Rio Lagartos Guided Boat Tour- Ek Balam From Valladolid

We had a great time during the tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable on both the boat tour and in Ek Balam.

We did two tours with Mexigo Tours — “Go Chichen” and “Go Flamingo” — and both were outstanding from start to finish. Communication before the tours was excellent. Every question we had was answered quickly and thoroughly by email, which made the whole experience feel very well organised even before we arrived. For Go Chichen, our guide was Gilberto, and he was fantastic. He was incredibly friendly, clearly very knowledgeable and explained so much about Chichén Itzá, Maya culture and the history behind everything we were seeing. What really stood out was how detailed and engaging his explanations were — it never felt like someone simply repeating facts. He genuinely seemed passionate about the subject, and spending the day with him was just great fun. He also has such a warm, calm and welcoming personality that we felt completely comfortable with him from the very beginning. At one point he even brought us a typical Mexican drink, which was such a thoughtful touch. The organisation was equally impressive. The early pick-up meant we arrived while the temperatures were still pleasant and, most importantly, before the biggest crowds. That made the experience at Chichén Itzá so much better. Our second tour with José, including Ek Balam, was a completely different experience — and every bit as memorable. Ek Balam itself felt almost like the opposite of Chichén Itzá: much more intimate, adventurous and immersive. José knew the site exceptionally well and seemed to know exactly how to make the most of our time there. Thanks to his local knowledge and connections, we were able to experience and understand parts of the site that we probably would have completely missed on our own. José was also incredibly warm, knowledgeable and enthusiastic throughout what was a considerably longer day. We spent much more time together, including lunch, and it never felt tiring or rushed. Quite the opposite — the whole day felt relaxed and personal. You could genuinely tell how much he enjoys his work, and his enthusiasm for the places, history and culture was infectious. By the end of the day it felt much less like simply following a tour guide and much more like spending the day exploring Yucatán with someone who really wanted to share it with us. What impressed us most about Mexigo Tours was the combination of excellent organisation, extremely knowledgeable guides and a genuinely personal atmosphere. Nothing felt rushed, generic or impersonal. The value for money was outstanding, and we would honestly recommend Mexigo Tours to anyone visiting Yucatán. If we return, we would book with them again without hesitation. A special thank you to Gilberto and José for two completely different but equally unforgettable experiences. You both made these days some of the highlights of our trip.

We spent three wonderful days in the company of José, Gilberto and Toon being shown the highlights of the Yucatán. From traditional Mayan villages, and making tortillas with the locals, to a memorable boat ride alongside a crocodile to the most incredible cenotes, Chechen Itsa and so much more. The guides are so knowledgable, we learnt so much and had great fun in the process. Highly recommend.

Gilberto was super friendly, laid back, and full of information both history and nature. He had plenty of jokes too. There was no rush the whole day and so we ended the day at the cenote, which was also well worth it, and a lovely cool water end to the day after a hot afternoon at the ruins. Gilberto is a top notch guide who you should definitely request. Rio Lagartos included flamingos, many other birds and a few crocodiles - up close! The ruins were excellent and Gilberto ensured that we saw some parts that likely others miss without a guide, such as some inner rooms and the courtyard with in ground stone water tank.

My husband, 4 year old daughter, and I had a great day with Gilberto on the Go Flamingo tour. Gilberto was a great guide, informative and patient with us and very kind to our little one. He was super informative about both the nature leg and the ruins. I’d happily book other excursions! This is an all-ages tour but as a parent I’d probably make sure the child is mature enough to follow directions and sit on the boat.

Such a fun and memorable experience from beginning to end! JOSÉ was an outstanding guide: attentive, punctual, and full of great energy. He speaks multiple languages really well, which made everything easy and enjoyable. He explained local life in such an engaging way, and even made the Mayan language feel fun and interesting. His knowledge of flora, fauna, archaeological sites, and local culture was incredibly complete. He truly made it an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended!

Our guide Gilberto, collected us again for our nezt trip, bang on time. Always cheerful, helpful and full of information he gave us yet another fantastic day, firstly on the boat trip to see the wildlife around Rio Lagartos which was incredible. I wont spoil it for you, go!! Afterwards a lovely mexican lunch and then off to Ek Balam to marvel in the awe inspiring temples and buildings with a long climb to the top to view the site. Then we were off to the Cenote for a refreshing cool off. Great day from start to finish. Thankyou Gilberto.

