Yalahau Lagoon
Yalahau Lagoon
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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562 reviews
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シンコペソ
Queretaro City, Mexico454 contributions
Dec 2023 • Solo
This was the second stop on our 3 Island tour.
Unfortunately it was raining so we wondered if we were really going, but we paid the 100 MXN entrance fee and entered, but there was nothing particularly interesting.
It was raining heavily so we swam in the cenote thinking it didn't matter whether we went inside or outside, but it was just average. Gran Cenote and other places are much better.
The inside is well-maintained and clean, and there is a restaurant.
Unfortunately it was raining so we wondered if we were really going, but we paid the 100 MXN entrance fee and entered, but there was nothing particularly interesting.
It was raining heavily so we swam in the cenote thinking it didn't matter whether we went inside or outside, but it was just average. Gran Cenote and other places are much better.
The inside is well-maintained and clean, and there is a restaurant.

Written 11 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason N
Nottingham, UK110 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
We arrived at 0730 in the morning as VIP Holbox suggested you can beat the crowds and this place is pretty special if you do. We were the only people in the complex until 0800 when another boat arrived.
The walk-in is a boardwalk through Red Mangroves with plenty of fiddler crab burrows. We stopped at the bar complex just to see a couple of 3ft iguanas catching the morning sun. The cenote was crystal clear with currents of water rising from 3 holes in the bottom. There were loads of fish feeding off the edges as you got in. Quite a special private swim!
There is a view tower looking over an expanse that captures the three main land ecosystems; the mangrove forest to the savannah and then the tropical forest, it really gives a impression of the wildness of most of Quintana Roo Region outside the tourist spots.
Overall, a good destination but pick your times as apparently it is a very different experience in when it gets going later in the day.
The walk-in is a boardwalk through Red Mangroves with plenty of fiddler crab burrows. We stopped at the bar complex just to see a couple of 3ft iguanas catching the morning sun. The cenote was crystal clear with currents of water rising from 3 holes in the bottom. There were loads of fish feeding off the edges as you got in. Quite a special private swim!
There is a view tower looking over an expanse that captures the three main land ecosystems; the mangrove forest to the savannah and then the tropical forest, it really gives a impression of the wildness of most of Quintana Roo Region outside the tourist spots.
Overall, a good destination but pick your times as apparently it is a very different experience in when it gets going later in the day.
Written 5 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mtangulo
Washington DC, DC954 contributions
Jun 2021
This location is part of the Three Islands Tour, the visit is well organized, (paid entrance/fee) you walk in and get a life vest, its a small fresh water lagoon and can be crowded. Water is cool and its refreshing to swim. There are clean bathroom available and an area to purchase drinks. The stop is scheduled for one hour, you can also admire the mangle that surround the area.
Written 26 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff F
Harpenden, UK1,287 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
We took a boat trip from Holbox island. We would eventually reach mosquito point but the trip included a stop of at Yalahau Lagoon for a swim and something to eat or drink. It a beautiful lagoon and he water is perfect for a cool refreshing dip. It quite deep though and they make you wear a life jacket which I thought was a bit off-putting.
Written 31 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeri F
Tulsa, OK386 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
Underwhelmed. The park had a 50 peso per person charge our tour company didn't mention. Life jackets are required and provided free of charge. The cenote is really small and there is not much to see. There is a tower with views of a savanna type terrain.
Written 8 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JJfromWI
Wisconsin372 contributions
Feb 2019
Like most people, our stop here was part of the 3 island tour. It's not that it's bad, it is pretty but there's nothing to do other than swim and it's relatively crowded, when we got there it was packed with people but by the time we left it was a little less busy so maybe it just depends on the time of day. We were there for at least 45 minutes and it was too long in my opinion. If you're doing a private 3 island tour, I would suggest asking your guide to spend more time at Isla Pajaros (Bird Island), our stop there was quite short (and it seemed the same for people on other tours) and there are so many birds to watch that I would have been happy to spend more time there and less time here. Passion Island is also nicer, but at least on our tour it felt like we had enough time there. Also, if you're visiting this part of Mexico, make sure to visit a cenote besides this one, it does look nice but I think the covered cenotes are far more impressive than open ones like this.
Written 31 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neide L
Tavira, Portugal2,124 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
Yalahau 🇲🇽❤️
Just 30 minutes by boat from the centre of Holbox we found Yalahau, a cenote with fresh and clear waters that, according to legend, draw to our body immersed in them 10 years! You can see that we dive several times to get back much younger 😉🤣
This spectacular ‘black eye’ is part of the protected Natural Reservation of Mexico.
