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Chacchoben Mayan Ruins & Bacalar 7 Colors Lagoon: Historic Journey from Costa Maya
4.6
12 Ratings
Av. P.º del Puerto 1180
Embark on a historic journey from Costa Maya to the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins and Bacalar 7 Colors Lagoon. Explore ancient ruins and relax in the stunning lagoon on this unforgettable day excursion.
Embark on a historic journey from Costa Maya to the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins and Bacalar 7 Colors Lagoon. Explore ancient ruins and relax in the stunning lagoon on this unforgettable day excursion.
Duration:
5 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Zona Arqueológica de Chacchoben - Explore one of the lesser-known archaeological sites of the Mayan Culture nestled in the jungle’s heart. Embark on an adventure at this site in the Maya Zone, dating back to 200 BC, and be amazed by the stunning monuments, as well as the diverse flora and fauna the jungle presents.
- Lake Bacalar - Discover the…
- Zona Arqueológica de Chacchoben - Explore one of the lesser-known archaeological sites of the Mayan Culture nestled in the jungle’s heart. Embark on an adventure at this site in the Maya Zone, dating back to 200 BC, and be amazed by the stunning monuments, as well as the diverse flora and fauna the jungle presents.
- Lake Bacalar - Discover the Bacalar Lagoon, a historic pirate refuge, where you can unwind, swim, or enjoy a kayak ride in the refreshing waters of the lagoon known for its seven distinct colors.
What's Included
- Kayaks
- Lunch
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
- Guided Tour at Chacchoben Mayan City
- Kayaks
- Lunch
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
- Guided Tour at Chacchoben Mayan City
What's Not Included
- $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
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic beverages
- $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
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic beverages
Additional Information
Experience two amazing destinations in one day. Upon your cruise ship’s arrival at Costa Maya Port, embark on a journey through history, from the Mayans to the pirates, just an hour away from the port.
Begin your exploration at one of the least visited archaeological sites in the Maya Zone, dating back to 200 BC. Be amazed by the stunning monuments,…
Experience two amazing destinations in one day. Upon your cruise ship’s arrival at Costa Maya Port, embark on a journey through history, from the Mayans to the pirates, just an hour away from the port.
Begin your exploration at one of the least visited archaeological sites in the Maya Zone, dating back to 200 BC. Be amazed by the stunning monuments, flora, and fauna that the jungle presents.
After exploring the jungle and the Mayan city of Chacchoben, head to Bacalar Lagoon, a renowned pirate refuge, where you can unwind, swim, or enjoy a kayak ride in the refreshing waters of the seven-color lagoon.
Take a moment to savor delicious fajitas with your favorite drink by the lagoon’s edge, or simply enjoy the breeze and breathtaking scenery.
This tour is highly recommended for first-time visitors to Costa Maya.
- 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
Location
Av. P.º del Puerto 1180
Avenida Paseo del Puerto
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.
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
4.6
(12 Ratings)
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William_c
Oct 17, 2025
Elliot is the best! - Not only fun, but highly informative. Our tour guide, Elliot, explained the history, language, writing, and even taught us how the Mayans did math.
