Chacchoben Mayan Ruins & Bacalar Lagoon with Certified Guide
- 5h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 2 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Two of our favorite places in a single day. Travel through history from the ancient Maya to the pirates of Bacalar, combining two completely different sides of Costa Maya in one adventure. Discover Chacchoben, an ancient Maya city dating back to around 200 BC, where impressive temples and ceremonial grounds rise among the tropical jungle. Walk the same paths once traveled by Maya priests, nobles and rulers as your certified guide reveals the history, secrets and legends of this fascinating city. Then exchange ancient temples for the turquoise waters of Bacalar’s Seven Color Lagoon, a former haven for pirates. Swim, kayak, float or simply relax by the water with a tropical drink in hand, surrounded by brilliant shades of blue. Complete your day with a lakeside Mexican lunch and refreshing drinks, enjoying the breeze and views across the lagoon. From Maya history to the turquoise waters once sailed by pirates, experience two of the places we love most — all in one incredible day.
Inclusions
What's included
- Two alcoholic drinks for guests 21+ — beer or select tropical cocktails
- Access to Bacalar Seven Color Lagoon
- Bottled water
- Guided tour of Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
- Lagoon amenities — loungers, umbrellas, WiFi & facilities
- Refreshing drinks — iced tea, hibiscus tea & traditional horchata
- Certified Tour Guide
- Lunch by the lagoon — Mexican tacos with chips & salsa
- Kayaks, tubes & life vests
- Entrance fees to Chacchoben Archaeological Site
- Roundtrip transportation from Costa Maya in an air-conditioned vehicle
What's not
- $5.00 USD copyright fee for the use of cameras at Chacchoben. This is paid directly at the site.
- Souvenirs
- Premium alcoholic beverages & additional cocktails
- Gratuities
Itinerary
Your adventure begins one hour after your cruise arrives at Costa Maya Port. Enjoy the 50-minute drive to Chacchoben, one of the Maya region’s lesser-explored archaeological sites, dating back to around 200 BC. Follow your certified guide through ancient plazas and ceremonial grounds as impressive monuments rise among the tropical jungle. Discover the history, beliefs and secrets of this ancient city while you walk the same paths once traveled by Maya priests, nobles and rulers. Discover the Gran Basamento and Temple One as your guide brings Chacchoben to life through its architecture, traditions and legends. Along the way, discover native flora and keep an eye out for tropical birds and spider monkeys in their natural habitat. From the ancient Maya world, continue on a scenic 25-minute drive to Bacalar’s spectacular Seven Color Lagoon, where a refreshing afternoon by the water awaits.
Continue to Bacalar’s Seven Color Lagoon, a former haven for pirates where striking shades of turquoise and blue stretch across one of Mexico’s most spectacular freshwater lagoons. Make yourself at home by the water. Swim in the refreshing lagoon, explore by kayak, float in a tube or settle into a lounger and simply enjoy the breeze and incredible views. When you’re ready, enjoy a lakeside Mexican lunch with chips and salsa while overlooking the lagoon. Cool off with iced tea, hibiscus tea or traditional horchata, and guests 21+ can choose two alcoholic drinks, including beer, Tequila Sunrise, Blue Lagoon, Purple Rain or Sangria. During your time at the lagoon, paddle, swim, float, sip a tropical drink or simply relax by the water — the choice is yours. After a morning exploring the ancient Maya world of Chacchoben and an afternoon enjoying the turquoise waters of Bacalar, relax on the one-hour journey back to Costa Maya — two completely different experiences in one incredible day.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.6
- 5310
- 447
- 318
- 28
- 113
Ratings come from 396 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
450% 50% experience
Ruins were amazing to see in person. Baccular colors not seen well enough from dock but food was delicious.
5Really Great, funny, and...
Really Great, funny, and friendly. Really good food and tour guide was knowledge. Tour was also safe
5Fantastic Local Owners Tour
We had a great tour! The driver Edgar and the guide Romeo were fantastic. Super friendly and knowledgeable. We saw the ruins and a Mayan Expert provided so much information about the area and history. We then went on to Bacalar Lagoon where we had a very nice lunch and cocktails. The lagoon was refreshing for our afternoon swim. Kayaks were available but we didn’t use them. This is my second time using this tour group. We were in a small minivan with 17 people vs a massive bus that the cruise line will use.
5Firendly staff!
Very nice tour, we enjoyed it a lot! friendly staff, we back on time and everything was planned carefully!
5Loved this excursion! Highly recommended
Loved this excursion. Bacalar was beautiful and the tacos were amazing! Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly
5Diego was great!
Diego our guide was amazing! The trip was professional, clean new comfortable mini vans. Beautiful ruins, the lagoon was peaceful. We didn’t have a boat trip on the lagoon, just lunch, swim and kayaking. Highly recommend for a full day trip.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Your tour departs one hour after your cruise arrives at Costa Maya Port. Meet at Plaza Las Fuentes, just outside the port area. Allow 15 minutes to walk from your ship. Provide your full cruise ship name when booking. Detailed directions and a map will follow confirmation.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 55 travellers
- Operated by
- Next Experience Travel
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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
How it compares in Costa Maya
- Its from-price is 11% below the median of the 74 day trips we list in Costa Maya.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 2 of 74.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Costa Maya
Costa Maya is the southern Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatán, a quiet shoreline of white beaches and mangroves beside the reef, with Maya ruins inland.
Costa Maya is the name given to the southern stretch of Quintana Roo's Caribbean coast, south of the Riviera Maya and close to the border with Belize. Its shore is a quiet strip of white sand, palms and mangrove, backed by low forest, and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef runs just offshore. Mahahual, a small seaside village with a long boardwalk, is the main settlement and has a dock for cruise ships. Xcalak, a fishing village at the southern tip, sits beside a protected reef park.
Special offers in Costa Maya
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
![Chacchoben Mayan Ruins & Bacalar 7 Colors Lagoon from Costa Maya]()
15% offFree cancellation![Chacchoben Mayan Ruins & Bacalar Lagoon Adventure from Costa Maya]()
10% offFree cancellation
