One Day Tour to Chacchoben Mayan City and Bacalar Lagoon with a Certified Guide
Recommended by 90% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Costa Maya, Mexico
- 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover Mexico's ancient Mayan history and beautiful landscapes during this shore excursion from the Costa Maya dock. First, head to the Chacchoben archaeological site for a guided tour of the ancient Mayan site that dates back to 200 BC. Then, head to Bacalar Lagoon, famous for its colorful waters, and enjoy time to swim, sunbathe, or even kayak.
- Learn about Mexican history and culture
- Kayaking equipment is provided at the lagoon
- A delicious fajita lunch on the lagoon is included
- Hassle-free transfers from the Costa Maya dock
What's Included
- LunchLunch by the Bacalar Lagoon with refreshing aguas frescas — Horchata, Hibiscus & Iced Tea included.
- Bottled water
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Kayaks
- Guided Tour at Chacchoben Mayan City
- $5.00 USD copyright fee for the use of cameras at Chacchoben. This is paid directly at the site.
- The use of tripods and drones are prohibited at the Mayan City.
- Souvenirs
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Av. P.º del Puerto 1180, 77976 Mahahual, Q.R., Mexico
Your tour will depart one hour after your cruise docks, starting from the conveniently located Plaza Las Fuentes, just outside the Port. Please consider the total time to walk from your cruise to the excursion office is about 15 minutes.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
- 06/25/2026 - 06/28/2026
Thursday - Sunday : 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
- 06/29/2026 - 06/20/2027
Monday - Sunday : 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
- 06/21/2027 - 06/25/2027
Monday - Friday : 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Itinerary
1
Zona Arqueologica De Chacchoben
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Lake Bacalar
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infant seats available
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour will depart one hour after your cruise arrives to port from Plaza Las Fuentes, conveniently located just a few steps away from the main access of Costa Maya Port.
- Please note that the total walking time from your cruise ship to the meeting point is about 15 minutes.
- IMPORTANT: Travelers coming by cruise ship must provide the full name of the ship.
- Cruise guests arriving after 12 PM. Make the most of your limited time in port by booking our Chacchoben Mayan City Tour or our beach break options
- No port, no pay! Guaranteed full refund if your cruise ship does not call port in Costa Maya at all
- Weight limit for a single kayak is 220 pounds or 270 pounds for a double kayak
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 55 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Mary_H
This company puts on a very well organized excursion. Such a pleasure. Our guide, Yoshi was charming. She explained everything very clearly, she had great info at the ruins, and she was very attentive to the group. The company's van was very nice - air conditioned, comfortable. This is important because the ruins are about an hours ride from the cruise port.
Pay attention closely to the directions to get to the meeting spot. It is not hard - just pay attention.
The lagoon stop was lovely. Lunch of tacos and local drinks included. Then water activities if you want. The day of our visit was very windy - so we choose to hang out on shore and enjoy a few drinks.
Take this excursion- you will not regret it. There is a good bit of walking. But a member of our small group was just weeks post back surgery and managed.
Reviews
4.6
based on 388 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Gary_R, Jul 2026
The tour was really good and informative. The only thing I would have changed was to allow 20 minutes to shop at the ruins. Other than that, it was an amazing trip with awesome tour guides.
Nick_K, Jul 2026
This was an outstanding excursion and one of the best experiences of our entire trip! While the Chacchoben Mayan ruins were fascinating, our guide, Erick, really brought the history to life. He was knowledgeable, engaging, and had a great sense of humor, making the entire day both educational and enjoyable.
The real highlight, though, was Bacalar Lagoon. The lagoon is absolutely breathtaking, and swimming in the crystal-clear water was incredibly refreshing, especially in the July heat. It ended up being one of the highlights of our entire vacation and is something we’ll never forget.
Lunch by the lagoon was fantastic, and the included aguas frescas were the perfect way to cool off after our swim. Everything was well organized, and we always felt like we had enough time to enjoy each stop without feeling rushed.
Another thing we really appreciated was the comfortable, air-conditioned van. Visiting in July, the strong A/C made a huge difference and kept everyone comfortable during the drive between destinations.
If you’re visiting Costa Maya and looking for an excursion that combines history, beautiful scenery, great food, and outstanding service, this is the one to book. A big thank you to Erick for making our day so memorable. We would absolutely do this tour again!