Our Ek Balam + Río Lagartos trip from Valladolid with Mexigo Tours was outstanding from start to finish. The entire experience was seamless, thoughtful, and deeply meaningful. Mexigo Tours uses very comfortable, modern, and well-maintained vehicles, which made a long day of exploring feel easy and relaxed. Their guides are truly special — full of love, passion, and genuine pride in their work. They went out of their way to share their culture, history, and the sacredness of the land in a way that felt respectful, authentic, and deeply personal. The wildlife in Río Lagartos is absolutely mind-blowing. We saw crocodiles incredibly close to our boat, and yet what impressed us most was how deeply our guides respected the animals and the natural environment. Their reverence for nature earned our admiration and awe. Ek Balam was equally powerful. I highly recommend climbing to the top of the temple for a profound appreciation of how advanced the Mayan civilization was and how deeply connected they were to the universe. This tour was educational, humbling, and unforgettable. Highly recommended.

This was an amazing trip - can highly recommend! Our tour guide was the best! He knew a not about the wild life and the mayan culture and he was a really good story teller. The day ended with a refreshing dip at a beautiful Cenote.

Great day out, the wildlife was incredible and the boat trip was fun. The lunch was surprisingly good

It was magical to be travelling on the water and see flamingos close up. The trip to Ek Balam was so interesting too

Late review lol but we had a great time on this excursion! My mother and I were actually the only ones who booked it that day so we had the boat all to ourselves, which was perfect since our primary goal was birding. We saw lots of target species including anhingas and flamingos. Ek Balam was also an amazing architectural site. Our guide was great but unfortunately I can't remember his name... it's been like 8 months since we went lol but I still think about how great of a trip it was from time to time, so that should tell you all you need to know! If I remember correctly, the price was a little higher than some of the other excursions to the area. I do think it was worth it in our case because we had a private tour. I don't know if I'd feel the same if it was a large tour with lots of people, but for what it ended up being, it was perfect :)

This trip was fantastic! It was just my wife and I on the tour. Jose picked us up in a lovely air-conditioned car and even offered us a coffee stop if we wanted. We continued to Rio Lagartos where we jumped into a boat and began exploring the mangroves by boat. We saw a whole flock of flamingos and Jose and the boat captain were able to spot us a crocodile among the flora. After seeing some incredible birds (anyone who's played Red Dead Redemption 2 will know these birds!), we went to see the pink lakes. Here, Jose gathered some of the mineral rich clay for us to use as a body mask. We then took the boat at high speed back to the shore for a shower and a delicious lunch. Then we drove to Ek Balam for some intriguing cultural history. We were allowed to climb the temple here which gave us fantastic photo opportunities. Jose did offer to drive us to a nearby cenote or even a local tequila distillery, but unfortunately we were quite tired by this point and had no energy left.

Our guide and driver Gilberto is a good man! The trip overall was spectacular, especially the Rio! Ek Balam is a hidden gem.

MexiGo tours, with an office in Valladolid, arranged a perfect tour to the Nature Reserve of Rio Lagartos, the unspoiled archeological site of Ek Balam, and a cenote near Ek Balam. Pick-up and drop off at our hotel went smoothly and exactly as planned. Jose, our guide, was personable and knowledgeable, and with a remarkable command of languages set everyone at ease. At Rio Lagartos, Jose's knowledge of the bird and animal species, as well as ecology and the ecosystem, added to our appreciation of the beautiful scenery and encounters with birds and crocodiles! When we reached Ek Balam, Jose's passion for and knowledge of Mayan history and culture totally enriched our understanding of the significance of the site. Visiting Ek Balam felt like being in an Indiana Jones movie, and MexiGo tours made the trip to these spectacular locations comfortable and fascinating. A beautiful lunch of fresh fish at Rio Lagartos added to the pleasure of this tour.

My son and I took the tour from Valladolid. Our tour guide Gilberto was amazing - he was funny and incredibly knowledgeable. He went above and beyond especially at Ek Balam, he had extra visual aids on his tablet and phone to show details of the tomb excavation and artifacts that were found at the site and even gave us a Mayan math lesson. We learned so much, and it was clear that he has a deep knowledge and reverence for the history of the area and the Mayan culture. The boat tour of Rio Lagartos was equally amazing, we saw several species of crocodile, an incredible array of birds, and of course the flamingos!🦩 I especially liked that they didn’t bother the wildlife or feed them, which I hear some tours will do to get more interaction with the crocodiles. They come right up to the boat so you definitely get a good look! This is a great tour, would highly recommend it!

