The comparison
| Bacalar | Tulum and Casa Tortuga | |
|---|---|---|
| Main draw | Freshwater lagoon by boat | Seaside archaeological site and cenotes |
| Water | Lagoon, Pirates' Channel, sinkholes in the lagoon | Four different kinds of cenote |
| History | San Felipe Fort | A Maya city of the 13th and 14th centuries |
| Lunch | Included | Included |
| Paid separately | Drinks | Archaeological site entry, drinks |
| Length of day | Longer | A little shorter |
Bacalar: a story written by bacteria
Bacalar Lagoon is the largest surface body of fresh water on the peninsula. Its colors shift with depth and sunlight. Along its shores live microbial communities, including cyanobacteria, that build microbialites and stromatolites: structures of microbial layers and minerals that grow about a millimeter a year. Ciencia UNAM reports ages ranging from decades to more than 9,000 years.
Tulum: Zamá, the city of dawn
Tulum was one of the leading Maya cities of the 13th and 14th centuries, strategically placed on coastal trade routes. In 16th-century sources it appears as Zamá; "Tulum," meaning wall or palisade, is a later name. Its wall has five gateways and two watchtowers, and it preserves murals with a view of the Caribbean. The surrounding Tulum National Park includes 15 cenotes and jungle, wetland and beach habitats.
Which to choose
- Bacalar if you want to swim and float most of the day and love water landscapes.
- Tulum if you're into archaeology and want to see cavern cenotes.
- Both come with a per-person discount coupon when you book from this page as a group of 4 to 20.
Fun facts
- Bacalar's stromatolites grow about a millimeter a year.
- In 16th-century sources, Tulum was called Zamá.
- Tulum National Park includes 15 cenotes.
Related tours
Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 17 h
Bacalar, the lagoon of seven colours
Seventeen hours for water that changes colour every metre
from $2,800 MXN per person
See itinerary
5:00 AM – 10:00 PM · daily
- 4:45 AM Boarding — We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
- 5:30 AM Drive to José María Morelos — Two hours. Fifteen minutes there for toilets and to stretch your legs.
- 7:30 AM Drive to Bacalar — Two and a half hours more, now crossing into Quintana Roo.
- 10:15 AM Boat trip on the lagoon — Pirates’ Channel, Cenote Negro, Cenote Esmeralda and Bird Island, with an explanation of the stromatolites and the ecosystem.
- 12:15 PM Lunch — Lunch in the town, beside the lagoon.
- 1:30 PM Bacalar magic town — Three and a half hours free: the San Felipe fort, the square, the piers, the cafés and the crafts.
- 5:00 PM Back to Mérida — Five hours back, with a stop halfway. Arriving around ten.
Included: Transport, Guide, Boat trip, Lunch
Not included: Drinks
Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 14 h
Tulum and the Casa Tortuga cenotes
The only Maya city built facing the Caribbean
from $2,500 MXN per person
See itinerary
6:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 6:00 AM Boarding — We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
- 6:30 AM Motorway to the rest stop — An hour and three quarters, with fifteen minutes for toilets and something light.
- 8:30 AM On to Tulum — An hour and a half more to the Quintana Roo coast.
- 10:00 AM Tulum archaeological site — Guided visit to the walled city: El Castillo, the Temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God, with the sea behind.
- 12:15 PM Casa Tortuga cenotes and lunch — Four cenotes of different kinds, with a guided route, trails and changing rooms. Lunch is on site.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — Four hours back, with a stop halfway.
Included: Guide accredited by the Ministry of Tourism, Round-trip transport, Lunch, Cenote entry
Not included: Tulum archaeological site entrance, Drinks
Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 17 h
Isla Mujeres
Playa Norte, which makes every list for a reason
from $2,500 MXN per person
See itinerary
5:00 AM – 10:00 PM · daily
- 4:45 AM Boarding — We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
- 5:30 AM Drive to Valladolid — Two hours on the motorway, with a fifteen-minute stop.
- 7:45 AM Drive to Puerto Juárez — Two more hours to the pier in Cancún.
- 10:00 AM Isla Mujeres — Sailing the Caribbean, snorkelling at the reef with gear included, a stop at Playa Norte, buffet lunch at the beach club and free time in town.
- 6:00 PM Back to Mérida — Four hours back, with a stop halfway.
Included: Transport, Guide, Boat transfer, Snorkelling gear, Lunch
Not included: Environmental tax, Shopping on the island, Extra drinks
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Bacalar or Tulum?
Bacalar if you want water and scenery; Tulum if you want Maya history and cenotes.
Which is shorter from Mérida?
The Tulum tour is a little shorter than the Bacalar tour.
What does Zamá mean?
It's the name Tulum goes by in 16th-century sources; it's usually translated as dawn.
Is there a discount?
Yes, a per-person coupon on both for groups of 4 to 20 when booking from this page.
