Top Things to do in Celestun
7 Things to Do in Celestun That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Celestun, Mexico including Mangroves of Dzinitun, Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve, Flamingo Tours, Circuito Ojo de Agua Baldiosera, Jaltun Parque Recreativo, Hacienda Chunchucmil, Celestun.
Restaurants in Celestun
1. Mangroves of Dzinitun
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 130 reviews
Reviewed By Ellie M
If you are only interested in seeing flamingos, the motorized tours will get you to them faster. But those who enjoy nature will find this peaceful and environmentally friendly tour through the mangroves appealing. We showed up more than half an hour before the opening time without a reservation but they found us right away and had a guide ready to go before we even had our bug spray on. It starts with a short boardwalk that is easy to navigate. The boat ride was comfortable and very pleasant. The guide works hard to hand pole through the canals and out onto the river. Ours was friendly and very knowledgeable about the many bird species he helped us see. Overall a nice experience and you see a greater variety of birds than on the motorized boat tours. At the end they had a tricycle taxi ready to zip us back to our car. Take a hat, binoculars, sunscreen, sunglasses and bug spray. I found my long sleeved swim top was perfect for protection against sun rays and mosquitoes.
2. Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 207 reviews
Reviewed By Aristeppus - British Isles
I was somewhat dubious when I saw this on the itinerary but it was hugely enjoyable. It is not just flamingos. We went into a mangrove swamp. We saw all sorts of other seabirds, crocodiles, some parrots and even a mockingbird.
3. Flamingo Tours
Overall Ratings
4 based on 309 reviews
Reviewed By RoverPete - Chalfont St. Giles, United Kingdom
We paid for a tour in Merida, after talking to Alberto at Easyway on calle 60 between 55 and 57. Alberto was extemely helpful, very knowledgeable, excellent spoken English and in his own style of answer and questioning helped to give us a few options. We decided on Celestun flamingos tour and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Bus journey including hotel pickups was about 95 minutes. Boat trip out into the calm waters and within the first minute saw an alligator, heron and pelican. A few more minutes and floated up to a large flock of 1000 pink flamingos. Saw 3 flocks of flamingos, canadian pelicans, herons. Trip into mangroves was excellent - saw more alligators. Stopped at a cenote forcing Freshwater out of the ground and linking into the main sea waters. Saw many fish, nesting herons, alligators, blue and orange dragonfly. Nice lunch at a nearby restaurant on the beach. Spent 3 hours swimming and sunning on the gulf of Mexico on a soft white sandy beach. Highly recommend!
4. Circuito Ojo de Agua Baldiosera
Overall Ratings
4 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By Chech1965 - St. John's, Canada
We visited this spring after seeing the flamingos and it truly is a little hidden treasure. The water is fed by a spring that feeds into the estuary through a series of pools. You can walk to the end of the boardwalk and see the water bubbling up from the spring. The water is crystal clear and there is a ladder if you want to go for a swim in one of the pools.
A word of warning: check for crocodiles before you take a dip. We saw one next to the spring.
5. Jaltun Parque Recreativo
Overall Ratings
4 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By Gwenda79 - Amersfoort, The Netherlands
The park is basically a part of the mangrove with canals and paths where wild animals live and also animals are held in captivity. These animals, mostly snakes and crocodiles are picked from the village (wild animals or former pets).
The guide shows you around, explaibs the ecosystem and finds birds in the trees. They explain how they try to support the wild animal population. It is a real nice project, they show some animals up close for educational purposes and it is all done in a good manner. After the walking tour ( bring repellent!!) you can take a small boat and row in the park. The people that work there are kind and our guide spoke perfectly English. It is really worthwhile to go there!!
6. Hacienda Chunchucmil
Overall Ratings
4 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Renze - Nottingham, UK
This hacienda is still in amazing condition considering it has been empty for a long time. The colours and the buildings including the church and the train tracks into the factory show the past of the sisal Barons. We were shown around by a 12 year old who was very well informed and even showed us the cellars and the roof. Well worth a good tip. Was so interesting that along this road, there are a few haciendas, the small villages are only there because of the hacienda and the sisal farms, now long gone.
A random sight but worth the trip and more interesting that the alternative route to Merida from Celestun and just as fast!
7. Celestun
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 259 reviews
Reviewed By Scuba G - Sacramento, California
I found the beach to be nice and not crowded, but it was February. Watching pods of dolphins swim by was nice.
