Crater Azul
Crater Azul
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
28 reviews
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Bronya
Tampa, FL2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
We actually had a rental car and drove ourselves to a place pass Las Cruces to board a boat to Crater Azul.
The boat operators wanted to charge us 250Q a person. Reading the reviews and knowing this is normally a price for a full tour from a hotel with a bus and lunch we refused to pay. We stayed by the boat dock what is a crystal clear crater (natural cenote on the river) itself. The water was beautiful, we saw the fishes and the plants, we bought some fruit on the shore and called it a day. No crowds here (everybody was going to crater azul), just the locals and families of the boat operators and it was free.
The boat operators wanted to charge us 250Q a person. Reading the reviews and knowing this is normally a price for a full tour from a hotel with a bus and lunch we refused to pay. We stayed by the boat dock what is a crystal clear crater (natural cenote on the river) itself. The water was beautiful, we saw the fishes and the plants, we bought some fruit on the shore and called it a day. No crowds here (everybody was going to crater azul), just the locals and families of the boat operators and it was free.
Written July 3, 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.
Alex D
2 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
I read about Crater Azul on this site and others and was expecting a lovely tranquil place to do some snorkelling in a natural environment. It is a natural environment, but there's really very little to see or do. The actual location is small and the underwater scenery consisted of plants and more plants. Given the cost of tours to this spot, and the 2 hour drive each way, it just isn't worthwhile.
It would a nice place to stop off if you happened to be nearby, a 20 minute detour or something, but not a 2 hour drive and a day long excursion.
It would a nice place to stop off if you happened to be nearby, a 20 minute detour or something, but not a 2 hour drive and a day long excursion.
Written January 31, 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.
Denis85_9
Cheffois, France166 contributions
Nov 2019
We went over here from Peten.
The possible bad point for some persons might be that you have to drive around 1h30 one way from Peten to reach your point to the small boats which are really in the middle of nowhere....
Then you spend around 30-45 min on river seeing turtles, birds and some wildlife of the river, really nice.
Finally you reach an area where the color of the water is absolutely incredible!
Depth is around 5-6 mt and you can swim and enjoy a quite confidential moments over here (we were only 5-6 persons...)
Even if the local guide can give you for free a mask, I would recommend you to bring a mask, tuba & fins..
The possible bad point for some persons might be that you have to drive around 1h30 one way from Peten to reach your point to the small boats which are really in the middle of nowhere....
Then you spend around 30-45 min on river seeing turtles, birds and some wildlife of the river, really nice.
Finally you reach an area where the color of the water is absolutely incredible!
Depth is around 5-6 mt and you can swim and enjoy a quite confidential moments over here (we were only 5-6 persons...)
Even if the local guide can give you for free a mask, I would recommend you to bring a mask, tuba & fins..
Written November 24, 2019
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.
María T
5 contributions
Dec 2018
It's a great experience, the moment you enter the part where the water is crystal clear it's awesome. You get to see the bottom filled with plants and little fishes. Definitely a must.
Written January 15, 2019
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.
JesLon
Valladolid, Spain939 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
Only reachable by boat, although there are tours available from the local agencies or tour operators.
It takes about 1.5-2h to get there, cruising the river Pasión, although the way there and back is also enjoyable because of the wild nature and birds.
It offers crystalline clean waters in a peaceful surrounding (until another boat arrived playing music at high volume and disturbed the whole experience).
Visit it before long, or maybe I should advise against doing so.
It is a place unable to cope with tourist crowds, but I got the chance to visit it before becoming something else.
It takes about 1.5-2h to get there, cruising the river Pasión, although the way there and back is also enjoyable because of the wild nature and birds.
It offers crystalline clean waters in a peaceful surrounding (until another boat arrived playing music at high volume and disturbed the whole experience).
Visit it before long, or maybe I should advise against doing so.
It is a place unable to cope with tourist crowds, but I got the chance to visit it before becoming something else.
Written September 1, 2018
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.
neferTT
Where I am166 contributions
Nov 2021
If this had a slightly better set up, I would likely have given it a 4 out of 5, but this was by far the biggest disappointment of my entire trip.
After a 1.5 hour drive, you get into a small boat. The water is gorgeous and clear but I couldn’t help but wonder if all the fuel guzzling boat engines weren’t polluting the area. The 20-30 minute ride to the first stop starts out picturesque but quickly became monotonous.
I was a little surprised at the small area where we finally stopped. Yes, the water is a lovely blue and there’s green plants and small fish. But there’s nothing else to see. Two minutes with a mask and you’ve seen it all. And speaking of masks, there weren’t enough for everyone on the boat (and the one I first tried was cracked under the nose), and no snorkels. You could argue no snorkels due to COVID, but many other excursions on my trip were providing them. We spent a long time at this spot then motored almost all the way back to the start before stopping at another area. Same thing: same greenery visible through beautiful water, same tiny fish. It’s good for an Instagram shot if you have an underwater camera, but otherwise completely underwhelming after the first few minutes.
A few key details:
- The "guide" had an underwater camera and took many photos of our group. I was really looking forward to this and thought it would save the excursion, but we all thought the photos were terrible once we received them. I have some lovely underwater photos from a cenotes excursion in Mexico and I was hoping for the same type of thing but they turned out only slightly better than a child playing with a camera.
