The colours of the Seven-Coloured Lagoon are truly extraordinary, and you’ll see them best from a boat.

We opted for a 4-hour group cruise with several stops for a swim, an open bar and light refreshments. The two of us paid 1 850 mxn. In my opinion, that’s a pretty fair price for such an unusual experience, don’t you think?

It was a lovely half-day out. It wasn’t exactly a life-changing ‘wow’ moment, but we certainly don’t regret the trip or our stop in Bacalar. The lagoon is a unique place and really added something special to our trip along the Riviera Maya.

We booked our cruise through GetYourGuide and would do so again next time. It’s simply the easiest way to compare all the agencies. And what’s more, it’s cheaper than booking locally.

Compare all lagoon cruises

Our boat trip in a nutshell

	Our experience
Duration	about 4 hours
Start	10:00
Price	1 850 mxn for 2 people
Type of boat	motorboat
Language	English and Spanish
Included	water, soft drinks, simple cocktails, fruit and light refreshments
Main stops	The Pirate Canal, cenotes and Isla de los Pájaros
Swimming	several times in the shallow parts of the lagoon

The drinks really were unlimited, the guides spoke excellent English, and the whole cruise took place in a friendly and very relaxed atmosphere.

Which lagoon cruise should you choose?

I was surprised by how many different lagoon tours are on offer. They vary in length, type of boat, number of stops and overall atmosphere.

Type of trip	What to expect
Motorboat or pontoon boat	around 3 to 4 hours, several stops, swimming and drinks
Sailing boat	a slower pace, less emphasis on the number of stops
Kayak or paddleboard	a more active programme and the chance to sail through the Pirate Canal
Private boat	at your own pace and with more privacy, but at a high price
Full-day eco-tour	more commentary on nature and the fragile ecosystem

We wanted a relaxed half-day cruise, an English-speaking guide and a few opportunities to go for a swim.

Be sure to go through the entire programme before booking.

Some trips advertise the Pirate Canal, but only stop at its wide entrance. There’s also a big difference in the boarding point, refreshments and the number of people on board.

You’ll find a clear overview of all the standard options on the Bacalar Lagoon cruises page, where you can compare itineraries, reviews and current prices.

Compare lagoon cruises – GetYourGuide

Book in advance or on arrival?

I booked the trip about 14 days in advance via GetYourGuide. I spent quite a bit of time wondering whether it was necessary to book that far in advance. It certainly isn’t outside the peak season.

On arrival in Bacalar, we saw several stalls offering boat trips, and it would have been possible to find spaces even at the last minute. However, the prices displayed on the spot were higher than the offers on GetYourGuide.

Personally, I’d book online again. Virtually all the local agencies sell their tours through GetYourGuide, and you can see everything in one place:

• genuine reviews from previous customers
• the exact itinerary and duration of the boat trip
• the languages spoken by the guides
• the meeting point
• what’s included in the price
• cancellation policy

Outside the peak season, next time I’d only book a few days in advance. During the peak season, or if I wanted a specific time, a small group or a sunrise cruise, I’d book the trip earlier.

Check the meeting point

I underestimated this part a bit before booking. Somehow I didn’t realise that our agency sets off from the very northern edge of Bacalar.

In reality, though, it wasn’t really much of a problem. In the morning, we took an Uber from the centre for about 50 mxn. After the cruise, we walked back to the centre through the typical local streets and via Ecoparque Bacalar. It was a very pleasant walk.

Bacalar felt safe to us even outside the tourist centre. Nowhere did we come across any slums or places where we felt uncomfortable. There were surprisingly few stray dogs, and those we did encounter were mostly just dozing by the roadside.

Nevertheless, do check the boarding point before paying. Different agencies set sail from various parts of the long coastline, and the journey could mean a few extra kilometres.

How did boarding the boat go?

Our agency’s base was a large grassy area right by the lagoon. There were toilets available – they weren’t great, but they’ll do in a pinch.

There was no kiosk, no restaurant and nowhere to buy water. What’s more, bringing your own food wasn’t allowed.

So make sure you take enough water with you, at least for the journey, the wait before the boat trip and the return to the centre.

Once on board, we were then provided with water, soft drinks and simple alcoholic cocktails without restriction.

