Bacalar: Private Catamaran Sailing & Bird Island Swimming

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/7

Duration3h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · FR +1

Mobile ticketAccepted

A Catamaran Cuts Through Mangroves While You Float in Cenote Water

You sail a motorless catamaran through Bacalar Lagoon with your group only, stopping to swim in cenote water near stromatolites and at Bird Island, where you watch local and migratory birds and catch the sunset. Bottled water and seasonal fruit are provided, and Captain Sara handles navigation and timing so you just show up at Bertilla Lagoon and step aboard.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private catamaran sailing and bird watching

Meet at Bertilla Lagoon
Receive instructions from Captain Sara
Sail south to Esmeralda and Cocalítos cenote
Observe crystal clear waters and stromatolites
Enjoy jungle, mangroves, and wetlands scenery
Stop at abandoned pier to swim
Eat seasonal fruit snack prepared by Sara
Continue to island of birds sanctuary
Swim in warm waters at island
Watch sunset at island
Return to starting point sailing with wind

The Experience

Hands grip the rail as the boat tilts into the wind—it's Captain Sara at the helm, and you're the only group on board. The catamaran leaves from Bertilla Lagoon without an engine, just sails catching air over Bacalar's water. You head south toward Esmeralda and Cocalítos cenote, where the lagoon turns so clear you can see the stromatolites on the bottom, those layered rock formations that make the water look almost unreal. The jungle closes in on both sides—mangroves, wetlands, the kind of quiet that makes you stop talking without meaning to.

Around midway through the sail, the boat pulls up to an abandoned pier and you slip into the water while Sara sets out fresh seasonal fruit—mango, papaya, whatever's ripe that week. It's the kind of snack that tastes different when you're floating in a lagoon. After that, you keep moving toward Bird Island, a sanctuary where local and migratory birds nest and hunt. You swim there too, in warm water, and if the timing works, you catch the sunset from the island before heading back. The whole thing—from the moment you step aboard to when you return to the starting point—runs on wind and sail, no motor noise, just the sound of water and whatever birds are calling.

It matters that this is a private tour, meaning it's only your group on the catamaran. No strangers, no schedule rush, no stops engineered for crowds. The boat holds your party and that's it. Bottled water and fruit are included, so you're not hunting for supplies mid-day. The route itself—south to the cenotes, then to the bird island, then back—covers the parts of Bacalar Lagoon that feel furthest from tourism, even though you're moving through one of the Riviera Maya's most visited regions.

What’s included

The tour includes the private catamaran with Captain Sara, all sailing and stops at Esmeralda and Cocalítos cenote, Bird Island, and the abandoned pier, plus bottled water and fresh seasonal fruit prepared during the journey. Swimming at both cenote and island locations is part of the experience.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bakana Sailing

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Bacalar Lagoon's bird life and remote cenotes without a motor or a crowd—the private catamaran and no-engine approach are what make the quiet and the wildlife possible in a place that can feel crowded elsewhere.