The Ruta de los Cenotes is the closest place to Cancún to swim in cenotes, the freshwater sinkholes that dot the limestone of the Yucatán peninsula. The route starts a few minutes from the centre of Puerto Morelos, south of Cancún, and follows a paved road for about 35 kilometres inland through the jungle to the village of Leona Vicario. Along the way, the Mexican Caribbean tourism board lists seven cenotes, each run as its own small park with its own facilities, so you can choose one or string several together in a day.

The cenotes vary a good deal, which is part of the appeal. Siete Bocas is semi-open, with seven openings in the rock ceiling, several pools for swimming and snorkelling, rock jumps in some chambers and underwater passages for divers. Verde Lucero is fully open to the sky, with deep green water, shaded palapas, jumping platforms at different heights and a zip line across the water. La Noria is a cavern reached by stairs, with a partly open roof and clear blue water. Kin-Ha, whose Maya name means sun and water, is a closed cenote lit by a single opening above, with snorkelling, diving, zip lines and platforms.

Further along, Zapote is famous among divers for the Hells Bells, bell-shaped rock formations at about 30 metres that only certified divers can see, while the Cenotes Zapote Ecopark offers swimming, snorkelling and a water zip line for everyone else. Boca del Puma is a jungle adventure park with a treetop zip line circuit, ATV trails and clear-water cenotes. Las Mojarras is one of the largest open cenotes on the route, with deep blue water, picnic areas, platforms and zip lines, and is suited to families.

The route suits most travellers. Families with children tend to prefer the open cenotes such as Verde Lucero and Las Mojarras, confident swimmers and snorkellers enjoy the caverns, and qualified divers can explore underwater passages and the Hells Bells. Activity-seekers can add zip lines and ATV rides.

Each cenote sets its own hours, prices and rules, and these can change, so the tourism board advises checking each venue's own website before you go. The easiest way to reach the route is by car or on an organised tour, as the cenotes are spread out along the road.