Best Kayaking Trip to See the Flamingos of Celestun

The flamingos and other native birds of Celestun can be seen on a kayaking trip through the mangroves. A kayak trip is a unique way to see the natural beauty of the Ría Celestun Biosphere Reserve. We toured the mangrove wetlands with an excellent eco-tourism company. The Guardians of the Mangroves of Dzinitun is an organization dedicated to educating about the mangroves as an essential component of biodiversity.

Where is Celestun?

Celestun is a quiet beach town located on the Gulf of Mexico on the west side of the Yucatán peninsula. The town is made famous by its tours to see the flamingos of the biosphere reserve in Celestun. However, there is much more for nature lovers than just seeing flamingos in Celestun. On a kayak trip through the mangroves of Celestun, you will observe the native spectacular flora and fauna of the area in addition to flamingo sightings.

Celestun is about 1.5 hours’ drive from Merida, the capital city of the Yucatan state. You can arrange a day tour to see the flamingos on the lagoon by using a power boat to motor near them. I have taken this tour before and it’s great if you want to see flocks of flamingos at a distance. However, if you want a total experience of the wildlife of the reserve, I recommend the kayak tour.

Related Post -> Outdoor Adventures on the Yucatan Peninsula

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Logistics of Kayaking to See Flamingos in Celestun

If you drive to Celestun and stay overnight you are able to catch the early morning tour to see the birds and wildlife. Everything is much more active at dawn, so an early start is essential.

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 Accommodations in Celestun

I’ve stayed at two different hotels on the beach at Celestun. They are simple, authentic Mexican hotels with beachfront amenities. The beach at Celestun is a gorgeous Gulf of Mexico crescent of golden sand. I’ve seen dolphins cavorting off the beach and pelicans diving for food. It’s worth a stay overnight in Celestun to enjoy the seafood restaurants on the beach and the amazing sunsets. Plus, you are only a few minutes from the meeting place for the kayak tour when it starts early in the morning.

Hotel Gutierez has comfortable, air-conditioned rooms with the beach out the front door. There is a terrace to relax and watch the sunsets. The hotel restaurant is fabulous for a big authentic Mexican breakfast after your tour.

Hotel San Julio also has beachfront accommodations. The rooms are clean and have refrigerators. There are beach loungers and shady palapas to enjoy the beach. They offer a secure parking area.

You can’t miss by staying in either of these hotels on the gorgeous beach of Celestun.

Kayaking Tour through the Mangroves of Celestun to Find Flamingos and Other Wildlife

The Guardians of the Mangroves of Dzinitun are passionate about the nature of the Celestone ecosystem. They understand the importance of the mangroves to a healthy ecosystem. Their tours through the mangroves are highly educational. Tours start in the dark, so kayakers can see the most wildlife as the sun rises.

The guides of this organization are committed to eco-tourism by educating how critical mangroves are to sustaining the natural balance of the Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve. The mangroves also protect inhabited areas from the detrimental effects of hurricanes by absorbing the storm surges. Additionally, the dense roots of mangrove plants prevent erosion and sequester carbon to protect against climate change. Finally, mangrove forests serve as a nursery for wildlife as we were able to witness on our kayaking tour.

Jose, the owner of the company, has been involved with mangrove reforestation in the area for many years. He hosts groups of children, teens, and adults who come to help with mangrove planting in the area of the tour. Jose believes that educating all ages about the mangroves will help with conservation and protection.

Kayaking tour specifics

The tour began at the Guardians of the Mangroves basecamp which was a 5-minute drive from our hotel in Celestun. Tours start at 5:30 or 6 am. We met our guide, Isaac, and were briefed on the specifics of the trip. Isaac is a college student with a thorough knowledge of the environment. His excitement about nature was evident every time he exclaimed “hey, look at that”. He loves birds and has a keen eye and ear for finding them. His stories of the wildlife we saw helped us really get to know each animal or bird. 

Our guide Isaac gave us headlamps we used to find our way along the rickety boardwalks out to the boat launch. On the way to the kayaks, he explained about the mangroves’ importance and the different species.

