Boat tour through the mangroves of Celestún and Playa from Merida
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Merida, Mexico
- 9 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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What's Included
- LunchDelicious beachfront food at the restaurant La Ramada de la Tía Candi, choose a dish from the menu that provides the guide (there are vegetarian options)
- Round trip transportation from Mérida
- Certified nature guide
- Binoculars for bird watching
- Refrigerator on board the vehicle
- Soda/PopDrinks in the restaurant are not included
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
Select a meeting point
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.8:00 am
Itinerary
1
Viajes Colibrí Yucatán TOURS
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Celestan Biosphere Reserve
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
3
La Ramada de la tía candi
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
4
Viajes Colibrí Yucatán TOURS
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 19 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
Katherine_S
We had a really enjoyable day with our fantastic guide, Raul. He kept us informed about what was happening at each stage of the trip and was very knowledgeable and entertaining throughout! We got really close to a group (flamboyance!) of flamingos and also saw pelicans, herons, cormorants and other birds too. It was nice to relax at the beach afterwards. Would definitely recommend this tour.
Reviews
4.7
based on 123 reviews
Andrew_L, Apr 2026
We had an amazing day in the Celestún Biosphere reserve, in summary:
- an incredibly knowledgeable and friendly guide (Mauricio/Maui/Meow) and driver, he memorised the 20 guests' names in seconds. Mauricio pointed out all of the interesting wildlife and clearly knew his stuff and cared about the important ecosystem we were visiting
- Coatis and many beautiful tropical birds as you leave the bus and head to the boat
- exhilarating boat ride that put a huge smile on my face. The boat had a shade screen and life jackets were provided for us all
- We saw many birds including Ospreys, various herons, cormorants, vultures, pelicans and we were lucky enough to see about 30 flamingos (these are seasonal so be aware of that!)
- short ride through a mangrove tunnel, we saw a juvenile tiger heron, many bright crabs and even a small freshwater crocodile up close!
- stopped offshore for a Mayan bath. Don't hesitate, please just do it, the water is beautifully warm and very buoyant. The muddy sand is clean and incredibly fine, you will feel great afterwards, I didn't want to get out of the sea
- a beautiful fresh lunch on a quiet beach with some down time to swim/drink cocktails, or just chat with other travellers (about an hour and a half). I had the coconut shrimp which was a very generous portion and extremely tasty with a lovely fresh mango dip. My wife had the shrimp quesadillas and enjoyed them too.
- Overall we felt very safe walking along the beach in Celestún, the locals were friendly
Kathryn_B, Apr 2026
Fun tour and as described. Celestun is a beautiful area - happy we got to see it! The guides were nice and we enjoyed the restaurant on the beach. The shower, toilets and changing areas were great. We got to see some flamingos as well as some other mangrove birds and ducks. The clay bath will always be a memory for our family!
Jesika_P, Mar 2026
Great tour, our guide was very informative and we lucked out seeing thousands of flamingos even though it was cold and windy. There were so many birds and our guide knew them all. They use local boat drivers which were safe and knowledgeable as well. The trip was nice in the van, it was nice not to have to drive for the day. Food and drinks at the restaurant were very good.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you very much for your comment! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the tour and the amazing flamingos, as well as the experience with our guide and boat drivers. We hope to welcome you again soon in Yucatán! 😊
Isabella_P, Feb 2026
Very nice experience, bus was comfortable for the hour drive there and also on the way back. Boat tour of the mangroves was beautiful and tour guide was very insightful. Saw flamingos, a crocodile, many species of birds, mangroves, fresh water spring, and beach throughout the entire tour. The lunch location was delicious and right on the beach.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you! 😊 We’re so glad you enjoyed the mangroves tour, the wildlife sightings, and the beachfront lunch. Hope to see you again soon! ✨
John_F, Feb 2026
We had approximately 6 hours at Celestrum. I think everyone on boat thoroughly enjoyed themselves viewing the flamingos and the crocodile. The weather was perfect, the captain of the boat was very informative, and we got to see beautiful scenes.
Further, everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves at the restaurant where the food was delicious and authentic.
