The 13 Best Bacalar Kayaking Tours

1.Pirate’s Channel & 3 Lagoons Kayak or SUP/Paddle Tour +Meditation

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 564 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) Our pick

Start at 5:00 a.m. for a three-hour kayak or SUP trip across Bacalar’s Seven Colors Lagoon. A bilingual guide, including Jorge, leads you through the Pirate’s Channel, Mariscal Lagoon, and the Mangrove Sanctuary, with breakfast, meditation, water, a dry bag, and GoPro photos included.

“Amazing experience Jorge was very helpful provided lots of tips and tricks, and even giving you space to manage at your own pace it was a great first time trying SUP and now I love it!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Sunrise Paddle Quest: Embrace the Dawn on Bacalar’s Waters

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 542 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $38

Meet guides such as Vicky, David, or Daniel at The Yak Lake House at 6:20 a.m. Learn SUP basics, paddle across Bacalar Lagoon to the Black Cenote and Pirates Canal, pause for sunrise photos, fruit, and hydration, then return after about three hours. The small group suits beginners age 11 and up.

“Super expérience, on recommande vivement ! L’équipe est très sympa Excursion de 3h avec petit déjeuner inclu !”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Sunrise by Paddle or Kayak with Floating Picnic

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 343 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $29

Meet at Casa China Bacalar at 6:30 am for a three-hour guided paddle or kayak trip. You will warm up, learn basic safety, cross Cenote Esmeralda, swim as the sun rises, and finish near a bird sanctuary with fruit, drinks, and snacks. Guides including Angelo and Adrián lead the English-friendly experience.

“Angelo was very professional, kind, caring for us. We were several people who never paddled before and he taught us well. I was very scared but he reassured me, and really helped. He’s a very good teacher. He gave us tips to paddle better as well. The tour was super nice, chill, we had all the time we needed, there was no rush. The sunrise was amazing. We Aldo’s has explanations about the local fauna and flora. We ended up all getting to know each other and having a great time. Angelo spent some time discussing with each of us, in so many languages ! It was an amazing morning.…”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Paddleboarding and/or kayaking tour at sunrise in the lagoon of Bacalar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 309 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $28

Meet at 5:30 am for a three-hour sunrise paddle on Bacalar Lagoon with Laguna Adventures. Choose a paddleboard or kayak, watch the stars give way to dawn, and visit Cenote de la Bruja. Groups are limited to seven, and guides such as Osvaldo, Jorge, and Romel help beginners at an easy pace.

“The guides were respectfully, helpful, and knowledgeable. Enjoyed the tour and definitely had a great experience”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Bacalar: Sunrise Paddleboard Tour with Floating Picnic

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 279 reviews · 3 hours · from $29

Meet your bilingual guide at Casa China Bacalar for a three-hour sunrise paddleboard tour. Paddle from Cenote Esmeralda toward Cenote Negro or Cocalitos, stop for swimming, watch birds near Isla de los Pájaros, and enjoy fruit, juice, water, and a light floating breakfast. Guides such as Adrian and Angelo are praised for patient instruction and lagoon knowledge.

“Very good experience. Lots of history and beautiful view. warm water and can jump in one of the cenote. We saw a huge lizard as well! Recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Private Paddle Tour at Sunrise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 219 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $74

Start early at Casa China Bacalar for a private 3.5-hour paddle tour with equipment, safety instruction, and a warm-up. Paddle across Cenote Esmeralda, watch sunrise near the Island of the Birds, visit Bacalar’s cenotes, and return for seasonal fruit and coffee. English service, life vest, snacks, and natural juice are included.

“Amazing experience! The sunrise 🌅 in the lagoon is breathtaking. The water is super warm. Highly recommend to anyone.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Bacalar: 3-hr Pontoon Boat Tour with Beach Club + Kayaks

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 108 reviews · 3 hours · from $29

Cruise Bacalar Lagoon for three hours on a shaded pontoon, stopping at the Pirate Canal, three cenotes, Bird Island, and swimming spots. You get beers, fruit drinks, snacks, a guide in English or Spanish, beach club and tower access, plus kayaks. Guides including José, Jonathan, Hugo, and Carlos have earned especially warm praise.