Rayce_M, Jun 2026
This was a very chill excursion for us. We had our guide show us the main points of the ruins so we were there for only about 45 to 50 minutes because we wanted more time at the lagoon. Then we headed to the Bacalar Lagoon. The food at the lake was AMAZING, AUTHENTIC and FRESH. (except for the chips, they joked they were from Costco😄). We had tacos and drinks here and played in the water. The water here is beautiful. My pictures do not do it justice. It's very clean and a see through blue. You can kayak here or just jump from their pier. It's definitely something to see!
Mark_D, Jun 2026
Joel was an experienced and professional guide. He shared his experience living in this area for his entire life and seeing it develop in the last few decades due to tourism. He and Miguel, our driver, were most accommodating, informative, and helpful. We were fortunate enough to be the first tour at Chacchoben that morning and got to see the site when it was empty! The lagoon visit that followed was relaxing and enjoyable. A few of us kayaked and some swam. We each had four tacos for lunch and several drink options. Excellent experience!
Jeremiah_C, Jun 2026
This was a good excursion. The guides were nice, and as described, the ruins are far, over an hour drive each way. The ruins are cool but you are only there for a little bit. The blue lagoon was very cool though! Got served a seemingly authentic meal, and enjoyed water and drinks! That was by far the high lite! It was a very light lunch though so pack more if you eat a good amount. Also, the water the supply are the little water bottles so if you drink a lot, bring your own! Over all, I would recommend, but wouldn’t go back to the ruins.
feuerborn, Jun 2026
Rosie was an amazing guild and very informative. Perfect about of time at each location. Food was good.
Anupam_S, May 2026
This was a really enjoyable excursion, but the absolute best part of the trip was our guide, Yoshi, and our driver, Ozzy—they truly made the experience memorable!
Yoshi was fantastic—knowledgeable, engaging, and incredibly patient. He brought the Mayan history and culture to life during the Chacchoben ruins tour and took the time to thoughtfully answer every question. You could tell he genuinely enjoyed sharing his knowledge, which made the experience so much richer.
Ozzy was equally amazing behind the scenes, making sure everyone was comfortable throughout the day. He carried a big cooler stocked with cold water so everyone stayed hydrated in the heat, which was such a thoughtful touch. And the unexpected highlight? Stopping at the Pineapple Village, where Ozzy got us to try the best pineapple I have ever had—absolutely unforgettable!
After exploring the Mayan temples, lunch was a real treat. The tacos and horchata were delicious and exactly what we needed after the morning tour.
Kayaking on the beautiful Bacalar Lagoon was a lot of fun and a lovely way to end the day—though our kayak unfortunately started taking on water, which put a slight damper on that part of the experience.
Overall, this was a very good excursion, made exceptional by the warmth, care, and enthusiasm of Yoshi and Ozzy. Cheers to both of them for making our Costa Maya day so special!
Laura_C, May 2026
The One Day Tour to Chacchoben Mayan City and Bacalar Lagoon was an amazing experience. The ruins were fascinating, and our certified guide made the history come alive with great explanations.
Bacalar Lagoon was absolutely stunning—the water colors are unreal and it was the perfect place to relax after exploring the ruins.
Everything was well-organized and ran smoothly. Highly recommend this tour if you want a mix of culture and natural beauty in one day
Amanda_L, Apr 2026
Bring water shoes! The deck is hot at the lagoon and there is a lot of limestone. Food and service was excellent.
Olivia_J, Mar 2026
This was our favorite excursion by far!!! We loved every second of it. Our guides, Rosie and Edgar did a fantastic job! They were so kind and accommodating!
Kremena_V, Mar 2026
Our group of 8 (adults and teens) enjoyed this excursion very much. It was a good combination of activities to please everyone's interest and offer variety. The ruins were great and the lagoon experience was beautiful. Our guide and driver Lorenzo was very friendly and professional. Would definitely recommend!
