
Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience
Traveler rating
4.7/5
Based on 11 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience worth booking?
Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience is a 5.5-hour experience in Costa Maya, Mexico, from $113 per person. It scores 62 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.7/5 rating across 11 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 62 / 100
- Rating
- 4.7/5 (11)
- Duration
- 5.5 hours
- From
- $113 per person
Experience two very different sides of Costa Maya in one shore excursion, combining local Mayan culture with the natural beauty of Bacalar Lagoon. Visit Chacchoben Village and meet a local Mayan family with deep roots in the region. Learn about their traditions and daily life, discover how traditional tortillas are made, try making your own, and enjoy a home-cooked lunch prepared with local ingredients and family recipes passed down through generations. Then, continue to Bacalar Lagoon, the famous Seven Color Lagoon and once a haven for pirates. Swim in its refreshing freshwater, grab a kayak, or simply relax by the lagoon with a drink and enjoy the scenery. Designed for cruise ship guests visiting Costa Maya, this shore excursion offers a great mix of local culture, traditional food, and relaxation in a single day.
What you get
About this experience
Experience two very different sides of Costa Maya in one shore excursion, combining local Mayan culture with the natural beauty of Bacalar Lagoon. Visit Chacchoben Village and meet a local Mayan family with deep roots in the region. Learn about their traditions and daily life, discover how traditional tortillas are made, try making your own, and enjoy a home-cooked lunch prepared with local ingredients and family recipes passed down through generations. Then, continue to Bacalar Lagoon, the famous Seven Color Lagoon and once a haven for pirates. Swim in its refreshing freshwater, grab a kayak, or simply relax by the lagoon with a drink and enjoy the scenery. Designed for cruise ship guests visiting Costa Maya, this shore excursion offers a great mix of local culture, traditional food, and relaxation in a single day.
What's included
Included
- Authentic home-cooked Maya lunch with traditional dishes and local ingredients
- Kayaks, tubes and life jackets
- Visit with a local Maya family in Chacchoben Village
- Access to Bacalar Seven Color Lagoon with loungers and facilities
- Round-trip transportation from Costa Maya in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Soft drinks and bottled water
- Beverages including horchata, hibiscus water, and two alcoholic drinks for guests 21+
- Tortilla-making demonstration and hands-on experience
- Certified tour guide
Not included
- Souvenirs
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic beverages
What you'll see and do
Chacchoben
Your adventure begins one hour after your cruise ship arrives in port. Travel approximately 50 minutes from Costa Maya to Chacchoben Village, where you'll visit a local Mayan family and experience a side of the region that goes beyond its archaeological sites. Meet your hosts and learn about their traditions and daily life, including the ingredients and techniques used in traditional Maya cooking. Watch a tortilla-making demonstration and try making your own before sitting down with the family for an authentic home-cooked lunch prepared with fresh local ingredients, traditional spices, and family recipes. After your visit and lunch, continue approximately 25 minutes to Bacalar Lagoon for the second part of your experience.
80 minutes here
Lake Bacalar
Continue to Bacalar Lagoon, the famous Seven Color Lagoon, once a strategic route and haven for pirates, for a completely different side of your Costa Maya adventure. Enjoy approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes at the Lake Shore Club, with direct access to the lagoon. Swim in its clear freshwater, grab a complimentary kayak, or simply relax on a lounger and enjoy the views. Your visit includes use of the club facilities, loungers, kayaks and tubes, along with non-alcoholic beverages and two alcoholic drinks for guests 21 and older. After your time at Bacalar, sit back and relax during the approximately 1 hour and 10-minute journey back to Costa Maya.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Costa Maya
Your tour departs one hour after your cruise arrives at Costa Maya Port. Meet at Plaza Las Fuentes, just outside the port area. Allow 15 minutes to walk from your ship. Provide your full cruise ship name when booking. Detailed directions and a map will follow confirmation.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Your tour departs one hour after your cruise arrives at Costa Maya Port. Meet at Plaza Las Fuentes, just outside the port area. Allow 15 minutes to walk from your ship. Provide your full cruise ship name when booking. Detailed directions and a map will follow confirmation.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 30 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Caribbean Shore Excursions
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour will depart one hour after your cruise arrives to port from Plaza Las Fuentes, conveniently located just a few steps away from the main access of Costa Maya Port.
