5 BEST Bacalar Boat Tours (Sailing, SUP + More)
Going on a boat tour of the Bacalar lagoon of seven colors is something you truly cannot miss while visiting Bacalar, Mexico!
Given the lack of public access points to the lagoon, exploring Bacalar via boat is the best way to see and swim in it. And thankfully most Bacalar boat tours are quite affordable!
In this article I’m sharing my recommendations for the very best Bacalar tours so you can choose the best tour for you, no matter your interests and budget!
📌 Bookmark these Yucatan travel guides to keep planning your trip:
- 👙 7 Exceptional Waterfront Hotels in Bacalar, Mexico
- ⛵️ The Ultimate Bacalar Itinerary: 1-7 Days
- 🌮 7 Incredible Bacalar Restaurants (Vegan-Friendly)
- 🏝 EPIC 3 Day Cancun Itinerary for Adventure Lovers
- ✨ The Perfect Valladolid, Mexico Itinerary: 1-7 Days
- ☀️ 12 Cancun Hidden Gems: Cancun Off The Beaten Path
- 🤿 All 4 Bacalar Cenotes & How to Visit Them
Oh! And grab my free map of Mexico’s Yucatan with my all my favorite spots pinned! Also, check out my Belize travel guides if you’re visiting Belize before or after Bacalar!
☀️ My Bacalar Favorites 🌺
⛵️ Bacalar Boat Tour: Cruising through the lagoon of seven colors on a boat tour is one of the most popular things to do here, and my favorite boat tour only costs about $43 USD per person and includes a free kayak rental after the tour!
🌊 Los Rápidos: Float down a natural lazy river beside breathtaking stromatolites (believed to be the oldest living organisms on earth!!) Read my guide to ethically visiting Los Rapdios.
🌅 Sunrise Paddle Board: Pull yourself out of bed early for an unforgettable guided SUP experience with early-morning star gazing, a gorgeous sunrise, and a floating breakfast (Details here).
🌮 Best Food in Bacalar: My favorite places to eat in Bacalar include Mango y Chile (incredible vegan burgers with a lagoon view!!) and Mr. Taco (cheap delicious tacos).
🌴 Where to Stay: Lagoon view cabana at Habitas Bacalar, waterfront suite at Puerta del Cielo Hotel Origen, or a poolside suite at Blue Palm Bacalar in the heart of Bacalar town.
Going on a Boat Tour in Bacalar
What to Know Before Going on a Boat Tour in Bacalar Lagoon
❌ Plan around weekly lagoon closures: Bacalar lagoon is closed to boat traffic all day on Wednesdays. Make sure to schedule your boat tours, kayaking, and stand up paddle boarding for other days!
☀️ Don’t use sunscreen, pack alternative sun protection: You’re not allowed to use sunscreen in Bacalar lagoon for environmental reasons. Plan ahead and a sun shirt (or two), a sun hat, and other clothing that can protect your skin without damaging local ecosystems.
👋🏽 Note from the author: Did this article impact the way you planned your trip? Have any questions? Please comment at the end of the article! It helps this blog grow and helps me know what types of articles to write more. 💛
Places You’ll See in Bacalar Lagoon
🏴☠️ Canal de los Piratas (Pirates Channel): Almost all Bacalar boat tours include a stop at the channel that connects the lagoon to the ocean. It got its name because Bacalar was indeed attacked by pirates (learn more about it at the Pirate Museum at Fort San Felipe). Whether you care about the history or not, this is a beautiful spot to visit with shallow, calm turquoise water perfect for wading!
⚫️ Cenote Negro (Cenote de la Bruja or Black Cenote): Most Bacalar boat tours also include a ride through Cenote Negro, a deep, dark sinkhole on the edge of Bacalar lagoon. The contrast between the light blue lagoon water and dark blue (almost black) water of the cenote is striking. You can only access this cenote via boat (unless you’re staying at a property on the cenote). Most boat just ride through, but you can experience more of Cenote Negro by going on a sunrise paddle board tour here!
🔵 Cenote Esmerelda: Another cenote on the edge of Bacalar lagoon, Cenote Esmerelda is much larger than Cenote Negro, and a beautiful emerald color. This is another spot that you’ll see on most Bacalar boat tours.
🤿 Cenote Cocalitos: This small cenote on the edge of the lagoon is a little further south than most Bacalar boat tours go, but it has some unique features that are worth seeing—stromatolites. Stromatolites are only found in a few places around the world and they are some of the oldest living organisms on earth! You can also see stromatolites at Los Rapdios Bacalar, which is one of my favorite places in Bacalar! Either way, don’t touch the stromatolites and remember not to wear sunscreen in the lagoon to protect these ancient organisms!
