Everything you need to know before traveling to Bacalar

Bacalar is located on the very end of Riviera Maya, and it was simply one of the best places we have been while in Mexico. Known as the Lagoon of 7 colors, Bacalar is a paradisiac destination with a very laid-back vibe, which stands out from the popular trio Cancun-Playa del Carmen-Tulum. If you are looking for beautiful views, amazing places to swim, quite an unspoiled natural environment, and a very cozy and authentic Mexican city – then Bacalar is the place for you.

Why is Bacalar worth visiting?

Bacalar should definitely be on your list if you like visiting places that are off the beaten path. If you are looking for locations where the mass of bus-guided tours simply do not reach – Bacalar is the place for you.

Bacalar is very much worth visiting if you are looking for a laid-back village to travel with friends, family or even alone, to have fun and enjoy the best nature has to offer. It is a reasonably-priced village, surrounded by this lagoon with the most incredible blue waters. Seriously, if you were impressed with the beaches around Cancun or Tulum, just wait until you get to Bacalar. It really does live up to its name of having seven shades of blue (or maybe even more – but who’s counting?).

If I could name one other place in Quintana Roo that has a somewhat similar energy, it would be Isla Holbox (and I definitely recommend combining both destinations in your itinerary).

If I haven’t convinced you yet, keep on reading and I am sure I will make up your mind.

Where is Bacalar?

Bacalar is still located in Quintana Roo, Mexico, but it is quite far from the main hub between Cancun and Tulum. In fact, Bacalar is located almost on the border between Mexico and Belize (which is, by the way, a great suggestion of a destination to explore after Bacalar). Here goes a map to help you visualize it better.

PS: Bacalar is the name of the Lagoon and also the name of the village. Make sure you select the village while using the GPS as the lagoon is huge, dozens of km long.

How to get to Bacalar?

There are no airports in Bacalar, which means you will need to land in one of the nearby cities if you plan on arriving by plane. Chetumal is technically the nearest airport to Bacalar, but since it is quite a small one, the tickets may get quite expensive as there are not many flights coming through. Our suggestion is to land either in Belize (you can use the ADO bus to reach Bacalar) or Cancun. I know what you might be thinking – Cancun is quite far – but it is a huge airport with global flight connections and, if you are renting a car, it might just be the most practical option.

By car

To reach Bacalar from Playa del Carmen, you will need to drive around 280km. The beginning of the way is quite pleasant, but the condition of the road gets worse the further from Tulum you go. Nothing too alarming, though. Just make sure you have a full tank of gas before you leave as there is literally nothing for hundreds of kilometers, not a single gas station.

Do you still need to rent a car? Check the price with Discover Cars, our trusted affiliate.

We have visited Bacalar as part of our 10-day Road trip around Quintana Roo – check out our itinerary!

By bus

You can reach Bacalar using the ADO bus lines from Playa del Carmen, Tulum, or pretty much any other important city in Quintana Roo. You can buy the tickets online or at the local shops and the price varies from 400 – 500 MXN for a one-way trip that takes around 4h. Check the bus tickets here.

If you decide to go by bus, just have in mind that there is no public transport in Bacalar. While it is perfectly possible to walk around the village for the great majority of situations, you will have to rely on taxis for anything that is located a bit further from the center.

When to visit Bacalar?

Since the main attraction is obviously nature and I guess most of you would like to go swimming on the Bacalar Lagoon, you will want warm weather to do so. The good news is that, in this region, the weather is pretty much warm all year long.

Summer in Bacalar is between June and August, but this is also the peak of the rainy season. It is still a very busy time of the year for tourists because it is the vacation month in North America. And guess where most tourists in Mexico come from? That’s right, the US.

The best time to visit Bacalar is actually between December and March, during the dry season. While this is also the peak season for tourism, we have found this region to be quite chill. We have been in Bacalar in December and had the most pleasant time. Even if it was winter time, we had only sunny days with around 27 °C by day and 20 – 23 °C by night.

How many days should you stay in Bacalar?

Due to the logistics of our trip, we had two full days in Bacalar. While it was enough time to do everything we planned, I wouldn’t mind having one extra day to chill around in the lagoon and enjoy this place more calmly. Therefore, my suggestion is to spend 3 days in Bacalar.

Where to stay in Bacalar?