Yet I cannot give this tour a five-star review. After lunch, we were given approximately 2 hours of "free time." There was a nice but not wonderful beach that we could walk upon. There was absolutely nothing else to do, And the guide made no recommendations. The shops were run down and to venture upon the street was potentially dangerous.
please do not get me wrong. The boat ride and the lunch were absolutely first class. We just fell off the cliff after that.
I think the tour company tried to stretch a 4 and 1/2 hour chore into something it was not. It just was not a full day event.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
We’re very happy to hear you enjoyed the boat ride and lunch experience. We also appreciate your comments about the free time afterward and will take them into consideration as we continue improving our tours.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. 🌿
RitaAlexandra_F, Jan 2026
This is a nice day at Celestum. The pick-up was on time and we did a stop before leaving Merida. Bus ride was fine. Reaching there we prepared to go on the boat tour, quick and easy. Our boat was having problems which was annoying as it clearly delayed us and no plan B was done. 1h boat ride to see the flamingos and go on some mangrove canals, then directly to the mayan clay bath (still with the boat).
After that we went to the restaurant right at the beach and we spend 3h there. The food was good and a nice vibe. It is a great day to relax and see a different place. Trip back a bit bumpy but in general safe.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re glad you enjoyed the day in Celestún, the food, and the relaxing beach time. We appreciate your patience regarding the boat issue and your feedback, which helps us improve our logistics. We’re happy to hear you felt safe overall and hope to welcome you again in the future. 😊
Samuel_R, Jan 2026
Great experience, not too early, you learn a lot, see a lot and end up with a great experience without ending up late and drained.
I got the tour with Mauricio and it was a 10/10 experience, all questions answered and definitely worth the experience, I would even repeat it because Celestun is beautiful and every experience could be different depending on the weather and animals you get the chance to see.
Last but not least, the food was way better than I expected, I took Filete de pescado con crema de ajo, yet every participant on the tour I attended to seemed to also highlight the flavor of the food.
If you are traveling solo and considering renting a car and go by yourself to Celestun instead of the tour as I considered, I would suggest you to take the tour with no doubts as the guide and driver make things smoother and more enjoyable.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for sharing such a detailed experience! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the Celestún tour, the food, and Mauricio’s guidance. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we’d be happy to welcome you again for another great adventure! 🌿✨
Kamla_L, Jan 2026
I was very disappointed in this tour. First of all we were taken to a totally unsanitary place to change into our swimwear. The floor was covered with filthy water and there was no means to flush the toilet. We were divided into 2 boats but only 1 guide so we had no guide in our boat and our boat operator spoke no english. Our boat ride was cut short to about an hour. As soon as we arrived where the flamingos were we were told that it was too windy and so we had to leave. There was barely time to even take a proper photograph. The swimming and clay masks were skipped all together. The ride through the mangroves was less than 5 minutes where the only thing we were shown was an ants nest. The majority of the time was spent racing at high speeds in open water making for an incredibly uncomfortable ride where if you didn't have glasses on you had to close your eyes. There were clearly birds in the trees on the coastline but we stayed too far out from them to see them properly and at the high speed of the boat, binoculars and cameras were pointless. We were then taken to a lunch spot where we were expected to sit with nothing to do for 3 hours. The guide's girlfriend had joined him by then which makes me suspect this was the real reason our boat ride was cut short. All in all very disappointing.....
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear the experience did not meet your expectations. We take comments like yours seriously and review them carefully; however, we would also like to note that the majority of passengers on this same tour shared positive feedback. We remain committed to continuously improving our services.
Christina_W, Dec 2025
Our guide Mauricio was great. His knowledge and the way he explains things in english and spanish is very interesting. He was very attentive and always ready to answee questions or to look after us.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear Mauricio made your tour informative and enjoyable. We appreciate you choosing us!
MICHAEL_C, Dec 2025
It was enjoyable we got to see wild enjoy the beach and experience a new culture and enjoy some good food
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your kind words! We’re happy you enjoyed the beach, wildlife, culture, and food. Hope to see you again soon!
