Visit the unique Mayan ruins of Chacchoben. Chacchoben is located in the south of the Yucatan Peninsula and is not yet known to tourists, such as Chichen Itza.  Chacchoben is 6 square kilometers in size but only a small part is open for the visitor, the rest is still been excavated and restored. Visit Fort San Felipe, the fort was built in 1723 to protect the village from pirates. Have a boat tour on the lagoon Bacalar,  a 49 mile long and 1,5-mile wide lagoon which is fed by many cenotes with freshwater, go swimming to refresh yourself.

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What will you see?

Chacchoben (Maya: The place of the red corn)

The first Mayans settled there in the 2nd century BC, around the year 1000 the city was abandoned. The city was discovered by an American archaeologist in 1972, but the excavations began in 1994 since 2002 the site has been opened for tourists. The ruin city is very mystical and surrounded by large mahogany trees, giant cohune palm trees, giant figs, and enormous banyan trees. On the tour, you can often see spider monkeys, having breakfast in the trees.

Bacalar (Maya: Bakhalal)
The lagoon Bacalar is also called the lagoon of 7 colors since it seems that it has 7 shades of blue. The lagoon has a water depth of only 3 to 6 feet but onshore around the lagoon, there are different cenotes where it is suddenly up to 260 feet deep. The white sandy bottom gives the lagoon the effect of having 7 different shades of blue. The lagoon is one of the most unique freshwater lakes on the planet because in the lagoon live the stromatolites, with 3.5 million years the oldest life forms on earth, which exist only in 3 places on the planet, in Africa, in Australia, and here in Bacalar. They are probably also the largest living fossils with a length of  7 miles and a height of more than 9 feet. On the stromatolites grow many hectares of mangroves and the stromatolites produce more oxygen than a 10-hectare forest.

Lunch

Enjoy a delicious lunch Maya style in a beautiful restaurant with an amazing view over the lagoon of Bacalar. 

Fort San Felipe
The fort was built in 1723 to protect the village from pirates who attacked several times and robbed the women. Bacalar was also a safe haven for merchant ships to build convoys before crossing the Atlantic to the old world. Visit the old Fort and learn all about its history.

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See more photos in our gallery.

Details

What is not included?

• tips

What to bring?

• shoes or closed sandals to walk in the jungle
• bathing suite
• towel
• sun lotion
• bug spray
• pocket money

Pricelist

All prices are calculated for pickups in Playa del Carmen. For pickups from hotels north of Playa del Carmen an additional charge of 30,- US, pickups from Cancun 50.- US an pickups from Playa Mujeres 125,- US and Costa Mujeres 175,- US per tour applies, payable at pick up.

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