“Great tour with José! He took us to beautiful spots for swimming and provided fun facts on the lagoon. We had an amazing time, would recommend 100%”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Bacalar Sunrise Stand Up Paddleboard: A Unique Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 78 reviews · 3 hours · from $28

Meet your English- or Spanish-speaking SUP guide at The Yak Lake House for a beginner lesson and safety briefing. Paddle across Bacalar’s Seven Colors Lagoon to Cenote Negro and El Canal de los Piratas, with sunrise views, swimming, fruit, coffee, photos, and a Mexican breakfast afterward. The small group is limited to 13 people.

“The tour was great, clear instructions for first-timers and pace was good. The guides, Daniel & Gladys, were alsof very helpful (and took great pictures). Gorgeous views with nice little snack as a break and great breakfast afterwards included.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Bacalar at Sunrise: Kayak Adventure with Breakfast & Photos

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 67 reviews · from $30

Meet at the SEMARNAT Union entrance for a three-hour sunrise kayak trip on Laguna Bacalar. Paddle with a bilingual guide such as Miguel or Romel, stop for seasonal fruit, toast, coffee, and water, and receive GoPro photos and videos. The small group is limited to 10 people.

“Miguel was great - lots of information and looked after all of us really well”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Bacalar Sunrise Stand Up Paddleboard Tour with Breakfast

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · 3 hours · from $32

Start before dawn for a guided SUP trip on Bacalar Lagoon. Miguel and Rocío are praised for patient instruction and support. Paddle to two natural sanctuaries, eat fruit, toast, and coffee on the water, and receive GoPro photos and video. Bring swimwear, but leave sunscreen and towels behind.

“superbe activité, notre guide Rocio était très qualifiée , nous nous sommes sentis paisibles et en sécurité. Même si les nuages ont caché le soleil, nous avons tout de même pris beaucoup de plaisir à faire cette sortie Paddle. Nous étions un groupe de 5 personnes et j'étais la + lente , Rocio m'a gentiment accompagnée et encouragée. Son support m'a été d'une grande aide. merci encore”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Bacalar & Cenotes: 3 hours kayak rental with snorkeling gear

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 27 reviews · 1 day · from $23Best value

Rent a single or double kayak for three hours on Bacalar Lagoon, starting anytime from 6 am to 7 pm. Amir and his team provide safety gear, snorkeling equipment, a dry bag, parking, storage, and lagoon club access. You set the pace, but reaching the farther cenotes requires strong paddling and careful timekeeping.

“Sehr netter Guide, tolles Preis-Leistungsverhältnis ! Kommen gerne wieder :)”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Bacalar Lagoon Full-Day Kayak & Snorkel Rental

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 15 reviews · 1 day · from $29

Rent a single or double kayak in Bacalar from 6 am to 7 pm, with a life jacket, leash, and dry bag included. María can explain where to paddle, including Pirate’s Channel, Birds Island, Cenote Negro, Cenote Esmeralda, and stromatolite areas. No kayaking experience is required, but bring water and expect to paddle without sunscreen.

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Bacalar: Full Day Kayak Rental in the Lagoon of Seven Colors

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 12 reviews · 10 hours · from $23

Pick up a kayak and safety gear at Casa China Bacalar, then explore the Lagoon of Seven Colors for up to 10 hours on your own. You can paddle, swim, look for wildlife, and reach quiet corners that larger boats cannot. English and Spanish support is available, but this is a self-guided rental rather than a guided tour.

“Da auf dem Wasser permanent Jetskis und Motorboote mit Touristen und teilweise lauter Partymusik unterwegs sind, muss man ordentlich gegen die Wellen ankämpfen. So macht Kayak fahren auf einem sonst eher ruhigen Gewässer keinen Spaß. Der Verleiher hilft auch nicht beim Kayak. Man bekommt kurz gesagt, wo sie liegen, wo die Paddel und Schwimmwesten sind und dann kann man sich alles selbst zusammensuchen. Der Einstieg ins Wasser ist zu hoch. Wasserkante und Steg haben einen zu großen Höhenunterschied. Die Cenote Negro wird im Minutentakt von zig Booten angefahren und durchquert. Die schönsten Aufnahmen gibt es leider nur im Internet, wo man da drin definitiv nur Kayaks sieht. Die Realität ist…”

Check availability →Read our full review