Costa Maya cruise excursion: Chacchoben ruins & Bacalar Lagoon

Ancient plazas and cenotes in a single afternoon from the cruise port

A shore excursion from Costa Maya Cruise Port combining Chacchoben Mayan ruins with a choice of two Bacalar Lagoon experiences: a 2-hour sailing tour visiting Pirates' Canal and the Black Cenote, or The Rapids swimming area with beach club access. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or French; pickup and return to port are timed around your ship's schedule, and entry fees to the ruins and lagoon sites are paid separately on arrival.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Chacchoben and Bacalar Lagoon

• Pickup at Costa Maya Cruise Port
• Explore Mayan Ruins of Chacchoben
• Choose Bacalar Lagoon sailing or rapids
• Sail through Lagoon of Seven Colors
• Visit Pirates' Canal and swim
• Swim at Black Cenote and enjoy snacks
• Or relax and swim at The Rapids
• Enjoy restaurant and beach club at The Rapids
• Return punctually to Costa Maya port

The Experience

The driver meets you at Costa Maya Cruise Port at your agreed time and drives you inland to Chacchoben, an archaeological site set deep in the jungle of Quintana Roo. You walk among ceremonial plazas, temples and pyramids while your guide explains Mayan history and culture. The site sits far enough from the main tourist routes that you move through it without crowds, and the jungle around the structures means you might spot monkeys and birds moving through the canopy.

After Chacchoben, you head to Bacalar and its famous Seven Colors Lagoon. Here the tour splits: if you choose sailing, you board one of two sailboats—Phenix or La Cata—and spend two hours on the water. The route takes you through the lagoon to Pirates' Canal, the natural waterway where pirates once sailed out to the Caribbean, and then to the Black Cenote, a dark freshwater pool in the middle of the lagoon where you can swim. Cold drinks and guacamole come with the sailing option. If you choose The Rapids instead, you get access to a shallow turquoise canal surrounded by tropical vegetation where you can swim and float at your own pace; the site also has a restaurant and beach club if you want to sit out of the water. Either way, the return to Costa Maya port is scheduled to get you back before your ship departs.

The whole experience runs about five and a half hours from pickup to drop-off. Snorkel masks are provided if you want them, and bottled water is included. Entry to Chacchoben and to whichever Bacalar site you choose must be paid when you arrive—those fees are separate from the tour price. The tour suits all fitness levels and service animals are welcome; infants ride on an adult's lap.

What’s included

• Pickup at Costa Maya Cruise Port and return transport timed to your ship's schedule.
• English, Spanish or French-speaking guide.
• snorkel masks.
• bottled water.
• guacamole and cold drinks (on the sailing option).
• beach club access (on The Rapids option). Entry fees to Chacchoben and your chosen Bacalar site are paid separately on arrival.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by KAITOURS

Is this one for you?Book the sailing option if you want the full lagoon experience—Pirates' Canal and the Black Cenote cenote give you two distinct water environments in one afternoon. Choose The Rapids if you prefer a single swimming location where you can float and relax without moving between stops, and you want the option to eat at the beach club.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Black Cenote and why is it worth swimming in?

The Black Cenote is a freshwater pool sitting in the middle of Bacalar Lagoon, fed by underground springs. It gets its name from the dark water created by the depth and mineral content, and it's a natural swimming spot where the water stays cold year-round. You visit it only on the sailing option, not on The Rapids.

Do I have to choose between sailing and The Rapids before I book, or can I decide when I arrive?

You choose which Bacalar experience you want at checkout when you book the tour—either Chacchoben plus the sailing tour, or Chacchoben plus The Rapids. You can't switch between them on the day itself.

What's the difference between Pirates' Canal and the Black Cenote on the sailing tour?

Pirates' Canal is a shallow natural waterway connecting the lagoon to the Caribbean Sea, lined with white sand and historic as a route pirates once used. The Black Cenote is a freshwater pool in the middle of the lagoon. Both are swimming stops on the sailing option, but they're different environments—one is a canal, the other a cenote pool.

Does the tour get me back to the ship on time if my departure is in the afternoon?

Yes—the return to Costa Maya port is scheduled around your ship's departure time, which you provide when you book. The driver coordinates the timing so you have a buffer to get back aboard.

What animals might I see at Chacchoben?

Monkeys and birds are the most common wildlife you might spot moving through the jungle canopy around the ruins. The site is surrounded by tropical forest, so sightings aren't guaranteed but they do happen, especially in the early morning hours.

Is snorkeling included, or do I need to bring my own gear?

Snorkel masks are provided with the tour. You don't need to bring your own, though you're welcome to if you prefer your own fit. Snorkeling is optional—you can swim without a mask at either the Black Cenote or The Rapids.