Boarding itself went absolutely smoothly. We were on the list, the guides spoke excellent English, and after a brief introduction we set sail straight away.

Where did we sail and what did we see?

The route took us past the main sights in the northern and central parts of the lagoon.

During the trip, the guides explained the basics about cenotes, stromatolites, birds and the history of Bacalar. The commentary was easy to follow and, thankfully, they didn’t turn it into a four-hour lecture.

It was just relaxed – to be honest, I actually preferred it to a technical lecture.

The Pirate Canal: the biggest disappointment of the trip

The first stop was the Canal de los Piratas. The boat moored in the shallow turquoise water at the entrance to the canal and we were given time to go for a swim.

We didn’t actually sail through the canal itself.

I hadn’t checked this in advance and was quite disappointed, as I’d considered the passage through the canal to be one of the main highlights of the trip.

Ordinary cruise boats only stop by the canal.

If you really want to sail through it, choose a kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding trip and make sure the canal crossing is included in the itinerary.

Cenotes and Isla de los Pájaros

We then sailed past Cenote Negro, Cenote Esmeralda and Cenote Cocalitos. The contrast between the shallow turquoise lagoon and the dark water above the cenotes is clearly visible from the boat.

As we sailed past Isla de los Pájaros, we watched the birds and listened to a brief commentary on the local nesting site. The island is viewed from the water; you do not go ashore.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t go for a swim in the cenotes, which I’d been looking forward to a bit.

The guides stopped so we could swim in the shallow parts of the lagoon, where the water was usually barely knee-deep. The seabed consists of very fine, pleasant sand.

Swimming and refreshments on the water

We went into the water several times during the trip. The last stop was a bit longer, and the guides prepared some light refreshments on a floating pontoon. We were given plenty of fruit and a few small pieces of toast.

It was enough for a four-hour cruise, but don’t expect a full lunch. We therefore made sure to eat a proper meal before setting off.

What should you take with you?

The most important thing is sun protection. Sun cream is strictly prohibited on lagoon cruises due to the extremely sensitive ecosystem.

We, of course, got quite sunburnt. Four hours on the open water, with the sun glinting off the water’s surface, really takes its toll. If you’re sensitive to the sun, swimwear with UV protection is an absolute must.

Make sure to bring the following with you:

• a T-shirt or other swimwear with UV protection
• headwear
• sunglasses
• swimwear and a towel
• a waterproof bag or phone case
• enough water for the time before the trip and the journey back

Feel free to leave your water shoes at the hotel. The sand in the designated swimming areas was very fine, and we didn’t need them anywhere.

How many nights should you spend in Bacalar?

I wouldn’t recommend squeezing the boat trip into a rushed day trip from Cancún, Tulum or Playa del Carmen.

Our activity alone took up almost half a day, and we enjoyed our afternoon stroll through the Ecoparque just as much as we did the town centre itself.

In our opinion, 2 to 3 nights is ideal. You arrive the day before the boat trip, set off for the lagoon in the morning, and the next day you can add Los Rápidos, Cocalitos or simply a swim from the jetty.

Choose your accommodation carefully. Much of the shoreline is private, and a hotel with its own access to the lagoon will make your stay much more enjoyable.

Find accommodation in Bacalar

You can find other places we visited or considered in our guide to Bacalar and in our overview of what to see in Bacalar.

Is a boat trip on Bacalar Lagoon worth it?

Yes. The colours of the lagoon are truly stunning, and you’ll see them at their best from a boat.

We found the four-hour trip to be just right, and the price of1 850 mxn for two was very reasonable given the duration, the drinks included and the organisation.

The itinerary itself wasn’t exactly mind-blowing. It was mainly a pleasant cruise, with a few stops for a swim and some lovely views. Even so, I wouldn’t have missed the trip and would choose the same type of cruise again.

I’d just pay closer attention next time to the exact boarding point and the itinerary at the Pirate Canal.

Anyone whose main priority is travelling through the canal should combine the motorboat trip with a kayak or paddleboard.

Bacalar is well worth a stop because of the lagoon. It’s a unique place and a lovely way to add a special touch to your stay on the Mexican Riviera.

Book a cruise on the Bacalar lagoon