Murray, Mar 2026
It was so much fun to learn the history of the Mayan ruins. The lagoon was the perfect refresher afterwards
Marc_B, Feb 2026
Lorenzo is a tremendous tour guide and cultural support ambassador supported by an squally talented team. This was the perfect experience that exceeded my expectations and made the day so memorable. Elliot added such a wonderful and warm experience to the day. The ride to the destinations were long but the ride was super safe, secure, and historical. The included lunch at Hotel Mikasa was delicious, fresh, and the shared table experience was also a wonderful addition. Viator remains our first choice to learn and book excursions that are budget friendly and exceptional in quality of time at each port and destination.
Thomas_D, Feb 2026
Very good tour guides that were very knowledgeable and took great pride in their culture. Very easy to locate once off the ship.
Tiffany_S, Feb 2026
Erick was amazing. Very knowledgeable and kept us on track. The food was amazing and the private lagoon location was a wonderful surprise! They got us back at the exact timed planned.
sydney_O, Feb 2026
bumpy car ride, but great experience overall. ruins were very cool and our guide was very knowledgeable, lagoon was gorgeous. food and drinks were very good as well
Madelyn_U, Feb 2026
Erick was so knowledgeable and the entire team was so nice! Great excursion visiting the Mayan Ruins and Bacalar.
Elizabeth_B, Feb 2026
We really enjoyed the pace of this excursion. The guides were knowledgeable. The tacos we ate at the lagoon were hands down the best I've ever had. Absolutely amazing! And we also each got two alcoholic drinks included.
Samantha_S, Feb 2026
For our trip we had Diego(tour guide) & Pedro (driver).
The good:
1. Diego was an amazing tour guide when delivering the information/history/culture at Chacchoben.
2. We had a small amount of time (5-10min) to walk around at each of the stops at the site and take pictures.
3. The food at the lagoon resort was amazing, 4 different types of tacos, three different condiments, and pico de gallo and chips; all of which you could get refills of.
The So-so:
1. Little to no time to shop at Chacchoben. We were given 10min when we first arrived to shop and use the facilities as the busses facilities were out of order. (there was no shopping at the lagoon, not a bad thing, just good to note)
2. The lagoon itself wasnt anything spectacular, though it was cloudy on our day so maybe on a sunny day it would be better.
The terrible:
1. Diego refused to listen to any of the 8+ people who had concerns about the time we were going to be returning to the cruise port. (Concerns started being voiced around 2pm EST) The tour was supposed to be 5.5hrs long - leaving at 10am EST, returning at 3:30pm EST, leaving an hour between return and gangway up(4:30pm). At some point Diego seemed to switch to CT but kept the same return time, making the excursion 6.5hrs long and our planned arrive time at the tour office(~15min walk to ship) 4:30pm EST. He tried telling us it was traffic delays (there was one construction zone that we had to slow down through for maybe 5 min, I dont think we even completely stopped). When he finally realized the mistake, he said the ship would wait for us - this is false, no ship is waiting for a late excursion that wasnt booked directly through them.(This was confirmed as we had friends on the ship call down to guest services to inform them we may be 5-10min late to the ship). We finally pulled up to the kiosk at 4:10pm (Not sure what speed Pedro was doing, but he knocked 10min off the estimated time of arrival from google maps) two from our group ran ahead to hopefully get the ship to hold for the extra 5-10min it was going to take for everyone else to make it to the ship - they were not impressed with the request.
At the end of the day we did all made it back on board, but the last 1.5hrs of the trip was super stressful and kind of ruined what had been a great day up to that point.
Michele_M, Jan 2026
Rosie is a very sweet and knowledgeable tour guide and Avil is a very responsible driver and caretaker. Incredible history at the ruins. Beach break and lunch was very nice and very tasty. Worth the trip
Clara_D, Jan 2026
The meeting location was easy to find, the team was well organized, the van was clean, and the air conditioning was working great. Miguel (our driver) and Joshi (our guide) were excellent. We knew exactly what to expect, our timetable was well laid out, and Joshi kept everyone on track. The information provided at the Chacchoben archeological site was good for a short tour, there were three structures to visit, and they were remarkable. The lunch was quick and tasty, and the lagoon was lovely —
Sandra_C, Jan 2026
14 family members toured together. Couldn’t have been a better or easier experience. Well-planned and executed. Thank you Erick, Rogger and Magali!!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Sandra,
We’re so happy to hear you and your family had a simply fabulous day with us in Costa Maya: Perfect Day Mexico during your cruise onboard the Allure of the Seas! Traveling together as a group of 14 and enjoying the Chacchoben Mayan City and the stunning Bacalar Lagoon is truly special, and we’re glad everything felt smooth, well-planned, and easy.