🦜 Isla de los Pájaros (Bird Island): This is a tiny island in the middle of the lagoon that is actually a bird sanctuary for migratory birds! Going on a boat tour that includes a stop by the island is ideal for birdwatchers. Also, it’s a great area to swim with slightly deeper water compared to the more shallow parts of the lake.
Also See: The Ultimate Bacalar Itinerary: 1-7 Days
Best Tours of Bacalar Lagoon
1. Bacalar Sailing Tour ($36)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 800+ 5 star reviews. Read reviews.
This is my favorite of all the Bacalar lagoon tours I’ve been on, though it is a little shorter than the booze cruise (I’ll share about that one later). The tour itself happens several times a day with small groups of travelers, and visits all the highlights of Bacalar lagoon on a beautiful sailboat.
My favorite part, though, is that you get unlimited use of the company’s kayaks after the tour for the rest of your Bacalar vacation. You can borrow a kayak at their launch point on Cenote Esmerelda and use it to kayak anywhere you’d like to explore in the lagoon, including nearby Cenote Azul.
For the Bacalar sailing tour itself, the crew is friendly and professional. You get to enjoy beer, fresh juice, and snacks, and spend almost two hours enjoying two different swimming spots during the tour.
2. Bacalar Sunrise SUP ($27)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 200+ 5 star reviews. Read reviews.
Another one of the best ways to experience Bacalar lagoon is via stand up paddle board (SUP). While you can rent a paddle board and try to explore the lagoon on your own, this 3-hour sunrise SUP tour only costs a little more than the cost of a SUP rental and includes a floating breakfast.
Watching the sun rise over the lagoon is an unforgettable experience, and with this tour you get to enjoy it alongside a local guide and a few other early rising travelers. It’s a great way to meet other people if you’re a social traveler or visiting Bacalar solo. Best of all, there are almost not boats on the water at this time so it’s a completely different experience than going on a daytime boat tour!
The Bacalar SUP tour is beginner-friendly paddle board experience that includes a visit to Isla de los Pajaros (the tiny island in the middle of the lagoon), and Cenote Negro, which is the deepest part of the lagoon!
3. Bacalar Booze Cruise Boat Tour ($50)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 800+ 5 star reviews. Read reviews.
If an open bar on a boat full of lively young travelers sounds appealing to you, this is the Bacalar boat tour for you! I went on this 4-hour boat tour on my first trip to Bacalar and I’ll never forget the sight of our tour guide pouring tequila right into people’s mouths before we’d even left the dock. The drinks kept flowing throughout the tour and needless to say everyone on board had a fun time.
I’ll admit this tour was a little too rowdy for me, I prefer a more relaxing experience and I don’t drink much so the unlimited alcohol didn’t matter to me. However, the tour guides go above and beyond, the boat ride itself is excellent, and it’s a great way to meet young travelers from a diversity of backgrounds. Most of the people we met were young European backpackers who’d spent months traveling through Central America and Mexico, and I loved hearing about all their favorite destinations!
A highlight of this tour enjoying fresh fruit chopped and served right on a floating paddle board in the lagoon! I also loved that we got to see a bit more of the lagoon beyond the main stops that are included on a typical Bacalar boat ride.
4. Private Catamaran Bacalar Boat Tour (Luxury + Big Groups)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 80+ 5 star reviews. Read reviews.
Rent your own private catamaran for a 4-hour luxury boat tour of Bacalar lagoon! This is the perfect option if you’re visiting Bacalar with a group of friends, or if you’re just looking for a romantic luxury experience while celebrating a special anniversary in Bacalar.
The boat ride can be personalized if you want to get off the beaten path, or you can opt for the common route which includes three Bacalar cenotes, Canal de los Piratas, and Isla de los Pájaros, plus stops for swimming in Bacalar’s crystal-clear waters along the way.
This private catamaran tour is hosted by my favorite local tour company in Bacalar, it’s the same one that allows you to use their kayaks anytime after your tour, which is a huge perk in my mind! You also get fresh cut fruit, guacamole, beer, juice, and other treats throughout the boat ride.
5. Bacalar Private Sailboat Tour (2-6 People)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 500+ 5 star reviews. Read reviews.
Going on a private tour of Bacalar lagoon is surprisingly affordable (at least compared to boat tours I’ve done in other parts of the world!) In fact, this highly-rated private boat tour for up to 6 people costs less than most of the group boat tours I’ve done for a single person (like the Napali Coast boat tour in Hawaii).
The three hour tour is similar to the sailing tour I mentioned earlier in article, just private for your group only. You get fresh juice, beer, and fruit, plus an optional sailing lesson and unlimited use of kayaks after the tour.
As with other Bacalar boat tours, you’ll get to see the famous pirate’s channel up close, sail through Cenote Negro, do a little birdwatching at Bird Island, swim in several parts of the lagoon, and soak of the natural beauty of this breathtaking part of the Yucatan peninsula.
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