At the end of the boardwalk, we boarded the kayaks. It was just getting light as we started out in the kayaks. The sound of birds and the golden rays through the mangroves was a magical time. We saw a variety of birds, such as different kinds of herons, egrets, kingfishers, vultures, magnificent frigatebirds, and pelicans. My favorite was the Pygmy Kingfisher festooned in orange and green and not much bigger than a hummingbird.

Just as the sun rose, we reached an area called the heart of the mangroves. The heart-shaped opening in the mangrove forest was alive with birds. As we glided on the coppery-colored water, a cacophony of bird songs surrounded us.

Crocs and other wildlife of the kayak tour

After birdwatching for a bit in the heart of the mangroves, we entered the channels again to look for more wildlife. We saw a small crocodile and several baby crocodiles. The kayaks were quite close to the crocs in the narrow channel, however, Isaac assured us that we were safe. The crocodile was too little to have us for breakfast.

Kayaking to See the Flamingos of Celestun

As we emerged from the mangrove channels to the Celestun estuary, we began seeing flocks of birds flying overhead. Huge flocks of flamingos flew over looking like flying pink sticks. We learned from Isaac that baby flamingos are white when they are born. They gain their pink color from eating tiny crustaceans rich with carotenoids (the same thing that gives carrots or tomatoes their color). You can actually tell the age of a flamingo by how pink it is.

After a short paddle up the wide river with great views of a tiger heron and egrets, we landed the boats on the shore. However, it was low tide so it was an enormous mud flat. Isaac and another guide ended up covered in mud as they pulled us to shore. Afterward, we hiked along the trail and boardwalks to an open lagoon packed with birds.

We were able to see groups of flamingos feeding. With our new knowledge about how the shade of pink tells the flamingos’ age, we could guess how old the flamingos were. We didn’t see the hundreds of flamingos you see with the motorboat tour, nevertheless, we totally enjoyed the complete wildlife experience of this tour. We saw plenty of flamingos in their natural habitat.

The tour finishes with a tuk-tuk (motorcycle taxi) ride back to the base camp. Make sure you walk around the area when you return because you can see more flamingos in the ponds near the starting point. It was fascinating to see flamingos shuffle their feet as they feed to stir up their food.

Kayaks and costs of the tour

The kayaks are fiberglass doubles. The simple design and comfortable seats make them perfect for navigating the channels through the mangroves. They also offer canoes paddled by the guide if you’d like to sit back and enjoy the scenery. We paid 2400 MXD ($120) for four people in kayaks and for 600 MXD ($30) for an English-speaking guide. We opted for the special kayak trip, which was 2.5 hours. They also offer a 1.5-hour trip for 1800 MXD ($90) in kayaks and 1700 MXD ($85) for a canoe for four people.

You can pay the deposit for the tour by PayPal and the rest in cash when you arrive.

Wrap Up of Kayaking to See the Flamingos and Wildlife of Celestun

The Yucatan Peninsula is chocked full of wildlife and birds on both the land and the water. I’ve done some amazing kayaking trips in the natural areas of the Yucatan. I’ve paddled the mangroves and open tidal bays of Sian Ka’an to see birds coming back to roost at night on the islands. Then, I explored the freshwater of Lake Bacalar with its amazing 7 colors and stromatolites by kayak. Unquestionably, kayaking the mangroves near Celestun to see flamingos and other wildlife compares with these magnificent trips.

Related Post -> Best Natural Areas for Kayaking on the Yucatan Peninsula

The tour with the Guardians of the Mangroves of Dzinintun is a highlight of any trip to the west coast of the Yucatan. Likewise, you will finish the trip knowing that, in some small way, you have contributed to the protection of the mangroves in their role in preventing climate change. To arrange the kayak trip in Celestun, you can email Jose at dzinitun@gmail.com.

Related post-> 25 Best Kayaking Day Trips in the US

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I was a guest of the Guardians of the Mangroves of Dzinintun on this trip. My opinions are my honest assessment of the experience.