Great tour to see the wildlife at Rio Lagartos, followed by an excellent lunch before visiting a cenote and Ek Balam. We had Ek Balam and the cenote basically to ourselves which made it a great experience. Mexigo team hosted a great tour.

Jose, our tour guide, was great! Very knowledgeable about the area and Mayan culture. A long day but a really enjoyable one. Would recommend.

Great experience. Rio Lagatos was not pink when we visited due to recent weather but the boat ride and the wildlife were great. Impressive to see Ek Balam a less visited archaeological site. Tour guide was very knowledgeable and engaging.

We did the "Go Flamingo" tour and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Gilberto, our guide, was full of information and humor. We felt comfortable right away. After a calm bird and mangrove filled boat ride, we ate a delicious meal in Rio Lagartos and then went to Ek Balam. This was a true highlight, and Gilberto is an amazing Maya guide and storyteller. Javier, who helped us book the trip, was also excellent and kind. Two big thumbs up.

We had a fantastic day with Mexigo Tours! José was a really excellent and knowledgeable guide, and managed a bilingual tour effortlessly. The facilities, bus, food, boat and all other aspects were of a very high quality and made the day thoroughly enjoyable. We were lucky enough to see crocodiles, flamingos and the pink lagoon in Rio Lagartos in the morning. After a lovely lunch we went to Ek Balam which was amazing and explained in great detail. The day was topped off with a cool dip in a cenote! Would highly recommend.

This was an amazing day trip with our excellent guide Gilberto. The boat trip at Rio Lagartes was excellent - I can't believe how close we got to the crocodiles and I loved seeing the flamingos (and so many other birds that Gilberto was able to identify for us). Ek Balam was incredibly impressive, with a great tour & information provided. The Xcanche cenote afterwards was a perfect end to a very hot day!

Great tour! José our guide was a wealth of knowledge. Not only was he our driver but also our guide at Río Lagartos and at Ek’Balam. He shares a lot of information about the Ek’Balam Kingdom and provides many visuals to show how the kingdom might have looked in the past. I appreciated that the form of transportation was a Toyota Sienna, which was very comfortable and made the ride smooth along the bumpy roads. I would highly recommend going to Ek’Balam over Chichén Itzá, as it’s less touristy and still has the natural environment, giving it a more realistic sense of what it have been like back in the day. At the time that, I went, we were able to climb up tje steep steps all the way to the top of the Ek’Balam.

Firstly, we will start with the positive. Our guide Jose was great - we couldn't fault him. He picked us up on time, he was very knowledgeable and helpful. That being said, this was the most expensive tour we went on during our time in Mexico and I really cannot understand where the money we paid goes. It obviously pays toward the tour guide (Jose), it paid for fuel and maintenance of the vehicle Jose was driving, it paid for lunch and paid for the boat tour, but there is no way any of that comes close to the money we paid for the trip (over £285 for 2 adults). We were told we would be able to visit both Ek Balam and the Cenote but we didn't (we had to choose which one we would prefer) and we had to pay additionally to enter to what we had already paid for the trip. We were under the impression we would see the pink lakes of Los Colorados but we didn't. In all honesty I wouldn’t recommend the tour for the price we paid. It was gutting to get all the way to Rio Lagartos and not be able to see the pink lakes as that is what we had booked the tour to see and we only had this day to do it so there was no other opportunity for us to see it.

A great day out exploring Rio Lagartos and Ek Balam. The boat trip up the estuary took us to see crocodiles, flamingos, pelicans and a whole range of other birds. Afterwards we visited a local restaurant for a nice lunch. In the afternoon we headed back to Ek Balam. The archaeological site is fascinating and much quieter than Chichen Itza. Took a dip in the cenote to cool off afterwards. Make sure you take enough pesos to cover the cost of both Ek Balam entrance fees as they don't take cards. Finally, a note on our host and guide Jose, a friendly and very knowledgeable guy who helped make the day such a fantastic experience!

Amazing and unique experience with a very informative guide. We left the trip with more knowledge about the unique ecosystem in Rio Lagartos as well as the Mayans in the Yucatan. There wasn’t a question which was left unanswered.

We enjoyed so much the experience with our guide Jilberto, very funny and knowledgeable guy. The time of the visit at the different sites has been very well managed (no rushing feeling at all) and the experience has been very intimate. We did this tour at the end of December and just a few flamingos showed up, however there were enough crocodiles to make us happy!

