Sightseeing, 11 Hours, Five Languages

Mostrando Mexico runs this full-day trip to Bacalar, built around a two-hour pontoon ride on the Lagoon of Seven Colors.

Overview

There is time at the Mármol Spa, a lunch at a restaurant with a choice of fish or chicken dishes, a panoramic look at the San Felipe Fort, and a photo stop at the Bacalar letters. Breakfast is included too, with a choice of cooked dishes, and the tour is run in Spanish, English, Portuguese, French and German.

Round-trip transport by bus or van is included, with hotel pickup where hotels are on the list, and a general meeting point in Tulum for anyone staying elsewhere. Bring cash: part of the payment is made directly to the tour operator. Drinks at lunch are not covered either. Reviewers describe the day as well organized, with enough time at most stops, though one noted the free time after lunch felt short.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupRound-trip transport by bus or van is included. If a hotel is not on the pickup list, the operator adjusts the arrangement after booking; in Tulum the meeting point is SUPER AKI Tulum.
2. BreakfastA cooked breakfast is included, with one dish of choice such as chilaquiles, Mexican-style eggs or eggs with chaya. The listing does not state where breakfast is served.
3. Cenote Azul swimEntrance to the Cenote Azul is included, covering an hour of swimming. The listing gives no fixed order for the day's stops.
4. Pontoon tour of the lagoonA two-hour pontoon ride on the Lagoon of Seven Colors, with a visit to the Pirates' Canal.
5. Mármol Spa and beachesA visit to the Mármol Spa plus time at beaches and relaxation areas in a natural setting.
6. Lunch and fort viewpointLunch at a restaurant with a choice of one dish, and a panoramic view of the San Felipe Fort. Drinks at the restaurant cost extra. The listing does not set the order of these stops.
7. Photo stop and returnA photo stop at the Bacalar letters, then the return transfer. The listing gives no fixed sequence for the day.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points help this long day run smoothly, based on the listing and on what travellers report afterwards.

• Bring basics. The listing asks for a change of clothes, beachwear, cash and biodegradable insect repellent. Cash matters because drinks at lunch are paid separately from the booking.
• Pace and timing. It is an eleven-hour day. Several reviewers said the schedule held together well and stops felt unhurried, though one wished for more time after lunch for photos and souvenir shopping.
• Food covered. Breakfast and lunch are both included, each with a choice of dish, plus a bottle of water. Only drinks at the restaurant are extra.
• Swim stops. The listing includes an hour of swimming at Cenote Azul, and one reviewer also reported swimming at the Pirates' Canal during the pontoon tour. A swimsuit under clothes saves time either way.
• Guides vary. Reviewers repeatedly praise the guides by name. One reviewer reported that the boat guide spoke no English, so explanations on the water may come in Spanish.
• Photo moments. The Bacalar letters stop exists specifically for photos, and reviewers describe the scenery and the boat ride on the lagoon as high points of the day.

Common issues. Drinks at lunch are extra. One reviewer found the time after lunch too short for photos at the fort and for shopping. Another reported that the guide on the pontoon portion spoke no English, even though the tour is sold in five languages. The day is long, and one reviewer noted the drive is quite long, so allow for a full day of travel and activities.

Common Questions