Recently Viewed
Chacchoben Mayan Ruins and Bacalar Lagoon
4.3
27 Ratings
Mahahual
Explore Chacchoben Mayan ruins and Bacalar Lagoon with expert guides. Dive into history and culture on this customizable Costa Maya excursion.
Explore Chacchoben Mayan ruins and Bacalar Lagoon with expert guides. Dive into history and culture on this customizable Costa Maya excursion.
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Zona Arqueologica De Chaachoben - The Chacchoben archaeological site, meaning “Place of the Red Corn” in the Mayan language, served as a significant ceremonial and political hub during the Classic period. Nestled within a lush tropical jungle, its tiered temples and sacred plazas narrate centuries of history, immersing visitors in the grandeur of…
- Zona Arqueologica De Chaachoben - The Chacchoben archaeological site, meaning “Place of the Red Corn” in the Mayan language, served as a significant ceremonial and political hub during the Classic period. Nestled within a lush tropical jungle, its tiered temples and sacred plazas narrate centuries of history, immersing visitors in the grandeur of the ancient Mayan civilization.
Stroll for an hour among ancient temples enveloped by tropical jungle and uncover the legacy of a legendary civilization. Expert guides will vividly bring its history, culture, and traditions to life.
- Lago Bacalar (Lake of the Seven Colors) - Experience the enchanting Bacalar Lagoon, known as the “Lagoon of Seven Colors,” on an exclusive excursion crafted for cruise passengers arriving at Costa Maya Port. This natural haven is renowned for its vibrant turquoise hues, tranquil ambiance, and dreamlike landscapes.
Enjoy a picturesque transfer to this exceptional destination and embark on a comfortable pontoon boat ride to explore its most iconic sites: Pirates Channel, Cenote Negro, and Cenote Esmeralda, where the shallow, crystal-clear waters invite you to swim, relax, and connect with nature.
During the tour, enjoy free time to float, refresh, and capture stunning photos with the lagoon as your perfect backdrop. The tour includes the boat ride, a local guide, life vests, drinks, tequila tasting, and a delightful traditional Mexican lunch by the water.
An authentic, relaxing, and magical experience.
- Pedro Antonio Santos - En route, there will be a stop at Pedro Santos Pineapple Town, a vibrant and charming place where visitors can savor the freshest and sweetest pineapple in the region.
- Mahahual - Optionally, visit the Mahahual lighthouse, one of the most iconic landmarks of this coastal town. Finally, guests will be returned to the port entrance, ensuring a timely and hassle-free return to their cruise.
History, nature, and Caribbean paradise… all in one unforgettable day.
What's Included
- Guaranteed return to the ship on your schedule
- Entrance to the Chacchoben Archaeological Site
- Drinks included (Water, soft drinks, and beer)
- Pontoon Boat Ride on Bacalar Lagoon
- Snacks
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Traveler Insurance
- Brunch
- Guaranteed return to the ship on your schedule
- Entrance to the Chacchoben Archaeological Site
- Drinks included (Water, soft drinks, and beer)
- Pontoon Boat Ride on Bacalar Lagoon
- Snacks
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Traveler Insurance
- Brunch
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Prepare for an adventure that beautifully blends history, culture, and nature. You won’t just visit the remarkable Chacchoben Archaeological Site — you’ll dive into the heart of the ancient Mayan civilization. Expert guides will lead you through sacred temples and millennia-old structures, sharing stories, legends, and secrets that transform every stone…
Prepare for an adventure that beautifully blends history, culture, and nature. You won’t just visit the remarkable Chacchoben Archaeological Site — you’ll dive into the heart of the ancient Mayan civilization. Expert guides will lead you through sacred temples and millennia-old structures, sharing stories, legends, and secrets that transform every stone into a gateway to the past.
But the journey doesn’t stop there… the breathtaking Bacalar Lagoon awaits — a natural paradise renowned for its seven shades of blue. You’ll board a comfortable pontoon boat for a relaxing ride across its crystal-clear waters, exploring its channels and cenotes.