We had a fantastic day with Jose seeing flamingos in all their uniqueness, covering ourselves in mud, and getting a knowledgable tour of Ek Balam. From the helpful communication at booking to our guides care throughout each part to the mouthwatering food served at lunch, we would tell anyone we know going to Valladolid to book this tour! Between our guide Jose and the boat captain, any question we had about birds and mangroves could be answered. And Ek Balam has so many details you would miss if you were there without a guide. We swam in the cenote afterwards and it was worth the extra cost to cool off after walking up the main structure. Spend a day doing this, absolutely!

Absolutely superb trip. Our guide was excellent company. The food at Rio Lagartos was great and we loved the boat ride, seeing the flamingos and crocodiles! Ek Balam was also stunning, especially the recently discovered Mayan sculptures. We thought it was more interesting and visually spectacular than Chichen Itza. The cenote at the end with the rope swing and zip line was the icing on the cake. Would definitely recommend this trip.

Amazing experience! Our guide was very informative and having him enhanced the entire experience. A wide variety of sights covered on this tour, and you will learn a ton. Highly recommend

Amazing trip! The sites are beautiful and the itinerary was very well planned taking into consideration the heat. José was funny, kind, and incredibly knowledgeable about Mayan history and culture and the nature at Rio Lagartos - he answered every question we had. Tour size was also small so it felt very comfortable and we felt personally looked after. Would strongly recommend to all!

This was such an amazing experience! Our guide, Jose, was wonderful. He was knowledgeable and friendly and we had a great time with him. Rio Lagartos and Las Coloradas were stunning. We saw flamingos, crocodiles, and so many birds! Jose helpfully took photos for us which we really appreciated, especially when we were covered in mud! We had a great lunch followed by an excursion to Ek Balam. Jose gave us a wonderful tour with a ton of great information. We ended with a dip in a beautiful cenote. It was a phenomenal day and I can’t recommend it enough!

Josè and Gilberto were great- very friendly, easy going, and informative. Gilberto spotted a crocodile while en route to the flamingos and brought the boat alongside for close up views. Both guides pointed out many different birds along the way. We saw 3 groups of flamingos in the water and flying ones as well. The mud bath was fun and offered a great photo op. Lunch was delicious. Thanks to Jose for suggesting what to order! Ek Balam was excellent, Jose was very knowledgable about the site. We learned so much! We ended the day with the cenote near Ek Balam which was in my opinion was the best one we visited on our trip. Overall, we highly recommend.

Wow! Rio Lagartos was a fantastic trip! We saw a crocodile, flamingos, and varied birds. We experienced a mud bath and saw the pink lakes. We enjoyed time swimming in the Rio Lagartos. And lunch was amazing…..so delicious. Ek Balam was great to see with a tour guide who gave us educational experience. Highly recommend this tour.

The boat trip itself is great. Peaceful, crocs, some birdlife, some flamingos. We had to get out and wade though mud to see them, which was quite fun. We went to a centre, which seemed well run and was attractive. On to Ek Balaam. To be honest, I found this overprice, and while it wasn't touristy like Chitchen Itza, if you go there then you probably don't need to come here ( unless you have particular interest in archaeology). The tours are professional and well run. I wanted to do Rio lagartos with Chitchen Itza, and if I had my time again. I might stay in Tizimin, combine both in a day with a private tour as sadly, Mexigo don't combine the two. Otherwise a good day, with a good guide, Gilberto.

We did two tours with Mexico, the Go Flamingo and Go Wonders. Both were great, Go Flamingo was a lot of fun and different; Go Wonders was what one expects when visiting Maya ruins, but Gilberto made the experience extremely interesting, because he is super passionate and knowledgeable. Both guides, Gilberto and Jose', were incredible in offering us the best Yucatan's experience. They pick us up at the hotel on time, the paste of the tour was great, not too overwhelming, but with enough time to see things and wonder around by yourself.

MexiGo tours were amazing! We did three tours with them during our stay in Valladolid - Go Wonders, Go Flamingo and Go Cooking and had an incredible time on each tour! We learnt a lot and had heaps of fun. All our tour guides were so friendly and knowledgeable and the tours were really well organised. The lunches on each of the tours were also very delicious. If you are looking for a tour a company I would 100% recommend MexiGo, their tours were some of the best we’ve been on!

Me and my husband went with Josè and Gilberto for an incredible travel through Rio Lagartos and Ek Balam, with a stop to a beautiful cenote on our way ✨ We highly recommend this agency for the extreme kindness, the organization and also the respect that they have for the animals and the land we visited. Could not be happier and in Rio Lagartos we’ve seen so many beautiful animals we’ll never forget. Ek Balam was incredible too, with Josè giving us so many detailed infos about the culture and the soul of Mayan people. Thankyou Josè and Gilberto, we’ll forever remember our travel!

