Five plans for two
- Bacalar. The seven-color lagoon by boat and an afternoon in town. A long day, but one of the prettiest.
- Isla Mujeres. Snorkeling, a beach club and Playa Norte.
- Hacienda Mucuyché. An old hacienda with two cenotes joined by a channel; a short, relaxed day.
- Celestún. A boat ride through mangroves and flamingos, lunch by the sea and an afternoon at the beach.
- Izamal. The yellow town, perfect for strolling and photos.
Evenings in Mérida
Mérida is lovely at night: the lit-up center, the parks and Paseo de Montejo. The city government publishes a weekly cultural program with free events; check it to see what's on during your dates. If you take day trips that return by mid-afternoon, your evenings are free for the city.
Tour or transfer as a couple
A private transfer is priced per van, so for two people a tour is almost always better value: it's priced per person and includes a guide and, depending on the destination, lunch and entry fees. If two couples travel together, though, a transfer can work well and lets you set your own pace. From this page, bookings are for groups of 4 or more: if you're going with another couple, make the most of the per-person coupon on Bacalar, Isla Mujeres and Tulum.
Tips
- Alternate a long day with a short one.
- Always pack a swimsuit: there's water almost every day.
- Book ahead in high season.
- Check what each tour includes before comparing prices.
Fun facts
- Mucuyché's cenotes are joined by a channel you can swim through.
- Bacalar Lagoon changes color with the daylight.
- Mérida's city government publishes a free cultural program every week.
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 · 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
Cenotes · 7 h
Hacienda Mucuyché
A stone channel joining two cenotes
from $1,800 MXN per person
See itinerary
9:30 AM – 4:00 PM · daily
- 9:30 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to the estate, in the municipality of Abalá.
- 10:30 AM Check-in and historical tour — A guide from the estate itself explains how the henequen business worked and what survives of it.
- 11:00 AM Carlota and Azul Maya cenotes — Two hours in the water. To move between the cenotes you cross the channel, swimming or along the stone path.
- 1:00 PM Time for lunch — Yucatecan food at the estate restaurant, paid per order. There is a pool for anyone who wants to stay in the water.
- 3:00 PM Back to Mérida — An hour back.
Included: Transport, Guide, Entry to the hacienda and cenotes
Not included: Food, Drinks
Nature · 9 h
Celestún and the pink flamingos
The largest flamingo colony in North America
from $1,600 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour and a half west, out to the port.
- 9:30 AM Boat ride — Flamingo and bird watching, the mangrove tunnel, the freshwater spring and the Maya bath on the sandbar.
- 11:00 AM Lunch by the beach — Fish, octopus or shrimp from the gulf, at a table facing the sea.
- 1:00 PM Free time on the beach — Almost three hours to swim, walk the shore or do nothing at all.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — Arriving around five.
Included: Transport, Guide, Boat ride, Lunch from a set menu
Not included: Drinks
Frequently asked questions
What's the most romantic day trip from Mérida?
Bacalar and Isla Mujeres are the most popular; for a quiet day, Hacienda Mucuyché.
Is a private transfer worth it for two?
Usually not: it's priced per van. For two people, a tour is better value.
What to do in Mérida at night?
Stroll downtown and Paseo de Montejo and check the city's weekly cultural program.
Is there a discount for two couples?
Yes: as a group of 4 or more booking from here, there's a per-person coupon on Bacalar, Isla Mujeres and Tulum.