- Please note that the total walking time from your cruise ship to the meeting point is about 15 minutes.
- Cruise guests arriving after 12 PM. Make the most of your limited time in port by booking our Chacchoben Mayan City Tour or our beach break options
- IMPORTANT: Travelers coming by cruise ship must provide the full name of the ship and docking time
- Travel time is already included with the total tour duration
- This experience is best appreciated by children ages 6 and older.
- Vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available upon request. Please advise us in advance of any dietary requirements or food allergies.
- Alcoholic beverages are available only to guests 21 and older.
- Life jackets are mandatory for all water activities and are provided.
- Children must be 10 years or older to paddle a single kayak alone. Children under 10 may kayak when accompanied by a supervising adult.
- Water activities may be restricted or temporarily suspended by local authorities due to wind, lightning, or other unsafe weather conditions.
- Bring a swimsuit, personal towel, change of clothes, hat, and biodegradable sunscreen.
- The tour operates rain or shine, so please dress according to the weather.
- Bring extra cash for personal expenses, as credit cards may not be accepted outside the port area.
- Late Arrivals / No-Shows: Guests who arrive late or fail to show up for their scheduled activity are not eligible for a refund.
- No Port, No Pay! If your cruise ship doesn’t call at the port, you’ll receive a 100% full refund guaranteed.
- Kayak weight limit: 220 lbs for a single kayak or 270 lbs combined for a double kayak.
- Kayaking is not permitted for pregnant guests.
- Transportation vehicles can accommodate foldable wheelchairs only. Vehicles are not wheelchair-adapted, and non-folding wheelchairs cannot be accommodated. The Bacalar Lagoon portion is not wheelchair accessible due to the natural terrain and water access points.
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 11 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Food and drink
10 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Good for families
5 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
11 verified traveler reviews for Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Your company good. El Bacalar not worth it
No issues with the tour itself. Machine was friendly and knowledgeable. The Mayan lunch was a lot of fun and interesting. El Bacalar was not as described, understood that people can’t control the weather but for the price per person, not worth it.
Response from the operator: Hi Carolina, Thank you for choosing Caribbean Shore Excursions in Costa Maya, and for the kind words about our team and the Mayan lunch! We're sorry Bacalar didn't look the way you'd hoped. The lagoon's famous colors depend on the day: with more sun they really shine, and on a cloudier day they're softer. We appreciate your understanding about the weather. We hope to welcome you soon, so you can discover other colors of the lagoon and see why it's so special. Warm regards, The Caribbean Shore Excursions Team
via Viator
Fantastic lunch and learning of meal prep with access to peaceful lagoon oasis
This tour was our favorite of the trip. The lunch was delicious and learning a bit about the Mayan culture and meal prep was very interesting. Appreciate the hospitality and engagement from everyone involved. And the lagoon was beautiful and relaxing with drinks and access to the water for about an hour and a half which was perfect for our family.
Response from the operator: Hi Nathan, Our favorite of the trip? Thank you! We're glad the lunch was delicious and that learning about Mayan culture and meal prep made it special, and that your family enjoyed the lagoon for an hour and a half. Thank you for choosing Caribbean Shore Excursions in Costa Maya while on board Symphony of the Seas, and for noticing the hospitality of everyone involved. Hope to see your family again on your next cruise. Warm regards, The Caribbean Shore Excursions Team
via Viator
Enjoyable and educational
Had a great time and learned about the Mayan culture and food with our guide Maggie. Got rained on at the Bacalar lagoon, but it didn’t dampen our experience. Recommended!
