CHACCHOBEN Ruins and BACALAR Lagoon Boat Excursion from Costa Maya
Recommended by 92% of travelers
Costa Maya, Mexico
- 6 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Have a fun day out exploring both an ancient city, Chacchoben, and also one of the prettiest lagoons in Mexico, the Bacalar Lagoon. You’ll keep costs down by booking this group tour, but still have plenty of time to enjoy each site as you like. Along the way, you’ll also have lunch provided, as well as beer and tequila available, in case you want to have a few drinks along the way.
- Keep costs down by booking this group tour
- Easily meet your boat at Costa Maya
- Visit both an ancient site and beautiful lagoon in one tour
- Enjoy provided lunch, snacks, soda, beer, and tequila onboard
What's Included
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Alcoholic BeveragesBeer and tequila available during the boat tour
- Soda/Pop
- Bottled water
- Transportation
- Insurance
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Eco Experience Costa MayaAvenida Paseo del Puerto, Av. Caribe esquina, 77976 Mahahual, Q.R., Mexico
Our meeting point is located just outside of the Costa Maya port complex area. Guests can safely walk from the port to our meeting point.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
- 01/18/2024 - 05/21/2027
Monday - Sunday : 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Itinerary
1
Chacchoben Mayan Ruin
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Lake Bacalar
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
3
Papitos Bacalar: Marina, Cabañas & Restaurant.
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 99 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Brett_D
Absolutely beautiful tour of the ruins and lake. We did get rain on while traveling in the boats but we made the most of it. The water was crazy blue and so warm. The guide was extremely informative about the entire trip. Would highly recommend this excursion!!
Reviews
4.8
based on 130 reviews
Laura_C, Apr 2026
This excursion was perfect! Philip was friendly, entertaining, and knowledgeable. The group size was small and we appreciated that a lot. We spent just the right amount of time at the ruins and at the lagoon. We had the most delicious local fruit and lunch. I wouldn’t change anything. 10/10 highly recommend!
Ross_N, Apr 2026
Joseph is a fabulous host, his English is great, and he has a very thorough image-based iPad presentation on all the history, culture, etc. about Costa Maya, the Ruins, Bacalar Lagoon, wildlife, EVERYTHING. My kids loved this and this was an unexpected amazing detail. Joseph is what you're paying for! A+, geat tour guide.
The van is nice, air-conditioned. We stopped for snacks and restroom breaks.
The Chacchoben Ruins tour is great, but does move fast because this excursion covers a lot of ground! It's about 45 mins to an hour to the Ruins, 90 minutes at the Ruins, 15-30 minutes to Bacalar Lagoon, 2 hours on the Lagoon, an hour for lunch, and then almost an hour back.
Bacalar Lagoon is REALLY nice. If you have nice weather, you'll be in picture-perfect clear turquoise blue waters. You'll board a pontoon boat and cruise around the lagoon with a long stop in a truly fabulous swimming area. It reminded me of El Cielo in Cozumel if you'd ever done that (if not, do that excursion next time you're in Cozumel). Joseph cut up an amazing fresh pineapple while we toasted the day with cold sodas, beers, and water, no liquor though.
The trip ends with an included lunch at a restaurant at the dock where you board the boat at Bacalar Lagoon. The restaurant... very average. I go to Mexico a lot (for wife's family). It was nice to have lunch included, as you'll be hungry, but it was actually below average in my opinion which was a bummer. Just the food quality, was low.
I'm knocking a star off because I've been on tours like this before, and for this price point, they've included not only fresh fruit but fresh guacamole, fresh ceviche, quite a bit more, made on the spot by the boat host while swimming. They also included more drinks, like tequila/liquor, more beer options, etc.
This is not a BOOZE CRUISE. There's a smaller cooler with a few beers if you want them. If the price point is set because of that fact that alcohol is included, it should include MUCH more alcohol. My boat was drinking the few beers up quickly and Joseph was able to get some more beers from a neighboring boat, which was nice. Overall, I had three beers on the tour and one beer at the restaurant (one drink is included).