In ancient times fishermen used the Yalahau cenote to refresh after fishing periods as this was an important port for the Mayan people.
Just 30 minutes by boat from the centre of Holbox we found Yalahau, a cenote with fresh and clear waters that, according to legend, draw to our body immersed in them 10 years! You can see that we dive several times to get back much younger 😉🤣
This spectacular ‘black eye’ is part of the protected Natural Reservation of Mexico.
In ancient times fishermen used the Yalahau cenote to refresh after fishing periods as this was an important port for the Mayan people.
Automatically translated
Written 25 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Crónicasdeunamexicana
Cancun, Mexico275 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Lovely place, excellent for swimming and cooling off.
The water temperature at first feels freezing, and once you acclimatize, you swim very comfortably. In the place there is a scenic tower where you can see the entire mangrove, it is impressive, 100% worth it. I leave you a photo.
The water temperature at first feels freezing, and once you acclimatize, you swim very comfortably. In the place there is a scenic tower where you can see the entire mangrove, it is impressive, 100% worth it. I leave you a photo.

Written 17 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aly Smalls
Alberta, Canada61 contributions
Dec 2019
We visited here as part of our 3 island tour. It's ok. I wouldn't make a special trip here, but being part of the tour was a nice stop. I would describe it as half cenote half lagoon. The water isn't clear, but it's an interesting murky grey-blue. After swimming for about 30 minutes we did notice that we felt nice and relaxed from all the minerals, similar to a natural hot spring.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol W
Auckland Central, New Zealand39 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Visited Yalahau as part of a 3 islas tour. Pristine natural spring just past the mangroves. Beautiful to swim in - cooler than the sea and welcome respite on a really hot day. Good clean restrooms.
Written 9 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Djuana, tell me please, hom mush there are badget apartaments on islends holbox?
Written 5 September 2017
buenos dias! alguien sabria decirme si se puede acceder por propia cuenta? es accesible desde el centro? caminando o en bici? se cobra entrada?
Muchas gracias.
Written 30 May 2017
Hola
Disculpe la respuesta tardía.
Solo se puede acceder en lancha, pues son pequeñas islas , separadas entre ellas.
Written 12 June 2017
puedes entrar por tu cuenta?? o tiene que tomar un tour??
you could enter on your own?? or you should get a tour???
Written 30 November 2016
The tour is by boat so unless you have a boat I would think tour is the best way to go- only 20-30$ USD per person. Think I paid $800 pesos for the 2 of us. You can sign up for the tour in el centro de holbox - there are signs everywhere .
Written 30 December 2016
Hello Florabella,
Is the Yalahau Lagoon actually on Isla Holbox?
One map showed it in Chiquila at the waters edge.
What is the best way to get to it?
Some reviews claim it's a 15 min boat ride from Holbox, others say it's a long walk on a muddy path.
I have a bad back and am hoping it's not a long walk.
We will need to know by tomorrow as we plan to go the morning of Oct 28.
Thanks much!
Leslie :)
Written 27 October 2016
The lagoon is on the mainland, and is one of several stops on the very popular “Three Point Tour” (which also includes Passion Island and Bird Island). Once docked, it is a short, flat walk inland (less than five minutes) on a combination of dirt path and boardwalk. Many proprietors will offer this multipoint tour for prices of approximately $25 to $35 US per person. Depending on how early you reach the lagoon, you may have it virtually to yourself (early) or find things rather crowded (later). My advice is to go with a tour that starts (from the Holbox pier) no later than 9 AM and makes the lagoon the first of its three stops.
Written 16 September 2018
Hello Alex, Where is the Yalahau Lagoon? Is it actually on Isla Holbox and how do you get to it? Some reviews claim it's a 15 min boat ride from Holbox, others say it's a long walk on a muddy path. I have a bad back and am needing to learn better options before going there in 2 days. Thanks! Leslie :)
Written 27 October 2016
Hola¡ cuál es el costo aprox de el tour de las tres islas que tomaron?
Written 24 March 2016
500 MXNX PERSONA , Y TE INCLUYE LAS 3 ISLAS.
Ese precio fue en Abril que es temporada alta, quizá ahora puedas conseguir un mejor precio.
Written 2 May 2017
Como vas ? Una pregunta, el tour que hicieron lo tomaron directamente en la isla? Planeo un viaje con mi familia para estar un día en la isla de holbox. He leído sobre los tours de 3 islas pero no me queda claro si salen desde allá o desde cancún.
Written 15 February 2016
fernandareyeszuarth
Cuernavaca, Mexico
Que costos tienen estos tours y donde es mas conveniente contratarlos?
Written 28 November 2015
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