Excursion to Celestun Biosphere and Beach Day from Merida
Description
We will depart from downtown Mérida and head to the Celestún Biosphere, a multicolored paradise full of wildlife, mangroves, and fresh water springs. Once there, we will take a guided boat tour through the estuary, with the main goal of seeing the flamingos in their natural habitat. IMPORTANT NOTE: THE BOAT FEE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE, AS IT IS PAID DIRECTLY AT THE RÍA CELESTÚN TOURIST DOCK. CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDS ARE NOT ACCEPTED AT THIS LOCATION. FOR THIS REASON, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL TRAVELERS BRING 500 MEXICAN PESOS IN CASH TO COVER THIS ADDITIONAL COST. Along the way, we will spot various bird species, as well as possibly crocodiles and other wild animals. After the biosphere visit, we will drive to Celestún Beach, just 20 minutes away, where we will enjoy local cuisine and the amenities of the beach club. The rest of the afternoon will be spent relaxing and enjoying the day on this beautiful Yucatán coast.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will travel to the Celestún Biosphere Reserve, a multicolored paradise, where we will take a guided boat tour through the estuary, the mangroves, the bird island, and we will also visit a freshwater spring.
After the boat tour, we will drive to the beach in Celestún, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch (optional), the beach club faciities and have time to swim in the ocean and spend a relaxing day at the beach.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The best season for flamingo viewing is typically from mid-November through March, when larger numbers are usually present in the area. From April through mid-November, sightings become highly inconsistent. During these months, there may be days when only a few flamingos are seen — or none at all. As this is a protected natural ecosystem, wildlife behavior is entirely beyond our control. Flamingos migrate seasonally, and their presence depends on factors such as climate, water conditions, and food availability. For this reason, we do not and cannot guarantee the sighting of flamingos, nor a specific number of flamingos, on any day of the year. By booking this experience, guests acknowledge and accept that wildlife sightings are not guaranteed and are subject to natural conditions.
Reviews(146)
The tour was really good there were 10 people in our party the guide and driver were amazing He really loved flamingos so we learned a lot The reasturant was ok but some of the food wasn't great the the mixed drinks were expensive for what you got Seeing the flamingos and mangrove trees was amazing the boat ride was fun for everyone. Would recommend this trip overall was really good except the food and drinks
It was a great day! We were lucky to get Jorge as a guide, a biologist with lots of interesting stories to tell us and a good sense of humor. We saw flamingos, a crocodile and a lot of other interesting fauna. The food and service at the beach was great
We had booked for July 25. The guide informed us that the other group had canceled at the last minute and he explained to us that it might be more complicated to fill the boat on-site. He gave us the choice: do the tour anyway with a risk of waiting on-site or agree to postpone it to the next day. We chose to postpone the tour to the next day. The guide gifted us the entrance fee to the reserve for one person, which is 500 Mexican pesos, and he advised us to visit the Great Mayan World Museum of Merida, where he dropped us off for free. The next day our tour went very well, with in particular many flamingos (it is not the best time to see them). The guide is very attentive to the safety and comfort of the passengers. We had an excellent meal afterward (not included in the price but good value for money with very efficient service and very generous portions) then we swam in the Caribbean Sea and rested in hammocks. We returned to Merida on time. We highly recommend this excursion.
The tour is super nice but the \"beach club\" is very austere and they tell you there are no more options but in reality 6 minutes away by car there are many more.
Muchas gracias por compartir tu opinión y por tomarte el tiempo de escribir una reseña. Entendemos que cada viajero tiene preferencias diferentes. Al tratarse de un tour compartido, no es posible llevar a los participantes a distintos lugares, ya que eso haría la logística muy complicada y afectaría la experiencia del grupo. Elegimos este club de playa porque ofrece una combinación de servicios que consideramos importante para nuestros visitantes: alberca, hamacas, camastros, un muy buen restaurante y un ambiente mucho más tranquilo que otras opciones de la zona, que suelen estar bastante concurridas. Aunque existen otros lugares cercanos, muchos son establecimientos mucho más sencillos con servicios limitados. Agradecemos sinceramente tus comentarios, ya que nos ayudan a seguir evaluando cada aspecto de la experiencia. Esperamos tener la oportunidad de recibirte nuevamente en otro de nuestros tours.
Great boat ride to see the flamingos, the restaurant had delicious food, and a nice beach to end the day.
Great experience! This company is one of the best in the business. I wish I had more time to do more of their tours.
A very good experience with birds of prey, raccoons, flamingos, and lizards, learning more about the mangroves of Yucatán, the guide was very kind and knowledgeable about the animals sighted and the places visited
Jorge was an outstanding guide. Attentive and knowledgeable, he enriched the experience for us. He’s a biologist with expertise in this area of Mexico.
Jorge was a fantastic, friendly, knowledgeable guide who spoke to us in both English and Spanish. Entertaining and informative, he provided a great experience of a fantastically beautiful nature preserve: an enormous lagoon with mangroves and pristine wild life. We had the luck to see a flock of flamingos -- and witness some in flight. If you are anywhere near and care at all about the environment, this tour is a must! Thank you, Jorge.
Jorge was an absolutely amazing guide! Very knowledgeable and kind. Jimmy was a great driver and the trip was smooth. We saw many flamingos and they had spare binoculars for us to use. The mangroves were so beautiful and we had lunch at a beautiful spot on the ocean. Swimming in the ocean was amazing with warm water and small waves. This was a great trip, and Jorge and Jimmy made it amazing!