Review provided by Viator
Pioneer15094820868
Mar 4, 2025
Visiting the - Visiting the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins felt like stepping back in time. The ruins were peaceful and awe-inspiring. The lagoon after the tour was the perfect spot to relax, especially with the kayaks available for a paddle. The service was throughout the day. Definitely a memorable tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trail26244211664
Mar 4, 2025
Although - Although our cruise didn’t make it to Costa Maya due to weather, I was really impressed with the company’s excellent customer service. They refunded our tour promptly without any issues. It’s rare to experience such understanding and professionalism, and I will definitely book with them again when I return to Costa Maya!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Safari40121350927
Mar 4, 2025
We absolutely - We absolutely loved this tour! The Mayan ruins at Chacchoben were a real highlight—so much history in one spot. It’s amazing how well-preserved it is, especially considering its age. After that, the Bacalar Lagoon was a great place to unwind, with crystal-clear waters and a relaxing atmosphere. The lunch and drinks were great too—perfect end to the day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Escape50904544191
Mar 4, 2025
This tour - This tour was a perfect combination of history and relaxation. The Mayan ruins were fascinating, and our guide shared so many interesting details about the history of the area. Afterward, we headed to Bacalar Lagoon where we enjoyed the beautiful waters. It was a perfect day, and the lunch and drinks by the lagoon were just what we needed. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Costa Maya!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nomad52506214397
Mar 4, 2025
We had - We had an amazing time exploring the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins. It’s incredible how much history is packed into this place, especially with how peaceful and untouched it feels. The guide was super knowledgeable and made the experience so much more enriching. Definitely worth the trip! The day ended perfectly with a relaxing swim at the Bacalar Lagoon—so beautiful and serene!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Austin_m
Jun 15, 2024
Amazing Excursion - Tour guide was very informational & fun. Accommodated our 12 person group with a bus that was Air conditioned. The ruins were amazing to see and the tour guide had so much info about it. Then we went to the Lagoon were free tacos and drinks were served(absolutely delicious!!!!!) Kayaks were a great perk of the lagoon, as you could ride for free. Beautiful lagoon. We all had a blast, I’d recommend to anyone!
Review provided by Viator
Lauren_s
Apr 20, 2025
The ride from the cruise... - The ride from the cruise terminal is over an hour, so most of your time is in the van (which is comfortable and air conditioned!). There were 3 cruise ships in port that day so it was chaos at the ruins - so many people, and you couldn’t hear the guide giving you the history. The lagoon is actually a huge fresh water lake, but we didn’t have enough time to really enjoy because we had to take the long ride back to the port (slated as 2 hours there, we had barely over an hour). Lunch was tacos, salsa, and chips. Only coke and Diet Coke for kids, who wanted sprite. Drinks from the bar were delicious.
Review provided by Viator
Jrlsinva
Mar 23, 2026
Half great, half meh.... - This excursion was in 2 parts. The first part, we went to the Chacchoben ruins and our guide was Rosie. She was great! Very enthusiastic about telling us about the ruins and the Mayans. It's about a 45 minute, long and boring, nothing to look at ride. The bus was clean and comfortable. They gave us a bottle of water when we got there and another one when we were out in the ruins. That was nice! Just know, they don't give you time to shop around at the vendors at Chacchoben. The second part. we went to the 7 Colors Lagoon, about a 20-25 min ride. We ate lunch first. They offer tacos. You don't get a choice, they just give you 4 different kinds of tacos. I'm picky about my meat so I only ate 2 of them. But everyone at the table said they were really good and you can order more of any kind you want. They also serve a hibiscus tea and horchata and both were good! Then you are free to go to the water. This is NOT a beach! There was a dock you can walk out on and get in the water. They also had kayaks available to use. They didn't have enough paddles for all the kayaks they had. Only 7 paddles, so only 3 double kayaks could go out at a time. 2 alcohol drinks were included and they did not skimp on the liquor! You can't see the "7 colors" of the lagoon. It just looks like a lake. We weren't really impressed with that part of the excursion. They had plenty of chairs and umbrellas and shade. Then we made the hour and 15 min long, boring, nothing to look at, trek back to the port. I would do the ruins again but not the lagoon part. All the employees of Native Choice were really friendly!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Beth
Dec 29, 2025
Not a good experience - Cruise company did not respond to messages or pick up phone when I tried to modify my reservation. I ended up cancelling and rebooking, and they said it was full but I had requested 1 fewer person. We showed up anyway and they still had the original number of people listed. Tour guide Rosie was very loud on bus intercom, and talked for 45 min but did not give much helpful information. The “tour” at Chachobben was disorganized. Everybody was told to wander around themselves. Bus driver was good. The Mayan site itself is interesting. The lagoon and lunch was nice, but everybody basically did their own thing. I would not book this company again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
