IS CELESTUN WORTH VISITING + BEST THINGS TO DO IN CELESTUN.
Celestun in Mexico is known for two things – beaches and flamingos. A coastal town on the Yucatan pensinsular, it has a feeling that the best days are a little past it yet the beach is really quite unspoiled and natural.
It is unpretentious and less than polished. That said, there’s a quiet charm to it and a remoteness that will mean some visitors will love it. An end of the road beach town, that offers an opportunity to take a day trip to see flamingos in their natural habitat or to stay a while.
Is Celestun worth visiting? And what are the best things to do in Celestun? Read on to find out.
Table of contents
Jump to the most relevant section of this post.
- Is Celestun worth visiting?
- Is Celestun better to visit on a day trip?
- What are the best things to do in Celestun?
- Best things to do in Celestun: Celestun Beaches
- Best things to do in Celestun: Celestun Beach Club
- Best things to do in Celestun: Seafood & Fish
- Best things to do in Celestun: Celestun Flamingos Tours
- Where to stay in Celestun
Don’t have time to read the full article?
TOP PICK FOR DAY TRIP TO CELESTUN
✅ Transport to and from Merida hotel
✅Boat trip and entry to biosphere included
✅Bilingual tour guide
Is Celestun worth visiting?
Celstun is an extremely quiet village, with little nightlife and in our experience, a slightly odd feel to it. It is a classic “end of the road” town and, beyond tours to see the flamingos, there is little going on.
The short answer is that if you have a car and want to visit the beach from Merida or take a flamingo tour, then Celestun may be worth visiting. If you are reliant on public transport, we think there are better ways to spend your time than visiting Celestun.
The reason for making this distinction, is that it takes around one hour fifteen minutes in the car from Merida, whereas the bus takes three hours. If you are based in Merida, or want to come to Celestun for one night by car, then this could work. But, three hours on a bus seems over the top based on what there is to do in Celestun, in our opinion.
A much better alternative to Celestun for anyone travelling using public transport, is to visit Progreso which is a much more interesting beach town much closer to Merida.
🌴🍹🍉⛱️🥥Find our guide to visiting Progreso here.
The second reason that we are not sure that Celestun is always worth visiting, is that the accommodation is quite hit & miss, as well as expensive. This is partly because the town is a little run down, but also because there is little supply of accommodation. There is a risk that you visit and pay for overpriced accommodation.
Is Celestun better to visit on a day trip?
An alternative, if you do want to see the famous flamingos in Celestun, but you don’t have a hire car or don’t want to stay in Celestun, is to book a tour.
This means that transport will take you directly to Celestun for a boat tour of the mangroves and to see the flamingos in their natural habitat. That way, you can return to Merida and not remain overnight in Celestun. See more below on some of the best options for Celestun day tours.
What are the best things to do in Celestun?
If you do come to Celestun, the best things to do revolve around the beach and water. Celestun is predominately a day time place, with little going on in the evening. Many restaurants and bars shut at around 19:00/20:00.
Here are the best things to do in Celestun.
Best things to do in Celestun: Celestun Beaches
The beach in Celestun is long and sweeping with pale fine sand. It presents a fantastic opportunity to stroll along a serene and quiet beach, or to watch a sunset accompanied by one of the local pooches. If you like quiet and untamed beaches, then Celestun has a a lot to offer.
For anyone looking for a manicured beach experience, Celestun is not really it. The beach is much more of a natural experience, with seaweed covering the sand. The water is generally calm in the morning but can get more choppy in the afternoon.
Bird watchers will find opportunities to spot pelicans and other birds in their natural habitats. And, one of the highlights of visiting Celestun beach is finding beautiful shells dotted all along the coastline.
Best things to do in Celestun: Celestun Beach Club
Our best day in Celestun was spent lounging at the Totem Beach Club. We are not necessarily beach club people, but a large portion of Celestun beach didn’t feel that inviting as it is covered in seaweed.
The area around the beach club is much more manicured. Secondly, we wanted to enjoy loungers and an umbrella on the beach – which as far as we could work out, was not offered elsewhere.
The Totem Beach Club is pretty good value – 300 Mexican Pesos per adult and less for kids. For that price, you get access to all the facilities including swimming pools, showers, towels and loungers. There’s even a volleyball pitch and a kids park. Bar and restaurant prices are reasonable too – 90 Pesos for a Maragrita isn’t half bad for a beach club.
Best things to do in Celestun: Seafood & Fish
Celestun is first and foremost a fishing village. Therefore, it is well known for seafood and fish. There are many basic beach restaurants offering fish with an ice cold beer to accompany it. Picture beach shacks, relaxed surroundings and fresh tasty fish.
The best are in the Southern region of the beach - such as Cocteleria La Conchita.
Best things to do in Celestun: Celestun Flamingos Tours
🦩Fun fact – what do you call a group of flamingos? A group of flamingos is called a Flamboyance.
Celestun is renowned for being home to one of the most significant flamingo populations in the world, making it a haven for birdwatchers, nature enthusiasts, and those seeking a unique wildlife experience.
The Celestun Biosphere Reserve, established in 1979, is dedicated to the conservation of the diverse ecosystems in the area, with a special focus on the protection of the American flamingo.
Visitors to Celestun can take boat tours that take them through the estuaries and waterways of the biosphere reserve, providing an up-close encounter with the flamingos. Local boat operators, often experienced guides, navigate through the mangroves and wetlands, offering opportunities for observation and photography.
How to book a Celestun flamingo tour
If you want to visit Celestun to see flamingos, the best way that we think to do it is to book a tour and take a day trip. Although this seems expensive, by the time you’ve factored in accommodation and transport costs, should you instead stay in Celestun it may work out to be more expensive.
Here’s a selection of some flamingo tours that will include transport to Celestun and allow you to take a day trip.
As an alternative and if you decide to visit Celestun independently, simply walk to the beach or to the main town square and you’ll find many guides offering tours.
These tend to be less expensive, and you can negotiate rates, but the quality of guides may not be as high (some may only speak Spanish). You will also have to wait until the boat is full with other guests before you can leave.
Where to stay in Celestun
If you do decided to come to Celestun for a night or two, we suggest that you pick your accommodation carefully. Here are a few of our favourites in the area.
BUDGET: There isn’t really much “budget” accommodation in Celestun, which surprised us. But, probably the best accommodation for a reasonable price is Hotel San Julio. Guests love the location, close to the beach and the cleanliness of the property.
MID-RANGE: Cabanas Cinco Elementos are cute little cabana style rooms found very close to the beach. Although accommodation is basic, the experience of staying here could be a fun and romantic adventure.
LUXURY: Playa 55 Beach Escape has a private beach and a swimming pool. Guests love the location. Another option is Totem Beach Club – this is a great place to stay as you get access to the full service beach club and numerous swimming pools. The hotel is smart too.
Where to next in the Yucatan?
- Cancun – beaches & food
- Tulum – beaches, yoga and nightlife
- Holbox – island paradise
- Bacalar – paddle boarding and relaxing
- Celestun – flamingos & laid back beach
- Progreso – fun beach town
- Sian Ka’an – nature reserve
- Merida – gastronomic city & culture
- Campeche – glamorous historical city
- Valladolid – history & culture
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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