This excursion was $628 for two adults and two small kids. For what it is, it is a bit overpriced. You have to walk WAY out of the entrance of the port, which can be confusing with kids. At this price point it would be nice if the excursion was right where all the other tour busses and excursions are. Once you find Joseph, he takes good care of you, is super nice, super helpful, and very knowledgeable about everything.
If anything, you're paying for Joseph, an excellent guide. The bells and whistles of the excursion itself don't quite match the price. BUT, this was one of few, maybe the only, Costa Maya excursion that had the RUINS, the LAGOON, and included food (and some alcohol). You definitely want to see the RUINS and be ON the LAGOON in Costa Maya. Just being on the beach/shore of the Lagoon is no fun. You have to get out on the really pretty parts of the water.
If you can swing it, book this excursion. Was a great day.
Brett_D, Apr 2026
Absolutely beautiful tour of the ruins and lake. We did get rain on while traveling in the boats but we made the most of it. The water was crazy blue and so warm. The guide was extremely informative about the entire trip. Would highly recommend this excursion!!
john_g, Apr 2026
This was a great Excursion! Joseph kept the small group (6) entertained with his knowledge and history. We had a very comfortable van with cold air and plenty of room. The ruins were so cool to see and learn about the culture. Capped off by a private boat tour of the lagoon and best of all the authentic food for lunch. I would recommend this tour to anyone who is looking for that personal interaction instead of those huge land tours. Easy directions to meet and back to port with plenty of time to shop before ship leaves. It's WORTH every penny!
Mayra_D, Mar 2026
Johana did an amazing job touring with us around Costa Maya! She was fun, knowledgeable and made our experience unforgettable.
Dadhich_S, Dec 2025
Watch out this is a scam! This guy canceled the tour because he didn't have enough people even with the booking. Ruined our whole day. Don't book this company or tour. Never ever again charged me 338$ for two people. I want my money back. I went to cop to make a complaint.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your frustration regarding the cancellation.
When the reservation was made, the tour was subject to a clearly stated minimum number of participants. This policy is fully disclosed in the terms and conditions at the time of booking and is also supported by the booking platform. Unfortunately, when the minimum requirement was not met, the tour had to be canceled in accordance with those terms.
We understand that cancellations can be disappointing, and we did our best to handle the situation responsibly by issuing a full refund immediately. No services were provided, and no funds were retained by us.
While we respect your opinion, this situation does not reflect the quality or experience of our tours, as the tour itself did not take place. We remain committed to transparency, fairness, and providing excellent experiences when tours operate as scheduled.
Steven_L, Mar 2025
We really enjoyed the excursion. The ruins were in a really lovely area and the guide there, Alma, was very informative. The lagoon was very beautiful and a nice swimming spot. We enjoyed the light lunch. Our guide, Jhoana, was excellent as was the driver, Ricardo.
Our important criticism. We went to the meeting location but no one was there. We doubled back a few blocks and were lucky to find Jhoana along the street holding a sign with our names. We had not seen her earlier when we were walking to the meeting point. The other group on the tour had a similar experience. This is unacceptable! There needs to be clear communication between Viator and the guides as to where to meet participants.
Charlene_M, Jan 2025
We had an absolutely unforgettable day in Costa Maya with Ivan as our guide! Our adventure began with a fascinating visit to the Chacchoben Mayan ruins, where an official park guide shared captivating insights into the history and culture of the site. Next, we headed to the breathtaking Bacalar Lagoon for a serene pontoon boat ride. The crystal-clear waters were perfect for swimming, and the experience was made even more special when Ivan surprised us with a fresh pineapple he had picked up—it was such a thoughtful and delicious treat. To end the day on a high note, we enjoyed a light yet flavorful taco meal at Pappasito’s. This private tour exceeded all expectations, and our family can’t recommend it highly enough!
Spencer_W, Jan 2025
They tried to fit too much into this tour, so it all felt rushed. Part of that was because the booking wasn't clear about what time to meet outside the port, so we ended up later than they preferred. But even if we'd had another half hour for the tour, it just felt like there was too much squeezed into this excursion--and too much time on the road. The ruins were great, but we would've loved another 30-45 minutes there to see everything and learn a bit more. Then the lake--it's nice, but not amazing--feels like a fun place for locals to go enjoy a day at the lake, but not spectacular for tourism (plus when we were there the weather wasn't great). And because we were low on time, we ended up having our food in to-go containers, which we then ate on the bus, which wasn't great. If we were stopping at this port again in the future, we would find a tour that is ruins only, and then we would take our time and enjoy time in the port shopping area before re-boarding our ship.