Response from the operator: Hi there, Thank you for choosing Caribbean Shore Excursions in Costa Maya while on board Star of the Seas! We'll tell Maggie she made the Mayan culture and food come alive for you. Getting rained on at Bacalar and still enjoying it says a lot, and we appreciate your recommendation. Hope to see you again on your next cruise! Warm regards, The Caribbean Shore Excursions Team
via Tripadvisor
Magnificent excursions
The cozumel atv ride. I thought it would be warm but I am glad that i brought a jacket. The water in the ceynote was very warm. I am 71 years old the tour guide called me super grandma. He was very sweat so if you go there I jumped off the rocks and drove the atv it was all very exciting. Costa Maya the Mayan cooking experience and seven colors lagoon. We enjoyed making the food and the lunch was very good. The canoes in the lagoon was fun. They afforded us 2 drinks a piece.
Response from the operator: Hi there, "Super grandma" at 71, jumping off the rocks and driving the ATV, we love it! Thank you for choosing Caribbean Shore Excursions, and we're so glad you enjoyed making the food, the lunch and the canoes at the lagoon in Costa Maya. What a pleasure to have you. Hope to see you again! Warm regards, The Caribbean Shore Excursions Team
via Viator
A great day learning about Mayan culture and food with time to swim and kayak as well!
Amazing experience for the whole family. My husband and I did this excursion with our 7 and 11 year olds. Our tour guide Romeo was fantastic. He was knowledgeable and fun. We loved meeting the Mayan ladies and had so much fun helping prepare authentic Mayan food and really enjoyed the meal prepared by them. The Bacalar Lagoon was nice but it was cloudy so the colors weren’t great. We still enjoyed our time swimming, kayaking and enjoying a few cocktails. We’d highly recommend this tour!!
Response from the operator: Hi there, Helping the Mayan ladies prepare authentic food with your 7 and 11-year-olds sounds like a perfect family day! We'll tell Romeo he was fantastic, knowledgeable and fun. Thank you for choosing Caribbean Shore Excursions in Costa Maya while on board Star of the Seas. We're glad you still enjoyed the lagoon on a cloudy day, and we'd love to show you the colors on a brighter one. Hope to welcome your family again on your next cruise! Warm regards, The Caribbean Shore Excursions Team
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 5.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $113 to $125
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Caribbean Shore Excursions, who run 5 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 55.8.
See everything Caribbean Shore Excursions runsWhy this scores 62
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Costa Maya.
How much does Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience cost?
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Prices start at $113 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Costa Maya usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience take?
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Plan for about 5.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Costa Maya is not rushed.
Is Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 62 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.7/5 across 11 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Costa Maya, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Costa Maya can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Costa Maya and add a light layer if any part of the 5.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Costa Maya within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Costa Maya?
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On Outty we rank every Costa Maya experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Chacchoben & Bacalar Combo Excursion Costa Maya, Costa Maya Shore Excursion Chacchoben Day Trip, Chacchoben Mayan Ruins from Costa Maya. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Costa Maya?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Costa Maya?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience?
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Included: Authentic home-cooked Maya lunch with traditional dishes and local ingredients; Kayaks, tubes and life jackets; Visit with a local Maya family in Chacchoben Village; Access to Bacalar Seven Color Lagoon with loungers and facilities; and Round-trip transportation from Costa Maya in an air-conditioned vehicle. Not included: Souvenirs; Gratuities; and Alcoholic beverages. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience?
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Your tour departs one hour after your cruise arrives at Costa Maya Port. Meet at Plaza Las Fuentes, just outside the port area. Allow 15 minutes to walk from your ship. Provide your full cruise ship name when booking. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience offered in?
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It is offered in English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; Specialized infant seats are available; Kayaking is not permitted for pregnant guests; and Transportation vehicles can accommodate foldable wheelchairs only. Vehicles are not wheelc. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Costa Maya. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Costa Maya Shore Excursion: Bacalar Lagoon and Mayan Experience?
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Across 11 reviews averaging 4.7 out of 5, recurring themes include food and drink, the guide, knowledge and storytelling. The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
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