Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Chacchoben Ruins & Bacalar Lagoon
Description
Discover two of the area’s favorite destinations in one Costa Maya shore excursion! Start your day exploring the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins, an ancient Maya site surrounded by tropical jungle. Walk among temples and ceremonial structures while your guide shares the history of Chacchoben and the Mayan civilization that once called this region home. After exploring the ruins, continue to Bacalar Lagoon, the famous Lagoon of Seven Colors, where it’s time to relax. Swim in its refreshing waters, enjoy a complimentary kayak, or simply sit back and take in the view. While at the lagoon, enjoy fajitas and a refreshing drink before heading back to Costa Maya. This shore excursion combines two of the region’s highlights—Mayan history and the beautiful Bacalar Lagoon—in a single day.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your adventure begins one hour after your cruise ship arrives in port, giving you enough time to disembark and make your way to the meeting point. Travel from Costa Maya into the tropical jungle to explore the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins, an ancient Maya city dating back to around 200 BC. Follow your guide through the archaeological site as you discover impressive temples and ceremonial structures while learning about the history and culture of the Maya civilization. Along the way, experience the surrounding jungle and keep an eye out for the native flora and wildlife that make Chacchoben much more than an archaeological visit.
After exploring Chacchoben, continue your journey to Bacalar Lagoon, located approximately 30 minutes from the archaeological site. Visit Bacalar Lagoon, the famous Lagoon of Seven Colors, once a strategic route and haven for pirates. Enjoy time to swim in its refreshing waters, use one of the complimentary kayaks when available, or simply relax by the lagoon and take in the views. During your visit, enjoy delicious fajitas and a refreshing drink by the water before beginning the journey back to Costa Maya. Así queda mucho más transparente: Costa Maya → traslado a Chacchoben → visita → traslado a Bacalar → visita → regreso a Costa Maya.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
- The use of tripods and drones are prohibited at the Mayan City.
- Travel time is included with the total tour duration.
- This tour operates rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, operations may be modified or canceled to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests.
- Late Arrivals / No-Shows: Guests who arrive late or fail to show up for their scheduled activity are not eligible for a refund.
- Chacchoben is surrounded by natural vegetation and wildlife. Tropical birds and other animals may be seen during your visit, but wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.
- Climbing the archaeological temples is not permitted.
- Life jackets are required and provided for all water activities. Water activities may be restricted by local authorities due to wind, lightning, or other unsafe weather conditions.
- Vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available upon request. Please provide dietary requirements at the time of booking so they can be prepared in advance.
- Bring a swimsuit, towel, comfortable walking shoes, hat, and biodegradable sunscreen. Extra cash is recommended for souvenirs or personal purchases.
- Weight limit for a single kayak is 220 pounds or 270 pounds for a double kayak
- Wheelchairs: Transportation vehicles can accommodate foldable wheelchairs only. Vehicles are not wheelchair-adapted, and non-folding wheelchairs cannot be accommodated.
- Guests should be comfortable walking on outdoor paths and trails that may include rocks, roots, and uneven surfaces. Swimming and kayaking require a moderate level of physical fitness.
Reviews(7)
The tour guide at the ruins was so informative. The driver and guide on the bus were helpful and kind. Loved ending the day at the lagoon and the lunch was delicious!
Overall, the tour was excellent. The only downsides were the bus's air conditioning and the restroom. Although the A/C was on, it barely made a difference, and the bus became very hot during the trip. Since the ride was about an hour each way, the heat made the journey somewhat uncomfortable. In addition, the restroom on the bus had no running water, so it couldn't be used, which was inconvenient during such a long ride. Other than that, everything was outstanding. The tour guides were incredibly friendly, professional, and very knowledgeable. They made the experience enjoyable, informative, and well organized. I would definitely recommend this tour, and addressing the air conditioning and restroom issues would make the experience even better.
Eliot was so friendly and informational! We loved learning ancient Mayan history, facts about the language, and facts about the area! We enjoyed the Mayan city, the food was great, and the lagoon was beautiful. I liked that we had a small group but I do wish we had a little more time at both places. Heriberto and Diego were also great!
