Rio Lagartos tour: Flamingos, cenote, pink lagoons

Small fish exfoliate your feet while you float in a cenote connected to the estuary.

A four-hour boat tour of Rio Lagartos and Las Coloradas led by a family-run operator with 15 years in the region. You swim in a cenote, observe crocodiles and flamingos from the boat, visit the pink waters of Las Coloradas, apply Mayan clay to your skin, and finish on an unspoilt beach. The itinerary adapts to weather and your pace. A live guide speaks English or Spanish, and all safety equipment is included.

The experience

The tour runs four hours and starts with a cenote swim connected to the estuary. A rare setup that lets you watch birds from the water while small fish perform a natural exfoliation on your feet. From there, the boat moves through mangrove channels where a guide points out crocodiles resting in their habitat and flamingos feeding in the wetlands. The operator has spent 15 years mapping these routes and knows which birds may land on the boat and where the light hits the water best.

Las Coloradas, the salt lagoons famous for their pink color, come next. The hue comes from algae and salt-loving microorganisms, not dye, and the operator takes you behind the salt factory to photograph the water at its most vivid. After that, you apply organic Mayan clay as a traditional wellness ritual (a skin treatment made from local earth), then swim on an unspoilt beach where dolphins sometimes pass nearby. The captain adjusts which stops you linger at and in what order, depending on weather, wildlife activity and what interests you most.

The boat is comfortable and piloted by a certified captain familiar with local navigation. Life jackets, a life ring and all required safety equipment come with the booking. You get parking, toilets, showers and Wi-Fi at the facilities, and passenger insurance covers the whole activity. Children from age one are welcome, and the tour is wheelchair accessible throughout.

What’s included

• Cenote swim with natural fish exfoliation.
• boat exploration of mangrove channels with crocodile and flamingo observation.
• visit to the pink lagoons of Las Coloradas.
• Mayan clay wellness treatment.
• unspoilt beach swim.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• comfortable private boat with certified captain.
• life jackets and safety equipment.
• parking, toilets, showers and Wi-Fi.
• passenger insurance.
• flexible itinerary adapted to weather and your pace.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 14:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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.

Paid on siteUS$ 6.84

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Aventuremos Río Lagartos

Is this one for you?The tour moves between water and land stops over four hours, so you'll be in and out of the boat and the cenote multiple times. Choose this one if you're comfortable with frequent entries and exits and don't mind getting wet.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

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 happens at the cenote during the Rio Lagartos tour?

You swim in a pristine cenote that connects to the estuary, which means birds feed and rest nearby while you're in the water. Small fish in the cenote gently exfoliate your feet as part of the experience, and the guide shares information about the local bird species from the boat.

Will I see crocodiles and flamingos on this tour?

Yes. The boat explores exclusive areas where crocodiles rest in their natural habitat, and you observe them safely with expert guidance. Flamingos feed and rest in the wetlands throughout the route, and spotting them is a main part of the tour.

What are the pink lagoons of Las Coloradas, and how long do we spend there?

Las Coloradas are salt lagoons behind a salt factory where algae and salt-loving microorganisms create vivid pink water. The operator takes you to photograph the lagoons, and the time you spend there adjusts based on weather and your interest. The itinerary is flexible.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

The tour includes a live guide in English or Spanish, a comfortable private boat with a certified captain, all safety equipment, parking, facilities with toilets and showers, and passenger insurance. Fees and taxes are payable upon arrival and vary by season. Gratuity is voluntary.