This tour is specially designed for cruise passengers, with schedules tailored to your itinerary and a back-to-ship guarantee. With personalized attention, certified guides, and an experience crafted for you to savor every moment…
Explore, discover, and experience the Caribbean like never before.
- Remember to wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen, insect repellent, and water during your visit. Also, please respect the site’s rules and regulations to help preserve this important heritage.
Location
Av. P.º del Puerto 1300
Avenida Paseo del Puerto
Head to the meeting point just a few meters from Costa Maya Port. Our team will be waiting for you with a sign with your name to check you in and take you in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle with drinks and beer to the Chacchoben Archaeological Site and the stunning Bacalar Seven Colors Lagoon.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.3
(27 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Y4665jemelissam
Apr 12, 2026
Beautiful Tour! - Honestly, one of the best tours we’ve had! Since we needed to get back to the cruise port early, things felt a bit rushed, but overall it was a great experience.
Finding the pickup location was a bit of a hassle and somewhat frustrating, as it’s not close to the cruise port. Plan to give yourself at least 30 minutes to walk there, it’s outside the port.
The Seven Colors Lagoon was absolutely beautiful, and the tour guide at the ruins was very helpful. I just wish we’d had more time, we only spent about 30 minutes there. I’d definitely go back and take my time to learn more about the history of the Mayan ruins.
Also, keep in mind there are only two small restrooms for women and one for men at Pepitos. If you’re traveling with a large group, it’s best to use the restroom beforehand to avoid delays, it could easily take up 30 minutes of your tour.
Other than that, our tour guide and our driver, Ricardo, were incredibly accommodating and kind. We made it back to the port on time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
389nishac
Mar 20, 2026
Not to be missed lagoon visit. - This was a wonderful tour. We were picked up at the port. We drove to the lagoon. Just beautiful, boarded a pontoon boat we had a chance to swim in the clean, crisp waters of the lagoon. Having lunch at Mr. Taco was delicious and dropped back at the port. Would do this again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hebocat
Jan 11, 2026
Lagoon Swimming pool - We had a wonderful experience with this tour group. We had six in our party, and we were joined by two other families. We were a mix of ages and mobility. The tour people made sure to contact us directly and gave us great directions on how to meet up with them. This team provided clear instructions and time frames for the tour. We had a nice lunch while swimming. We highly recommend this tour for families.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paul_s
Jan 9, 2026
Best Day Ever: Highlight Bacalar (Seven Colors) Lagoon - Our excursion was simply a most awesome day at Chacchoben Mayan Ruins and Bacalar Lagoon from port Costa Maya. Celina was our tour guide who was very personable, outgoing, friendly, informative and all about keeping it fun and freestyle. She had the best drivers both on land and on the lagoon. The Mayan Ruins made for a great stop, very interesting and educational. The roadside stop at Pedro Santos Pineapple Town was interesting to see the different local pineapple and mangos (especially the round honey pineapple), yet once out of the lagoon having the fresh cut pineapple and mangos was a sweet treat.
Once on the pontoon boat, checking out a few of the Cenote's close by before heading over to Pirates Channel and then stopping out in the middle of this incredibly beautiful body of crystal-clear fresh water where the silky soft white sand bottom just makes it that more awesome. Time flew by and then off to a local spot for tacos before heading back to port where we arrived with an hour to spare for shopping or browsing the port before returning to the ship. A highlight of the trip was there were three couples, only 6 of us, which made it feel very much like a private tour. Celina absolutely made this day trip one of the best excursions we have ever had, and we would highly recommend asking for her by name.
Review provided by Viator
Josh_a
Dec 30, 2025
Relaxing, delicious and knowledgeable staff - Our family of 7 had a phenomenal time on this excursion! Pickup was a short walk from Princess port and found them easily (after we found our way out of the shopping center) Our guild was very knowledgeable and friendly! He actually helped dig out the ruins. His English wasn't great but effective enough. Boat tour was relaxing and beautiful. Hope for a sunny day, it is more vibrant. Lunch was at a great locale restaurant and was delicious!!! Guild was vast with information at the ruins.
