Private Tour: Ek Balam, Pink Flamingos Sanctuary and Tequila Tasting Factory
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Non-refundable booking. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.0/5
Based on 4 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Private Tour: Ek Balam, Pink Flamingos Sanctuary and Tequila Tasting Factory worth booking?
Private Tour: Ek Balam, Pink Flamingos Sanctuary and Tequila Tasting Factory is a 12-hour experience in Cancun, Mexico, from $299 per person. It scores 40 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4/5 rating across 4 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 40 / 100
- Rating
- 4/5 (4)
- Duration
- 12 hours
- From
- $299 per person
Ek Balam translated from the Mayan language as black jaguar, is a well-preserved Maya City which you'll get to visit on this private tour. See its main buildings and then see flocks of pink flamingos in their sanctuary i
What you get
- Private transportation
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- Private boat
- Entrance Fee
About this experience
Ek Balam translated from the Mayan language as black jaguar, is a well-preserved Maya City which you'll get to visit on this private tour. See its main buildings and then see flocks of pink flamingos in their sanctuary in the Gulf Coast. Finally, go tequila tasting at a factory. Your tour includes transport and a guide.
What's included
Included
- Private transportation
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- Private boat
- Entrance Fee
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
What you'll see and do
Ek Balam
You will be picked up early in the morning and head to visit the famous archaeological site, lost in the jungle - Ek Balam (translated from the Mayan language "black jaguar"). Here, you will see the mysterious "angels" sculptures who guard the entrance to the "kingdom of the dead" in the form of the mouth of a rattlesnake. From the Preclassic until the Postclassic period, it was the seat of a Mayan kingdom. The site is noted for the preservation of the plaster on the tomb of Ukit-Kan-Lek-Tok, a king buried in the side of the largest pyramid.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Las Coloradas
Then, you will visit the Gulf Coast to ride in a small boat in one of the most beautiful nature reserves of the Yucatan Peninsula. Sailing mangroves, you'll watch a reserve of birds in their natural habitat. You will see the Cayman crocodiles, and you will watch flocks of pink flamingos in their sanctuary. After a walk around the park a natural spa will be waiting for you.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Mayapan Traditional Agave Distillery
The culmination of the tour will be visiting of tequila factory where you can see the tequila production process and taste this wonderful drink. At the end of the tour you will be transferred back to your hotel.
30 minutes here · Admission included
Rio Lagartos
Sailing mangroves, you'll watch a reserve of birds in their natural habitat. You will see the Cayman crocodiles, and you will watch flocks of pink flamingos in their sanctuary.
120 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Trip To Mexico
Know before you go
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Bring sunscreen, insect repellent and a hat
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 4 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
4 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
2 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
2 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Photo opportunities
1 mentionThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Traveler reviews
4 verified traveler reviews for Private Tour: Ek Balam, Pink Flamingos Sanctuary and Tequila Tasting Factory. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
A great tour with a variety of activities
A varied tour with an excellent guide. Boat excursion was fantastic - managed to see crocodiles and flamingos
via Viator
The definition of BAIT AND SWITCH
What a disappointment. This tour started off bad and only because worse. Our guide informed us upon leaving the hotel that the van had been sterilizd and there was no reason to wear a mask. I asked if he has been vaccinated against covid-19. He laughed, "No". I informed him that he was to wear the mask as my wife had not been vaccinated as yet. Ek Balan was ok. It does not compare to the less expensive tour of Chicken it's, however. As a photographer, I was most excited to visit the bird sanctuary billed as a Pink Flamingo Bird Sanctuary. Well, zero birds. The bird sanctuary is at a commercial salt mine. The only thing that was pink was water. We abandoned the tour at this point. My wife and I opted to have drinks at the hotel in Cancun rather than have anymore disappointment.
Response from the operator: Dear guest, we are very sorry that you decided to end the tour in the middle and you didn’t take the boat trip to see the wonderful flamingos. The itinerary of this tour is as follows : First activity: visit to the archaeological site Ek Balam Second activity: visit to las Coloradas ( Pink Lake ) Third activity: boat trip tour to see flamingos and lagoon Fourth activity: tequila tasting in Mayapan Our guide informed us that when you arrived at Las Coloradas ( Pink lake), you complained because there was a lot of noise and there were no flamingos that you expected to see. The noise that was there is completely normal because of the salt machines mines in the area, and this is because they are working in the process of making salt. In Las Coloradas you can’t see flamingos. This is only possible taking the boat trip and going to the area of their habitat. There are a huge number of flamingos now. At all times our guide explained to you about that and suggested you not to abandon the tour and take the boat trip to see the flamingos. But for some reason you decided to end it and return to the hotel.
via Tripadvisor
We read other reviews and requested...
<p>We read other reviews and requested Raul for our tour and we are glad we did. He gave us flavor and history all in a believable down to earth way. He was truly a joy to talk with. Our tour was perfect and the added visit to the salt flats was interesting. The visit to Ek Balam was interesting and a nice addition to the other tours we've taken of the Mayan ruins around the Yucatan. One motivator for us taking this trip was the Pink Flamingos sanctuary. The driver on our boat whipped it around right away to get us close to an alligator wading around and went to extremes to try to get us close to the flamingos. It's never a sure bet if you will see them or get close enough so take a longer lens if you hope to capture them in photos. He took us close to shore to capture more wildlife and grabbed an interesting looking prehistoric creature from the water to show us. Lunch at a local restaurant was a nice addition. The side trip to the Tequila factory wasn't really the factory but stood in for it long ago but still fun to see. Be sure you take money to tip your tour driver, boat driver, guide and waiter at lunch.</p>
via Viator
This was a wonderful experience...
<p>This was a wonderful experience. Our guide, Raul, Trip to Mexico was so knowledgeable and so much fun. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with him. We not only learned so much about the experiences that were part of the tour but also about the Mexican culture and way of life. I strongly recommend this tour and ask for Raul, he was wonderful!</p>
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- 2+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $299 to $719
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 1
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 40
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Private Tour: Ek Balam, Pink Flamingos Sanctuary and Tequila Tasting Factory: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Cancun.
How much does Private Tour: Ek Balam, Pink Flamingos Sanctuary and Tequila Tasting Factory cost?
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Prices start at $299 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Cancun usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Private Tour: Ek Balam, Pink Flamingos Sanctuary and Tequila Tasting Factory take?
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Plan for about 12 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 Cancun is not rushed.
Is Private Tour: Ek Balam, Pink Flamingos Sanctuary and Tequila Tasting Factory worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 40 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4/5 across 4 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable food & drink in Cancun, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Private Tour: Ek Balam, Pink Flamingos Sanctuary and Tequila Tasting Factory?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is Private Tour: Ek Balam, Pink Flamingos Sanctuary and Tequila Tasting Factory suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 2. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 12-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Private Tour: Ek Balam, Pink Flamingos Sanctuary and Tequila Tasting Factory?
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Around 1 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 Cancun 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 Cancun and add a light layer if any part of the 12-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Private Tour: Ek Balam, Pink Flamingos Sanctuary and Tequila Tasting Factory 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 Cancun 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 Cancun?
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On Outty we rank every Cancun experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Early Access to Chichen Itza All Inclusive with Valladolid and Cenote Swim, Whale Shark Tour from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Riviera Maya, Small-Group 3 Hidden Cenotes Adventure with Tequila Tasting. 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 Cancun?
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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 Cancun?
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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.
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