Homun sits about 31 miles from Merida, which makes it one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips in all of Yucatan. In roughly an hour you go from the city center to swimming in clear freshwater cenotes, far from the tour-bus circuit. This guide covers the three ways to make the trip — driving, colectivo van, or taxi — with real times and costs so you can pick what fits your trip.
Distance and travel time
The distance from Merida to Homun is about 50 km (31 miles) on the Highway 18 route, which passes through Acanceh and Tecoh. Travel time depends on how you go:
- Private car: about 1 hour
- Colectivo van: about 1 hour 15 minutes
- Taxi or rideshare: about 50 minutes
It's an easy drive — mostly toll-free highway, well signposted. You don't need a 4x4 or any special experience: a standard rental car handles it without trouble.
1. By car — the most flexible option
If you have your own car or a rental, this is the easiest way to go, because it lets you move between the different Homun cenotes at your own pace. The route is straightforward:
- Leave Merida on Highway 18 heading southeast toward Kanasín.
- Continue to Acanceh (about 15 miles) — a worthwhile quick stop to see its Maya pyramid sitting right in the town square.
- Carry on to Tecoh, then take the signed turnoff to Homun.
- Once in town, the central park is the main landmark where you'll meet your guide.
Google Maps and Waze both work fine on the whole route — just search "Homún, Yucatán."
There is no gas station in Homun. Top off in Merida, or in Acanceh or Tecoh along the way.
2. By colectivo — the budget option
If you're traveling without a car and watching your budget, the colectivo is the way locals do it, and it's simpler than it sounds:
- Go to the South Bus Terminal in Merida (Calle 69 between 68 and 70, Colonia Centro).
- Look for the vans marked Homún. They run frequently through the morning.
- The fare is about 40 to 60 MXN per person (roughly $2–4 USD).
- They drop you in the center of Homun, where you meet your guide.
Go early. Colectivos run more often in the morning, and an early start means a full day at the cenotes without rushing.
3. By taxi or rideshare
If you'd rather not drive, or you're a group splitting the fare, a taxi is a reasonable middle ground. Expect roughly $30–45 USD each way from Merida depending on the driver and time of day. Agree on the price before getting in — most drivers in Yucatan don't use meters for intercity trips.
A practical tip: if you take a taxi out, arrange the return with the same driver for a set time. Finding a ride back from Homun in the late afternoon is harder than getting there.
Making the most of the day
Homun rewards an early start. Arriving before 10 AM means you'll have the cenotes nearly to yourself, the light inside the caverns is at its best mid-morning, and you'll still have time for lunch in town before heading back.
A typical day looks like: leave Merida at 8 AM, arrive at 9, visit two or three cenotes through the morning, eat cochinita pibil in the village, and be back in Merida by mid-afternoon.
Cenotes in Homun are cash-only and there are no reliable ATMs in town. Bring pesos from Merida. On our tours you pay cash on arrival — US dollars or pesos — with nothing to prepay.
Prefer to skip the logistics?
Our tours include round-trip coordination, entry fees, gear and a local bilingual guide. Book on WhatsApp and pay cash the day of the tour.