Boat Tours
Bahia Blanca Cooperative offers a variety of boat tours in and around the Xcalak Preserve. Ecologically-aware, trained, knowledgeable guides take you on a Birding Tour, an Xcalak Adventure Tour, or a Special Tour of Xcalak and surrounding locales selected based upon your interests and your time.
Bird Island
We will be exploring the natural beauty of the Bay of Chetumal (a manatee sanctuary.) At "Bird Island" we'll see a number of species including roseate spoonbill, wood stork, egrets, ibis, frigate birds, and terns, among others.
During the tour before entering the mangroves, we will stop in order to observe on the bay bottom an impressive and colorful colony of jellyfish of different sizes and maybe, just maybe, you'll be able to visit a colony of vivid orange starfish.
You'll also have the opportunity to enjoy the natural channels surrounded by mangrove that formed in the canals of Boca Bacalar Chico, which is the frontier dividing Mexico and Belize. At the end of the journey, we'll enter the jungle and look at the remains of an important part of Xcalak's history: a steam boiler that was used to make fresh water during the pueblo's early days.
We finish the tour with a refreshing snorkel at Marin’s Reef.
Attractions: Wading birds, orchids, mangrove Canals, jellyfish colony, rays, and if lucky, dolphins & manatees.
Capacity: Maximum 8 tourists in a 25 ft. boat and 6 in a 23 ft. boat
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Tour Includes: Guide/Captain, water, sodas, snacks, bracelet for conservation
Price: 1 to 2 people - $55 US per person, 3 to 4 people - $50 US per person, 5 to 8 people - $45 US per person (prices may vary slightly and do not include taxes)
River Trip
The adventure begins with Snorkeling close to Xcalak town. Then we will go (after having a delicious snack) to Boca Bacalar Chico which is the frontier dividing Mexico and Belize, which is a beautiful natural channel surrounded by mangroves going out into Laguna Zaragoza and through Canal de Zaragoza, which was dredged by man to allow bigger ships to get in Chetumal.
We finish the tour with a refreshing snorkel at Marin’s Reef.
Attractions: Reef fish, corals, sponges, birds, orchids, with luck, dolphins & manatees.
Capacity: Maximum 8 tourists in a 25 ft. boat and 6 in a 23 ft. boat
Duration: 3 hours
Tour Includes: Guide/Captain, water, sodas, snacks, bracelet for conservation
Price: 2 to 4 people - $40 US per person, 5 to 8 people - $30 US per person (prices may vary slightly and do not include taxes)
Special Tour
Bahia Blanca guides will be happy to arrange a tour to suit your exact needs and desires. Would you like to visit the Holchan Reserve in San Pedro, Belize? Perhaps you would like to experience catch and release fly fishing in the Biosphere Reserve of Banco Chinchorro. Just let us know and we'll work with you to prepare a tour that you'll enjoy and always remember.
Equipment Needed for Tours:
Hat
Sunglasses
Sunscreen (biodegradable)
Camera
Binoculars
A windbreaker (depending on the weather)
Snorkel gear if snorkeling
(Bahia Blanca rents equipment, ask for details)