Rovine di CHACCHOBEN ed escursione in barca alla laguna di BACALAR dalla Costa Maya

Skip the cruise line excursions and support the locals instead. This tour is put together by local people combining resources. It's not fancy but it is nicely done. Our main guide, Nacho, was fantastic and stayed with us throughout the day. We also had a knowledgeable guide at the ruins, a boat guide for the stunning lagoon, and lunch was prepared by a charming local boutique hotel. Along the way, they provided drinks for the drive and even stopped to pick up fresh pineapple from a local vendor. One thing I didn't realize beforehand is that the ruins are recreations, not original ancient structures. This is definitely not a party excursion—it's relaxed, family-friendly, and well organized. Just be sure to bring cash for tips. I'd recommend this experience if you're looking to support the local community while seeing some beautiful places.

I know not everybody likes to get off the beaten path, but we do and this excursion was perfect for us. Seeing the ruins and then spending time at Bacalar was wonderful. We wish we had more time at both places but there are only so many hours in port. 10 of us with a guide, felt like a luxury compared to the giant excursion groups from the cruise. Jhoanna was so fun to talk with and she truly made sure we had everything we needed. Lunch was fresh and delicious from a local restaurant. Our pontoon captain made sure we hit some highlights of Bacalar and also had time to swim. Fresh pineapple and drinks served while we enjoyed the amazing water of the lagoon was a real treat. A perfect day!!

The experience was amazing. Jhoana was our tour guide and she was the best. Very knowledgeable and super friendly. We felt completely taken care of the entire day. From the Mayan ruins to the Bacalar lagoon. I would highly recommend this tour.

Jhoana was an amazing guide! I messaged with her colleague ahead of time on WhatsApp to get all of the details, as we booked a private tour. They answered all of my questions and helped accommodate our timing as we were coming from a cruise ship. The directions to the meeting point were very clear. Admittedly, the cruise port is a bit of a maze (likely on purpose), but we made it out and found Jhoana shortly after. She and our driver were ready for us. We were in a nice car with A/C and a cooler of drinks. We stopped along the way at a gas station for snacks and a bathroom break. Then we stopped once more to pick up the fruit for later. Jhoana explained everything as we were going and was very attentive and engaging. We enjoyed our tour at the ruins with a guide who was an expert on them, and Jhoana accompanied us. Then, we drove to Bacalar Lagoon, where we boarded a pontoon boat to go out on crystal clear waters. It was absolutely gorgeous and surpassed my expectations, which were already high. There was plenty of time to swim and enjoy the serene surroundings. Jhoana took pictures of us and went above and beyond. When we got back to the dock, tacos and horchata was waiting for us. It was exactly what we needed after a busy day. Jhoana is a friendly, clear and energetic guide, the stops are 100% worth it, and having a private tour was truly the icing on the cake as we felt so special and well taken care of.

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!

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.

We had the best experience with Joana and Maria. They were so knowledgeable about the ruins and were able to build both an educational and entertaining experience for our 7, 3 and 1 year old. The kids had so much fun and learned a lot.

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!!

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!

EcoExperiences was a great choice for the Mayan ruins and Bacalar lagoon excursion. Jhoana was our guide and did a fantastic job on our tour. She was very knowledgeable about the history of the area. I enjoyed this excursion and will book with this company again in the future. Keep up the great work!!