A big thank you for the kind words about Erick, Rogger, and Magali—they’ll be thrilled to know they helped make your Costa Maya shore excursion unforgettable in the beautiful Mexican Caribbean.
Feel free to share your stories and tag us on Instagram or Facebook at @NextExperienceTravel so other travelers can get inspired too. We’d love to welcome you again in Costa Maya or any of our amazing destinations!
Tropical regards,
The Next Experience Travel Team 🌴
Deanne_L, Dec 2025
This tour has a lot of time sitting on a chartered bus - combined, close to 3 hours. The tour guide Rosy was very knowledgeable and did speak about the area and history on the way to the ruins. However, speakers on the bus intercom system were blown and it was difficult to understand what she was saying. Our bus had to be changed due to some kind of mechanical problem 1/2 way through. Lunch was delicious and time for kayaking was good. I didn’t see any beach access at the lagoon area.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Deanne,
We’re so happy you chose Next Experience Travel for your One Day Tour to Chacchoben Mayan City and Bacalar Lagoon during your cruise vacation onboard the Regal Princess, spending your day at Costa Maya Perfect Day Mexico in the beautiful Mexican Caribbean 🌴
It’s great to hear that Rosy’s knowledge of the region and Mayan history stood out, along with the delicious lunch and the relaxing time at the stunning Bacalar Lagoon, including kayaking. Just to clarify for future travelers, lagoon access is available and clearly designated within the permitted areas to help protect this natural wonder.
Thank you for spending your cruise day with us in Costa Maya and for sharing your experience exploring the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins and Bacalar Lagoon. Feel free to share your stories and tag us on Instagram and Facebook @NextExperienceTravel—we’d love to see your moments and inspire other travelers to enjoy this beautiful destination!
Warm regards,
The Next Experience Travel Team
Swati_A, Dec 2025
There was two parts to the tour first visiting chacchoben and then the blue lagoon. Once we got to chacchoben we had 10 mins to go to the bathroom and then we got another 10 mins to go to bathroom when leaving. The only other free time we had there was for 10 mins during the tour to look around ourselves and take pictures, half of which it was raining so we were hiding under a tree. I was interested in the history but it felt like out tourguide talked too much that it took away from the experience. Other than the 10 mins free we had out tour guide was talking so much about the history most of which I already knew from middle school/ high school history classes. There was two stops at chacchoben we didn’t even get to stop at the first one he said we would get to look around once the rain stop and it cleared up, rain stopped it cleared out and we just moved on to the next location. My cousin family went with a different tour guide at the same time same tour and did not have the same experience as me that’s why I still give it a 4/5.
We then moved on to the blue lagoon which was good we had good food and got to relax by the beach. We went to go kayaking and they said they were low on paddles and gave only one paddle for a double kayak which def took away from the experience. If you kayak your bottom will get wet make sure to bring change of clothes or swimsuit more than kayaking swimming in the lagoon looked really fun.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Swati_A,
Thanks for choosing Next Experience Travel during your cruise onboard the Carnival Jubilee and for spending your day with us at Costa Maya Perfect Day Mexico in the beautiful Mexican Caribbean. We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the Chacchoben Mayan City, the Bacalar Blue Lagoon, and the relaxing beach time.
We truly appreciate your feedback—it helps us continue improving our Costa Maya shore excursions for future travelers.
Feel free to share your photos and stories and tag us on Instagram and Facebook @NextExperienceTravel so others can discover this amazing destination too!
Warm regards,
The Next Experience Travel Team 🌴
Jason_K, Dec 2025
Our guide was very helpful, friendly and full of information. Water was provided. Lunch at the lagoon was served by a friendly staff
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Jason_K,
So happy to hear you enjoyed your One Day Tour to Chacchoben Mayan City and Bacalar Lagoon during your cruise vacation onboard Icon of the Seas! It’s great to know our certified guide made the experience informative and friendly, and that you enjoyed the refreshing water and lunch by the stunning Bacalar Lagoon.
