Boat Rides in Celestún

Located in Playa Norte, this cooperative owes its name to its privileged location by the sea, where its boats are ready to take you to discover the stunning Ría de Celestún.

They offer two tours, a short one and a longer one, both designed to help you fully enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Along the way, you’ll be amazed by the landscapes, the diversity of birds, the history, and the wildlife, which, if you’re lucky, will make an appearance at various points during the tour.

The journey begins with a panoramic view of 7 kilometers of pristine beaches, where you can observe birds fishing, fluttering, and resting under the sun on the vast expanse of sand.

Our first stop is the Ex Hacienda Salinera, a historic site where, in the past, salt was produced in large quantities. Although it is no longer in use today, it still retains remnants of its former glory, allowing visitors to explore its ruins, take photos, and admire the salt pools, as well as the natural salt stone.

Further along, we’ll witness an impressive natural phenomenon: the merging of the estuary with the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. At first glance, you can notice the difference in colors and the distinct division between the two waters, creating a unique visual spectacle.

As we continue, the surroundings come alive with sounds: the singing of birds, the flapping of wings in the air, and the morning activity that brings this ecosystem to life. Without a doubt, the pink flamingo is the star of this scene. During the season, it’s possible to spot flocks of up to 2,000 flamingos, although some choose to stay in the estuary year-round.

We’ll continue our journey to Isla Pájaros, a small paradise surrounded by mangroves, home to various species such as cormorants, blue herons, and white herons. Here, the birds build their nests and raise their chicks in the safety of the branches, offering a fascinating natural spectacle.

As we move forward, we’ll enter a mangrove tunnel, where we’ll learn about the different types of mangroves that make up this ecosystem, their biodiversity, and their immense importance to life on the planet.

But the mangroves hold another treasure: the freshwater springs. During our tour, we’ll visit one of these crystal-clear springs, which in its best season takes on emerald-green hues. As we admire or immerse ourselves in its waters, we can observe the small fish that inhabit it. If we’re lucky, we might even spot crocodiles enjoying the freshness of the freshwater.

To end on a high note, we’ll head back to the sea, but this time to a special area where the seabed hides an ancient Mayan secret: an exfoliating mud rich in minerals, used by this civilization for skincare. Its shallow depth will allow us to collect some of this mud and apply it to our bodies, then rinse it off in the salty seawater, leaving our skin feeling soft, smooth, and free of impurities.

Finally, we’ll return to the starting point, where the Cooperativa Playa Norte has its palapa, closing an unforgettable experience in the magical Ría de Celestún.

View Photos

Contact Information

• Address: Calle 11 x 12 Centro Celestún Yuc.
• Phone: 9991149103

Location Map