Catherine_H, Dec 2025
We loved the boat trip to see the flamingos and other birds and the trip through the mangroves. Juan, our guide, was great.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your kind review! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the boat trip, the mangroves, and seeing the flamingos. We’ll be sure to pass your compliments on to Juan. We hope to see you again soon! 🦩
M_C, Nov 2025
This tour to Celestun was an excellent day out to experience some of what the Yucatan Peninsula has to offer. The ride on the boats to the nature reserve was very enjoyable and we saw lots of pink flamingos and a huge assortment of other birds too. Our lunch at the beach restaurant was great and the whole tour was very well organised. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Aquí tienes una respuesta amable y profesional:
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Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted that you enjoyed the Celestún tour, the boat ride through the nature reserve, and all the amazing wildlife — especially the flamingos. We’re also glad to hear you liked the beachside lunch and found the tour well organized.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another great experience soon!
Katherine_S, Nov 2025
We had a really enjoyable day with our fantastic guide, Raul. He kept us informed about what was happening at each stage of the trip and was very knowledgeable and entertaining throughout! We got really close to a group (flamboyance!) of flamingos and also saw pelicans, herons, cormorants and other birds too. It was nice to relax at the beach afterwards. Would definitely recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Aquí tienes una respuesta cálida y profesional:
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Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear you had such an enjoyable day with Raul — he’ll be very happy to know you appreciated his knowledge and company. It’s great that you were able to see so many flamingos and other birds, and that you enjoyed the relaxing time at the beach afterward.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again on another adventure!
Thomas_S, Nov 2025
This is a great experience. Tony is a built in naturalist and we saw more wildlife than I have ever seen. It was too windy to go on the larger boat so Tony took us out on small boats in the mangrove tunnel.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Aquí tienes una versión más corta:
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Thank you for your review! We’re glad you had an amazing experience with Tony and got to see so much wildlife. We’re happy he could adapt to the windy conditions and make the mangrove tunnel trip memorable.
Justin_C, Nov 2025
Our guide Juan gave us an entertaining overview of Celestun’s fauna & flora on the bus ride over. There, we had a nice 2 hour boat excursion where we saw flocks of flamingos among other birds, went through cool mangroves, and had a brief stop for a Mayan mud bath in shallow water. Juan was quite helpful and eager to answer questions. Afterwards, we had lunch by the beach which was pretty solid. The beach was quite nice as the weather was perfect. Overall a solid trip to celestun that I recommend.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for your detailed review. We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the Celestún tour and that Juan made the experience informative and fun. We truly appreciate your recommendation!
Connie_M, Oct 2025
The boat tour was amazing. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the area including the birds, plants, and geography. Lunch was great and staff at the restaurant very attentive. The only critique I have is that our time at the beach was a little long but that's a me problem.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for your review. We’re happy to know you enjoyed the boat tour, the lunch, and the overall experience. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again on another adventure!
Eva_L, Oct 2025
Tony our guide made sure we had the best of time at Celestun. We observed flamingos, pelicanos and birds of prey during the boat tour. The lunch at the beach restaurant was very good, we could hang there while going for a swim in the Gulf of Mexico. Best beach I visited by far.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
What a wonderful experience! 🐦🌊 We're glad to hear that Tony made his visit to Celestún unforgettable. Watching flamingos, pelicans, and birds of prey in their natural habitat is a unique spectacle, and relaxing on the beach of the Gulf of Mexico sounds like the perfect ending. Thanks for sharing and for your enthusiasm!
Cynthia_W, Aug 2025
Our guide, Juan, is passionate about the wildlife & conservation of the sanctuary. He was prepared for the tour & generously shared his knowledge. The pace of the tour was perfect... leisurely, yet sufficient time for each stop. Our driver & guide kept us on schedule. Meal was terrific!
The instructions were to bring swimsuit; we'd recommend wearing your swim gear & wearing loose coverup (e.g. shorts & t-shirt, sundress, etc.).
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your review! 💙 We're proud to read that Juan, our guide, conveyed his passion for wildlife and conservation. His preparation and enthusiasm make all the difference.
