Bacalar Lagoon Boat Tour & Cenotes from Playa del Carmen

A boat winds through seven shades of turquoise, past islands and into the cenote where the lagoon was born.

A full-day tour from Playa del Carmen or Tulum to Bacalar Pueblo Mágico takes you by air-conditioned vehicle to the Laguna de los 7 Colores, where a boat carries you through the lagoon's turquoise zones to a cenote, a pirate channel and stromatolites, with lunch and an English-speaking guide. Hotel pickup is included. The total time from pickup to return is between 11 and 12 hours depending on where you stay.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Bacalar Lagoon and surroundings

• Boat trip on lagoon of 7 colors
• Visit cenote
• Explore pirate channel
• See stromatolites

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Playa del Carmen or Tulum, then a drive south to Bacalar. Once at the lagoon, you board a boat for the main event: a tour through water so clear and so many shades of blue that the locals call it the Lagoon of 7 Colors. The boat stops at a cenote where the lagoon's water originates, then moves through the Pirate Channel (a narrow passage with a history tied to the area's past), and finally reaches the stromatolites, ancient rock formations that rise from the water's floor.

Lunch is served during the tour, and your guide speaks English throughout, explaining what you're seeing as the boat moves. The boat itself is the main transport once you arrive. The vehicle handles the ground journey from your hotel. Because the total time runs between 11 and 12 hours door-to-door, the day is full but unhurried. There's time to take in each stop without rushing.

What’s included

• The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Playa del Carmen or Tulum.
• round-trip transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• the full boat tour through the lagoon with stops at the cenote, pirate channel and stromatolites.
• lunch.
• and an English-speaking guide throughout the day.

Options for this experience

2 options

Departs from Playa del CarmenGuide in English · 07:00Includes hotel pickup. Duration: 13 hours. Pickup is included.

Meeting point TulumGuide in English · 07:45Hotel pickup is not included. Duration: 10 hours. Meeting point in Tulum: Super Aki supermarket at 9:20 am. Tulum does not offer hotel pickup service.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesdayDepartures at 07:00 and 07:45

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 27

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Holbox Magico

Is this one for you?Book from Playa del Carmen for a full-day tour with longer travel time included, or from Tulum if you're staying inland and want to reach the lagoon faster.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Lagoon of 7 Colors?

Bacalar's lagoon is named for the shifting shades of turquoise and blue visible across its surface, caused by the depth of the water and the sandy bottom. The colors change as the boat moves through different zones, from pale aquamarine in the shallows to deep blue in the deeper channels.

Do I get to swim or go in the water?

The tour includes a boat trip through the lagoon and a stop at the cenote, where you can enter the water. The pirate channel and stromatolites are viewed from the boat.

How long is the boat ride itself?

The boat tour covers the main attractions (the cenote, pirate channel and stromatolites) as part of the full-day itinerary. The total time from hotel pickup to return is between 11 and 12 hours, which includes the drive to Bacalar, the boat tour and lunch.

Can I choose to leave from Playa del Carmen or Tulum?

You can book a departure from either Playa del Carmen or Tulum. Both include hotel pickup. The meeting point you choose determines your pickup location and affects the total travel time slightly.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You spend most of the day on a boat or in a vehicle, so it does not require hiking or strenuous activity.