Bacalar is quite a small village and, therefore, visitors have a limited number of accommodations to choose from. Don’t come here expecting the massive Cancun-style all-inclusive resorts. Most of the places are very down-to-earth, charming in a whole different way.

As for location, I would suggest a place that faces the lagoon and is located within reach of the center so you can easily go to any restaurant at the end of the day. Pay attention to the benefits included when you book your stay – many hotels have kayaks, SUP boards, or bikes at the guests’ disposal. These little treats make all the difference as it gives you the freedom to explore the lagoon on your own and at whatever time you like (don’t miss the sunrise!!).

Pro tip: Book your stay in advance! Since Bacalar is quite a small village, the good places tend to sell out quickly, especially in the peak season.

Here are a few accommodation recommendations if you are looking for a place to stay in Bacalar:

• BOA BOA Bacalar: For lovers of unique accommodations, this is a great option for a place to stay in Bacalar. It is located a bit outside the city center, but you can either walk the distance or get a taxi if you don’t have a car.
• La Galuna Bacalar: This is a great option for a hotel located in the city center, within walking distance of any point of interest. The hotel seems quite new, with a modern design.
• Blue Bird: Another hotel option located a bit far away from the city center, this is a great option for those who would like a bit more secluded location when choosing their accommodation. The hotel is right by the water, which is great for enjoying the lagoon.

 Where to eat in Bacalar?

Bacalar is a small village, but it has much to offer in terms of restaurants. In most places, you will sit outdoors with a very chill atmosphere. No need for fancy dining clothes. Here are our favorite places:

• La Playita: A great place for a late brunch or lunch. It is located right on the lagoon, with a deck and swimming place. You can easily spend all afternoon here and it is a great place for families with kids. As if this were not enough, the food is amazing! We paid around 1900 MXN for 4 people with snacks, main dishes, and drinks.
• Savora Bakhalal: Located right on the main square, this is quite a popular place to go in the evening. The most served dish is definitely the pizza, but we ended up having burgers, which were quite flavorful.
• Finisterre: Mediterranean food restaurant with amazing pasta dishes. This is the “fanciest” place we’ve been; the service was top-notch and the food was also incredible. The highlight goes to the “bife de res”, which is apparently a very popular meat dish in Mexico and was served with pepper sauce and potatoes.
• Bote de Leche: This is quite a small restaurant, which makes it hard to get a spot since it is always super busy. The owner is Swiss and the house specialty is meat dishes.
• Los rápidos: This bar, which is also one of the main tourist attractions in Bacalar, totally deserves its spot on this list. We have had one of the best ceviches in here. The portion sizes are huge and their drinks are also amazing! It is a great place to have one (or a few) margaritas and enjoy the afternoon having fun in the rapids.

What to do in Bacalar?

Bacalar may look like “just a lagoon”, but there are quite some options for things to do here. To make sure we fully cover the topic and give you the best tips on what to do in Bacalar, we have prepared a dedicated post on the topic.

Check it out: Top things to do in Bacalar

Check tour options on Get Your Guide:

Bonus question: where to swim in Bacalar?

This is a tricky question as this is such a paradisiac lagoon that I am tempted to say anywhere. However, the best places to swim are in one of the cenotes, the Pirate’s Canal, the rapids in Los Rápidos, or around one of the public areas (near your hotel, if it has a deck, or in one of the decks on the center). To find the best places, we recommend going on a boat tour.

Please have in mind that some areas are forbidden for swimming – for instance where they have stromatolites. They look like rocks, but are indeed living and breathing beings, one of the oldest species on the planet, and need to be preserved as they are rare, but are key to providing oxygen.

Also on the matter of swimming, make sure you use only biodegradable products such as sunscreen or shampoos. The environment here in Bacalar is getting affected by the rapid increase in tourism and it is up to each one of us to make sure we take as many precautions as possible when it comes to damaging such an amazing place.

Essential tips before traveling to Bacalar

To make your trip easier, we have three final tips:

• Bring enough cash with you. There are not many ATMs around and they don’t always have cash available. Bigger places such as hotels usually accept cards, but small places such as restaurants and shops may not.
• You should not drink tap water in Bacalar. Make sure to either buy filtered water or bring your own purifier (the planet thanks you for this greener solution!).
• The lagoon is as pretty as it looks in the pictures, but the views get to a totally different level at sunrise and sunset. At least once, make sure you wake up early and go paddling to see the sun rising from the water. Trust me, you won’t regret it.