Ali_G, Jan 2025
Awesome experience, even thought it rained and we froze. Guide was so sweet and knowledgeable. Highly recommend! We traveled with a 13 year old and 15 year old. One other family with 2 kids joined us.
Andrea_B, Jul 2024
Our guide Ivan was fantastic. I lowered the rating because it was very difficult to find the tour and the price seems excessive. The meeting point was a store, but the owner of the store had no idea that the tour was meeting there. After many calls to Viator and by the store owner to friends on the island, we found the tour operator. We then waited in a van for 45 minutes for people from another ship to appear. As we began to worry about making it back to our ship on time, they directed us to a private tour with Ivan. Once with Ivan, we had a great time! The ruins were fascinating and we even saw monkeys in the trees. Lunch on the boat was tasty and very nice.
Chris_K, Jun 2024
Everything went as planned. Short walk from cruise ship to meeting place. Van was waiting for us. Tour guide was great. 45 min ride to the ruins. We got there early. Beat the crowd. Literally the only group. As we left 8-10 busses were just getting there. At Bacalar the boat was waiting for us. Made a few stops to swim and have snacks. Got back on time. Took us all the way to the gates close to the cruise ship. I would recommend.
Annette_V, Apr 2024
We came off the cruise ship and Jhoana, our tour guide, was waiting for us. She was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable about the Mayan history, well prepared and pleasant to listen to. Chaachoben was a very interesting place with lots of different ruins of Mayan temples. The Bacalar lagoon was beautiful with all its different colors. Jhoana fed us a delicious lunch on the boat. We will definitely choose her again for another adventure in Costa Maya. Highly recommendable!!
Stacie_M, Apr 2024
JoAnne was the absolute best!!! She was so attentive, funny, and knowledgeable! The best excursion we've had on our cruise!
Maria_D, Apr 2024
We did this tour with Jhoana and Hugo and it was a great day. We were 5 couples (all cousins) and everyone enjoyed everything. Jhoana was an excellent guide and Hugo was a personable and safe driver. Jhoana even made us her fresh guacamole while we swam in the most gorgeous Bacalar Lagoon. I recommend this tour and tour operator for people of all ages!!!
Terra_C, Feb 2024
Our Guide was very kind and accommodating. It is a long ride but that is unavoidable and I would do it again! It was awesome to see archeologists actively digging at the ruins! The 7 color lagoon is beautiful and is nothing like we have seen before in looks and how the floor feels. No fish just soft floors and beautiful water. Lunch was good also. The tequila sunrises were yummy and kept the day going! I would recommend this tour! Our group of 6 (3 separate couples) saw so much more than the huge groups.
Bonnie_D, Jan 2024
This was a nice excursion. We were only in port for a short time but we were able to see a lot. I wish we had more time to spend but our guide Gabriela was very nice and helpful.
tanyawheeler, Jan 2024
I wasn't sure what to expect from this tour, however it exceeded my expectations!
Let me begin! I was on a cruise. I booked this as my excursion.
I did not save any of the details on where to meet this company for my excursion.
I couldn't download anything while in port due to no signal so I just winged it.
I got off my cruise ship in Costa Maya and just started walking around to see if I could figure it out.
The people in Costa Maya are absolutely lovely! Full of energy and kindness.
I'm walking past tour after tour and company's are like yeah you booked with us only to find out It wasn't them.
Finally a awesome man from another tour company turned on his mobile hot spot so I could get the location. Low and behold I found my tour. 20 minutes pass the time my tour was to start.
No problem the man said and called the bus back to pick me up. I was in disbelief. I boarded the bus and enjoyed my day!
Our Amazing tour guide Jhoana was so kind and fun. I really liked her so much! She's a wonderful guide, she's proud of her home and is very knowledgeable. She never rushed us she was joking with us and just made the day so much better!
