The Untourist Journal · Yucatán Experiences
Is Isla Columpios Worth Visiting from Mérida?
For Jeff's birthday, we took the five-hour Dzul-Ha Experience through Chuburná's mangroves, coastal spring, La Carbonera beach and Isla Columpios, then ended the day at the nearby public beach.
We could have made a restaurant reservation and called it a celebration. Instead, we left home at 8:00 AM and headed toward Chuburná Puerto for the five-hour Dzul-Ha Experience. During the cenote portion of the tour, a small boat called a chalana carried us through the shallow water.
Our destination was Isla Columpios, the “Island of Swings.”
It was not a day built around a long itinerary. It was a boat ride, warm water, a table beside the sea, time to talk and enough room in the day to enjoy where we were.
That is exactly why it worked.
The water, swings and unmistakable Isla Columpios welcome.
The short answer: yes, Isla Columpios is worth visiting if you want an easygoing coastal outing rather than a polished resort experience.
It is a good fit for travelers who enjoy being on the water, do not mind getting their feet wet and would rather spend a few unhurried hours in a locally run setting than race between attractions.
It is especially appealing for couples, friends and small groups looking for a casual celebration or a change of pace from Mérida.
If you need a luxury beach club, extensive facilities or a highly structured excursion, this may not be your day. The charm is its simplicity.
What is Isla Columpios?
Despite the name, Isla Columpios is not a large offshore island with hotels and paved walkways. It is part of a small group of shallow-water islets and sandbars near Chuburná Puerto on Yucatán's northern coast.
Local boat operators take visitors from the fishing refuge to calm-water stops with palapas, hammocks and the swings that give the place its name. The official Isla Columpios tour site describes the main stop as roughly 1.2 kilometers from the refuge and accessible only by boat.
We chose the Dzul-Ha Experience. We used the chalana only for the trip to the Dzul-Ha coastal spring between the mangroves—the stop I described afterward as a cenote. For that portion, our guide stood and used a long stick to push the chalana through the shallow water. The full route also included La Carbonera beach and Isla Columpios, making the day feel like more than a single photo opportunity at the swings.
The water is the experience. You step off the boat into clear shallows, move between the palapa area and the swings, and settle into a pace that is more float-and-talk than see-and-do.
The chalana used specifically for the cenote portion of our Dzul-Ha Experience.
What did the Dzul-Ha Experience include?
This was the most exploratory of the tour options we considered. The five-hour route combined the Dzul-Ha coastal spring, the quieter La Carbonera beach and Isla Columpios, with a chalana used specifically for the cenote portion and kayak time available as part of the experience.
For the two of us, the quoted price at the time of our August 2026 visit was MX$3,100 total. Our booking included one drink per person and a ceviche tasting. We were asked for a 25% deposit to reserve, with the balance due later. Prices, inclusions and payment terms can change, so confirm all three directly with the operator before sending a deposit.
The extra stops were why this felt right for a birthday. Isla Columpios was part of the day, but it was not the entire day.
What our birthday outing felt like
We arrived at 9:00 AM and began the tour shortly afterward. As we moved onto the water, Mérida's traffic and full calendar disappeared behind us, replaced by mangroves and sky. Later, we boarded the chalana specifically for the cenote portion of the route.
At Isla Columpios, the water was shallow enough to stand in. The swing structure rose from the water in front of palapas and small boats. It was playful without needing to be elaborate.
We visited the Dzul-Ha coastal spring during the five-hour tour, ate beside the water and let the afternoon unfold. There was no need to manufacture a big birthday moment. The change of setting did the work.
The tour finished at 2:00 PM, but we were not ready to head home. We drove to the public beach just up the road and relaxed there until 4:00 PM. That simple ending gave us a full day on the coast without making the schedule feel crowded.
That is one of the things I value most about living in Yucatán. A meaningful day does not always require a flight, a formal itinerary or a famous landmark. Sometimes it begins with a short drive, a local boat and the decision to stay present long enough to enjoy the people you came with.
Our seafood lunch during the Dzul-Ha Experience, enjoyed beside the shallow water.
Who will enjoy Isla Columpios?
Couples and friends
A relaxed setting for a birthday, casual celebration or simply a different kind of day together.
Water lovers
Best for people comfortable with a small boat, wading and spending much of the outing in or beside the water.
Slow travelers
A fit when atmosphere, conversation and connection matter more than a packed list of attractions.
Curious day-trippers
A chance to see a quieter, locally operated side of Yucatán's northern coast.
It may be less suitable if you need step-free access, dislike small boats, want to stay completely dry or expect resort-style amenities. There are no toilets once the tour begins, which is especially important to consider on a five-hour outing. Conditions and available activities can vary with weather and water levels, so confirm the day's plan with the operator.
Our exact day-trip timeline
8:00 AM
Left home for Chuburná Puerto.
9:00 AM
Arrived and began the Dzul-Ha Experience.
9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Five-hour tour to Dzul-Ha spring, La Carbonera and Isla Columpios, including a chalana ride for the cenote portion.
2:00–4:00 PM
Relaxed at the public beach just up the road before heading home.
The nearby public beach where we relaxed after the tour.
What should you bring?
Sun protection, including a hat and reef-conscious sunscreen
Water shoes or sandals that can get wet
A swimsuit and quick-drying cover-up
A dry bag for your phone and valuables
Water and any personal essentials
Cash for local purchases and tips, if your operator recommends it
A flexible attitude about timing and conditions
A restroom stop before boarding, because there are no toilets once the tour starts
Ask your boat operator exactly what is included before you leave. Tour formats vary, and the Dzul-Ha Experience we took was a five-hour outing that included the coastal spring, La Carbonera, Isla Columpios, a drink and a ceviche tasting.
Why this belongs in an Untourist itinerary
Being an Untourist does not mean avoiding every place with a recognizable photo spot. It means allowing the destination to be more than the photograph.
Take the swing photo. Then put the phone away.
Notice the water around your ankles, the boats moving between the palapas and the fact that no one needs to rush to the next reservation. Talk to the local people running the trip. Leave enough time for lunch and another swim.
The point is not to collect Isla Columpios. The point is to enjoy being there.
Planning a day trip from Mérida
Reserve your tour before arriving in Chuburná Puerto. People will ask which tour you have booked as soon as you arrive, so knowing your operator and meeting point beforehand makes the start of the day much easier.
Isla Columpios is reached by boat, and arrangements should be confirmed in advance. Because weather, tides, water levels and operating details can change, use a local operator for current departure information and inclusions. Use the restroom before the boat leaves because there are no toilet facilities once the five-hour tour begins.
If the boat tour is not the experience you want, you can bypass it and visit the public beach just up the road instead. We went there after our tour and found it an easy place to relax for the final two hours of the day.
If you are building a longer Yucatán trip, this kind of day can balance more structured cultural visits. Pairing time at archaeological sites, haciendas or Mérida's museums with a slow coastal day makes the journey feel more like a place and less like a checklist.
Plan with current information
Review local Isla Columpios tour information and check Yucatán's official tourism site before your visit.
Want a Yucatán trip with room for days like this?
Tell me how you want the journey to feel. I will help narrow the choices, coordinate the moving pieces and leave room for you to enjoy where you are.
Tour routes, weather, water conditions, availability and inclusions can change. Confirm current details directly with the operator before traveling. Planning, booking and in-trip support depend on the service scope agreed before work begins.