We're glad you enjoyed the pace of the tour, the stops, and even the food. And thanks for the great tip: yes, wearing a swimsuit and comfortable cover-up is ideal to fully enjoy each stop. 👙👕
It was a pleasure serving you, and we hope to see you again on another of our adventures. 🌿🦩
Nakul_S, Jun 2025
A superb day trip from Merida ! Very enjoyable boat tour through the mangrove’s to see the flamingos followed by a relaxed lunch and rest right beside the beautiful beaches of Celestún. Plenty of time to swim, explore, relax.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the boat ride, the flamingos, and the relaxing time on the beaches of Celestún. It's a special place to connect with nature and recharge. We hope to join you on more adventures in Yucatán soon!
jennifer_l, Jun 2025
Great day trip to Celestun! Excellent communication beforehand regarding pickup and what to bring. The van was comfortable w AC and not overcrowded. Pablo was friendly and a great driver. Anel was a wonderful guide, very kind and knowledgeable! We saw at least 100 flamingos, lunch was very good and in the best location right on the beach! My 7 year old loved everything too!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your comment! We're so happy to know you enjoyed the trip to Celestún and that both the organization and the team were excellent. We'll pass on your kind words to Pablo and Anel; they'll be delighted to know they made your day even more special. How wonderful it was that you were able to see so many flamingos and enjoy a delicious lunch by the sea! We're especially thrilled to know your son also had a great time. We hope to see you on another adventure soon!
Tamara_d, May 2025
A fantastic day trip that exceeded our expectations.
We saw about 100 flamingos. We were expecting to see a few as the season is Dec to March. We were very lucky. Saw lots of other birds including Osprey & pelicans.
The guide was lovely and explained a lot about feeding of flamingos, nest sites etc.
We stopped at Mayan bath site and had a face & body scrub using the clay soil from the ocean. A lot of fun.
We also saw coati by the roadside.
Seafood lunch at a nearby beach front restaurant and had 3 hours to relax and swim before heading back to Merida.
Highly recommended.
Response from Host, May 2025
What a joy to read your review! We're delighted to know that the excursion not only met but exceeded your expectations. Seeing so many flamingos in their natural habitat is a true privilege, and how lucky you are with the season!
Thank you for highlighting our guide's work, as well as every part of the tour: from the mud bath to the bird and coati watching, including that well-deserved oceanfront break and seafood lunch. We strive to offer a complete experience, and it's a pleasure to know we achieved that.
We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another adventure. Thank you for recommending us!
Donna_W, May 2025
Even late in the season we saw flamingos! We also enjoyed seeing the other birds in the area and our stop at the Mayan bath. Jair, our guide, shared his photos of us and also some close up photos of the flamingos. The time at the beach afterwards was relaxing. Thanks, Jair!
Response from Host, May 2025
What a joy to read your experience! We love knowing that, even at the end of the season, you were able to see flamingos and enjoy the area's natural beauty. Jair is a great professional, always attentive and generous, and we're glad he shared such special memories with you. The Mayan bath and that relaxing time on the beach rounded out a perfect day.
Thank you for trusting us!
Maike_M, Apr 2025
The day was amazing! Our driver Tony made sure that we arrived and came back safely. And our guide Raul made this trip very special. Two lovely people! The highlight was of course seeing the flamingos. The food in the restaurant was also great. The time in the mangroves could have been a bit longer though but all in all a memorable day!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
We're glad to hear you had such a special day with Tony and Raúl—they're definitely a key part of what makes the experience unique. We're so glad you enjoyed the flamingos, the food, and the entire tour.
We've taken notes on the weather in the mangroves; we're always looking for ways to improve, and your feedback helps a lot.
Thank you for choosing us, and we hope you'll join us on another adventure soon!
millersbkk, Mar 2025
Excellent guide and driver, both totally tuned in to participants needs. Boat journey was thrilling and new and very enjoyable. Lunch was good and convivial. Beach time was relaxing, just as it should be!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you very much for your message! 😊
We are very happy to know that both the guide and the driver were attentive to your needs and that you enjoyed the whole tour: the boat ride, lunch and that well-deserved moment of relaxation on the beach. 🌊🌴
We work with great love so that every detail makes the experience special, and comments like yours motivate us even more.
We hope to see you again very soon on another adventure!
