Private Pontoon Tour: Of Bacalar's Seven Colors Lagoon

Swim in turquoise shallows and drift past cenotes you shape the route around

A private pontoon tour of Bacalar Lagoon in Mexico's Riviera Maya, customized to your schedule and preferences, with stops at the Black Cenote, Emerald Cenote, Cocalitos stromatolite sanctuary, and the Pirate Canal. You pick which allowed swimming spots to visit, choose the music and pace at each stop, and the tour includes beer, tequila, water and seasonal fruit. A guide speaks English or Spanish and pickup is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Pontoon tour of Bacalar lagoon

• View Bacalar Black Cenote from boat
• Admire Emerald Cenote from boat
• Observe Cenote Cocalitos stromatolites
• Swim and relax at shallow lagoon area
• Watch birds at Bird Island from boat
• Sail and swim at Pirate Canal

The experience

The tour runs 2.5 hours and moves through five distinct stops, each with its own character. You start at the Black Cenote (a 100-meter-deep natural sinkhole where dark waters meet rocky bottom and dense vegetation), which you view from the boat for its visual drama and photo potential. Next is the Emerald Cenote, a mineral-rich spring inside the lagoon that creates a striking contrast with the surrounding turquoise. Swimming is not allowed here either, but the stop lets you understand how these underground water sources feed the whole system.

The real swimming happens at two places you choose. Cocalitos, the "Sanctuary of the Stromatolites," holds some of the planet's oldest living organisms (layered rock formations thousands of years old), and you see them from the boat without entering the water to protect them. Just meters away is a shallow, sandy-bottomed swimming area with the characteristic turquoise color that gives the lagoon its name. This is where most travelers spend time in the water. Bird Island, a protected nesting ground for herons and cormorants, is another viewing stop from the boat.

The Pirate Canal, connecting the lagoon to the Río Hondo, is the final stop and the only one where you can leave the boat to swim in shallow, slow-moving water. The canal's name comes from colonial-era privateers who used this route. Today it's a place to float and relax. Throughout the tour, you customize the music, the time spent at each stop, and which swimming spots to visit: the guide adjusts the route to fit your preferences. Beer, tequila, bottled water and seasonal fruit are included.

What’s included

• Hotel or meeting point pickup.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• beer and tequila.
• bottled water.
• seasonal fruit.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Wednesday

AgesUp to age 90

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bacalareando Tours Bacalar

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want to set your own pace and choose where to swim: the customizable stops and timing mean you're not following a fixed itinerary, and you control which cenotes and swimming areas fit your comfort level and interests.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

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.

Can I swim at every stop on the Bacalar lagoon tour?

No. The Black Cenote, Emerald Cenote, Cocalitos and Bird Island are viewing stops only: swimming is prohibited at these sites for safety or conservation. You can swim at the shallow turquoise area near Cocalitos and at the Pirate Canal, where the water is calm and sandy-bottomed.

What is the Pirate Canal and why is it called that?

The Pirate Canal is a natural waterway connecting Bacalar Lagoon to the Río Hondo. It earned its name from colonial-era privateers who sailed this route during raids on the region. Today it's a swimming stop with crystal-clear, shallow water and a gentle current, ideal for relaxation.

How long does the pontoon tour last and what's included to drink?

The tour runs 2.5 hours. Beer and tequila are included, along with bottled water and seasonal fruit. You can customize how much time you spend at each stop, so the pace is yours to set.

Can I choose which stops to visit and how long to stay at each one?

Yes. The tour is fully customizable. You pick which swimming spots to visit, the music played on the boat, and how long to spend at each stop according to your preferences and schedule.