Kayaking and Canoeing at Laguna de Alcuzahue

Laguna de Alcuzahue, a freshwater and brackish lagoon near Tecoman, offers paddle routes of 3-6km through open water and mangrove-lined channels, run either as a self-guided rental or a guide-led outing arranged through the local Alcuzahue cooperative. The lagoon's calm, sheltered water and flat paddling make the outing accessible to beginners and families, with no prior kayaking experience required; children can typically join in a tandem kayak or canoe with an adult. Kayak or canoe, paddle and a life jacket are provided by the cooperative, and paddlers should bring their own sun protection and insect repellent, since the mangrove channels shelter mosquitoes, especially near dawn and dusk. The cooperative's boat handlers generally give a short briefing on basic paddling technique, capsize procedure and the lagoon's designated routes before departure, and because the lagoon is shallow and close to the launch point for most of the route, a paddler in difficulty can typically be reached quickly by a support boat or by wading to shallow water. The lagoon can be paddled year-round, with the calmest, clearest water from November to April; the June-to-October rainy season brings higher water levels and can increase current in the channels connecting to the sea, when the cooperative may restrict routes to the calmer open-lagoon sections.