- Not knowing what to expect, my group kept our clothes on when we boarded the small boat which was a mistake. Trying to remove clothing with a full boat was a challenge. Also, you must jump off the side of the boat to get in the water and climb up a ladder to get back in. Pretty much everything in the boat gets wet. Leave your valuables or anything you don’t want to get wet in the vehicle you arrived in.
- Where you board the boat there are two outhouse-like structures. It was suggested the ladies could change there. I did not check it out myself but one lady reported it was disgusting and there was no place to put your things as you change. This was not a problem for my group at the start as we all came prepared with swimsuits under our clothes. Afterwards though, with no private space to change, many people were in wet swim suits in an air conditioned bus for the 1.5 hour ride back. Very uncomfortable and potentially a health risk.
I appreciate that there may be an effort the area “natural”, but then anyone visiting should have a good understanding of the lack of facilities and be prepared to deal with it. My group was not well prepared for the reality of the situation and it was especially difficult for the women in the group who have more challenges with regards to swimsuits and getting dressed again afterwards.
After a 1.5 hour drive, you get into a small boat. The water is gorgeous and clear but I couldn’t help but wonder if all the fuel guzzling boat engines weren’t polluting the area. The 20-30 minute ride to the first stop starts out picturesque but quickly became monotonous.
I was a little surprised at the small area where we finally stopped. Yes, the water is a lovely blue and there’s green plants and small fish. But there’s nothing else to see. Two minutes with a mask and you’ve seen it all. And speaking of masks, there weren’t enough for everyone on the boat (and the one I first tried was cracked under the nose), and no snorkels. You could argue no snorkels due to COVID, but many other excursions on my trip were providing them. We spent a long time at this spot then motored almost all the way back to the start before stopping at another area. Same thing: same greenery visible through beautiful water, same tiny fish. It’s good for an Instagram shot if you have an underwater camera, but otherwise completely underwhelming after the first few minutes.
A few key details:
- The "guide" had an underwater camera and took many photos of our group. I was really looking forward to this and thought it would save the excursion, but we all thought the photos were terrible once we received them. I have some lovely underwater photos from a cenotes excursion in Mexico and I was hoping for the same type of thing but they turned out only slightly better than a child playing with a camera.
- Not knowing what to expect, my group kept our clothes on when we boarded the small boat which was a mistake. Trying to remove clothing with a full boat was a challenge. Also, you must jump off the side of the boat to get in the water and climb up a ladder to get back in. Pretty much everything in the boat gets wet. Leave your valuables or anything you don’t want to get wet in the vehicle you arrived in.
- Where you board the boat there are two outhouse-like structures. It was suggested the ladies could change there. I did not check it out myself but one lady reported it was disgusting and there was no place to put your things as you change. This was not a problem for my group at the start as we all came prepared with swimsuits under our clothes. Afterwards though, with no private space to change, many people were in wet swim suits in an air conditioned bus for the 1.5 hour ride back. Very uncomfortable and potentially a health risk.
I appreciate that there may be an effort the area “natural”, but then anyone visiting should have a good understanding of the lack of facilities and be prepared to deal with it. My group was not well prepared for the reality of the situation and it was especially difficult for the women in the group who have more challenges with regards to swimsuits and getting dressed again afterwards.
Written November 28, 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.
O_Alv92
Guatemala123 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
This beautiful place is located about 1 and a half hour (boat) from Sayaxché. You can have insane underwater shots with a GoPro on the center of the crater. My advise is not to stay in the city, go do some camping in El Rosario National Park 🏕
Written December 16, 2018
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.
Paraiso maya tours
Flores, Guatemala8 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
Amazing blue crater tour, crystal clear waters and stunning views. Recommended! to go with family or friends.
Automatically translated
Written August 22, 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.
Jose S
Guatemala City, Guatemala23 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Impressive, the place is well preserved and I hope it continues for many more years.
The people in charge of the boat service are responsible for providing good care.
The people in charge of the boat service are responsible for providing good care.
Automatically translated
Written July 6, 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.
Mishelle Naomi Contreras Cardona
Flores, Guatemala5 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
The view in the blue crater is wonderful, its crystal clear and icy waters give the touch to this beautiful place, its flora and fauna is unmatched, if you want to visit the Blue crater, don't think about it too much and enjoy a unique experience.
Written March 6, 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.
De donde te deja la lancha cuánto hay que caminar?
Written August 14, 2019
La lancha te lleva directamente al cráter azul. Desde allí puedes visitar otras pozas a tres minutos andando por un sendero bien marcado y limpio
Written August 14, 2019
Hay que negociar con los lancheros. Dependerá del número de gente que lleven. Yo fui sólo y pagué 600 quetzales
Written July 22, 2019
Quiero saber cuanto vale el viaje en lancha saliendo de sayaxche y si se puede via terrestre
Written January 19, 2019
Hola Herson se puede entrar por Josefinos se llama la aldea q está adelante del municipio de la Cruces te dejo el numero del lanchero q me llevo ami al cráter 30066633
Written April 12, 2019
Buena tarde, con relación al cráter azul dónde tomaron la lancha? Si me pudiera ampliar detalles por favor se lo apreciaría!
Written May 24, 2018
Hola! Esto se encuentra en Sayaxche, Peten en Guatemala no en Portugal
Written August 15, 2017
Hola! Esto se encuentra en Sayaxche, Peten en Guatemala no en Portugal
Written August 15, 2017
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