Private Chacchoben, Costa Maya

This KAI Tours Bacalar excursion packs a Maya ruin, a sail across the Bacalar lagoon and a stop at Los Rápidos into five and a half hours, starting from a set meeting point on Av. P.º del Puerto in Mahahual.

Overview

The van is white with air conditioning and the KAI Tours Bacalar logo, and the driver carries a name sign so groups can find them easily. The whole thing is private, so only your own group takes part.

The route runs in a clear order. First comes an hour at the Chacchoben archaeological zone, where entry is paid separately on site. The tour then moves to the lagoon: half an hour on the Laguna de los 7 colores, forty minutes at the Canal de los Piratas and forty more at Cenote Negro, all free of admission charges. The final stop is Los Rápidos de Bacalar, an hour and a half, with its own entry fee paid by the traveller.

Food and drink are covered on board: alcoholic drinks for travellers 18 and over, bottled water, a guacamole and fruit dish, plus a snorkel mask and an English guide throughout. The listing notes that most travellers can participate, though the tour is not wheelchair accessible and infants must sit on laps.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in MahahualMeet at Av. P.º del Puerto 1286, 77976 Mahahual. The white air conditioned van carries the KAI Tours Bacalar logo and the driver holds a name sign. The tour ends back at the same point.
2. Chacchoben ruinsOne hour at the Zona Arqueologica de Chacchoben. Admission is not included; entry costs MX$300 per person, paid by the traveller.
3. Laguna de los 7 coloresThirty minutes on the lagoon. Admission is free.
4. Canal de los PiratasForty minutes at the Canal de los Piratas. Admission is free.
5. Cenote NegroForty minutes at Cenote Negro. Admission is free.
6. Los Rápidos de BacalarAn hour and thirty minutes at Los Rápidos. Admission is not included; entry costs MX$200 per person, paid by the traveller.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the listing and from traveller reviews will help set expectations before booking.

• Two entry fees. Budget for the site entries on top of the tour price. Chacchoben is MX$300 per person and Los Rápidos is MX$200 per person, both paid by the traveller on the day. The lagoon stops themselves are free.
• Food and drink. The tour includes guacamole with fruit, bottled water and alcoholic drinks for travellers aged 18 and over. One reviewer felt the drinks service ran light over a few hours, though others describe fresh guacamole and cut fruit served on board.
• On the water. A snorkel mask is included. Reviewers describe sailing with a captain who explains the area, prepares fresh guacamole and cuts fresh fruit on board. The lagoon stops are short, around thirty to forty minutes each, so the pace moves along.
• Pickup detail. The set meeting point is on Av. P.º del Puerto in Mahahual, and the listing also mentions hotel pickup as detailed at booking. One reviewer noted the pickup spot was fixed even though their hotel sat along the same road, so confirm the exact arrangement when booking.
• Weather dependence. The listing states the experience requires good weather. If it is cancelled for poor conditions, travellers are offered a different date or a full refund.
• Group and guide. This is a private tour, so only your group participates. Reviewers mention crews speaking English, and one also noted French.

Common issues. The two entry fees, MX$300 at Chacchoben and MX$200 at Los Rápidos, are paid on top of the booking. One reviewer found the drinks offering thinner than an open bar sounds, with only a couple of small beers and some fruit over several hours. The same reviewer noted the pickup is tied to one specific location even when a hotel sits nearby. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, infants must sit on laps, and the whole experience depends on good weather, with a different date or a full refund offered if it is cancelled for that reason.

Common Questions