The meeting point was a little unclear. Even with a map, the tour company on Viator did not match the tour company's meeting place. We checked with them and we were on the list. It worked out great. We were in a bus that held about 15 people. Maggie was our tour guide and she taught us about the local people and places. She had a tablet to show us pictures. We loved how she taught and treated us. Manuel was our driver. We felt so safe with him driving. They both were kind and wonderful. Our first stop was to the Chacchoben Mayan ruins. Our guide there was Joel. He did a wonderful job explaining how they were built, why they were built and the sensitive topic of Mayan human sacrifice. I learned so much and was fascinated by the sight. They provided water mid tour. Our second stop was to Bacalar or the lagoon. We had a wonderful lunch of Mayan tacos. We were seated under a beautiful pavillion. We could eat as much as we wanted to. There were four different varieties and they were all delicious. We also had pico. Drinks were included in our tour. There we could also enjoy kayaks on the lagoon. It was a bit stormy but a little rain didn't stop us. It was beautiful. Maggie told us the lagoon has 7 different colors but because of the clouds, we could only see about 3. We headed back to port. It took about 1 hour 15 minutes to get there. Manuel was amazing in the pouring rain. We made it back to port with about an hour to spare. Never felt rushed or worried about missing the boarding time. We loved our tour and felt safe and taken care of the whole time.
We absolutely LOVED our tour. Our guide, Diego, was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the Mayan history. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. He was also so accommodating to my mom, who wasn't able to climb the steps. Diego made this tour wonderful for us. Our time in Bacalar was lovely, as well. It was a cloudy day when we were there, so we didn't get to experience the beautiful blue colors from the photos, but it was still a fun place to relax and enjoy tacos and cocktails.
Hi Debbie, So happy you had an amazing day with us in Costa Maya during your cruise vacation onboard Harmony of the Seas! It’s great to hear that Diego made your Chacchoben Mayan City and Bacalar Combo Adventure so special with his passion for Mayan history and his kind support for your mom. That’s exactly the type of personalized shore excursion we love to offer. We’re also glad you enjoyed relaxing at the beautiful Bacalar Lagoon, even on a cloudy day — tacos and cocktails always make it better in the Mexican Caribbean! Thanks for choosing Next Experience Travel for your Costa Maya shore excursion. Feel free to share your stories and tag us on Instagram and Facebook at @NextExperienceTravel so other travelers can discover this incredible destination too. We hope to welcome you again on another unforgettable adventure! Warm regards, The Caribbean Shore Excursions Team 🌴
Our tour guides were fabulous. Joel, especially! He was a wealth of knowledge being that he grew up in the area and was from Mayan descent. He added personal stories that made it even more interesting. The luncheon at the lagoon was delightful. The tacos were delicious and the area was beautiful. We even took the kayaks out for a bit.
Hi Noelle, We’re thrilled to hear you had such a wonderful time exploring Chacchoben and Bacalar with us during your cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas! It sounds like Joel really made the experience special with his knowledge and personal stories—he’ll be so happy to hear your kind words! We’re glad you enjoyed the tacos, kayaking, and the stunning lagoon views—it’s truly a magical place. Thanks for choosing to spend your day in Costa Maya with us in the beautiful Mexican Caribbean! We’d love to see your favorite moments—feel free to share your amazing stories and tag us on Instagram or Facebook at @CostaMayaShoreExcursions so other travelers can be inspired too! Looking forward to welcoming you back on your next adventure! Tropical regards, The Caribbean Shore Excursions Team 🌴
I am so glad i booked this tour so my parents (who are in excellent health) could join us hiking. Our guide had lived there his whole life so he could really give us insights that others could not. Vehicles were comfortable except for the very bouncy road going into the resort for lu
Dear Amy_H, Thank you so much for choosing our Chacchoben Mayan City and Bacalar Combo Adventure! We're thrilled to hear you and your parents had such a fantastic time exploring the ruins. Our local guide's insights truly make the experience memorable. We appreciate your feedback about the road into the resort and will work on improving that aspect. It was a pleasure having you onboard the Caribbean Cruise Lines "Harmony of the Seas." We hope to welcome you back soon for another adventure in the beautiful Mexican Caribbean! Best regards, The Caribbean Shore Excursions Team
Great professional guides, reliable transportation, great clean huge lagoon! The taco lunch that we were served was delicious and authentic.
Dear Lila_D, Thank you so much for your glowing review of our Chacchoben Mayan Ruins and Bacalar Lagoon Adventure Combo! We are thrilled to hear that your experience was not just a visit, but a journey through the rich history and culture of the Mayan civilization. t's wonderful to know that our guides, especially Joel, were able to bring the ancient Mayan world to life for you and provide an authentic and educational experience. We're delighted that the authentic Mayan lunch was the cherry on top of an already fantastic day. Your satisfaction and enjoyment are what drive us to offer the best experiences to our guests. Thank you for choosing our tour to explore the beauty of Costa Maya during your vacation on board the Norwegian Viva. We wish you happy holidays and hope to see you again on your next adventure! Warm regards, The Caribbean Shore Excursions Team
