Bacalar, Quintana Roo
Bacalar day trip from Mérida: the lagoon of seven colours
Explore Bacalar from Mérida as an idea for your trip. The details below come from the published catalogue; ask Mary Tours to confirm availability and current conditions.
Review the itinerary and inclusions before sending your preferred date and group size. NearVisual discounts require a group of at least four people and confirmation by the business.
- Duration17 hours approx.
- Schedule5:00 AM – 10:00 PM · daily
- DepartureCalle 61 #518-B · Centro Histórico, Mérida
- LevelLong / demanding day
How much is it and is there a discount?
Price published on our website$2,800 MXN per person
$300 MXN off per person for groups of 4 or more. Fill in the form below: you get a BUHO code to validate on arrival.
What is included
- Transport
- Guide
- Boat trip
- Meals
Not included
- Drinks
What the day is like
The seven colours are not a figure of speech: the lagoon shifts tone with depth and time of day, from an almost-white turquoise to deep navy. The boat trip stops at the Pirates’ Channel, where the water is barely a metre deep and you can walk, and at Cenote Negro, which drops ninety metres. You also see the stromatolites, bacterial colonies that are among the oldest living organisms on the planet. In the afternoon, the town: the San Felipe fort, the square and the piers.
What you will see
- Lagoon of Seven Colours
- Pirates’ Channel
- Cenote Negro
- San Felipe Fort
Hour-by-hour itinerary
- Boarding
We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
- Drive to José María Morelos
Two hours. Fifteen minutes there for toilets and to stretch your legs.
- Drive to Bacalar
Two and a half hours more, now crossing into Quintana Roo.
- Boat trip on the lagoon
Pirates’ Channel, Cenote Negro, Cenote Esmeralda and Bird Island, with an explanation of the stromatolites and the ecosystem.
- Lunch
Lunch in the town, beside the lagoon.
- Bacalar magic town
Three and a half hours free: the San Felipe fort, the square, the piers, the cafés and the crafts.
- Back to Mérida
Five hours back, with a stop halfway. Arriving around ten.
What to bring
- Swimsuit on underneath
- Reef-safe sunscreen is required
- Cap and sunglasses
- A light jumper for the pre-dawn drive
- Cash for the town
Why take a tour from Mérida?
A day-tour concept lets you compare the route and catalogue inclusions in one place. Confirm transport, activities, timings and any additional costs with Mary Tours before booking.
Departure point
Our office at Calle 61 #518-B, Centro Histórico. If your accommodation is on the way to the tour or near the centre, we can pick you up there — agreed over WhatsApp
How to book
- Fill in the form with your date, group size and WhatsApp number.
- You instantly get your BUHO redemption code and WhatsApp opens with your booking already written.
- Mary Tours confirms availability and how to pay the deposit: 50% holds the booking (card, transfer, cash or OXXO).
- Ask Mary Tours where to present the code or its screenshot for validation.
Book with the NearVisual discount
Minimum group of 4 people for the discount. No online payment.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Bacalar tour from Mérida?
Around 17 hours in total, scheduled 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM · daily. It leaves from our office in Mérida’s historic centre.
What does the Bacalar tour include?
Included: Transport, Guide, Boat trip, Meals. Not included: Drinks.
Is there a discount for the Bacalar tour from Mérida?
Yes: the NearVisual discount is $300 MXN per person for groups of 4 or more. Request it on this page and validate it with a BUHO code on arrival.
Where does the tour leave from?
Our office at Calle 61 #518-B, Centro Histórico. If your accommodation is on the way to the tour or near the centre, we can pick you up there — agreed over WhatsApp
Is it worth going and coming back the same day?
It is a very long day, yes. But it is the only way to see Bacalar without paying for a hotel in Quintana Roo. If you can stay overnight, do; if not, this tour solves it.
Can I use sunscreen?
Reef-safe only, and it is best applied before you leave. The stromatolites are living organisms and regular sunscreen kills them.
How often does it stop on the way?
Two fifteen-minute rest stops, one each way, in José María Morelos.
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Information taken from the current Mary Tours catalogue. Times and availability are confirmed on WhatsApp.