Review provided by Viator
Sarfraz_m
Nov 3, 2025
Bacalar and Pyramids! - The host was very knowledgeable and made the whole experience enjoyable. We booked our excursion privately (not through the cruise), and they made sure we had a great time and returned to the ship on time.
Bacalar is a must see, the freshwater lagoon is shallow, clean, and warm. The ruins and pyramid were also amazing. Definitely a mustgo experience!
Review provided by Viator
Kayla_k
Mar 22, 2026
Friendly and helpful tour operation and fun tour experience - We had another similar tour booked that got canceled last minute and booked this tour in its place. The only bad thing is that after booking, we were notified that we could only do 1 of the 2 activities included on this excursion. This was specifically why we booked this excursion and it was too late to book one of the other similar excursions that included the same 2 things. The tour operator really worked hard to make this happen for us and had figured out a way for us to do both activities. However, our cruise arrived later than expected and we got caught up on our way to the meeting point so due to being 20-30 minutes late, we were only able to do the Bacalar Lagoon portion. It was very fun though and the lagoon was gorgeous. It seemed like many of the different tour companies worked together so idk if it matters which company you go through. Our tour included food and drinks. They had a limited assortment of sodas (mostly coke), a bottle of tequila and one type of light Mexican beers for us all to enjoy as well as an assortment of snacks (mostly chips). On the boat, they served us fresh pineapple while we swam. Afterwards, we went to a nearby restaurant where we got to choose from our choice of 4 tacos or chicken fajitas. You do need to bring your own towels. We did get back to the boat on time. However, I do want to note that the driver drove extremely fast on the way back while it was raining and this was stressful for me. I'm used to the drivers in Mexico going fast but when it's raining like it was, I feel like more caution should have been taken and we weren't in a rush to get back on time either. Overall, I do recommend this excursion and this company and I appreciated the tour operators willingness and effort to accommodate us.
Review provided by Viator
Fernando_g
Nov 13, 2025
Played the hand we were dealt. - Our experience was a little unique. We were contacted a day before the excursion and informed we would only be able to do the lagoon part of the excursion. We were reassured we would be refunded for the missed portion of the tour. However, we requested to do the Mayan ruins part of the tour instead since that was the primary reason for our booking. The representative, Andres, was very kind and helpful in working to fulfill our request. Ultimately, after a bit of back and forth, he worked out a way for us to get to the Mayan ruins. We were very grateful and the experience was truly amazing. A comfortable ride and excellent tour, with a charming guide by the name of Octavio. The weather turned and it was pouring rain by the time we arrived back to port, so we didn’t even ask about the potential to go on the second part of this combo experience at the lagoon. It took a couple days, but we ended up receiving a refund for half of what we paid. We appreciated the effort to get us to the ruins and the customer service which granted us our refund. Looking forward to our next visit so we can hopefully do that second part. Given the circumstances, we were satisfied with our excursion and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Review provided by Viator
Kimberly_a
Dec 6, 2025
Beware of Tours Naturaleza Bacalar! - Our guide Selena showed up to greet us at the time we were supposed to depart. She then left to pick up another customer for our trip and did not return for almost an hour. At this point too much time had gone by and we were not able to go on the excursion. Thankfully another company, Costa Maya Excursions, took pity on us and allowed us to go with them even though we were not their customer. We paid for this excursion and got absolutely nothing from Tours Naturaleza Bacalar, I would never book through them again!!! Beware of Tours Naturaleza Bacalar!!!
Review provided by Viator
Thinh_n
Dec 5, 2025
No service was delivered, and the operator refused a refund. Not recommended. - We were unable to take this tour because the operator could not return us to our cruise ship before the mandatory boarding time. We informed them that we could not disembark the ship earlier than the cruise line allowed, but they refused to provide a refund even though no part of the service was delivered. Disappointing experience and poor customer service.
Review provided by Viator