Great tour! In the morning we toured Rio Lagartos in a boat and saw tons of birds and crocodiles. In the afternoon we toured Ek Balam. Gilberto was great, he helped us understand the history of Ek Balam (there were very few plaques at the site so it was very useful to have a tour guide explain the significance/history of each ruin). Would highly recommend this tour!

We thought we had picked a lousy day to head up to Rio Lagartos. When we got to the dock the wind was whipping and the rain was spitting. Our captain was not fazed however and he fashioned rain coats/windbreakers out of garbage bags (unused) for those on our excursion who did not have them. Thus equipped we braved the elements and were rewarded with the rain letting up much less wind in the more sheltered parts of the lagoon. Gilberto, our terrific guide pointed the avian diversity along the way, great blue herons, snowy egrets, pelicans, spoonbills etc. The captain found a few crocs as well. We eventually came up on the flamingoes, which are truly impressive birds. There were only a few dozen, but definitely worth the trip. Then back for a tasty seafood lunch and off to Ek Balam. It's smaller site than Chichen Itza, but a lot less tourists and vendors. Gilberto expertly explained the buildings and surroundings to us. He made the tour a pleasure.

We loved our tour with Jose! He is very knowledgeable, relaxed, and has a great sense of humor. At Rio Lagartos he taught us so much about the area and the birds etc. He took good care of us, and made sure we had time for a swim in Cenote Xcanche.

We had two tours with the guys of MexiGo, both extraordinary. Gilberto and Jose are able to convey emotions during their tours, also very prepared with the languages (we're Italian and was not so easy to find someone able to speak it), everything was perfect and I recommend them 100%.

This tour was amazing! Such a small group, our guide was amazing, super knowledgeable and obviously passionate. I learned SO much about the area and the history and culture. You get very personal and an experience I doubt you would recieve on your own. Worth the price and would do it again.

We attended this tour in early Jan 2023 and we would highly recommend. A day packed with fun and interesting activities. We really enjoyed the boat ride, seeing all of the birds and other creatures. And the tour around Ek Balam was amazing. It was so great having Jose as a guide to explain all of the details about the ruins. If you are thinking of doing this tour, we would definitely say go for it. This was by far one of our favourite days of our vacation.

Gilberto was the funniest tour guide ever! He is super nice and very knowledgable. We got to see crocodiles, flamingos, pelicans and many more. Our lunch was delicious and we learned a lot about the Mayan culture at Ek Balam - we highly recommend this tour!

The whole day was varied and interesting. The guide Gilberto was superb. Personable and knowledgable Gilberto made the day fun and relaxed. The boat trip was a very good length of time and not rushed at all. Gilberto was knowledgable enough about the wildlife and we enjoyed seeing flamingoes and ibis and other birds as well as a close encounter with a crocodile or two! The lunch provided was simple and delicious at a very relaxed place on the dock. The visit to Ex Balam was memorable and the time of day excellent as it was not too hot and not to busy either. Once again Gilberto shared his knowledge as our guide and has a clear passion for communicating with his group. Thanks Gilberto!

Gilberto is a great guide! He’s super knowledgeable about the history and culture of Mayans. He pointed out the wildlife on the boat tour and walked us through the Ek Balam site. He’s also very funny and brings a lot of life to the tour. We also had a chance to take a Mayan bath by covering ourselves with the clay from the river. We briefly viewed Las Coloradas but made the group decision to skip since the lakes weren’t actually pink due to rain. We didn’t get to go to the cenote at Ek Balam but would definitely want that to be included and opt out of Las Coloradas next time.

We had a wonderful day our guide was amazing full of knowledge and stories We loved seeing crocodiles and lots of birds on the Rio We even found ourselves covered in mud to help our skin real fun thing to do The lunch we had was really good choice of fish pork chicken and vegetarian really tasty We then went on to visit the pink lake but because of the rain it wasn’t pink but the guide explained this to us and also how they charge you to walk to the other side so we all decided not to go it is not like it helps the locals!! We then went on to Ek Balam it was amazing you can climb up this one again great information and stories from our guide We had a lovely group and had a fun day together We would recommend this tour if you are in Valladolid for a few days

Great tour! Viviyane at the office was very helpfull. She gave us a lot of information Aboutaleb restaurants, musea, banks, bakeries, whatever we wanted to know! On the tour José was our guide. He knows a lot and took great care of us! Next day we went back for some information about cenotes and rented bikes, the best do far on Mexico.