Clay_C, Mar 2025
Great day trip from Merida. The Celestun area is a bird watching paradise. Besides flamingos we saw loads of ospreys, anhingas, herons, egrets, needle fish, dolphins, such a density of wildlife.
Our guide Juan was very knowledgeable and kind and the other people on the tour were great to spend the day with. I would do this same tour again.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! 🥰
We love to know that you enjoyed the tour from Merida and all the natural wealth that Celestun has to offer. It is, without a doubt, a paradise for bird and wildlife lovers. 🦩🦅🐬
Thanks also for highlighting our guide Juan, we'll let you know – you'll love it—. And how good that the group was nice, that always adds to the experience.
It will be a pleasure to have you back when you want to repeat the adventure. Here we are waiting for you with open arms!
Robin_R, Mar 2025
Not that it was a bad thing, but I didn't expect the 90 minutes (approx) down time on the beach after lunch. I sat in a chair and promptly fell asleep. It was in fact a glorious bonus on top of the magic of seeing flamingos romping on the beach.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're glad to know you enjoyed the magic of the flamingos and that relaxing time on the beach was, in the end, a great touch to your day. We understand that every traveler has different expectations, and we take your feedback into account to continue improving. We hope to see you again for more unforgettable adventures in Celestún. Best regards!
Jill_Y, Mar 2025
The excursion was fun and worth it just for seeing and hearing the flamingos in the wild. Lunch was good and beach time a treat.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for your comment! We are happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that the experience with the flamingos in their natural habitat was special. We also love that lunch and time at the beach have been a pleasure for you. We hope to see you on another adventure soon!
Sherry_L, Mar 2025
Again such a good trip! Way more than I expected on a bird watching tour. Great guide. Took pictures of us for us. The restaurant food was phenomenal. And the beach time at the end was such an unexpected pleasure. Loved the new people I met on the tour and the beautiful experience overall. I highly recommend this tour company. 2nd experience in two weeks, I absolutely adored.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you so much for your trust and for choosing us again! We're thrilled to know that every experience with you has been special. We strive to offer unique moments, and we're glad you enjoyed the nature, the food, and the company so much. We hope to see you soon for a third adventure!
Fiona_M, Mar 2025
As described by others, you have to arrive early to the first pick up point to get a good seat on the bus. Drive was smooth although the stop for snacks felt a bit unnecessary. Our bilingual guide (Michelle) was fantastic, really informative and enthusiastic. The boat ride was great - not too many people to each boat and not many other boats on the water - therefore it did not feel like we were contributing to overtourism. We got to see the flamingos which was very special - the boats did not get too close to disturb them but close enough for a great view. The mangroves were very interesting and we saw lots of other birds, fish and crabs. We enjoyed a refreshing swim and mayan mud bath. After this, the day went a bit downhill in our opinion. The lunch restaurant was very disappointing (I know you can’t expect too much but it was not a good experience and the food was of poor quality). The beach for the afternoon is nothing special and very busy. It doesn’t feel well looked after which is a shame for a biosphere area. We even saw a waiter from the lunch restaurant through trash into the sand directly in front of us. We would have much preferred being left to choose where to eat in town and have the option of a quick swim (2 hours is a bit long). It is worth it to see the flamingos though.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the boat ride, the flamingo watching, and the mangrove tour. It's a pleasure to know our guide, Michelle, did a great job providing information and enthusiasm throughout the tour.
We regret that some aspects of lunch and the beach didn't live up to your expectations. We greatly value your feedback and will take it into account to improve the experience in the future. We strive to provide quality service throughout every part of the tour and will work to improve these details.
We appreciate you choosing to travel with us and hope that, despite these points, you took away special memories from the experience. Thank you for recommending us for flamingo watching and for sharing your opinion!
Tim_M, Mar 2025
A really well organised and enjoyable tour. On our journey over to Celestun we learned about what we were going to see. The boat tour itself was brilliant, we saw loads of fantastic wildlife and the captain/guide were brilliant. Ended with a pleasant lunch and a few hours on the beach.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you very much for your comments and your positive evaluation, it is a pleasure to know that you enjoyed your tour with us.
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