I was caught staring at monkeys up in the trees opposed to keeping up with the tour of the Mayan Ruins. Jhoana picked fun at me and started pointing out other monkeys in the trees for me! Love her for this!
After the Ruins we drove out to the Cenodes! Jhoana loaded up the boat for us with lunch, snacks lots of beer and tequila! The water was gorgeous! I enjoyed swimming and listening to music and the other families company that day. I was a solo cruiser who joined a family of 11 who was absolutely awesome!
Jhoana took alot of pictures of us throughout the day and emailed them to us immediately.
Hands down my favorite excursion and my favorite part of the entire cruise!
Costa Maya has a wonderful energy and I'm so pleased I was able to experience it! Thank you so much!
Deepakchandran_C, Jan 2024
We had a great time with our guide and driver.. they were very helpful and the lagoon was beautiful.. they stopped when we wanted to get some street food on route and helped get a cake for my cousin’s birthday.. only item was that restroom facilities were a little challenging in Bacalar but the overall experience was great..
Paul_W, Dec 2023
Trip time to the ruins was long (1 hr) our guide Ivan was polite and knowledgeable but he deferred to another guide at the temple which became awkward at the end of the tour people didn’t know if we were supposed to tip her separately - trip time to the lagoon was also very long (1 hr) the weather was very windy and cold there should be some kind of other option or activity when weather turns bad - was obvious this tour operator did not own the pontoon boat we ended up on - despite the weather they insisted on crossing the lagoon anchoring up to have lunch which over cooked and ice cold when served - advertised beer and tequila included - offered a warm beer no tequilla
Sarathchandar_D, Dec 2023
We really enjoyed the trip. Octavio - our tour guide, arranged every thing in advance and so we did not waste any time.
Ilese_J, Dec 2023
Guide was great; very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend. The ruins were great and great for teenagrrs
Kristen_H, Dec 2023
We thoroughly enjoyed our guide, Charlie, and our driver. They made sure we were comfortable and well taken care of while we travelled with them. Our guide at the ruins was very informative and a joy to be around. She shared so much with us. We had a great time. Our time at BACALAR was incredible. Our boat captain, Mario was friendly. We had the best time with them. This excursion was the favorite one of our vacation.
Janetta_T, Nov 2023
This tour was GREAT!! The Mayn Ruins was informative, if you like history..you'll love this. These ruins were built around 300-900 AD. They are beautiful!! The lagoon is beautiful with seven different colors of blue. The water was warm, clear & pretty. The food was DELICIOUS!! The best part was our tour guides. Ivan is a local & knows the history of the Mayan Ruins & Bacalar. He was Great!!
James_D, Nov 2023
Joanna was awesome!!!! Left out the port, got on the bus with a small group and we headed out to chacchoben ruins. We had a guide and learned the history of the ruins. We had about 5 minutes to shop and wanted a few more minutes. The drive to the boat was long due to construction but we got there in good time. The lagoon was amazing, four tacos a person and beer. They had plenty of water and even tequila!! Everything was perfect. Would recommend
Barbie_B, Nov 2023
Not worth the money. Although Joanna and the driver were great, you spend more time in the bus than the actual places. It was super boring.
Dennis_M, Nov 2023
It was a short trip to the ruins, I felt I was rushed thru the site, the guide was walking and talking giving the tour and most of the time you couldn’t hear what he was saying!!!
Then traveling an hour for a 26 min tour!!!
Antonio_F, Nov 2023
Great fun, great guides, delicious lunch. Lagoon was beautiful. The ruins were an experience and education. I hope they continue the archeological work being done on such an important place.
Jessica_S, Aug 2023
We had a fantastic day with Mariana! The ruins were really neat to see and our guide provided us with lots of information. The Bacalar 7 color Lagoon was stunning! It beat all of the oceans that we have been to, and it’s fresh water!
Alexander_H, Aug 2023
Awesome experience! Tour guide very energetic and helpful. Knowledge about history of town. Caters to your needs. Would definitely recommend
From $169.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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CHACCHOBEN Ruins and BACALAR Lagoon Boat Excursion from Costa Maya
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