Thanks for choosing us to spend your day at Costa Maya Perfect Day Mexico in the beautiful Mexican Caribbean. Feel free to share your amazing stories and tag us on Instagram or Facebook @NextExperienceTravel so other travelers can discover this unforgettable destination!
Hope to welcome you again on another Caribbean adventure.
Warm regards,
The Next Experience Travel Team 🌴
Laila_R, Nov 2025
This tour is highly recommended. The tour guide Joel, the driver Ediberto, and the conductor Alan were all great and very kind. All of them are very knowledgeable about the Mayan culture. Overall experience is great!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Laila_R,
So happy you enjoyed your Chacchoben Mayan City and Bacalar Lagoon tour during your cruise onboard the Brilliant Lady at Perfect Day Costa Maya, Mexico!
Joel, Ediberto, and Alan will be thrilled to hear your kind words.
Thank you for choosing Next Experience Travel for one of the best Costa Maya shore excursions in the Mexican Caribbean. Feel free to share your experience and tag us on Instagram and Facebook @NextExperienceTravel to inspire other travelers!
Tropical regards,
The Next Experience Travel Team 🌴
Tracy_C, Nov 2025
It’s a bit of a drive but well worth it for the experience. We had a fairly small group and the bus was nice and cool.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Tracy_C,
So happy you enjoyed your Chacchoben Mayan City and Bacalar Lagoon tour! We’re glad the drive was worth it and that the small group and cool, comfortable bus made the day even better.
Thanks for choosing Next Experience Travel during your cruise on the Icon of the Seas to explore Costa Maya, Perfect Day Mexico and the beauty of the Mexican Caribbean.
Feel free to share your experience and tag us on Instagram or Facebook @NextExperienceTravel—we’d love to see your memories and inspire other travelers!
Tropical regards,
The Next Experience Travel Team 🌴
Gustavo_L, Nov 2025
Very friendly tour guide with Joel explainin all the way all the History and a detail explanation on the Chacchoben Ruin. The Lagoon was the cherry on top to finish the tour with a relax time and food and an excellent sercice by Joel and Abel the driver
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Gustav,
We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed your One Day Tour to Chacchoben Mayan City and Bacalar Lagoon with us during your cruise vacation onboard Harmony of the Seas! Exploring the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins and experiencing local Mexican flavors with fresh market ingredients is a great way to spend a day at Costa Maya Perfect Day Mexico in the beautiful Mexican Caribbean.
We’re glad our certified guide made the experience fun and informative—those authentic touches are what make this Costa Maya shore excursion so special.
Thanks for choosing Next Experience Travel! Feel free to share your stories and tag us on Instagram and Facebook at @NextExperienceTravel so other travelers can discover this amazing destination too.
Hope to welcome you again on your next adventure!
Tropical regards,
The Next Experience Travel Team 🌴
Joy_C, Oct 2025
Very short cruise excursion. More waiting for others and driving than actual excursion. Not enough supplies for everyone to kayak.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Joy_C,
We’re glad you joined us during your cruise on the Star of the Seas and spent your day in beautiful Costa Maya! 🌴
We’re sorry the experience felt a bit short — cruise schedules can be tight, but we do our best to make every moment count. Kayaks are offered during leisure time at the Bacalar Lagoon, and we also have a full Bacalar Lagoon Kayak Adventure if you’d like to explore more next time!
Thanks for choosing Next Experience Travel to discover the Mexican Caribbean! We’d love to see your photos — tag us on Instagram or Facebook @NextExperienceTravel so other travelers can get inspired.
Warm regards,
The Next Experience Travel Team
Emily_W, Sep 2025
It was interesting to see the history, there are stairs at the ruined. tour guide was great. Make sure to bring shoes you can get wet, will need to use to get in the water at lagoon. The water is very rocky under your feet. Tacos were good.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi Emily_W,
We’re thrilled you had such a great time with us at Chacchoben Mayan City and Bacalar Lagoon during your cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas! It’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed exploring the ruins, the refreshing lagoon, and those delicious tacos.
Thanks for choosing us to spend your day in beautiful Costa Maya! We’d love to see your favorite moments—feel free to share your stories and tag us on Instagram or Facebook at @NextExperienceTravel so other travelers can be inspired too!
We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon! 🌴
Tropical regards,
The Next Experience Travel Team
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